PR firm to use social media to improve Roane Co. image

PR firm to use social media to improve Roane Co. image

By WHITNEY HOLMES
6 News Anchor/Reporter

KINGSTON (WATE) -- Roane County officials are waiting on TVA to finalize a $2 million request for a major image boosting campaign.

Once finalized, that money would go to hire a Nashville public relations firm, McNeely Pigott and Fox Public Relations LLC.

"Right here, how can that not be positive? This is the most beautiful municipal lakefront in the state of Tennessee," said Kingston Mayor Troy Beets.

The mayor and other Roane County officials don't want you to see the December 2008 ash spill at TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant when you think of Roane County anymore.

They want you to see pristine waters perfect for boating and surrounded by paths for walking.

"This is the image that we need to project. Kingston is whole. There is nothing wrong with our water supply here. There is nothing wrong with putting your boat in at Kingston," the mayor said.

With financial backing from TVA, Roane County officials plan to hire the public relations firm to remind people their county isn't a place full of coal fly ash, but a place of beautiful scenery.

Mayor Beets says the PR firm would use social and local media to launch a campaign aimed at fixing Roane County's reputation.

"They are going to have some people to launch positive blogs, blurbs, tweets about us to combat this negativity that is out there," said Beets.

Roane County officials are also waiting to hear back from TVA on a request for 15 percent of the total clean-up costs. Projects clean-up costs sit around $1 billion, making this additional request around $150 million.

That money would go to renovate all the schools and update infrastructure. The mayor says that will go a long way in repairing the county's image.

"We can go there and say, hey come to Kingston we have low sewer rates,'" Beets explained. "We can go to advertise to industry. Look here! We have new school facilities. Move your plant here.'"

Mayor Beets says developers have been shying away from the county because of bad publicity.

He expects the PR campaign to launch any day now. He's unable to say how long will the firm will need to repair the county's image.

It's not clear if the $2 million paid for the PR campaign would be included in the $150 million request.