While the Cherryvale Chamber of Commerce and the City of Cherryvale have similar goals, they may just have different ways of getting there.

 

That was part of the discussion at last night's Cherryvale City Council meeting when the Chamber approached the city regarding a reimbursement of just over $3,500 for this year's Cherry Blossom Festival. According to City Clerk Karen Davis, the county started giving tourism money generated by county hotel stays to the city in 2021 after the Chamber lost its nonprofit status. Since that time, the Chamber has resumed getting the money once again. The heart of the controversy was over the remaining tourism funds that the city has custody of. Chamber Board Member Carol Staton says that they have a process to disperse tourism money.

 

City Clerk Karen Davis says their auditor advised against turning over the entire $9,700 to the Chamber at once.

 

The City has also expressed interest in using the remaining money for projects at Lank Tanko. City Administrator Michael Hall says that the City and the Chamber are working towards the same goal.

 

The reimbursement of just over $3,500 was approved by the Council.