Joe P.Asher

Staff Writer

The Tri-Cities Trail Town Committee underwent a change of leadership during a recent meeting.

Chairman Jeremy Williams stepped down from his position as chair, saying he does not have the time to devote to the project.

Williams said that while the committee has moved forward, a lot of work remains in order to secure a trail town designation.

“We’ve gotten proclamations from the cities. We’re pretty much at the second or third step in on where we need to be,” said Williams. “We’ve got to complete two assessments that will allow us to become trail town eligible.”

Williams stated work is progressing on the first of the two assessments.

“It’s being worked on currently. There’s several different things that the assessment asks for. We’re just trying to get all those ‘i’s’ dotted and ‘t’s’ crossed,” said Williams.

Evarts is also working to become a Trail Town, hoping to be the first Kentucky town to receive the designation. Williams said that distinction has gone to the city of Livingston.

“Evarts was shooting for the first one. Livingston was too. But Livingston got their’s within the last month It’s just been completed,” said Williams. “They (Livingston) got the first designation as a Trail Town. I know Evarts is on the way as well. Hopefully within the next year or so we’ll have four trail towns in the county. We’re the only county that will be able to say that.”

Upon Williams’ resignation, the committee appointed Cleon Cornett as the new chairman.

“I appreciate the confidence of the committee and I will do everything I can do to make it a success,” said Cornett. “I hope to stimulate this committee to come up with all the plans. All I need to do is organize their ideas.”

Williams pointed out that although he resigned as chairman, he will still be active in the organization.

“I still look forward to working with the group. I felt that they needed somebody that could devote more time to it than I could. Cleon (Cornett) will do a great job. Cleon’s a go-getter. I know he’ll do a great job,” said Williams.

Anybody interesting in joining the Trail Town committee can call the Cumberland Tourism office for information. The next meeting of the committee will be at 2 p.m. on Nov. 7 at the Cumberland Senior Citizen’s Center.

Reach Joe P. Asher at 606-573-4510 or jasher@heartlandpublications.com