Panel to weigh tourism bureau proposal

The county and the former tourism bureau battled over control of bed tax money.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Three months of work may produce a new Trumbull County Tourism Bureau that officials hope will avoid some of the problems experienced with the previous one.
The regulations the new board will follow, which were constructed this summer with the help of Assistant Trumbull County Prosecutor Jason Earnhart, are aimed at keeping control of the bureau with the commissioners.
For instance, one of the bureau's new regulations would be that it make monthly financial reports to the commissioners, not annual ones, as in the case of the former bureau, Earnhart said.
The commissioners will also have the ability to terminate their contract with the bureau "at any time," and they, not the bureau, will control the disbursement of the county's 4 percent lodging tax money.
Amendments to the bureau's bylaws cannot be made until they have been approved by the commissioners, according to a written proposal given to the commissioners Wednesday at their planning meeting.
A dispute arose with the former bureau over disbursement of bed tax money and board membership appointments. It spawned a lawsuit against the commissioners by the former bureau and court action to distribute remaining lodging tax money.
Hopes for quick action
John B. Taylor of Paige & amp; Byrnes Insurance and the philanthropic group Trumbull 100 presented the plan for the new bureau to county commissioners. It could be approved as early as today.
Taylor said he hopes to have the new bureau in operation within a couple of months of getting approval from the commissioners.
Other features of the new board are:
UMembership would be made up of tourism-related businesses in the county. Members would pay annual dues and will elect the board of trustees.
UThe board would consist of a county commissioner and nine other members, three to be elected each year.
UHotel/motel, restaurant and golf courses operations would have preferential positions on the board.
UTerm limits would require any member to sit out one year before being elected to another term.
UContributions from the bureau would go only to nonprofit corporations. Services can be given only to for-profit corporations.
The initial board of trustees would be selected by the six Trumbull 100 members who organized the bureau, including Taylor, William Horton, Charles Jarvis, Atty. William Letson, Donald Dedow and Shelley Taylor.
Members of the bureau would decide who the executive director will be, where the office will be located and how best to allocate the bureau's resources.
Other issues
Other matters the commissioners will be asked to consider today are:
U A request for a loan of $200,000 at 3 percent interest for 10 years from the Trumbull County Revolving Loan Fund to Ready Air for renovations to Hangar No. 2 at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
Alan Knapp, director of the Trumbull County Planning Commission, said the expansion will create 18 new jobs within three years. The company provides services at the airport such as providing fuel and leasing space for aircraft.
U A request for approval of the Trumbull County Metropolitan Parks Board's application to buy about 12 acres of land for conservation and access to the Mahoning River flood plain corridor on Benedict-Leavittsburg Road in Braceville Township.