Council Discusses Suspending Chamber Funding

The Pawhuska City Council meet for their monthly meeting Tuesday evening and held a lengthy meeting focusing on the topic of the Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce along with several continued discussion regarding parking, utility rates, and the Triangle Building.

Much of the meeting was spend discussing a request by Councilmen Steve Holcombe to suspend funding for the Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce during the Municipal Trust Authority meeting. Holcombe's main complaint has been that the Chamber has not been accountable with City's funding into Economic Development.

Holcombe continued to request an itemized budget from the Chamber accounting for the spending of the City's $60,000 each year. Chamber Executive Director and Economic Development Director for the City of Pawhuska Joni Nash clarified that the Chamber's budget was submitted to the City Council as requested in April, however the report was not as specific as Holcombe would desire. Pawhuska Mayor Mark Buchanan proposed that Holcombe make a motion on the Agenda item in order to move on.

The conversation continued without conclusion until City Attorney John Heskett proposed the Council review the existing contract with the Chamber of Commerce, discuss options at the December meeting, and take no action on Holcombe's request to suspend funding.

City Manager Mike McCartney said based on the volume of customers during the Mercantile Grand Opening, more than 4,500 guest, parking did not appear to be an issue, however it it becomes one they will address it at a later meeting. The Pawhuska City Council meets the first Tuesday on each month at Pawhuska City Hall.