Promoter will return to Marion County
Agri-tourism guru Remelle Farrar will provide a two-day workshop specifically for Marion County. Promotion ideas will be discussed at the workshop for local businesses and development professionals.
Peggy Blackman requested Monday the Marion County Commission fund the workshop. The commission approved up to $2,000 for Farrar's expenses and mailings to workshop attendees.
The workshop will be Oct. 22 and 23. The location had not been determined.
Marion County first became familiar with Farrar when she met with 50 participants Aug. 19 in Tampa to discuss how a small town in Texas was revitalized in five years due to agri-tourism.
Blackman said Marion County could be a pilot program for the program with some additional funding from Kansas Department of Commerce (KDOC).
"Additional visits (by Farrar) would be covered by KDOC," Blackman said.
The commission agreed this would be a worthwhile expense.
Blackman also requested and received permission to form a coalition regarding algae treatment of Marion Reservoir.
Blackman currently is the grant administrator of federal funds for watershed programs along the shoreline.
The coalition would include representatives from Hillsboro, Marion, Peabody, Marion County, conservation district, and agriculture community.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks would serve as advisory boards, Blackman said.
Being under the county's umbrella would enable the group to apply for grants.
Commission chairman Leroy Wetta asked if this was more of a conservation issue rather than county.
Commissioner Howard Collett responded it was a county issue because it affects most of the county residents. He asked Blackman the amount of responsibility the county would have with the group.
Blackman responded she wasn't sure. Wetta said whatever the coalition decided to do would require the signature of the commission.
"The commission will know what the expenses will be," Wetta said.
