Park City Commissioners remove Helton as tourism chairman

By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1

At the special-called meeting of the Park City Commission the focus was almost entirely on the city’s tourism commission as they voted to remove the current chairman and voted to appoint two new people to the commission.

The city commission was attended by all four commissioners — Mike Burgess, Gary Carroll, Donna Scavo and Angelo Scavo — along with Park City Mayor Larry Poteet.

Though the city commission was set to begin at 6 p.m. the commissioners conducted a public hearing thirty minutes before with the singular goal of removing “Eric Helton from the Park City Touris[t] and Convention Commission.” A public hearing is required by Kentucky Revised Statute 65.007 which outlines the proper procedure necessary to remove an “appointed member of special district governing body” including an appeal process. Included in the public hearing packet are copies of the letter sent to Helton, who received it on May 31, that laid out the Poteet’s evidence which included instances of malfeasance, neglect of duty and a conflict of interest.

According to information provided in the hearing packet the instance malfeasance — which is defined as wrongdoing, especially by a public official — occurred when Helton yelled an obscenity at Park City Commissioner Burgess “in front of several others.” In the neglect of duty charge they cite Helton’s noncompliance with Kentucky Open Meetings Law, specifically not publicizing the tourism commission’s meeting place and agenda as dictated by KRS 61.823.

Helton’s possible conflict of interest comes from his employment at the nearby Diamond Caverns.

“The majority of the funding spent by the Park City Tourism [sic] Commission, including advertising and print materials, include Diamond Caverns, Mr. Helton’s employer, providing him a personal and professional benefit,” the charge states.

In response Helton sent a letter to Poteet and the city commissioners on June 3 claiming Poteet of showing bias and “blatantly” abusing his authority and raising questions as to his hearing that were not addressed in Poteet’s original letter.

“From reading his letter it seems the mayor has no interest in applying KRS fairly and is content with his own interpretation of the law as it benefits himself,” Helton’s letter states.

Helton was not present at the public hearing, and there was no discussion either in his defense or in his opposition. The public hearing lasted less than five minutes with all the city commissioners supporting Helton’s removal.

With the public meeting concluded the city commissioners turned their attention to the special-called commission meeting. Under new business the commission voted on the necessary municipal order removing Helton from his position. At this time Helton was seated in the audience.

During the roll call vote the municipal order was met with unanimous approval.

The next two municipal order dealt with appointment to the tourism commission. Robin Highbaugh was appointed to fill Helton’s unexpired term and Shari Harper was appointed to finish Wendy Cross’ term.

Shortly thereafter the motion was made to table the ordinance dissolving the tourist and commission commission “until further notice.”