NEWPORT-Members of the Cocke County Partnership executive committee voted unanimously Monday to fund the costs of dental and vision insurance for full-time employees.
The vote came on a motion by Keith Ketterman, seconded by Iliff McMahan. The additional benefits will cost between $2,000 and $3,000, according to Sherry Butler, who presented the request to the board.
The request will now go to the Newport City Council for approval. However, the increase in benefits will not cost the city a penny. Instead the Partnership will pay the premiums.
In another unanimous vote, this one on a motion by Lonnie Jones, seconded by Keith Ketterman, committee members approved a proposed budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. "This budget is at full funding level," explained Butler, "and is based on our revenues and expenditures for the past two years. Traditionally the executive committee approves the budget in May so that the full Partnership board can vote on it in June. It will come before the EDC executive committee on May 21."
Butler also reported that the nominating committee has met and will bring a slate of officers to the June meeting.
Earlier in the meeting, Cocke County Tourism Council members presented a check to Cosby Community Library Director Sandra Foster for $4,076.50.
This money, to be added to the library's building fund, is a portion of the proceeds from the Tourism Council's recent production "Under the Apple Trees," an original play written and performed in celebration of Great Smoky Mountains National Park's 75th anniversary.
Cocke County Tourism Director Linda Lewanski announced several upcoming tourism-related events, including the tenth annual "Cosby in the Park" celebration this coming Saturday.
"This year's event will be dedicated to the late John 'Toot' Phillips," said Lewanski, "who died this past year. Mr. Phillips was a prisoner of war for nearly three years during the Korean War, and his examples of patriotism and sense of duty continue to be inspirational."
Newport/Cocke County Chamber of Commerce Director of Operations Kandee Veridal told the group that on May 21, Rural Medical will host Business After Hours and that Farmers Market will open on May 23.