The Daviess County Council took a step to help alleviate the county’s hotel room shortage by agreeing to move forward with a request for a tax abatement to build a 72-room Hampton’s Inn near the By-pass 50/State Road 57 intersection south of Washington. Representing the builders, Chris Patel of Evansville, said the area was attractive due to nearby shopping and recreation. Daviess County Chamber of Commerce Director Samantha Bobbitt told the Council that Daviess County has a serious shortage of hotel rooms. Bobbitt said the 300 hotel rooms are booked to capacity almost every weekend, and impending industrial expansion and economic growth will increase pressure on the existing rooms. The Council will now consider data to work out an abatement agreement.
In other business, the Council voted 4-1 with one abstention to approve the suggestion of the Ambulance Committee and the County Commissioners to award the next ambulance contract to Daviess Community Hospital. The County’s long-time ambulance provider, Southwest Medical, advised the County they will not renew their contract when it expires at the end of the year as the owners are planning retirement. Daviess Community Hospital submitted a low bid of $575,000 per year, and an added air-ambulance component to the offer. Councilman Dave Smith asked if residents could request a hospital of their choice and was assured that was the case. The contract is for five years.
