Tourism Director Charles Simpson said that new log cabins being build by Barna Log Homes for use as vacation rentals should be a source of income to tourism efforts as they fall under the jurisdiction of the transient room tax.
“It’s a good idea for Barna to do this,” said member Karla White. “People who stay in the cabins might want to buy one in the future.” She asked about collecting transient taxes from similar cabin rentals for hunters, fishermen and other visitors to the area.
“Before we jump in on that, we need to do some legal research,” said Commission President John Rufli. “We should ask (County Attorney H.B. Quinn) about what defines a transient room”
“If it’s legal, we may be losing out on tax money,” said White. “I think if the rooms or facilities are not advertised, they can’t be taxed, but let me ask H.B. about it.”
Simpson said that renovations at the Lake Barkley State Resort Park Lodge neared completion. “I talked to (Park Manager John Rittenhouse) and he said that he planned to open half the rooms this Sunday, and the other half would be ready May 15.”
Simpson said that plumbing troubles at the State Welcome Center on I-24 at the Tennessee State Line forced the temporary closure of the facility, and that state tourism officials had inquired if the Trigg County Tourism Center could use assistance from employees in the area. “They are temporarily back in their offices, so plans are iffy. Everything is on hold if they are going to come or not.”
For the rest of this story, read this week's Cadiz Record.
