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Commissioner urges county travel funding for signage, pavilion and bridge repairs to draw visitors into Cleveland
Summary
A county commissioner told the Cleveland City Council the travel bureau and county funding could help pay for signage, a pavilion and bridge refurbishment to steer tourists through Cleveland and nearby heritage sites; the council discussed budget timing, grant strategy and digitizing historical materials.
A county commissioner urged the Cleveland City Council during public comment on Sept. 11 to seek county travel-related funds and match them with local commitments to build signage and a small pavilion aimed at directing visitors into town and nearby heritage attractions.
The commissioner said the county budgeted roughly $1.5 million last year for travel-related projects and that Green River provides a large share of transient room tax revenue. "We had kind of originally come in 50/50 on it... Farren came in to the travel bureau, and they'll be on the agenda this Tuesday, and they requested 500,000 of that," the commissioner said, arguing a local match would improve grant prospects.
Why it matters: Council members and the public said better wayfinding and visitor amenities could increase local spending at the county store and other businesses, while supporters flagged the swinging bridge and a Pioneer Village as draw cards that could extend visitors' stays.
Council discussion centered on practical next steps: producing a simple map and bid to present to the travel bureau, deciding what portion of costs the town would commit, and aligning timing between the county's budget calendar and the town's fiscal year. The commissioner offered ballpark examples during the meeting — signage and kiosk packages, a pavilion figure referenced informally as $40,000, and a larger bridge refurbishment described as a multi-year, high-cost project — and recommended the council show "skin in the game" with a local percentage contribution.
Speakers also discussed heritage programming and interpretation: the clerk and the commissioner outlined a plan to digitize historical materials and create QR-code audio or self-guided tours so visitors could access local history without relying on a volunteer guide. The commissioner said county staff have used state grants to digitize records and suggested the town could request similar support if it covered staff time.
Members of the public asked whether grant funds would cover security measures such as cameras. The commissioner and councilors responded that cameras might be part of a pavilion/building project but that standalone camera systems were unlikely to qualify under travel-bureau infrastructure grants.
Next steps noted in the meeting: councilors asked staff to compile existing bids and cost estimates, clarify which elements (signage, kiosks, pavilion, restrooms, security) would be eligible for county travel funds, and schedule follow-up with the travel bureau to present a formal local plan.
