Pocahontas County Commission Sets 2018 Hotel Occupancy Tax Distributions

In January of every year the Pocahontas County Commission establishes the formulas by which the Hotel Occupancy Tax will be distributed. This year it occurred at the January 16th Commission meeting.

The first distribution was simple. WV Statutes require that County Commissions distribute 50% of the Hotel Occupancy Tax collected to the county Convention and Visitors Bureaus, so that was done. The Commission has also established fixed amount distributions totaling $225.000 and voted to distribute that money as follows:

  • $75,000 to the Pocahontas Memorial hospital Board
  • $75,000 to County Emergency Medical Services
  • $50,000 to the County Fire Board
  • $25,000 to Pocahontas County Bricks and Mortar fund – for County building repairs.

The remaining Hotel Occupancy Tax revenues after the above distributions are made are distributed by percentage of the remaining amount. The Commissioners voted to keep the same recipients and the same percentages for each recipient as last year.  Those distributions are as follows:

  • 3% to Preserving Pocahontas
  • 3% to the Pocahontas County Arts Coop
  • 4% to the Pocahontas County Arts Council
  • 5% to the County Historical Landmarks Commission
  • 20% to the Pocahontas County Dramas, Fairs & Festivals
  • 33% to the County Parks and Recreation board
  • 32% to the Libraries; whose official name is now the “Pocahontas County Libraries and visitors’ Information Centers.

Several of these organizations had made presentations to the Commissioners prior to the determination of these distributions.

  • Jason Bauserman of the Historic Landmarks Commission talked about several activities and properties the they are involved with including owning the Opera House and the McLaughlin Cabin in Marlinton; providing financial assistance to interpretive signage in Durbin and to the restoration of the Workman Cabin in Watoga State Park; conducting a clean-up of the Slavin Cemetery. Bauserman also pointed out a couple of interesting historical items. One was that a man who ran for President of the US three times in the early 1800s once had a hunting cabin in Durbin – he was Henry Clay. Bob sheets also talked about new discoveries at Revolutionary War Fort Warwick in Green Bank. He said they have now determined that the Fort’s dimensions were 100’ by 140’, and it sheltered up to 125 members of Pocahontas County families during the Indian wars. He also mentioned that they have located the site of the oldest historic landmark in Pocahontas county, a Native American Roundhouse.
  • Lauren Bennett talked about the work of the Parks and Recreation. She also asked the Commissioners to stagger the distribution of those fixed distributions so that the organizations receiving percentages could be ensured of receiving some of the money each month, however the Commissioners decided not to change that.
  • Cree Lahti, Director of the Pocahontas County Libraries and Visitor Information Centers presented to the Commissioners that they are well into the transition process of becoming Visitors Information Centers in addition to libraries. She said they are now open on Saturdays, the staff has received training and the libraries are being provided with visitors brochures, etc.
  • Shenda Smith, Coordinator of the County Water Task Force updated the Commissioners on the water baseline quality testing being done prior to pipeline construction.

Additionally, the Commissioners agreed to accept a $5000.00 donation from Emma Eisenberg. Brynn Kusic, Operations Manager of the Opera House asked the Commissioners to consider donation that money to help them establish a Children theater Workshop and Camp at the Opera House, and the Commissioners voted to do that.

 

Story By

Tim Walker

Tim is the WVMR News Reporter. Tim is a native of Maryland who started coming to Pocahontas County in the 1970’s as a caver. He bought land on Droop Mountain off Jacox Road in 1976 and built a small house there in the early 80’s. While still working in Maryland, Tim spent much time at his place which is located on the Friars Hole Cave Preserve. Retiring in 2011 as a Lieutenant with the Anne Arundel County Police Department in Maryland, Tim finally took the plunge and moved from Maryland to his real home on Droop Mountain. He began working as the Pocahontas County Reporter for Allegheny Mountain Radio in January of 2015.

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