Robbinsville – The Robbinsville Tourism Authority has welcomed Brady Cody, a Robbinsville lawyer, as its newest board member.
“I think it’s a good thing. I think we’re going to make things happen,” said Debbie Beasley, town alderman, chairman of the RTA board, and interim RTA director.
The board also voted at its April 26 meeting to pay the RTA director $17.50 per hour, which Beasley will be paid in her role as interim director, retroactive to her first hour of work.
Beasley made a motion to hold off hiring a new director until the board can go over policies and procedures so that the next director can have a clear job description. That motion passed unanimously. The town has not received any new applications for the position.
Other news and notes
* The board discussed an upcoming fishing derby. The Wildlife Commission will be donating all the fish and 10-20, fully-rigged fishing poles.
Board member Dirk Cody, who is a state transportation commissioner, helped facility the Wildlife Commission’s participation.
More details and signup information will be released later.
“The kids have a ball,” Beasley said. “It’s a very busy, three-to-four-hour thing.”
* The board is seeking to have a street named in honor of Graham County veterans – possibly East Main Street.
Dirk Cody is advising the board about the proposal and said there won’t be any opposition to it at the state level.
“Just as soon as I can get some paperwork, I’ll start work on it,” Beasley said.
* John Colwell, chairman of REVVED UP (Robbinsville Envisioning Vital Vibrant Economic Development and Urban Prosperity), briefed the board about REVVED UP’s new membership initiative that allows local businesses to | join and network at a monthly lunch and speaker program. The initiative is called the Alliance of REVVED UP Business Affiliates – or ARUBA.
The effort aims to bring more businesses to Robbinsville. Cost to join ARUBA is $250 per year.
“We’re going to take it in the direction of a chamber of commerce,” Colwell said.
The board will discuss whether to join ARUBA at the next meeting.
REVVED UP is also working on hosting a music festival in September to help raise funds, develop a streetscape program for downtown and expand its annual Christmas lights festival.