Lodging Panel Okays Funds for Farm-City Banquet

The Lamar Chamber of Commerce received $4,000 from the Prowers Lodging Panel for marketing funds for the upcoming Farm City Banquet set for November 12^th of this year.  The Chamber had requested $5,000 to promote the annual event which features a dinner prepared and served by area FFA clubs as well as entertainment, provided this year by James Otto, a country-western recording act.  Past acts for the annual banquet have included cowboy poet Baxter Black and recording artists Clare Dunn and Michael Martin Murphy.

The request had been made several months ago, but Panel members delayed any action pending the receipt of sufficient funds from the state, based on the 2% lodging tax levied on motel rooms in Prowers County. “We received a check for $17,628 for August and with our recent payment to LCC for the Antelope Stampede for $9,700, all pledges have been paid,” explained Panel business manager, Carla Scranton, during the monthly meeting on August 16^th.

The Lodging Panel receives four large payments through the year based on the tax payments made by motel owners to the state. One final payment is expected to be received around November.  Last August, the payment made to the Panel was $23,588 and one in November totaled $24,539.

The funding to the Lamar Chamber left a balance of $8,949 as well as a $14,000 contingency fund. Panel member, Doug Thrall, asked for discussion on adding to the current contingency fund, but members agreed to delay any action until later in the year.  Earlier this summer, the Panel approved funding for several fall events including the September 10^th, 911 Tribute and Parade, the September 24^th Lamar Fly In at the municipal airport and a Sip and Savor fundraising event to benefit the Share the Spirit Foundation, set for October.

By Russ Baldwin