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(NewsDakota.com) – The Jamestown City Finance and Legal Committee approved one funding request for the Buffalo City Tourism Foundation at Tuesday’s meeting, but tabled another until later this year.
The committee approved a request of $65,000 each year in economic development funds by the Tourism Foundation for operating expenses in 2013 and 2014. The city’s share is $52,000. Earlier in the day the county commission approved its share of the funds.
The committee tabled a separate request for $75,000 in EDC funds that the Tourism Foundation would use for grant funding to non-profit tourist related organizations. The city share would be $60,000. Earlier the county commission approved its share of the money.
Mayor Katie Anderson says she is concerned about the request since EDC funds are only to be used for non-profit organizations in the “rarest of circumstances.”
Anderson and councilman Ramone Gumke voted to table the request until later this year. Charlie Kourajian did not vote because of a conflict of interest; Ken Schulz was absent; and councilman Pat Nygaard voted against tabling the request.
The Tourism Foundation receives a percentage of money each year from the restaurant and lodging tax fund, but its current contract expires after 2012. The request for EDC funds will be tabled until that contract is due to be negotiated. Anderson says how that contract is negotiated may have an impact on the request for EDC funds.
The committee also approved reallocating $13,850 to the Frontier Village Association from the Visitors Promotion Capital Construction Fund. The association had received the money previously to build a new building, but did not use the money. The association says it now plans to use the money to renovate an existing building at the Frontier Village. The issue now goes before the City Council at its April meeting.