Visitors council approves funding

The Carbon County Visitors Council (CCVC) met at 10 a.m. on May 20 by telephone and video conference. In addition to the representatives from each municipality for CCVC, grant applicants attended to explain their upcoming events.

Those events were The Adventures of Joe Pickett by the Saratoga Museum; 14th annual Music in the Park by Encampment; Riverside Party Day from Riverside, Carbon County Fair; 2020 Bullfest by Saratoga Lions Club; ArtBeat by Rawlins DDA/Main Street; Latino Heritage Festival from Rawlins Recreation Center; Encampment Rodeo by the Encampment/Riverside Lions Club; 2020 Haunted Halloween Night Tours by the Old Pen Joint Powers Board; Steinley Cup, and Copper Days from Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber; Jamie Waugh Art Exhibit from Art Street Project; Wyofest Brewfest, Quarters for Quarters, and 2020 Cow Plop, from Rawlins Chamber; and Platte Valley Rodeo presented by the Platte Valley Rodeo Association.

During the discussion and presentations, applicants made it clear that the events were contingent on Wyoming lifting some of the current social distance restrictions. All said they understood it was possible the events might have to change or be canceled, but wanted to get their applications in with the attitude that the event would happen.

After the board listened to all requests, the council approved the financials and money approved to be dispersed to each municipality from proceeds of the lodging tax.

Next on the agenda, ITI-digital Travel Software Solutions representative Franci Edgerly gave a video presentation of her company’s website enhancement capabilities for the CCVC.

Resolution 2020-01, a resolution changing the title of the Executive Director to CEO (Chief Executive Officer) to accurately reflect the responsibility and leadership of the organization, was approved.

The board approved the Crisis Communications Plan for the Carbon County Visitors’ Council and the Carbon County Hospitality Industry. This Crisis Communications Plan is intended for crisis communications for events that impact the hospitality industry. This plan creates guidelines for the CCVC to communicate with industry partners in the event of a crisis, incident, or emergency when providing accurate information immediately is vital. This plan may also be utilized to communicate with public, media, when or if necessary.

Resolution 2020-02 was approved. The CCVC grants approval to the staff and the Board of Directors to search out and apply for available grant funding for Outdoor Recreation or other tourism initiatives. The Chairman and the CEO are authorized to execute project related documents on behalf of the CCVC.

The second reading of the Fiscal Year 2020/2021 budget was approved.

The next scheduled meeting is at 10 a.m. on June 24 in Hanna. The meeting could turn to teleconference if social distancing rules cannot be adhered to at the town’s facility.