frontiervillage2Jamestown (CSi) he Frontier Village Association has approved keeping wage increases for the village’s staff. The Association did not receive the full grant amount from the Buffalo City Tourism Foundation.

The total staffing budget amount for the 2014 season at $40,558.17. The association will review the budget in July and could change the wages depending on the results.

The BCTF Executive Board previously approved $35,000 for staffing. Association President Charlie Tanata says the association has $20,000 in the reserve from last year and could use $5,000 of that to cover the difference in the staff funding request.

Also the FVA needs about $6,000 to finish two wooden towers at the front gate entrance to the village, and another $2,000 to pay Karen George, the woman who runs the stagecoach ride, for extra hours to run the ride this summer. Altogether these unanticipated expenses are $14,000.

Tanata said with the $20,000 surplus, the association can cover those expenses.

BCTF Executive Director Searle Swedlund said the association needs to find a way to “sell” to the BCTF Executive Board the idea that the increased wages are being used to bring more visitors into the Frontier Village, thus benefiting all of Jamestown’s tourism businesses.

The FVA approved a request from the Wild West Players for $350 to buy ammunition and break-a-way bottles, to be used by the Wild West Players in shows at the Frontier Village.