EXTRA CONTENT: Corbin Tourism board votes to revive Octoberfest

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The Corbin Tourism Commission sent outgoing chairman Steve McBurney out in style Monday, thanking him for his 11 years of service with a dinner prior to the Commission’s final meeting with him at the helm.

In addition to the dinner, which was attended by several city officials, McBurney was given a plaque commemorating his time on the board by incoming chairperson Suzy Razmus. McBurney expressed his thanks to all those in attendance for the event and admitted he was surprised.

"This is really a surprise and it is greatly appreciated," he said. "It has been an honor to serve and work with each and every one of you over the years."

Following lunch, the board got down to business.

In a decision that will probably be to the delight of many who had allegedly complained about plans to do away with the popular downtown event Octoberfest, the commission took the first step in bringing the event back.

McBurney said due to community reaction to the announcement that the 13-year event had been done away with, he felt it would be appropriate that the group try to continue the event after all.

"There has been quite a bit of reaction to this, so we will see what we can do," McBurney said.

The tentative plan is to try and secure enough vendors to make the event worthwhile. If organizers can do that, the commission has agreed to foot the bill for $2,000 worth of advertising to help promote it. If all goes well, the one-day event will take place on Oct. 14, beginning at 11 a.m. at Nibroc Park.

Betty Comer, who is a member of the Corbin Tourism Commission Board and also a member of the Downtown Merchants Association, said she had gotten numerous inquiries as to why the event was nixed.

"People would come in to the store (Gibson’s Music) and call City Hall as well," she said. "It was just an event they loved.

Comer said that she and Maggie J’s owner Maxine VonGruenigan would begin contacting vendors as soon as possible to try and secure enough to make the event a go.

Instead of continuing Octoberfest, Main Street Manager Sharae Myers requested and received approval from the tourism board last month to put Octoberfest funding into the newly created Moonbow Nights events.

The board also approved $5,000 in funding to help the Corbin Industrial Development Commission participate in the Kentucky United state-wide marketing program.

The funding is expected help the group with travel expenses associated with trips made by the CIDC to meet with site consultants for industrial and retail businesses.

Several Commission board members voiced their support for the funding with the belief that it would go a long way in business recruitment.

"In my opinion, this is a really critical program for economic development in Corbin," said board member Nick Greiwe.

"I think this will help put our area on a level playing field with other communities," Razmus said.

The group also approved a request by Myers to help fund a feasibility study grant through the I-75 Corridor Board that is expected to revive interest in the recently proposed amphitheater that would house a musical depicting the life of famous Corbin businessman Col. Harland Sanders.

Myers is applying for the grant through the I-75 Corridor Board, on which she is also a member. If the grant is approved, the Tourism Commission agreed to pay for up to half of the cost of the study.

In the proposed study, Myers said those involved would be looking at land behind The Arena, which could additionally be used for hiking trails and to promote Corbin as a hub for what she called adventure tourism.

In other business, the board:

• discussed replacing 8,000 light bulbs for the city’s Christmas lights. The lights have been ordered, and the board needs volunteers to help change all the bulbs;

• discussed approval from Yum Brands for the city to use Col. Sanders’ likeness on downtown banners, but is awaiting written approval before ordering the banners;

• voted to allow Razmus and McBurney to work on a new brochure design that touts Corbin as "Adventure Central"

• approved use of the Tourism Community Room for an Oct. 14 dance rehearsal for Main Street’s "Thriller" performance.