This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE.

I’m a bit confused about this tourism issue being studied by the Commissioners.

Apparently the issue has come down to two different presentations, one by a private couple, and the other by the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce.

Part of my confusion stems from the fact that a number of years ago a court decision took the money for tourism away from the chamber of commerce and put the funds from the hotel-motel tax back in the hands of the county government which then set up its’ own tourism department.

When the hotel-motel tax was approved by the voters a number of years ago, it specifically divided up the funds and included a certain share that was to go to the Chamber of Commerce to promote tourism.

A few years later one motel owner took the issue to court and the court ruled that giving the funds to the Chamber of Commerce was illegal.

My confusion comes because now the Commissioners are considering awarding the $200,000 a year to either a private effort or to the Chamber.

I’m not disputing the merits of either of the two proposals being considered by the Commissioners.

What does concern me is that once again we are splitting up our efforts at promoting not just tourism, but promoting the entire area.

As one of the Chamber representatives said….”We’re already set up for doing it. We are doing it.”

That is the job of the Chamber of Commerce.

We have had a very strong Chamber in years past, but of late it has suffered from lack of participation by local merchants and other members.

It is expected to do the job of promoting tourism and seeking new businesses and industry to come to the area. It cannot do that successfully if it is underfunded which it has been in recent years.

It was with that thought in mind that the Board of Commissioners, of which I was a member, proposed the divisions in the original hotel-motel tax measure that was eventually approved by the voters….only to have a disgruntled motel owner take the issue to court and get the money taken away from the Chamber.

The recent hearings on possible annexation openly displayed the split community that we have.

Rather than have another divided effort to promote our community, why not combine the two groups and thus have at least a unified effort for a change.

It has become very apparent that while we do have an excellent community with much to offer to new industry and to tourists….it is also very apparent that our tourism effort is sadly in need of improvement.

Hopefully the Commissioners will first revisit that court decision a number of years ago that dealt a harsh blow to the then County Treasurer Jean Elzner. Make certain that they can legally turn those funds over to private sources. My feeling has always been that it can be done via some type of contracting…..with certain built in assurances that the effort is being productive.

Future promotion of the area depends on where that money goes.

This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.