The Kemmerer City Council discussed a grant offer from the Federal Aviation Administration and a proposed reduction in the local lodging tax during the Aug. 12 meeting.

In new business, the council reviewed an FAA grant offer amounting to $110,000 for the design and bidding phase of the Runway 16/34 Lighting Rehabilitation Project. This project aims to maintain the safety and functionality of the Kemmerer Municipal Airport.

Detailing the breakdown of costs, the FAA will cover 90% of the design, with the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) contributing an additional 6% of the costs, totaling $7,333. The remaining 4% match, amounting to $4,889, will be split equally between Kemmerer and Lincoln County, with each entity responsible for $2,444.50.

The total grant and match funding of $122,222 will cover the design contract with J-U-B Engineers, the independent estimate completed last fall, and the bid advertisement scheduled for next winter. The Airport Board previously discussed this grant offer in February and May and is in favor of moving forward with the approval.

The council also discussed a resolution to change the allocation of the local lodging tax in response to a statewide lodging assessment law enacted on Jan. 1, 2021, which stipulates that the state will collect 5% in total lodging tax, with 3% going to state coffers and 2% being reimbursed to the cities.

For cities like Kemmerer, which previously had a 4% local lodging tax, the new law means the state will start collecting the 2% but will send that amount back to the cities, maintaining the total lodging tax revenue at 4%.

The lodging tax is up for consideration on the November ballot and the resolution will be placed on the November ballot for voter approval. If passed, the adjustment will ensure that, while the local lodging tax is reduced to 2%, the total revenue received by the city will remain the same, with 90% allocated to the Fossil Basin Promotion Board and 10% retained by the city.

Kemmerer City Administrator Brian Muir addressed council members’ concerns regarding the unclear language, clarifying that, although the request for the 2% tax suggests a decrease in the previous 4% tax rate, in fact, the overall amount being collected will remain the same.

“The amount we are approving on the ballot for local collection is 2%. We will get another 2% from the state based on legislation so we can keep supporting our Fossil Basin Promotion Board which gets 90% of the funding. Some of this is used to support community events,” Muir said.

This tax structure aims to capitalize on the revenue generated from out-of-state tourists, who contribute significantly to the lodging tax revenue — a majority of which comes from visitors outside Wyoming.

“We have been very fortunate to use our lodging tax revenues to improve the signage in our community and to get people off of the highway and into Kemmerer and Diamondville,” Muir said.

“The Fossil Basin Promotion Board worked closely with the City of Kemmerer and the Town of Diamondville to replace four worn-out J.C. Penney Museum signs on the highways from all directions leading to our community. Those signs now direct visitors to additional destinations. In addition to them funding these four signs, they have also funded several directional signs within the communities, so that tourists and residents alike can find their way to other community assets, like the parks, splash pad and golf course,” Muir said.   

He added, “It is said that 80% of this revenue comes from tourists, which helps us to improve our tourism business community.”

Other topics of discussion included weed management, which council members addressed by proposing an earlier spraying schedule for the upcoming year to improve the effectiveness of weed control efforts.

The council emphasized the importance of proactive maintenance, particularly with noxious weeds such as thistle.  To alleviate the burden on enforcement, the council urged homeowners to remain vigilant and address weed issues promptly.