While reviewing the proposed Waynesville Comprehensive Plan, Waynesville Economic Development Committee members agreed with a proposed goal to encourage downtown historic preservation.
However, City Administrator Bruce Harrill said during the committee’s Tuesday evening meeting that he’d like more guidance.
“To support this goal, if we’re going to preserve historic buildings, it would be nice to know what we are going to preserve,” Harrill said. “I know Old Stagecoach Stop and the old courthouse, but what else?”
Councilwoman Luge Hardman, who chairs the committee, said downtown is filled with historic buildings that in many cases can and should be preserved.
“We have a lot of buildings downtown from the 40s and 50s,” Hardman said.
“Or older, even,” echoed Councilman Alan Clark.
Councilwoman Twyla Cordry, who also chairs the Pulaski County Tourism Bureau, noted that the Tourism Bureau would be willing to pay half the cost of promotions that market downtown Waynesville as a tourist destination.
Hardman said that’s good, and also noted the role of volunteer organizations that maintain the museums and do plantings downtown.
“As a city, we really can’t afford to do a lot of this stuff, so it’s really good to have groups like the Planters Club that will do it for us,” Hardman said.
Hardman noted that city officials have set aside $10,000 this year for marketing and suggested that some of the budget money in that item be used to hire a vo-tech design class to design a brochure marketing Waynesville for commercial businesses.
Cordry was surprised no current brochure exists; Hardman said one does exist that was produced about five years ago, but said it’s outdated and many of the items listed as future goals in the brochure have already been accomplished.
“What are you sending out now about the city to someone who asks?” Cordry said.
Harrill said he typically asks businesspeople considering Waynesville what type of information they want, and then prints items from his computer that are targeted to their request rather than sending a brochure or information packet.
Committee members agreed that could improve and said they liked the idea of having a brochure available for those who are interested.