The Burnside Tourism Director position has received a lot of attention in recent years. This time, someone actually returns home.
Jerrica Flynn has been re-elected as Burnside’s tourism director after current director Amy Sweet’s resignation was read at the Burnside City Council’s Monday May meeting.
“The past six months have been an experience for which I will be forever grateful. I have acquired a new skill set that I will continue to carry with me,” Sweet said in her resignation letter, read aloud to the City Council by Burnside Mayor Robert Lawson. I want to,” he wrote. “Trying to fulfill the role of Executive Director of Tourism has been challenging. There is a lot to the role, not just organizing events for the local community. Working from home was a big burden for me.
“Although I love the community and the vision, especially the people I work with, I have chosen to step down, so I have decided to prioritize my health and well-being and, hopefully, find a career that offers a better work-life balance. ” She went on to say that the last day would be May 10th. “…No matter where I end up, please know that I’m a friend of Burnside, a friend of Lake Cumberland, and a friend of Kentucky.”
Mr Lawson thanked Mr Sweet for his efforts in the role of tourism director for “the only town on Lake Cumberland” and said: “You have given your all to tourism.” The City Council gave Sweet a standing ovation.
Sweet was hired in October for a hybrid position of assistant tourism director and assistant city clerk, returning to the area as a McCreary County native after living in Idaho for many years.
Around the same time as Sweet’s hiring, then-Tourism Director Alison Pyles resigned, as did Flynn, then a city employee. Mr Pyles replaced Frank Crabtree Jr. in the role from early 2022, while Mr Flynn, who previously served as assistant director of tourism, will remain in the role until the end of the year to support Christmas Island as interim director. , Mr. Sweet has transitioned to become the next Director of Tourism. He will take up the role of full-time tourism director around early 2024.
Mr. Flynn, a 2022 graduate of the University of Kentucky, returned to local government as a consultant earlier this year after some time off and was poised to take over the role of director of tourism upon Mr. Sweet’s retirement. She already knew it deep down.
“Burnside is my second home and it has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Flynn told the Commonwealth Journal. “…(This June) will mark five years since I began my working relationship with Burnside, so it is special for me to announce my new role on this milestone year. Attractive to its untapped potential, rich history, and timeless charm, Lake Cumberland is Pulaski County’s crown jewel, but I consider Burnside a hidden gem. Masu.”
Mr Flynn told the meeting: “I would like to personally thank Amy for her sacrifices and ideas and opinions. I know she was born at a time when things were a bit uncertain and she supported me through the Christmas Island season in particular. I especially want to thank her for her love of this city and everything she has done for it.”
Lawson also told council that the tourism board is recommending that the assistant director of tourism position be made full-time to reduce the responsibilities of the job, which has increased significantly in recent years. The council unanimously approved this new position.
Lawson told the Commonwealth Journal that the second full-time tourism position will be filled by Dee Duvall, currently the city’s public works clerk. “She’s making a lateral move into tourism,” he noted.
Previously, the tourism assistant position was also held by an assistant city employee, and since December, Chasada Smith has been filling the position. These positions have changed slightly, with Smith continuing to serve as assistant city clerk and also serve as the city’s public works employee.
