Othello supports tourism events

OTHELLO — Othello City Council approved to fund various tourism attractions.

Each year around budget time, council reviews tourism funding requests and determines how the money is allocated.

Finance Officer Mike Bailey explained the requests.

There was $59,892 available for 2010, he said. There were 12 requests and council approved 11 using $55,959 of the available funding.

A request of $15,000 by Adams County Pet Rescue was denied because the tourism committee determined the organization is not a tourist attraction.

The largest amounts of money granted was $14,173 for the Greater Othello Chamber of Commerce, $10,000 for the Othello Sand Hill Crane Festival and $7,735 for the Old Hotel Art Gallery.

Other groups receiving funding are the 1946 Caboose project, Adams County Fair, American Fiesta Amistad, Coulee Corridor Project, Othello All-City Classic Cars, Othello Centennial Committee, Othello Community Museum and the Othello Rodeo Association.

Roughly $5,000 of the request from the Old Hotel will be used to replace the heating and ventilation system. The $5,000 was left over from their funding request for 2009 because they were unable to have the system replaced before the funding expired.

Councilmember Ken Johnson motioned to approve the funding requests and Councilmember Dan Dever seconded.

The motion passed with a 6-1 vote.

Councilmember Marc Spohr voted against the motion because he believes the $5,000 approved for the replacement of a heating system could be used in a better way to promote tourism.

Mayor Shannon McKay was absent.