Othello Boys & Girls Club funds remain in limbo

by Candice Boutilier<br>Herald Staff Writer
| May 17, 2007 9:00 PM

Council working to determine use

OTHELLO — Council is concerned with the usage of the Boys & Girls Club funds.

"I don't know how to address this," Councilmember Kenneth Caylor began.

He worried about the $30,000 set aside for the dismantled club. He said although the club operation was terminated several months ago, the funds should not be spent prematurely.

"That's not right. I don't think we should even touch that," he said. "Stay away from that."

The funds are earmarked for the club but originally came from the general fund, Mayor Shannon McKay said. The funds are allocated to a nonexistent organization.

He suggested putting it back in the general fund because there is no resolution to the termination of the club.

Councilmember Marc Spohr said the club funds should remain untouched in case an alternative solution is presented to the council.

Previously $1,000 was removed from the club fund to increase the firework show budget to $2,500.

Council discussed using club funds to be featured in a tourism book showcasing Columbia Basin cities.

City staff proposed using $1,750 from the club fund for the project.

Spohr argued the funds should not be pulled from the club fund. Instead it should be used from the economic development fund because it is a tourism project, he said.

Economic development council management remains unclear because although they have money, they do not have a budget, the mayor said. The city produces some funding for the development council.

"Then I want it back," Spohr said about the funds.

"We cannot stop moving forward," McKay said about tourism. "We want to be a part of this."

Councilmember Tim Wilson said he didn't think the development council was spending the money appropriately.

"It's not being spent," he said.

City Manager Ehman Sheldon said he would research the possibility of taking the funds back from the development council.

Council agreed they want to be featured in the tourism book but did not decide where the funding would come from. Council plans to discuss the issue further at the next meeting.