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Four finalists named

The Hotel Motel Tax Board met Monday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers to decide which applicants would be approved to reach the next level of review for Hotel Motel Tax grant money.

“The meeting this evening is to review the applications and select finalists to make their formal presentations on June 27 to the board,” said Hotel Motel Tax Board member Jean Fox.

The board had only four applications to review. This is the smallest amount of applicants the current board has seen.

“I’m surprised that we only have four applicants,” said Hotel Motel Tax Board member Linda Conway. “It’s the least we’ve ever had.”

The HERO Board, Legacy Learning Boone River Valley, the Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Webster City Community Theatre were all approved and will be invited to present an in-depth look at the projects they wish to put their requested funds toward.

All four applicants will make their formal presentations to the board on Monday, June 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers.

Webster City City Councilman Brian Miller, Jim Talbot, and Logan Welch were also present at the meeting and brought up concerns and questions to the board.

Talbot brought up concerns about the same organizations receiving funding multiple times.

“A lot of people that I talk to are in the 50s to 70s age group and they see the same groups getting money every year, said Talbot. “I think in general, people want to see more diverse groups coming in.”

The board explained that any group or individual is able to apply for project funding if they meet the guidelines and attend the proper informational meeting.

“I think there’s a lot of people out there who could apply, who have projects coming up, whether it’s the Boy Scouts or whatever that could benefit from this money,” said Conway. “I think they’re intimidated by the process and think that it’s some big hairy deal, which is not true. We give them the information and say here’s what we need to know for you to be considered.”

“That’s another reason why I think it’s important for us continue to push all of these people who we’ve seen before, to ask those hard questions on how they plan to become self-reliant so that next year it could maybe go to a new applicant,” said Hotel Motel Tax Board member Keri Rojas.

Welch asked the board about possible applicants missing the proper training and class to be eligible for Hotel Motel Tax dollars.

“For instance, I know you guys in just the past few years, have seen some get awarded and some not,” Welch said. “I don’t know why they don’t come back. Have you had any exit information for the people who didn’t get funding?”

“When we give our presentation to you guys,” Hotel Motel Tax Board member Andy Sowle said addressing Welch, “we give an idea of why we are either granting it or why we denied it.”

“Maybe it’s something we need to step up a little bit more as to go to these people who were denied and say maybe change this,” said Sowle.

Board members discussed working on making a bigger effort to inform prior and future applicants about what is required to be reviewed for project funding.

Four finalists named

The Hotel Motel Tax Board met Monday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers to decide which applicants would be approved to reach the next level of review for Hotel Motel Tax grant money.

“The meeting this evening is to review the applications and select finalists to make their formal presentations on June 27 to the board,” said Hotel Motel Tax Board member Jean Fox.

The board had only four applications to review. This is the smallest amount of applicants the current board has seen.

“I’m surprised that we only have four applicants,” said Hotel Motel Tax Board member Linda Conway. “It’s the least we’ve ever had.”

The HERO Board, Legacy Learning Boone River Valley, the Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Webster City Community Theatre were all approved and will be invited to present an in-depth look at the projects they wish to put their requested funds toward.

All four applicants will make their formal presentations to the board on Monday, June 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers.

Webster City City Councilman Brian Miller, Jim Talbot, and Logan Welch were also present at the meeting and brought up concerns and questions to the board.

Talbot brought up concerns about the same organizations receiving funding multiple times.

“A lot of people that I talk to are in the 50s to 70s age group and they see the same groups getting money every year, said Talbot. “I think in general, people want to see more diverse groups coming in.”

The board explained that any group or individual is able to apply for project funding if they meet the guidelines and attend the proper informational meeting.

“I think there’s a lot of people out there who could apply, who have projects coming up, whether it’s the Boy Scouts or whatever that could benefit from this money,” said Conway. “I think they’re intimidated by the process and think that it’s some big hairy deal, which is not true. We give them the information and say here’s what we need to know for you to be considered.”

“That’s another reason why I think it’s important for us continue to push all of these people who we’ve seen before, to ask those hard questions on how they plan to become self-reliant so that next year it could maybe go to a new applicant,” said Hotel Motel Tax Board member Keri Rojas.

Welch asked the board about possible applicants missing the proper training and class to be eligible for Hotel Motel Tax dollars.

“For instance, I know you guys in just the past few years, have seen some get awarded and some not,” Welch said. “I don’t know why they don’t come back. Have you had any exit information for the people who didn’t get funding?”

“When we give our presentation to you guys,” Hotel Motel Tax Board member Andy Sowle said addressing Welch, “we give an idea of why we are either granting it or why we denied it.”

“Maybe it’s something we need to step up a little bit more as to go to these people who were denied and say maybe change this,” said Sowle.

Board members discussed working on making a bigger effort to inform prior and future applicants about what is required to be reviewed for project funding.

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