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Kingsport leaders highlight retirements, downtown work, new economic-development site and airport talks
Summary
City leaders recognized retiring city recorder Lisa Winkle, praised the Dobyns-Bennett DB Dome and Main Street project staff, launched a new economic-development website, and reported continued regional discussions about the Tri-Cities airport.
Mayor Paul W. Montgomery and board members used the communications portion of the February business meeting to recognize staff and to highlight community projects and outreach.
Mayor Montgomery presented a proclamation designating February 2025 as Black History Month and invited citizens to view downtown displays. He thanked city recorder Lisa Winkle for 18 years of service: "She has a brilliant financial mind. She's not always gonna tell you what you want to hear when it comes to your financial, but she's gonna tell you what you need to hear," Montgomery said. The board said the city will hold a celebration to mark Winkle's retirement.
Montgomery praised City Engineer Hank Claybaugh for outreach on the Main Street reconstruction: "Every article that I read, every video that I watched on this, the business owners, the residents downtown over and over again commented on what an outstanding job Hank has done and just simply communicating with them," Montgomery said. Board members also noted the opening of the Dobyns-Bennett "DB Dome," where opening events included halftime celebrations, and the reopening of the downtown carousel after a month of cleaning.
The mayor announced the launch of a new economic-development website, kingsportecondev.org, built by the city's economic-development staff to centralize developer information, property listings and project details such as Fort Henry Mall and Dobbins-Taylor warehouse efforts. Montgomery said the site is intended to draw interest from residential and commercial developers across the region.
Several board members summarized recent airport discussions and urged continued regional cooperation among the airport's owners to improve service and fares at Tri-Cities Regional Airport. Board members praised incremental economic wins such as the announced manufacturing project and encouraged regional partners to contribute to airport efforts.
Other community items included a reminder of upcoming sports events at Hunter Wright Stadium and the Kingsport Aquatic Center, and an update that planning for a library at Glen Bruce Park is in early stages and will involve future community conversations. Keep Kingsport Beautiful was acknowledged for receiving a 2024 Presidential Circle award; the board said Sharon Hayes, director, will receive the award in Washington, D.C.
Ending: Board members closed communications with thanks to retiring staff and encouragement for residents to attend downtown events and to review the new economic-development website.
