Batesville City Council discusses busy fire department, new visitor data at Tuesday meeting

During the most recent Batesville City Council meeting on Tuesday night, Batesville Fire Chief Mark McCollum reported his department has been very busy this past month. He shared that they received a total of 48 calls, which included five structure fires within one week (three of those in one day) and 11 motor vehicle accidents within the city. Chief McCollum also emphasized the importance of training, stating that his department has already accumulated 208 hours of training this year.

Crystal Johnson, president and CEO of the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, also addressed the council members. She provided updates on the chamber’s efforts to promote the city to potential visitors, including using new data tools to track visitor activities. Johnson shared that the average visitor spends around $50 daily and stays for almost four days. For every dollar spent in the area, $16.22 is returned. She also reported that over 250,000 trips have been made to the area this year, with visitor ages ranging from 45 to 65. The Experience Independence summer campaign was credited with generating a significant amount of visitor activity.

The council was also informed that lodging tax collection in 2022 had broken records. Additionally, ordinances regarding Knox Boxes and federal/state codes were presented for a second reading.

During the meeting, council member Tommy Bryant expressed appreciation for the Fourth of July festivities at Riverside Park. He credited city workers for keeping the park in “immaculate” condition before and after the fireworks and entertainment. Mayor Rick Elumbaugh also acknowledged Citizens Bank and its employees for their role in presenting the festivities.