Local hotels, motels don't want guest tax increase
Though short and sweet, Tuesday's Fort Scott City Commission meeting was not unproductive.
With only three of the five commissioners in attendance, the commission took on two agenda items with the first being the Transient Guest Tax and the other a waiver of the fireworks ordinance for Friday's Fort Scott High School football game.
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Tourism Director Cynthia McFarlin addressed the commission regarding the guest tax saying that the committee, mostly made up of inn keepers, had quite a discussion during their meeting to come up with the tourism budget. She said she raised the question of whether there would be any circumstances in which the committee would support an increase of the tax.
"A spirited discussion ensued," McFarlin said. "(The inn keepers) are rather enthusiastic about not increasing the tax."
Upon the recommendation of McFarlin, the commissioners voted to approve the tourism department's budget.
The commissioners then proceeded to approve the waiver of the fireworks ordinance. Jake's Fireworks requested the waiver for Friday evening's Parent's Night football game between the Fort Scott Tigers and the Anderson County Bulldogs. According to Fort Scott City Manger Joe Turner the request was originally for the Homecoming game, however there was not enough time to be placed on the agenda. Commissioner Jim Adams said he spoke with Fort Scott Fire Chief Paul Ballou who said he was fine with the ordinance being lifted for the night.