Tourism board denies funding, Village manager

Jamestown (CSi)  The Jamestown Tourism Grant/Executive Advisory Board met Thursday morning at the Holiday Inn Express in Jamestown,  to hear grant requests. Voting board members present were Beth Dewald, Janna Bergstedt and Matt Woods.

The board heard a grant request from Robbie Lukens, for dollars for the University of Jamestown Basketball Shootout, for event marketing and expenses in the amount of $5,000.

Lukens’ request indicates additional funding of $600 from the University of Jamestown and $600 from Northwood, North Dakota businesses.

The event on December 29, and 30, 2016, will be moved from the Jamestown Civic Center, to Jamestown High School due to scheduling conflicts, and will cost additional dollars totaling a $2,500 in the rental fee.

Some of the additional cost will be addressed by the Tourism Grant, and designating the rest of the grant money to covering marketing costs, with at least $1,500 specifically for out of town marketing efforts.  The projected total attendance is 1,792 including overnight a day trip guests over the two days.

The economic impact is estimated at $216,000, as ten boys basketball teams from three regions in North Dakota, and Minnesota are expected to compete in the Holiday Shootout.

Lukens added that the players costs will be funded.

Proceeds will go to the Northwood School Foundation, with Jamestown High School receiving proceeds from concessions sales.

The board voted unanimously to grant the full requested amount.

The Frontier Village Association asked for a staffing request for a manager’s position.

The Interim President, Nellie Degen said the request is for $4,537.46 to fund the manager’s position for the second half, July – December 2016.

There will be eight part time employees, consisting of adding two maintenance employees at a salary of $13.50 per hour.

Other staff members include, manager at $15 per hour, Head Greeter $10 per hour, greeter, $9 per hour.

After a lengthy discussion on the merits of the funding, a motion was made to approve the full amount, which was defeated on a 2-1 vote, with members Woods, and Dewald voting in opposition, Bergstedt voting in favor. No subsequent motion was made for any different amount of funding, than what was requested.

Following the meeting Executive Director Searle Swedlund informed the board members that the installation of the directional sign near the Tourism Office and Frontier Village  is  being done.

The sign is part of the Jamestown Tourism rebranding process.

He says, the spot for the first sign was selected after watching so many cars turn around in front of the Tourism office.

He points out that  after traveling a couple miles off of interstate, visitors see the towers that say Frontier Village and those looking for the World’s Largest Buffalo or the National Buffalo Museum turn around.

He believes the signage will give the visitor better definition of the area.