The Pecos City Council on Jan. 9 approved a Hotel Occupancy Tax fund request of $205,738 for the West of the Pecos Museum, a museum representative told council during the meeting.

Museum representative Duranda Meehan outlined how the requested funds would be used, saying the museum plans professional exhibit signage, new brochures, updates to its fire and security system, landscaping maintenance, a small permanent stage for downtown events, and structural repairs to the Judge Roy Bean porch, which she described as a safety concern. "If anything needs to be done, that needs to be done. Consider this a liability for everybody, and we don't want anybody hurt," Meehan said.

Why it matters: The hotel-occupancy fund supports tourism-related activities and facilities. Meehan told council the museum attracts visitors from across the U.S. and internationally and that professional signage and brochures would help visitor navigation and promotion.

Council action: Councilman Saldanha moved to approve the HOT fund request; Councilwoman Pergio seconded. Council President called for the ayes; the motion carried by voice vote.

Details provided by the museum: Meehan said the museum plans to contract Hartfield Design of Lubbock for exhibit signage, that many current signs are 25–28 years old, and that printing would be done locally through Port 32 Printing (Pecos Enterprise). She described roofing and porch-floor deterioration at the Judge Roy Bean site and requested funds to replace the porch floor as a priority. She also discussed updating their fire/security system following a change in the security provider.

Next steps: Staff recorded the council's approval of the fund request. Meehan thanked the council following the vote. The transcript does not record a formal contract award or an implementation schedule at the meeting.