Promoting tourism in Polk County makes terrific economic sense. Why? Because, by definition, money spent by tourists from outside Polk County is money brought into the local economy from outside. With the rising price of gasoline a tourist destination that is close in proximity to a major population center, and boasts the striking natural beauty that Polk County offers, is a natural draw for those tourist dollars.
Some think that only hotels and restaurants benefit from increased tourism. This ignores the fact that a dollar spent at a restaurant is spent again by the waitstaff or restaurant owner (most often a county resident) and most often in a local business. This same dollar is then spent again and again in the local economy. Furthermore, tourists spend at businesses other than motels and restaurants. I think it's safe to say that vacationers spend more freely than people who stay at home. We save up for vacations so we can spend more on attractions and recreation.
But the major point is that these are NEW dollars injected into the economy, not recycled money from our own pockets.
The folks staffing the Polk County Information Center, which is ideally located just across the U. S. 8 bridge, field more than tourism-related questions. The Center is entering its 15th year of operation.
Many inquiries concern re-locating businesses to Polk County, where to cast votes in elections, where to pay taxes, information concerning recycling programs, as well as Sheriff's Department and other aspects of Polk County Government.
In June, 2008, the Center had a total of 8619 contacts, including 1872 e-mail requests for information, 2216 "hits" on its web site, 1008 telephone requests for information, 3472 entries in the visitor's book, and 4 "snail mail" requests for information (proving that there are still people using the U. S. Mail!) The Center provides the Polk County Visitor's Guide, County and State Maps, State and Federal Parks information packets, information about local churches, fishing/hunting regulations and maps, snowmobile and ATV maps, biking and hiking guides, resort guides, campground locations, motel and Bed & Breakfast maps, restaurant guides and information about local real estate. And this is only a partial list.
The advertising obtained by the staff at the Polk County Information Center is priceless. Through their close relationships with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, Minnesota Monthly, Wisconsin Trails, AAA, Twin Cities and area newspapers, television and radio stations and travel shows, the staff works tirelessly to keep Polk County "on the radar" for potential tourism and economic development. For more information, contact the Center at www.polkinfo@charterinternet.net or check out the Center's web site at www.polkcountytourism.com.
Here's the bottom line: According to State of Wisconsin figures, tourists spent an estimated $75.3 million in Polk County in 2007. Tourist dollars supported 1,810 full-time equivalent jobs in the county.
For the benefit received through the Polk County Information Center's efforts, taxpayers pay $95,000. Not a bad return on investment.
Cutting funding for the Polk County Information Center would be nothing short of killing the fabled "Goose that lays golden eggs." Very short-sighted...
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Jeff Peterson's Appointment to the BOA
At the June meeting of the Polk County Board of Supervisors, Chair Bryan Beseler appointed Jeff Peterson to the Board of Adjustment. Other people were also appointed at the June meeting to other positions on various committees. The Board voted at the June meeting to confirm Peterson's appointment to the BOA. This month, part of Agenda item XIV, labeled "Appointments", was a "Motion for Reconsideration of June 2008 Appointments". No written motion signed by a supervisor accompanied the agenda, so it was unclear exactly which member of the Board of Supervisors was the one making the motion. In any event, when the item came before the Board of Supervisors for discussion, it quickly became obvious that the intent of the motion was to remove newly-appointed member of the Board of Adjustment Jeff Peterson.
Local builder Chris Nelson urged the Board of Supervisors to remove Peterson from the BOA. Randy Freer, who happens to be Supervisor Brown's brother-in-law, also spoke in favor of removing Peterson. Two other individuals, Messrs. Jensen and Hibbs, asked that Peterson be replaced. One of these gentleman commented that Peterson had been replaced on the County Board and was no longer his Supervisor, apparently reasoning that Peterson, having lost the election to Supervisor Brown, should no longer be involved in County business.
Mr. Nelson's opposition to Peterson's appointment appears to come from Mr. Nelson's perception that Peterson will be too strict in his interpretation of the ordinances the Board of Adjustment is charged to interpret and apply. As near as I could tell, the remaining speakers simply desired to have someone else appointed to the position without stating any reason why Peterson was unacceptable.
Land and Water director Tim Ritten told me in June that he had assured Mr. Nelson that Peterson would be reasonable to work with, and would apply the law properly and without favor or prejudice. Mr. Nelson was not convinced.
When it came time to vote, four Supervisors voted to reconsider the Peterson appointment to the BOA: Joan Peterson, Herschel Brown, James Edgell and Brian Masters. Nineteen Supervisors voted against reconsidering the appointment.
There are several reasons why motions to reconsider Board decisions should not be taken lightly. How much of the County's business can get done if Board time is consumed with re-thinking decisions made only thirty days earlier? When does a decision ever become final? On that grounds alone, the Board was wise to decline the motion to reconsider Peterson's appointment to the Board of Adjustment.
But there is a better, far more compelling, reason to leave Peterson on the BOA: Peterson will do a fine job in that position. Those of us who served with Jeff on the Polk County Board of Supervisors know that he is intelligent, committed to the environment, and fair-minded. He'll listen to applicants and apply the law evenly. The BOA has had some trouble in the past with claims that it failed to follow its own procedures and guidelines in making decisions. That's not likely to happen again with Peterson serving on the BOA.
Local builder Chris Nelson urged the Board of Supervisors to remove Peterson from the BOA. Randy Freer, who happens to be Supervisor Brown's brother-in-law, also spoke in favor of removing Peterson. Two other individuals, Messrs. Jensen and Hibbs, asked that Peterson be replaced. One of these gentleman commented that Peterson had been replaced on the County Board and was no longer his Supervisor, apparently reasoning that Peterson, having lost the election to Supervisor Brown, should no longer be involved in County business.
Mr. Nelson's opposition to Peterson's appointment appears to come from Mr. Nelson's perception that Peterson will be too strict in his interpretation of the ordinances the Board of Adjustment is charged to interpret and apply. As near as I could tell, the remaining speakers simply desired to have someone else appointed to the position without stating any reason why Peterson was unacceptable.
Land and Water director Tim Ritten told me in June that he had assured Mr. Nelson that Peterson would be reasonable to work with, and would apply the law properly and without favor or prejudice. Mr. Nelson was not convinced.
When it came time to vote, four Supervisors voted to reconsider the Peterson appointment to the BOA: Joan Peterson, Herschel Brown, James Edgell and Brian Masters. Nineteen Supervisors voted against reconsidering the appointment.
There are several reasons why motions to reconsider Board decisions should not be taken lightly. How much of the County's business can get done if Board time is consumed with re-thinking decisions made only thirty days earlier? When does a decision ever become final? On that grounds alone, the Board was wise to decline the motion to reconsider Peterson's appointment to the Board of Adjustment.
But there is a better, far more compelling, reason to leave Peterson on the BOA: Peterson will do a fine job in that position. Those of us who served with Jeff on the Polk County Board of Supervisors know that he is intelligent, committed to the environment, and fair-minded. He'll listen to applicants and apply the law evenly. The BOA has had some trouble in the past with claims that it failed to follow its own procedures and guidelines in making decisions. That's not likely to happen again with Peterson serving on the BOA.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
