Councilmember objects to joining chamber

Sensing a sticky wicket, Electric City Mayor Jerry Sands took the issue of joining the chamber of commerce off the city council’s agenda last Tuesday night and it will appear on the agenda again,March 12.

The $100 joining fee got an immediate response from Councilmember Bob Rupe, who stated that the city had given the chamber a lot of money and they could take the membership fee out of that.

Sands explained that the money given earlier was from its hotel/motel tax funds and was for promoting this area. He said the $100 fee was entirely different.

Rupe stated that he was opposed to taking the money for membership out of the general fund.

It had been suggested that the membership fee be taken out of hotel/motel money.

Sands stated that he would look into how the city would find the $100 and have it ready for the council to discuss at the next meeting.

Sands said if the city joined the chamber, then it would have a vote at the table.

The city hasn’t been a voting member of the chamber. Grand Coulee, while renting space to the chamber, has as yet not joined. Coulee Dam has been a member of the chamber for some years.

Sands recently became a member of the chamber board of directors.