City Manager Catherine Cooke brings clarity to the Hope Advertising and Tourist Promotion Commission's discussion about businesses that have fallen behind on their Tourism Tax payments.
Last evening the Hope Advertising and Tourist Promotion Commission met for its July regular meeting. The Commission heard a revenue report for June, then updates on payments and permits, a pitch for advertising services from the Little Rock firm CJRW. It also decided to approve prize money for the Watermelon Festival Softball tournament.
After approving minutes for the last meeting in May, Hope Parks Superintendent Summer Powell’'s presentation of the June 2022 revenue report followed. Total revenue for the month was $65,126.01, with $61,202.01 coming from the Tourism Tax, $2,974.00 coming from the RV Park and $950 listed for other income.
In comparison with June of 2021, revenues ran a little over $1,000 less this year. This comes after the department received $84,168.15 in May, which was $17,316.51 more than it received in May of 2021.
Expenses for the department for June was $31,121, which was $44,785 less than expenses in June of 2021.
Following this was discussion on sending notices to a few businesses who are behind on paying the Tourism Tax. City Manager Catherine Cook was on hand to answer questions from the commissioners. She was asked whether food trucks that serve the Hope public for a brief period at special events were being taxed. Cook said the city relies on owners of these to voluntarily register and pay for their permits, but that if members of the commission happened to see food trucks not displaying a sticker showing that they had paid, to report it to her office.
Next, Lisa Garrett from the Little Rock advertising firm CJRW presented the Commission with options for advertising Hope in several forms of media in the new fiscal year, including on line, on television and in printed tourism guides. She referred the commissioners to Arkansas.com’s Discover Arkansas page for samples of short videos the firm had completed for other Arkansas towns. The commission did not take action on the item.
The commission did take action in approving $4,000 for prizes for the Watermelon Festival Softball tournament. Commission chair Sharon Caldwell said the prizes were necessary to compete with other softball tournaments in the area that may be offering cash prizes to winners. During discussion, Summer Powell said it seemed that every year another nearby town schedules a softball tournament at the same time as Hope’s. Last year, it was El Dorado. The year before it was Shreveport. Asked if El Dorado was hosting a softball tournament at the same time as the 2022 Watermelon Festival, Sharon Caldwell said that was not yet known.
After the meeting’s agenda items had been cleared, discussion took place about the fireworks display. Commissioners reported receiving many compliments about the way the event was organized. Chair Caldwell said one need that was reported was for hand sanitizer and that stands could be placed at the event next year. Commissioner Trevor Coffee requested a larger supply of Kettle Corn. Commissioner, Hope Mayor and organizer of the fireworks display Don Still said, “We could double the food trucks,” prompting Powell to report standing in line at one food truck for 45 minutes before she was served.
The handling of exiting traffic when the event ended was praised by the commissioners who said this was a major improvement on last year.
Before adjournment the commission agreed to move the August meeting date to August 16.
