Attending Tuesday evening's Hope Advertising and Tourist Promotion Commission meeting were (left to right) Parks Superintendent Summer Powell, Commissioners Milko Smith, Steve Montgomery, Chair Sharon Caldwell, Commissioners Don Still, Charlton Luker and Trevor Coffee.
The Hope Advertising and Tourist Promotion Commission held its regular January meeting yesterday evening at the Fair Park Community Center. Under discussion was the purchase of advertisements in the Hope-Hempstead County and Prescott-Nevada County Relocation Guides, assessment of use of the artificial ice rink provided during the holiday season at The Pavilion Park and potential purchasing of holiday decorations for next year.
The commissioners agreed to buy a full-page ad for the back cover of the Hope-Hempstead County Relocation Guide, which will be published this year by SWARK.Today at a cost of $1,310. For the Prescott-Nevada County Relocation Guide, the commissions took no vote to purchase a half page ad, which costs $780, in partnership with Arkansas Great Southwest, an association of towns and counties in southwest Arkansas with the purpose of promoting tourism to the area. Arkansas Great Southwest alone purchased the ad that ran in Prescott-Nevada County Relocation ad, without partnering with the Hempstead County Advertising and Tourism Commission.
Parks Superintendent Summer Powell provided a report on the number of skaters and the fiscal performance of the artificial ice skating rink. In all, 349 skaters used the rink between November 17 and January 7. The commission collected $1,252.50 in profit.
In discussion that followed, commission members came to a consensus that this year’s attendance proved the rink to be a success and next year the size of the rink will be expanded.
The meeting began with the commissioners’ examination and approval of the December meeting minutes, then an examination and approval of reports from Powell on December revenues and expenses. The reports showed a net income of $60,898.50 and expenses of $18,753.50. An additional document provided the profit and loss budget versus the actual budget for January through December of 2022. Total expense was shown to be $610,333.34, while $627,380.00 was budgeted.
Near the end of the meeting, Powell drew the commissioners’ attention to 2023 catalog of Christmas decorations from Holiday Outdoor Décor, in which the items are listed at 30 percent off until February 28. Mayor Don Still, who is also a commissioner, said he would like to see more decorations along Hervey next year. The commissioners will study the catalogue and consider what choices they might make prior to the sale ending.
Correction: A previous version of this story said the commissioners voted in favor of partnering with Arkansas Great Southwest to purchase an ad in the Prescott-Nevada County Relocation Guide. But a subsequent review of the recording of the meeting showed this vote did not take place.