Nearly 40 people gathered to vote on whether to form an advisory board of vendors for Barbecue on the River to communicate with Barbecue Incorporated on successes, failures, and ways to improve the annual Paducah event. The Monday meeting was comprised of mostly barbecuers, but the council will include barbecuers, other food vendors, and non-food vendors.
Shane Parker, who moderated the meeting says he has spoken with Barbecue Incorporated and they are favorable to a vendor board representative and might even consider two members, which would allow both a food and non-food vendor representative.
Parker emphasizes the importance of the vendors for the event.
"At the end of the day, the barbecuers take the vacation time, spend a lot of their own money, and give as much of their proceeds to their charity," he said. "When you're in the neighborhood of $425 to $430 thousand dollars in monies raised, that's powerful for the community."
The Barbecue on the River fundraising event is entering its twentieth year but has experienced controversy involving tax exemptions, audits, and loss of its partnership with the Paducah Symphony Orchestra.
