Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development Tourism topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City staff proposes shorter renewal, higher payments and stricter reporting for Sheridan County Travel and Tourism agreement
Summary
City Attorney Brad Timmish presented proposed revisions to the operating agreement with Sheridan County Travel and Tourism at the July 14 study session, including a move from five‑year automatic renewals to two‑year terms, a higher annual payment to the city and new reporting requirements for revenue changes.
City Attorney Brad Timmish told the council at the July 14 study session that city staff are proposing revisions to the operating agreement between the city and Sheridan County Travel and Tourism.
Timmish said the current agreement was entered on or around May 14, 2020, and carries a five‑year term through June 2025 with an automatic five‑year renewal option. "Instead of letting the agreement renew, city staff wish to operate or modify the terms of the agreement," he said, explaining proposed changes include shortening the renewal term from five years to two years and increasing the annual payment to the city from $40,000 to $60,000 with a 5 percent increase each fiscal year.
Timmish said the city will continue to provide accounting, payroll and fiscal management services but that Sheridan County Travel and Tourism will retain responsibility for managing its employees. A new clause would require Travel and Tourism to provide the city with notice of all revenue sources, accounting practices or cash withdrawals within 15 days to avoid audit surprises, he said. "Wyoming statute 39 dash 15 dash 2 11 a 2 b regulates the revenues collected through the lodging service sales tax, and it's to be used for the primary purpose of promoting local travel and tourism," Timmish noted.
Council members asked whether there is a separate county agreement with Travel and Tourism; Timmish said, "I honestly do not know. I can get that back to you on that." He also said the changes were brought forward by city staff to allow more frequent review and to reflect current procedures on accounting and travel approvals.
Timmish said Travel and Tourism currently routes travel approvals through its own board and uses credit cards for many expenses, with reimbursements rare. He told the council the proposed revisions are intended to improve transparency and ease auditing.
Ending: Staff will return with clarified information about any county agreements and with final language for council consideration; no formal council action was recorded during the study session.
