Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) — The Buffalo City Tourism Foundation Board, met Friday (Feb 22, 2013) at the CSi Technology Center Conference Room.

President Aldon Kollman reported that North Dakota Senate Bill 2203 was passed, and goes to the State House for review.

He said the bill authorizes counties to levy mills to support historic sites, which would include Frontier Village, the Stutsman County Memorial Museum, and Ft. Seward, in the Jamestown area.

He added that counties could levy point-72 mills, and up to 2.25 mills if approved by a vote of citizens.

He pointed out that the dollars raised through the mill level would be matched 50 percent by the State Historical Society, adding that in Stutsman County point 75 mills would raise $36,000 plus $18,000 in the state match.

The board voted to send a letter of endorsement of the bill to the District 12 and 29 legislators.

 

JSDC, CEO, Connie Ova mentioned that there is presently a Stutsman County levy for economic development.

She pointed out that the JSDC supports tourism, however, previously one half of the city sales tax that was earmarked for tourism is supposedly now set aside for infrastructure to support the city’s sewer replacement projects.

She said the wording of the petition which was the language of the measure voters had passed is not necessarily being used strictly for infrastructure improvements.

It was noted that the attorney hired by the board, concerning the contract with the city of Jamestown for 2013, will be notified of a time deadline to respond to the board.
Kollman said the 2012 contract extension provided by the city is about to expire, and the board needs to have more frequent contact by its attorney.

No other discussion was held at the open meeting about the contract.

 

Website Progress was discussed, and the consensus was to promote the site when up and running through Facebook, the local media, and tourism web sites.

 

With Grant Applications:
The board approved the Fort Seward request for $9,500 for summer staffing.

The board approved Stutsman County Museum’s reques of – $6,000 for summer staffing.

 

Frontier Village Summer Staffing was approved at $33,546.

 

Frontier Village Horse Care at $11,700 was approved, provided bids are let for farrier work.

 

Frontier Village Pioneer Days request for $5,000 was withdrawn.

 

A BCT IRS 990 form was noted, with no action taken.

Buffalo City Tourism Director, Searle Swedlund said he’s been in the position for six weeks, and that he has been meeting with members of the community, and plans more discussions, including meeting the the BCTF Executive Board in April to discuss issues.

That includes input to the BCTF Strategic Plan.

He also plans to meet with tourism officials in Aberdeen, Bismarck and Valley City, along with attending statewide tourism related conferences.

Informational:

The Buffalo City Toursim Foundation, Committed in 2012:

$6,000 Drag Races

$2,100 Big Sing/Jamestown Choralaires

$339 Frontier Village Payroll (Tina Busch-2011)

$6,000 Stutsman County Museum Staffing

$2,500 Pipestem Off-Road Festival

$12,168 National Buffalo Museum Staffing

$4,000 White Cloud’s 16th Birthday

$9,500 Ft. Seward Summer Staffing

$1,500 Main Street Association Street Banners

$11,700 Frontier Village – Horse Care

$24,226 Frontier Village – Summer Staffing

$5,038.02 Additional Summer Staffing – Manager

$3,358.68 Additional Summer Staffing – Manager

$1,500 Kite Festival

$1,500 James River Rodeo

$790 Wild West Players – Frontier Village

$2,200 Ft. Seward Handicap Parking Area

$1,300 Frontier Village – Pioneer Days

$2,700 Frontier Village – Maintenance

$9,000 Fireworks

$7,500 ND Roughrider Assoc. State Rodeo Finals

$1,395 Stutsman County (Trail Builders)

$6,000 Arts Center – Caravanserai

$700 Radio City Flyers – Fly In

$3,000 Fishing Derby

$10,000 JC Conference Tourney

$8,985 Fireworks for 2013

TOTAL COMMITTED: $144,999.70

BUDGET: $145,000

BALANCE: $.30

CARRY-OVER TO 2013

$3,000 Fishing Derby

$10,000 JC Conference Tourney

$8,985 2013 Fireworks Show