Concert Funding Request Okayed by Lodging Panel

Marketing and contract fees totaling $11,000 for the annual Kick-Off Concert for the Sand and Sage Round-Up were approved by the Prowers Lodging Panel during their monthly meeting, Tuesday, November 19.  The request is for the same amount as last year, according to Brandon Sherwood, who represented the Prowers County Fair Board who organizes the annual concert at the Prowers County Fairgrounds. 

“We have a couple of acts in mind, but there is no commitment for any performer at this point,” Sherwood explained to the Panel board.  This is standard procedure for the event, as a minimum fee is paid to the booking agency and negotiations and scheduling for a suitable performer follow.  Sherwood said about 800 persons attended last year’s concert and it takes a few more than that for the event to break even on total expenses. 

The board approved $500 to go to replacement Watchable Wildlife signs at the Colorado Welcome Center in Lamar.  The funds are part of a matching fee that will be used by the Division of Parks and Wildlife and the Santa Fe Trail Historical Society.  There was a brief discussion of asking the state legislature to allow for more open financial records on sales tax revenues paid to the Lodging Panel and similar groups throughout the state.  Board members are hoping that complete disclosure regarding their monthly payments from the county lodging taxes can be achieved.  Reimbursements from the state can run from $6.86 to $15,000 for a quarter with no attribution as to which months are being paid from collected lodging taxes of 1.9%.  The final meeting of the year will be Tuesday, December 17 at the PCDI offices at the Rodeway Cow Palace Inn.

By Russ Baldwin