The City Advertising and Promotion Commission spent time discussing businesses that have failed to remit CAPC taxes for several months and have reached a point of “may require further action.” Tourism Director Maloney explained at the Nov. 19 meeting that businesses that have reached that point have been met with, had letters sent out demanding action on remitting tax, had a letter sent through a process server, and the next step is to file a lien with the county.
Businesses discussed were only identified via numbers, and commissioners discussed the specifics of businesses that have been on and off the list of those behind in CAPC tax payments. Maloney also covered steps that in extreme cases would result in the business being shut down.
In his Tourism Report, Maloney mentioned a story in The New York Times and other publications, as well as NPR’s “All Things Considered.” He also said that the ad agency Madden budget is currently under review.
Also, the Green Room bathroom in the Auditorium is being renovated and new holiday decorations were procured as the old decorations had been damaged during storage.
Chair Steve Holifield explained that he and Maloney had met with Mayor Butch Berry about whether the city or CAPC pays utility bills for the Auditorium. Holifield said he’d confirmed with previous commissioners that there was a verbal agreement in January 2021, that included the CAPC director and finance director of the time, that the CAPC would pay utilities. He said that there had been the intention to put that agreement in writing, but that wasn’t done.
Holifield said that he’d like to work with Maloney and City Finance Director Michael Akins about a new agreement better explaining what the CAPC and city are responsible for regarding the Aud.
Commissioner Heather Wilson explained that her issue is that the CAPC has been operating on a “magic agreement” and that the agreement had not been written when it’s dealing with taxpayer money. Holifield said he would try to have a written agreement for commissioners to vote on before the end of the year.
Maloney also presented a proposal regarding reserve funds. Noting that with interest rates dropping, the commission may notice in the 2026 budget that the amount of interest earned has decreased by almost $5,000 depending on the balance.
The proposal would be to take $250,000 out of reserves to shop for a 12-month CD and another $250,000 for a 6-month CD. Maloney said that would make more money than leaving it in a market account. Commissioner Robert Schmid noted that it might be better to go for the better fixed interest rate saying that “the tendency is visible that interest rates are probably going to go down.”
Commissioner David Avanzino asked if it is required to do business with a bank in the county, and Maloney said no. Avanzino made the motion with commissioner Shira Fouste seconding with a unanimous agreement.
Other Items
- Purple Flower Dinner & a Musical requested funding support for a dinner theater fundraiser at Grotto Wood-Fired Grill. The organizer received funding last year for a similar event raising money for Good Shepherd Humane Society. Commissioner David Avanzino noted the loss of funding that The Purple Flower has suffered this year due to state and federal grants not being given and commissioners approved $2,437 in marketing support unanimously.
- The Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce also received marketing support for the Chocolate Lover’s Festival for $5,000.