Tourist Commission adds search committee for director as staff cover operations

Chairman Sheila Chapman presided over the Jefferson Davis Parish Tourist Commission’s Dec. 10 meeting, where the commission voted to add authorization for the chair to appoint a search committee for a Tourism Director to the agenda and approved that amended agenda unanimously.

The move came during routine agenda approval when Commissioner Ronnie Petree moved to adopt the agenda with three additions and Commissioner Kori Myers seconded. The additions included consideration of a $500 contribution toward parish event expenses on Jan. 14, 2025 at Bayou Rum; authorization for the chairman to appoint a search committee for a Tourism Director; and review of an Economic Development resolution to allow the Policy Jury and Town of Lake Arthur to join the EDC Board. The commission approved the amended agenda by unanimous vote.

Creed Romano, CEO/President of the commission, reported that the office is operating without a director and that staff "have stepped up" to cover responsibilities. Romano said staff plan to divide duties to cover parish Christmas activities and will continue regular staff meetings to manage operations in the interim.

The commission did not take a separate, recorded vote at the meeting to hire or fund a search firm; the action on Dec. 10 authorized only the chair to appoint a search committee as an agenda item for further work. No timeline or membership for that search committee was specified in the minutes.

The commission also approved routine minutes and financial reports during the meeting and scheduled its next meeting for Jan. 14, 2025 at the commission office.