Lodging Tax Funding In Transistion.

The recent voter approval of the increase in the lodging tax from two percent to four percent has prompted Mayor Johnson to form a committee to evaluate how the funds should be spent.

The Mayor told the Budget/Ways and Means Committee that he wants various representatives of the tourism industry to recommend a course of action to better utilize the expected $130,000 in revenue from the lodging tax.

The Committee tentatively earmarked up to $30,000 of the money to fund a marketing plan that could include a logo and slogan for the City. Committee Chair Jackie Boyer has been a proponent a unified effort to promote the City for some time.

Committee member Bill Putnam made the motion to limit funding to last year’s level for all outside agencies that receive lodging tax. He said that until the lodging tax committee made their recommendations, he didn’t want to commit the increase in tax revenues.

Boyer and member Bill Fortune voted against the moratorium on increases but did cut approximately $9,000 in total from various agency requests for next year.

As a kid I learned that an expert was defined as a has-been drip under pressure. This also goes well with the Mark Twain observation that the farther from home ya get, the more of an expert you will be considered.

It seems odd to me that the City would want to spend up to $30,000 for an outside expert to develop a marketing plan for tourism. We sit in the middle of more than a handful of "experts" right here in town.

Surely the hotel/motel folks and those directly concerned with the attraction of tourists to this community can come up with a logical way to spend the $130,000 a year generated by overnight stays that would directly benefit the local cash registers. Spendin’ it should be the easy part.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Workman's Loan

The Super Handyman

by Al Carrell & Kelly Carrell

Q: I have a common asphalt driveway. Someone told me that I should apply a sealer to it. What type do I use, and what purpose does it serve.

A: Apply a blacktop sealer. There are several such products available at hardware stores and home centers, and most are pretty easy to apply.

The sealer protects the surface and might also keep any goo from coming off onto your shoes.

Q: I want to remove about 300 square feet of old asbestos tiles in my den before installing new carpeting. What is going to be the best way to do it safely?

A: Flooring manufacturers suggest that you don’t remove asbestos flooring if at all possible. If the asbestos remains dormant, there is no direct danger. Only when you disturb the asbestos is there any danger of creating dust particles that might be inhaled.

Since you are going to add carpeting , why not install the carpeting and padding over the old flooring?

If you do remove any asbestos products, be sure you read a brochure telling you how to handle it safely and dispose of it properly. Your flooring dealer should have such information, or you can contact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.