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Board finalizes recommendations

H/M Tax grant requests from ACE, Building Possibility denied

The Hotel Motel Tax Board met Thursday evening to determine final recommendations on project applications to be presented to the City Council of Webster City on Monday, Dec. 18. The board is recommending the council approve awarding $81,944.20 in grant monies for the 20th grant cycle. If the council approves this amount, funds left in the H/M Tax fund will total $47,213.15.

Nine local organizations presented to the Webster City Hotel Motel Tax Board Tuesday evening in hopes of receiving grant monies. A total of $99,669.20 was requested between them. All five board members were present at the meeting.

The Webster City Community Theatre requested $1,600 for the WCCT to host the Iowa Community Theatre Association State Convention.

After minimal discussion, the board recommended the theatre’s request be fully funded. The motion was approved unanimously by board members Andy Sowle, Kyle Swon, Kristen Crystal, Keri Holmes Rojas and Linda Conaway.

The board approved the Women’s Club of Webster City’s request for $7,215 in funds to refurbish the second story of the Jane Young House. According to club members, they hope to refinish the floors on the second story, replace wallpaper and purchase new window treatments. The club wishes to purchase dress forms, clothes hangers, and storage to properly display the wealth of vintage clothing housed in the second story.

“I think it’s a city asset and a great use of our money,” said Holmes Rojas.

Crystal, who was not present at Tuesday’s presentations, questioned what marketing tools the women’s club used to promote the Jane Young House. Sowle and Holmes Rojas noted Facebook, brochures and word of mouth.

“I would like to see more marketing,” said Crystal.

The board voted not to recommend ACE Community Center receive any funding. ACE requested $12,475 for marketing ACE and a bi-lingual communication assistant.

“I don’t like the idea of funding a staff member with Hotel Motel Tax money,” said Crystal. “I think it’s great and needs to happen, but is Hotel Motel the right way to fund it?”

‘I’m with you one hundred percent on that,” Sowle said.

Holmes Rojas noted the staff funding was the one part of the request she would like to fund.

“I think I’d like us to fund the $1,200 staffing and make it very clear in our letter, that we see this as a one-time jump start to develop the professional materials they need,” said Holmes Rojas.

Board members were in agreement that although ACE is serves a purpose in the community, it is not a request suitable for H/M monies.

Arts R Alive in Webster City requested $1,835 for sculpture placement in downtown Webster City, artists stipends, cement pad and invitations to their next sculpture event. The board voted unanimously to recommend the full amount be awarded.

Holmes Rojas noted the progress the Arts R Alive event has made since its fruition seven years ago. With the eight annual event returning in August, the sculpture event continues to grow and reach more people throughout the Midwest region.

“Look how far they’ve come,” said Holmes Rojas. “I just think it’s a great thing.”

“I like the idea of getting some pieces on main street too.

The Border Brigade Archery Club requested $4,175 for a trailer. The 16-foot trailer will house the brigade’s equipment. The board voted to recommend the club receive the requested $4,175.

“This one is a hard sell for me,” said Holmes Rojas.

“I would have liked to see funds directed for a marketing request,” said Swon.

Conaway and Crystal agreed with Swon that they would be less hesitant to award monies with an explicit marketing plan.

Swon and Crystal did note the 200-300 people drawn to Hamilton County thanks to the club as a positive. However, they questioned the merit of visitors to how the new trailer would draw people to the club and the county.

The board approved to fully fund a request from Briggs Woods Conference Center/Hamilton County Conservation for $50,000. The monies will be used for the Briggs Woods Conference Center. The conference center is slated to be finished in the fall of 2018.

“In my mind, they are the lone applicant that is one hundred percent worthy of Hotel Motel Tax dollars,” said Swon.

“It’s going to be bringing people to Webster City to spend the night in a hotel in an ongoing fashion,” Crystal said.

Holmes Rojas proposed granting them $25,000 instead of the full $50,000 because their extension of $25,000 from the 19th round was approved. Conaway echoed Holmes Rojas’s thoughts.

The motion to approve only half of the $50,000 failed to pass in a 3:2 vote with Conaway and Holmes Rojas voting yes and Swon, Sowle and Crystal voting no.

The board also approved the Briggs Woods Conference Center’s request for an extension of $25,000 in a 3:2 vote. The $25,000 was awarded to the center during the 19th cycle but wasn’t used. Crystal, Sowle and Swon voted yes. Conaway and Holmes Rojas voted no.

Building Possibility requested $4,000 for a three-month residency for photographer Brendan Hoffman. Hoffman, a distinguished photojournalist, currently resides in the Ukraine. The board voted unanimously against recommending this venture receive any funding.

Board members expressed concern with Hoffman’s original portrayal of Webster City back in 2011-2013.

“I don’t want our name attached to this,” Sowle said.

“It’s a coin toss,” Conaway said.

Holmes Rojas referenced one of Hoffman’s photos taken in Webster City when Hoffman came to photograph the town. In the photo, a high school girl ready for prom is pictured walking out of a home that appears not to have siding. Had Hoffman zoomed out to show the full house, viewers would have seen that the majority of the house was finished aside from the portion currently being worked on.

“That’s an example of his integrity and story telling. I don’t think that’s Iowa integrity,” said Holmes Rojas. “He had a particular story he was trying to tell and he went and found photos to support the story. He didn’t come here to discover the story, he already knew what the story was when he got here.”

The Webster City Badminton Club/Parks & Rec requested $1,750 for their 2018 Badminton Tournament. The board voted 3:1 to recommend the group be awarded $500. Swon voted no. Holmes Rojas abstained from the vote.

Members of the board were excited about the concept, but agreed only a portion of the funds should be recommended.

The board voted to recommend the Wilson Brewer Park Committee be awarded the full $16,619.20 requested to keep the grounds open during the summer months.

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