The Hope Advertising and Tourism Commission met at the Fair Park Community Center late Tuesday afternoon.

The Hope Advertising and Tourist Promotion Commission’s December regular meeting Tuesday afternoon had on its agenda a discussion about attendance at the artificial ice rink in the Pavilion Park, businesses that are behind on their tourism tax and an examination of its 2023 proposed budget.

At the beginning of the meeting the members addressed questions to Parks Department Superintendent Summer Powell on matters involving the rink. Powell said skates had to be replaced since the opening of the rink because they were breaking down with use. The 27 replacement skates that have been ordered are of a different and higher quality brand.

Then the meeting proceeded to consideration of Hope businesses behind in their payments. One business scheduled for a hearing during this meeting on revoking its permit to operate in town did heed the warning letters it had been sent and pay off its tax bill, though not the late fees. So the revocation hearing did not occur as scheduled in Tuesday’s meeting.

Next on the agenda was time allotted to fuller discussion of the artificial ice rink’s attendance. Summer Powell said on the first weekend the rink was open, 96 skaters used it. The following weekend there were 25, then the next one there were 41, with 27 skaters using the rink after that Monday’s Christmas Parade. This past weekend’s skaters numbered 54.

Even with these numbers, Powell believes if it were not for the weather more might have used the rink. “It’s been hard to catch breaks from the rain so that might also deter people from coming,” she said. But all in all, Powell said, “Attendance has been great.”

Chair of the commission Sharon Caldwell said some of the groups scheduled to oversee the rink were “not living up to their commitment and Summer’s having to go run it, a lot.”

“So we just need to make sure we don’t put them back on the list,” Coffee said. He then asked it would be possible to expand the size of the rink. Chair of the commission Sharon Caldwell said the Parks Department has additional panels that could be added next year and more panels could be bought.  “It’s too much of a puzzle to put together right now to undo it,” she said referring to the possibility of expanding the rink now.

The agenda’s next item was the 2023 Proposed Tourism Budget. After clarifying whether or not certain spending items were included in the budget, especially $100,000 the commission agreed to hold in reserve for a future purchase, with grant funding or without, of a splash pad for Northside Park, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve the budget.

With no citizens requests, the meeting adjourned.