In March of this year, the county signed a contract with the Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of promoting tourism. During the 2015-16 budget cycle, members of the Commission voted to withhold tourism funding from the Chamber of Commerce until a contract was drafted and signed. The funding which the county gives the chamber for tourism promotion comes from the hotel/motel tax collected within the county.

During the February 2016 meeting of the county’s governing body, members of the Commission hashed out and approved a contract, which was signed by Chamber officials on March 1. Under the terms of the contract, the Chamber is required to file an annual report of its business affairs and transactions, including an annual audit, with the Carter County Clerk’s Office in the month of October of each year.

The Chamber of Commerce missed the October deadline in 2016 due to the fact the audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, had not been completed at that time.

Because the Chamber missed the deadline, Carter County Finance Director Christa Byrd, on the advice of County Attorney Josh Hardin, sent a letter to the Chamber outlining the alleged breach of contract and asking a representative of the Chamber to attend the November Commission meeting to explain the situation.

Ken Markland, the chairman of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, appeared before the Commission in November and answered the group’s questions. Markland told the group he anticipated the audit would be completed in time for the Commission’s January meeting.

Commissioner Randal Jenkins made a motion to grant the extension to the Chamber, which was seconded by Commissioner Michael Hill and passed by a margin of 21-3 when placed to a vote by the full Commission.

The Chamber has since turned in a copy of the audit on tourism funding to the County Clerk’s Office and a copy of the report was placed in the packets given to Commissioners in preparation of the upcoming meeting.

Because tourism was included under the umbrella of Carter County Tomorrow for a period of time, the audit is for the CCT finances. Markland told the Commissioners in November the Chamber is in the process of extracting tourism operations from the CCT organization.

During the meeting on Tuesday, Commissioners will also elect a new constable to serve the county’s 8th district. The new appointee will replace former Constable Bob Carroll who resigned from the position.

Commissioners will also hear a rezoning request for property at 231 Watauga Road and approve the county’s official road list for 2017.

Three resolutions are being presented to the Commission for consideration.

The first resolution marks the Commission’s support for Carter County’s work toward achieving the ACT’s Certified Work Ready Community Designation.

The second resolution seeks to name the new bridge being constructed over the Little Doe River on Rittertown road in honor of U.S. Army Pvt. Phillip Tolley, who died in combat in the Pacific theater during World War II. Tolley was a lifelong resident of Carter County, making his home in the Browns Branch community, which is near the location of the bridge being named in his honor.

The third resolution seeks to name the bridge spanning Laurel Fork on Dennis Cove Road in Hampton in honor of the late John Paul Mathes who, along with his wife Robin, died in July 2016 during a severe storm system.

Mathes was a native of Carter County who serve the community for two terms on the Carter County Commission and for 16 years as Circuit Court Clerk.

The Carter County Commission will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 6 p.m. in the courtroom located on the second floor of the Carter County Courthouse.