Visitors Council meets virtually again

The Carbon County Visitors Council had to change their meeting from Sinclair Town Hall to meet virtually due to concerns of COVID-19. The meeting started at 10:31 on November 18.

The agenda and minutes from the regularly scheduled meeting on October 10 were quickly approved.

The next order of business was going over and approving the 2021 Budget Amendment that incorporated $270,428.06 of Cares Act Relief Funding (CARF) received for the purpose of marketing and promoting Carbon County and to help with the resumption of activities and aid steps taken to ensure a safe experience in the county due to the public health emergency being caused by COVID-19.  The budget amendment was approved unanimously.

WYO-STAR representatives Misty Williams and Kaleb Simpson spoke to the board about the safety of keeping funds in WYO-STAR accounts.

In 1987, the Wyoming State Legislature authorized any county, municipality, school district or any other local government entity to participate in the WYO-STAR Program.

The Wyoming State Treasurer has established an investment pool in which all WYO-STAR monies are co-mingled for investment purposes. Each participant has an individual interest in the pool based on the ratio of that participant’s cash balance as a percentage of the total cash balance of the pool. Income is distributed to participants based on each entity’s average daily cash balance in the pool. Interest is calculated and credited monthly. The pool does not have a guaranteed rate of return, and participants expose their investments to market losses as well as gains.

The CCVC had questioned since there was no guarantee, as there is with a federally insured bank, if their funds in current accounts might be in danger.

Simpson did acknowledge that there was no guarantee of no losses, but that WYO-STAR were safe and desirable by entities that could get into the pool. The interest rate is higher than most banks and Simpson could not see any danger. He told the board he felt their money was safe.

The CCVC board thanked him and Williams for their time.

Carbon County Economic Development Corporation Director Yvonne Johnson was on hand to introduce herself to the CCVC board. She went over her background and what she has been doing to help Carbon County (See “Traveling to all towns in Carbon County” on page 17 of the October 21 Saratoga Sun).

Johnson said that she wanted to work closely with CCVC and have strong cooperation.

After Johnson was done, the board approved the financials for the month of October.

As to be expected, the revenues from lodging tax in the county are down compared to last year about $29,000. Carbon County itself brought in $66,601.30 versus last year’s $72,635.78. Rawlins took the biggest hit bringing in $28,596.07 compared to the previous year of $47,653.73.  Saratoga also was down considerably bringing in only $4,032.13 from the year before of $7,344.40. There were two towns that had an increase. Baggs went from $0 last year to $458.16 and Medicine Bow collected $352.42 compared to 2019’s $151.29. These figures actually reflect more of mid to late September and early October.  

The Bank of Commerce’s application to be the 2021 Designated Depository for the CCVC was approved.

All final reports on grants expenditures were approved.

Leslie Jefferson, CEO of the CCVC, shared correspondence and gave a report on her activities.

Jefferson said she was working on opportunities to use the remaining CARF funds CCVC has received. The CCVC has contracted with One Reel Media House for five new videos expected by Fall 2021.

A visitor survey will be sent out to 20,000 plus email subscribers to receive insights on consumer thoughts and planning for 2021 Travel.

Attending trade shows are tentative as many are canceling for winter and early spring.

The board went into Executive Session at 12:01 p.m. to discuss personnel and came out at 12:08 p.m.

Holiday bonuses were approved.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:31 p.m.

The next CCVC meeting will be a teleconference set for 10 a.m. on December 16.