Mike Maloney had sobering news for the City Advertising and Promotion Commission on Feb. 22, saying earnings from December and January were “considerably off the mark” from what had been budgeted in 2023. December was budgeted at $215,000 but came in at $120,108 and January 2024 came in at $59,777 though it had been budgeted for $199,875. Part of the issue, the interim director said, is businesses that have not paid collected taxes. Maloney assured the commission that delinquency notices had been sent out.
Maloney then presented data from Madden Media tracking web searches and website use, which found traffic on the new homepage up by nine percent, and online searches increasing as well. Top cities with people researching the town included Dallas, Chicago, and New York City.
Madden Media brought up the lack of videos for Eureka Springs and the commission discussed the rights to the commercials shot by Edward Robison’s White Phoenix Films. Maloney then shared a commercial concept created by Robison and Jeremy Mason McGraw, who were on hand to answer questions and share further ideas.
The new spot would be a two-minute video on dining in Eureka Springs and cost roughly $14,000, which Maloney said was a “fantastic investment.” He also encouraged buying the rights to the eight videos that have already been filmed for a duration of four years. This has been budgeted, commissioners had no objections, voted unanimously to fund the food commercial.
During public comments, Jim Nelson, local artist and owner of Nelsons in downtown, approached commissioners about the Museum of Eureka Springs Art (MESA) at the community center, a non-profit with a growing collection of donated art.
Nelson requested funding to pay for a year’s worth of advertisement in the Ozark Mountains Fun Guide. Chair Chris Clifton was confused as to why Nelson hadn’t filled out a funding request form and Maloney explained that MESA didn’t quite meet the criteria of the form. Maloney hoped this would make the public more aware of the museum, which is currently open every Saturday, with plans to expand hours and days in the future. Commissioners agreed to discuss the matter further at a later date.
The first funding request concerned the Plein Art Festival, led by Lloyd Leibee who told commissioners that this year’s festival will focus on amateur and student painters from all over the United States who will be in town from Sunday, June 2 to Friday, June 7.
Leibee asked for $5000 for advertising and it was granted.
Registrar Willy Daniels with the Springtime in the Ozarks, an event that has taken place since 1977, asked for $3000. The event attracts AA members and their families to town to celebrate sobriety, and will be held in the Aud. Commissioners approved the request.
Requesters for the Eureka Soapbox Derby failed to make an appearance again, but commissioners said they would consider granting the $5000 request once they had an opportunity to hear from the organizer. Blues Weekend organizers also didn’t show for their request, but since it is funded every year by the CAPC, they approved the request.
Maloney then shared that the 2021 Bylaws for the CAPC had been reviewed by Watkins Law Office who said they are working and don’t require changes. They will be posted on the CAPC website.
Finally, Maloney brought up the HVAC system in the Auditorium again, sharing that the electric bill for January had been $4500 because the system is failing. According to one HVAC company that had looked at it, it would be $420,000 to replace it.
This raised the issue of who is responsible for the Auditorium – the CAPC or the city. Maloney said he wanted to bring in an outside consultant to give a second estimation, and would present the information at the next meeting. Several members argued for the need to figure out the CAPC’s responsibility for the Aud’s upkeep, and even mentioned bringing in a lawyer to clarify the issue. It was decided to hold a workshop about it in March.