Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Director Bruce Carpenter came to the Corbin City Commission meeting Monday to discuss a proposal that the chamber help the city cover some of the approximately $20,000 in overtime it pays out to employees during Nibroc.
McBurney said while the figures for 2012 are not in, yet, it has cost the city as much as $27,000 for police, firefighters, public works and parks and recreation employees.
"It averages between $18,000 and $19,000 per year," McBurney said.
While acknowledging the important role the city employees play in making the Nibroc Festival happen, Carpenter said if the chamber has to absorb those costs, it will affect entertainment.
"It is much more than we can take on at the chamber and survive," Carpenter said. "It would mean cutting out a whole day of entertainment."
Carpenter noted Corbin Tourism’s willingness to provide the additional money necessary to book Styx and the economic impact booking more prominent entertainment has in Corbin.
"On one of the downtown merchant’s Facebook pages, the merchant said, ‘The store was packed for three days,’" Carpenter said, noting that particular merchant has not been a staunch supporter of Nibroc in the past.
Carpenter said the chamber uses the proceeds for the work force development and work ethic programs in the schools.
Carpenter asked the commissioners to sit down the chamber’s board members to open the books and see if the two sides can come to an agreement.
"We cannot in any way form or fashion, undertake that obligation," Carpenter said. "I just think for this size event for this community it is very extraordinary to have this type of event for three days that draws this much attention and this many people to our community. It really reaches a lot of people outside the Tri-County area that come and visit."
