City rejects chamber invoice claims

Electric City and the chamber of commerce are still at odds over $2,700 worth of invoices that remain unpaid.

The city and the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce had signed an agreement early this year wherein the city would provide money from its hotel/motel fund to support certain functions the chamber agreed upon.

At its last meeting, Ben Hughes, from the chamber’s board of directors, sought a reason from the city council as to why $700 worth of invoices for advertisements and a $2,000 invoice for the “fun zone” support, relating to Colorama were not being paid.

Hughes stated that the chamber’s actions essentially fit well within the defined use of hotel/motel tax funds.

He stated that if someone in the city didn’t pay their water bill, their water would be shut off. He wondered what the recourse is with the city when it didn’t pay its bills.

Under the signed agreement, the chamber was to place Electric City’s logo in any advertisement the chamber used that the city was to pay for.

Accordingly, the city claimed, the logo didn’t appear in $700 worth of advertising, yet invoices were sent to the city for payment.

In the case of the $2,000, it had been agreed that the city would support the “fun zone,” which related, the city stated, to inflatables, which were not included at the Colorama event.

Councilmembers Richard McGuire and Lonna Bussert manage the hotel/motel funds for the city. Both stated that the city paid invoices according to the contract that was signed by the chamber.

Bussert stated that city Clerk Russell Powers has written the 2018 contract for funds with more flexibility.

McGuire said he thought this would get the two organizations off to a better start, with the city allowing more room for the chamber plans to develop.

A letter from the city to the chamber stated: “After reviewing invoices for the Colorama ‘Fun Zone’ and Colorama advertisement the city has determined that the invoices submitted are not eligible for reimbursement according to the terms of the 2017 agreement.”

The letter went on to state that the 2018 agreement contains simpler terms and less restrictive language.

At the last council meeting, Hughes stated that the chamber will “boycott” Electric City and may not be accepting the funding for 2018 if the invoices in question do not get reimbursed.

The city’s letter went on, “If you choose not to participate in the allocation of hotel/motel tax for 2018 you can simply not sign the agreement by the due date, or reject the agreement and send it back.”

It concluded: “We certainly hope that is not the case, and you will continue to have a lasting relationship with Electric City promoting tourism, local business and events in the area.”

The letter was signed by Powers.