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Travel & Tourism board recommends grant rules and $10,300 market support; council opts for invoice approach this season
Summary
The Travel & Tourism Board recommended lodging-tax funding guidelines (including a $10,000 grant cap) and a $10,300 grant for the expanded Ranch Market. Council members questioned whether the town could sponsor an application for itself and agreed to revert to invoice payments for this season while staff develops clearer sponsorship and oversight frameworks.
Frank Bell, chair of the Travel & Tourism Board, presented recommendations including draft funding guidelines adapted from Lincoln County policies, a $10,300 request to support the expanded Star Valley Ranch Farmers Market (including a market manager), and two board reappointments.
Bell said the board endorses a firm $10,000 ceiling on grant awards, requires town acknowledgment on materials, and prefers local spending. The Ranch Market application listed the Town of Star Valley Ranch as the sponsoring entity; Councilman Ellis raised a legal and procedural question about whether it is appropriate for the town to request money from itself through a grant application.
Councilman Merrill explained the practical rationale: funds would flow through the town and invoices from the market manager could be paid as town expenditures. Councilman Bitter said the Travel & Tourism Board had not fully understood that operational detail. To avoid procedural awkwardness this season, council reached consensus to revert to the prior method — having the market manager submit invoices directly for payment from lodging-tax funds — and to remove the grant motion from the evening agenda. The Mayor committed to working with the town treasurer to confirm the proper process and to develop a clearer framework for sponsorship, oversight and accounting with the Travel & Tourism Board.
Next steps: staff will confirm invoicing procedures for this season, adjust application materials to reflect the policy preferences, and return a proposed framework for future market sponsorship and lodging-tax grants.
