Kriebel named new Corbin Tourism Director

Above, Maggie Kriebel was appointed the new Corbin Tourism Director Tuesday. She is holding logos for the Corbin Tourism Commission and a planned Railroad Museum.

Following the resignation of Corbin Tourism Director Portia Flowers-Gosser on Aug. 19, Commission Chair Alan Onkst said Associate Director Maggy Kriebel’s title would remain associate director.

That all changed Tuesday night as the tourism commission voted unanimously to name Kriebel the new Corbin Tourism Director.

“I’m absolutely, completely elated,” Kriebel said following the meeting as she accepted congratulations from commission members.

“I’m honored to be here,” she said.

Onkst said during her nine months with the commission, Kriebel has demonstrated her abilities, energy level and drive to get things accomplished.

“She has the confidence of the board,” Onkst said.

Along with the new title, Kriebel will get a raise to an annual salary of $50,000.

Instead of hiring a new associate director, the commissioners agreed to create and advertise to fill the position of assistant to the tourism director.

The job description, salary and benefits for the position are to be determined. The position will be advertised online and in the newspapers.

Earlier in the meeting Kriebel ran down the list of projects she is working on, giving an update on the progress of each.
Kriebel said the inaugural Gallery Hop went well with at least 50 people touring the participating businesses and viewing the artists and their work that was on display at each.

Kriebel said she is still awaiting some of the comment forms to be returned but the reviews from guests, business owners and artists has been mainly positive.

“Each of the business owners said their stores were packed with people at various times throughout the event and each of the artists said they sold at least one piece of work,” Kriebel said, noting attendance was likely hurt because the event was competing with the opening week of high school football.

Kriebel unveiled the new logos for the tourism commission and for the railroad museum project.

Kriebel announced that the contract had been signed with the fireworks company for the 2015 Independence Day fireworks show.

Finally, Kriebel said she was planning to meet with Arena Manager Connie Hunt with the goal of the tourism commission providing seed money to help fund a concert at The Arena.

Kriebel said the details are preliminary but the tourism commission would invest approximately $50,000 with the understanding that it recoups its money off the top.

As to what type of music the concert would involve and who the act may be, Kriebel said that would be a joint decision between the tourism commission and Arena management.

The money that is returned to tourism would be invested into future events.

Kriebel said sponsorships may be sought in an effort to increase the size of the financial pot available to put toward the events.
In other business the commission:

• Agreed to permit the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce to use Sanders Park to set up a beer garden during the Egg Fest on September 20.

• Approved a request by the Corbin Library to give $500 to sponsor the annual ghost tour.

• Approved a motion to renew the contract with Ad-Rack Tourist Brochure Distribution. The commission will pay $3,660 for the yearly service that distributes brochures to 335 locations along designated routes.

• Approved a motion to not renew a similar contract with Print Distribution. Under that contract, the commission was paying $2,455 annually to distribute the brochures to 162 locations.

Onkst noted there were several places where the two routes overlapped and the Ad-Rack service gives the commission the ability to track where the Corbin brochures are popular and where they aren’t and change routes to get the best results.