(ABOVE: File photo 2024 Downtown Sounds, by News Channel Nebraska)

SIDNEY -- The Cheyenne County Commissioners Monday approved a $1,500 Visitors Committee Incentive Grant to the City of Sidney in support of Sidney's free summer concert series, Downtown Sounds.

Kendra Mitchell, Cheyenne County Tourism Director, was present at the meeting to represent the Visitor's Committee.

"The Visitor's Committee voted on January 8 to approve this claim for $4,500 to the City of Sidney in regard to Downtown Sounds. Due to the reimbursement report and receipts being late, as well as not conforming to grant requirements -- I have included all documentation received in connection with this grant claim -- and submitted as voted on by the Visitors Committee for your consideration," Mitchell said.

Mitchell said the claim was submitted to the Cheyenne County Clerk's Office. She said the original request was for $6,000 and came to an agreement for $4,500, a reimbursement grant. The committee was presented an invoice from the City of Sidney totaling $7,500, according to Mitchell. The Visitors Committee can pay a maximum of 20 percent. The City was granted $1,500.

"The grant clearly states that they are entitled to 20 percent of that amount," Commissioner Phil Sanders said. "To me, it is clear we can only pay them 20 percent."

Mitchell said the maximum is 20 percent of expenses incurred.

Sanders said this request has encouraged him to review procedures of the Visitors Committee. He stressed he is not trying to "throw anyone under the bus."

"The volunteers up there do a great job," Sanders said. "This committee is an advisory board. We're the governing board." 

Sanders said the commissioners take their role seriously. 

"We take this seriously," Sanders said. "This is tax dollars. It's lodging tax, but it's still a tax dollar, and it's important to know that money belongs to the taxpayers of Cheyenne County; not us, not the Visitors Committee, and we have to take all of that seriously to make sure we get this right."