Johnson stressed how important it is that the three people per horse who come to the county for horse shows stay and spend their money in Polk County. She said the county is leaking dollars because if those people are staying in Spartanburg, they are also eating and getting gasoline there, too.

Commissioners decided to invite local bed and breakfast owners to the board of commissioners&39; first meeting in May to hear their opinions on how a hotel in the county may affect their businesses.

Commissioner Tommy Melton said he is concerned how a hotel will affect Polk County&squo;s 12 bed and breakfasts. Johnson said equestrian activity doesn&squo;t really affect bed and breakfasts because most equestrian people who come to Polk County simply want a clean bed and are more interested in having easy access in and out and not spending a lot of money to lodge.

Johnson said the EDC is in the initial stages of recruiting a hotel and no locations have been considered yet.