Scotts Bluff County commissioners narrowly approved hiring a part‑time tourism assistant to support tourism office duties, setting a cap on monthly hours after more than an hour of debate and public comment.

Brenda, identified in meeting materials as the county tourism director, told commissioners the office needs administrative help to manage brochure distribution, event packet preparation and grant administration. She told the board the position would be eight hours per week and that annual salary and payroll costs would total $7,389.10 and be paid from the county’s lodging‑tax (tourism) fund. “I think we can work hard to keep it at just that eight hours a week so that we do not have to worry about health insurance, dental insurance, retirement,” Brenda said.

The nut graf: the request touched off significant debate. Some commissioners and public commenters argued volunteers previously handled much of the work and cautioned against new recurring personnel costs. Others and several residents urged the board to approve the position to sustain and grow tourism services ahead of the busy season.

Members of the public spoke during the meeting. Lisa Betts Marquez, a local business owner and former visitor‑services volunteer, described long volunteer support at the former visitor center and urged commissioners to support Brenda’s request: “Brenda’s been here for 13 years … she needs help now, not in six months,” she said. Kim Bowman, identified as a resident, criticized what she called repeated resistance to tourism initiatives and urged commissioners to support the tourism committee’s recommendation.

Board members discussed alternatives, including funding contract labor from an existing miscellaneous labor line, limiting hours or delaying the hire. Commissioners noted the tourism advisory committee had voted unanimously to recommend an eight‑hour‑per‑week assistant. After motions to table and to deny failed, the board adopted a motion to approve hiring the assistant with a firm operational cap of 40 hours per month to avoid crossing benefit thresholds. The motion passed on a 5–0 roll call.

The board and tourism director agreed on conditions: the position will be funded from bedding‑tax revenues (tourism fund) and reimbursements or payments will be tied to appropriate budget lines; the tourism director will manage scheduling to avoid triggering county employee benefit obligations and report back to commissioners. Brenda said she would try to limit hours in busy and slow weeks to stay within the approved cap.

Ending: The board approved the part‑time assistant authorization with a monthly hours cap; commissioners asked the tourism director to return with operational details and to track actual hours and spending.