Travel & Tourism board discusses sign

At the June 18 Hot Springs County Travel & Tourism board meeting, Treasurer Audra Dominguez provided the financial report and said their most recent lodging tax deposit was $16,714.10. After reviewing their accounts and recent transactions, the board voted and passed the approval to accept the financial report.

Also, the board decided to postpone their election of officers due to several members being absent. They plan on voting in the July board meeting.

Tourism director Jackie Dorothy gave her report and said regarding the recent Yellowstone Highway Tours, “We have hosted nearly 50 people so far on tours to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the highway. The first group was a partnership with the Wind River Visitors Council and the second was a group from Meeteetse. More groups are on their way this summer and fall.”

In old business, regarding their digital sign project, Dorothy said they are waiting to get a bill from Rocky Mountain Power, by which they will pay as the next step. Dorothy also said the materials for the sign have not yet arrived. So far, the tourism board has paid $80,000 and there is an additional $80,000 remaining. The funds for the digital sign come from the Destination Development funds, which are the state level for the lodging tax. 

The board discussed their May 22 board training. Some of the items highlighted were that the data used in the board training was from 2017 and they were concerned because it was not current and did not reflect the progress and changes since that time. Dorothy added that having a role being defined for “what a marketing consultant was to do and what the board has to do with the big picture” and “having a finance committee and a marketing committee” would help in being more organized.

In new business, the board voted and passed the approval of the 2024-2025 budget, with a change in adding $800 for utility bills for the digital sign, taking it away from a storage line item. 

Chamber of Commerce Director Meri Ann Dorman discussed their contract with the tourism board and asked for their documents to be ready and signed so she can present it to her board at their July 11 meeting. The contract is for wage reimbursement for staffing at the chamber office.

The next Travel & Tourism board meeting will be on July 16 at 1 p.m. at the Quality Inn.