There’s been a lot of talk lately about the privatization of State Parks, particularly our own Cumberland Mountain State Park.  In a story that appeared in today’s TimesFreePress, it a seems no one is interested in taking on the jobs been outsourced.  The outsourcing of certain aspects of the State Parks has many worried that jobs would be lost to private contractors.  We asked State Representative Cameron Sexton about it and he said not necessarily would jobs be lost if the state outsourced the hospitality features.  Sexton told CNF that if those entities were contracted the current employees would have the opportunity to reapply for their jobs.  However, in the Timesfreepress story, it looks like there isn’t a lot of interest in contractors wanting to take on the responsibility of running the parks’ restaurants, golf courses etc.

Here’s the story:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s effort to outsource hospitality operations at 11 state parks has failed to draw any interest from private vendors.

Haslam has long cited the operation of park services like restaurants, golf courses, inns and marinas as prime examples of areas where private vendors could do a better — and cheaper — job than state government.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation earlier this month requested $55 million to upgrade facilities at parks before operations could be handed over to private vendors. At least one of them dropped out over uncertainty about whether lawmakers would approve the money.

The parks involved were Cumberland Mountain State Park in Crossville, David Crockett, Fall Creek Falls, Harrison Bay, Henry Horton, Montgomery Bell, Natchez Trace, Paris Landing, Pickwick Landing, Tims Ford and Warriors’ Path. TIMESFREEPRESS