All grant requests were approved by the county commissioners

SIDNEY -- Cheyenne County Tourism Director Kendra Mitchell came to the county commissioners meeting with five grant requests July 17. 

The grants requested were confirmed by the Visitors Committee prior to the commissioners meeting. The County Tourism Director is not a voting member of the committee. 

The grants include a $4,861 Promotions grant for the Lodgepole Old Settlers Day, an Improvement Grant submitted by Way Out West for windows in the Elks Lodge in the amount of $20,000, a $2,000 Event Incentive grant for the Potter Lions and Potter Days, a $6,000 Event Incentive grant for the PNCC motorcycle races and $15,000 for the Potter Community Improvement Committee  for the Legion Hall project.

Commissioner Randy Miller asked why Way Out West applied for a grant for the Elks building. Mitchell said funding can only be awarded to a 501(c)3 non-profit or a municipality. She said the Elks are a 501(c)8, a fraternal organization. 

"The Elks have been operating this way for a long time," Mitchell said.

She also explained that during their grant proposal, Elks Lodge representatives said the Lodge has been the site of numerous weddings, receptions, business meetings and Way Out West performances.

Miller said his concern is promotional grants should be for projects that "put heads in beds." He stressed revenue for county tourism comes from hotel stays. 

He cited the PNCC as an event that is drawing success, developing from a single-day to a two-day event attracting riders from the region, and athletic tournaments as examples of programs resulting in hotel stays. 

Commissioner Phil Sanders said he has concerns about the Legion Hall project in Potter. He said there are problems with the project itself, and has a problem with a board member representing a project, and that board member should abstain from voting during the board meeting. 

Mitchell said she did not take part in discussions regarding the Hall because she also sits on the Village board.