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July 2008 |
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Tourism board to recommend two new members, finalize $100,000 budget for next year |
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Wednesday, 21 May 2008 |
By SHAWN YORKS
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When chairman Bob Fajen resigned from the Guymon Convention and Tourism Board, it left a void the board set out to fill at Tuesday's meeting. And when all was said and done, the board came up with two names — Jennifer Lovell and Don Scott.
But nobody was appointed to the board just yet.
"We need to make recommendations to the city council," said Vicki Ayres-McCune, Community Development Director for the city.
Two current committee members' terms are up in July — Jess Nelson and Roy Ehly. Ehly said he would not seek a new term, while Nelson said he would — which leaves two positions, Ehly's and Fajen's, needing filled.
"We have the June meeting to get some names for the July replacement or renewal," McCune said.
In Other action:
•The board discussed changing the budget capital outlay from 25 percent to 15 percent, but ultimately stuck with 25 percent.
"Anything less is rolled over to the long term use, anyway," McCune said. "The indication we got from the majority (of the board) was that you wanted 15 percent."
Dropping it from 25 to 15 percent would mean less money for convention assistance — from $107,000 to $90,000.
"One of the things that we're doing now with this line item deal is if we take all of our budget and put it to things that are supposed to be established, then we're missing the opportunity to support things that are maybe starting out," said board member Dr. David Kidwell. "If we don't have the money to do that because we're putting it into long term, then I don't think we're doing exactly what the committee was originally designed to do.
"There's definitely a lot of hard assets that make the community better to spend the money on, but at the same time, if the primary function of the committee is to start up new conventions and tourism events, then we don't want to shoot ourselves in the foot (by reducing the amount of money available for new events)."
The committee passed the budget with the amendment that capital outlay remain 25 percent and convention assistance be adjusted accordingly.
•The committee took no action and there was no discussion on an application by Josh Setzer, Bryon Test and Marsha Strong for $2,000 for the Sunflower Art, Food and Wine festival in 2009.
The 2008 festival was canceled due to lack of funding by the committee. Nobody representing the festival was in attendance at Tuesday's meeting. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 23 May 2008 )
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 | | I have to say, I was so disappointed in the Pioneer Days parade this year. It just seemed to be one long commercial for businesses, hardly any floats that exhibited the theme, which was what? And any Tom, Dick,or Harry could drive his car in it. Where has the spirit of Pioneer Days gone? My dad was born north of Guymon in 1912, lived there his entire life, and died there in 1994. He was 81 years old. He was a true pioneer. He was a farmer who survived the dust bowl days. He saw so many things come to pass and he got to witness the evolution of all those wonderful things. He and so many like him are the kinds of people we need to honor with Pioneer Days. We should never forget our roots. People say that Guymon hasn't changed. Oh,yes it has!! No matter where I live, Guymon will always be home even though my parents have passed on. I am proud to say I am from Guymon. I enjoy coming home especially for Pioneer Days, but I hope next year it looks more like the Pioneer Days I grew up with. Pioneer Days is the one thing that shouldn't change and should always honor those who paved the way in the Panhandle. Tyra (Haar) Combs - Holcomb, Kansas | | | | | | |  |
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