New Lodging Panel Board Members for 2018

New Lodging Panel Members Meet at LCC

The Prowers County Lodging Tax Panel held their first meeting of 2018 on Tuesday, January 16^th with three new board members at a new, interim location.

Kay Hainer, Valerie Baldwin and Craig Brooks were appointed to the Panel by the Prowers County Commissioners, filling three vacancies. New officers were also elected with Jane Felter as President, Chad Hart as Vice-President, Norma Dorenkamp as Secretary and Valerie Baldwin as Treasurer.  The meeting was held at the administration building of Lamar Community College, a temporary residence for the Lodging Panel.  Prowers Economic Prosperity and the Panel shared offices at the Cow Palace Inn for the past several years and a new location is being sought as a future headquarters.

Funding was approved for three applications: $3,500 for the annual Lamar Days Rod Run with organizer Ron Cook making the presentation for the car show and rod run which occurs every May in Lamar.  This year will mark the 27^th annual event and the 23^rd that Cook has organized the show which is held at Willow Creek Park.  Over 100 cars and motorcycles from four states participate in the May 18^th and 19^th event.  A fund-raiser poker run is also held from Sonic Drive In on Friday evening.  Cook mentioned that some new entries to the show from the Colorado State Patrol, Sheriff’s Office, and the Fire and Ambulance Departments will offer kids hands-on entertainment this year.

Norma Dorenkamp’s request for $3,000 for the annual Cowboy Up at the Wagons in Granada this June was approved. The funds will be used for advertising and contracts for bronc riding horses, a relatively new feature for the event which is held at the End of the Line Arena in Camp Amache.  Participants offer a realistic view of a cowboy gathering which features traditional chuckwagon cooking and related rodeo events including bronc riding contests with over 20 participants from five states.  Admission is $10 per carload and a chuckwagon meal is $6.  A concession stand and vendor’s booths are also featured.  The event will be held June 2^nd.  “We broke even last year, but we’d like to get a little ahead so we could make donations to local organizations,” Dorenkamp explained.

A $1,000 request for marketing and advertising funds was approved as a pledge for Rural Philanthropy Days which will be held in Lamar for the first time June 13-15^th.  Ann-Marie Crampton explained the three day event allows representatives of non-profit organizations as well as cities or even counties to interact with groups that allocate funding and funding information.  The three day event is expected to bring as many as 300 people to the Lamar Community.  An information press release on the event states, “The RPD program provides a powerful opportunity for the state’s most influential funders, government representatives, business leaders and local nonprofit organizations to strengthen partnerships and better meet the needs of Colorado’s rural communities. The program successfully provides increased access to resources, skill building opportunities, and the cultivation of relationships on a regional scale.”

Including the Panel’s contingency fund, the current balance is $45,874.85 before the awards were issued and outstanding pledges are at $24,000 for three future events. Panel Office Manager, Carla Scranton said the 4^th quarter payment from the state based on the 2% county motel room fee, is expected next month.  The Panel will meet on February 13^th at 4pm.

By Russ Baldwin