| Workers put the finishing landscaping touches at the Carbon County Events Center in August. The economic goal for the center, the North Springs Recreation Area and other county venues is to attract outside visitors to area. Commissioners have appropriated restaurant tax money to promote the county venues out of the area. |
A number of funding requests came before the county’s restaurant tax advistory board a few weeks ago. Carbon commissioners approved three requests and tabled three others at last week’s regularly scheduled public meeting.
The first request approved by the commission was for $125,000 to promote the Carbon Fairgrounds Events Center, the North Springs Recreation area (shooting range) and other venues constructed in the county.
The money will be used by venue administrators to advertise and promote the facilities to agencies, businesses, associations and organizations located not only in eastern Utah, but outside the area such as along the Wasatch Front, as well.
“One of the things I would like to see done with this money is for us to review periodically how it is being use and if that use is being effective,” said Commissioner Bill Krompel.
Commissioner Mike Milovich suggested that the county should ask for a quarterly evaluation of what is going on concerning the funds and the other county lawmakers agreed.
The commission also approved $25,000 for the Carbon County Travel Board.
The travel board will use the money to fund various project requests throughout the year.
For example, the travel board recently voted to fund a billboard campaign along the Wasatch Front for College of Eastern Utah Prehistoric Museum.
Other projects subsidized by the travel board in the past year have included the Helper Arts Festival, the Western Mining and Railroad Museum and Castle Country’s Fossil and Mineral Show.
In addition, the county commissioners also approved $6,000 in restaurant tax revenues to partially fund the operation of the Castle Country Regional Information Center located in the lobby of the CEU museum. CCRIC distributes information about various tourist venues and attractions and gives advice to travelers planning trips within the area.
Three restaurant tax requests were tabled by the commissioners.
The first was Price’s request for funds to begin building an equestrian trail north of the city. Commissioners wondered whether Price should consider a recreation, arts and parks tax for the project.
East Carbon also requested funds for a trail project within the city.
Finally, funds were requested by CEU for the Mesazoic Gardens development.
Commissioners felt that the three projectswere not spelled out well enough and more information was needed to evaluate the requests.
In an unrelated money matter, the commission approved allocating $10,000 for the Healthy Families Coalition from the county’s general budget for the next year.
The coalition has been presenting a series of programs to help families with parenting and social skills during the last two years.
The group has sponsored programs hosting hundreds of people at Mont Harmon Junior High, in East Carbon and during the family togetherness event at the July 4 celebration at the Carbon County Fairgrounds.