Council ponders how to distribute hotel tax funds

The Town of Bath Council discussed how to distribute the back hotel-motel taxes recently paid by The Country Inn as part of a court judgment at the Tuesday evening, November 15 meeting.

The Country Inn has made two of five scheduled payments so far totaling $25,000. The back taxes date from fiscal years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.
Travel Berkeley Springs by law will receive half of the money collected.
The council decided to review the budgets for the two fiscal years in question to see what organizations requested funds, how much they actually received and decide how to distribute the rest of the money, starting with requests from 2009.

The Country Inn is scheduled to make payments of $10,000 in December and January and $15,500 in February.

“I am just glad to see the money coming in,” Mayor Susan Webster said.
Complicating matters for the moment is the resignation of Town Clerk Margie Allgyer. She is leaving November 30 to take the job of Morgan County Health Administrator replacing Lee Fowler who has resigned.

Meters bagged
The Council decided to bag parking meters starting Thanksgiving Day, November 24-27. Meters will also be bagged from December 19-26 for the Christmas Holiday.

For Thanksgiving, Police Chief Craig Pearrell said meters will be bagged with brown paper bags decorated by pre-school students at all three of the county’s elementary schools.

During Christmas, white paper bags decorated by the students will adorn parking meters.

Pearrell announced the police department has won its ninth straight traffic safety award from the American Automobile Association.