Custer County approves short-term tourism communications contracts and Rock and Ranch permit

The Custer County Board of County Commissioners on July 8 approved short-term contractor agreements requested by the county tourism board and granted a permit for the annual Rock and Ranch fundraiser.

Lauren Austin, who identified herself as the new chair of the tourism board, told commissioners the board wants to hire a social media manager and a communications specialist to maintain increased outreach during high season and build off-season campaigns. "We would like to hire both a social media manager and a communications manager," Austin said, citing a more than 500% uptick in social-media engagement and an effort to expand a year-round lodging and sales-tax base.

Under the contracts presented, the social media manager (identified by Austin as Amanda) would be paid $35 per hour up to $700 per month for summer maintenance and up to $1,300 per month for off-season campaign preparation; the communications contractor (Janet) would be paid $20 per hour up to $600 per month. Board discussion characterized the initial term as a four-month block, with the tourism board planning further work for the fall and winter seasons.

The board also approved a permit for the Rock and Ranch event, scheduled Aug. 1. The organizer said proceeds will go to the Rotary van service and that the governor's office allowed use of the state anniversary logo and offered statewide promotion. The item was moved, seconded and passed by voice vote.

The contracts were described as intended to support local businesses by driving visitor spending outside the traditional high season; the tourism board said the work is funded from lodging/sales-tax allocations and was vetted by county counsel prior to the meeting. Commissioners said they would review continued funding and performance after the initial trial block.

Next steps: staff will finalize the short-term contracts and the tourism board will proceed with onboarding; the board reserved the right to revisit or expand the work when the four-month block ends.