Winnemucca's Convention and Visitors Authority board members listened to an audit report at their last meeting. The audit is done by Steel and Associates, a company not connected to the county or the authority.
Auditors found WCVA in good financial shape and complimented the board, its director and staff for controlling costs and budgeting carefully.
Through the first half of 2013, room taxes increased each month over the same months the previous year but, more recently, as Humboldt County has experienced a couple of setbacks, collections have dropped below last year. A drop in exploration and construction at the mines has shown as a drop in room tax revenue, as many of those temporary employees stay in area motels, hotels and RV parks.
Terry Boyle pointed out, as he did at last months' meeting, the drop in room tax collections, which makes up the vast majority of authority funding, will bring changes in WCVA's ability to contribute to projects and organizations in the community.
However, the board voted during the meeting to give support for several upcoming events in addition to the '96 ranch sesquicentennial celebration (see related story).
Local rancher Debbie Hummel requested a grant to cover the cost of renting the convention center east hall for two days (July 31 and Aug. 1) for the Western Art and Craft Show. Hummel organized the show last year in conjunction with the Superior Livestock Auction. She noted the show went over well and she wants to do it again but added it wouldn't be possible to put on the show if the $1,200 to rent the east hall for two days were added to her other costs.
The WCVA board unanimously approved that $1,200 for a facilities grant.
Lowry High School Music Boosters Organization representative Linda Betteridge requested a grant to cover the cost of renting the east hall upstairs on March 19 for the organization's yearly fundraiser, "Where's the Beef?"
The dinner, concert and raffle of beef, held for the past five years, is the organization's main fundraiser for Lowry High School music department. Proceeds are used to cover the costs of travel, sheet music and instruments for students in the high school music program.
The board committed a grant of $400 to pay for rental for the Comstock Room and the Kitchen for, "Where's the Beef?"
Humboldt Volunteer Hospice requested a grant to cover the cost of renting the convention center east hall main floor for a first-time fundraiser to support operation of the volunteer hospice organization. Hospice will be partnering with the Downtown Business Association on a "Dames 'n Design" music and a fashion show. WCVA board members complimented the group's volunteer efforts in the community and gave them a $600 grant to pay for the use of the east hall's main floor.
The Superior Livestock Auction's 26th year in Winnemucca will get $20,000 worth of support from the WCVA. Board Chair Terry Boyle commented when the auction is held in Winnemucca, "We could have twice the number of hotel/ motel rooms in town and fill them up."
Boyle said the grant would return much more than $20,000 to the WCVA and community.
"It's a two-way street, we both benefit," he said, adding, "We may not be able to do as much next year."
WCVA board members talked briefly about the possible location of the proposed arts center downtown - across Melarkey Boulevard from the convention center. They noted the proposed location, on a parking lot the WCVA Board worked for years to purchase, is problematic but decided to wait until they have heard about the project first-hand at a joint meeting of the WCVA, City Council and County Commission on March 3.
The proposed shared-cost of improvements for the Melarkey Street-Winnemucca Boulevard intersection will also be on that joint meeting agenda.
Joyce Sheen can be contacted at j.sheen@winnemuccapublishing.net[[In-content Ad]]
