by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington City Council will be meeting tonight for its regular session starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Wellington Council Chambers on 317 S. Washington.

It could be an interesting meeting.

Currently, Wellington City Manager Gus Collins said there are several people looking to bring in new hotel lodging or expand lodging at a current facility. One developer expressed interest in building a Best Western Hotel across from McDonald’s (see story here). Another developer allegedly expressed interest in building a hotel near the Kansas Turnpike Authority gate. There have also been two other proposals that have not been divulged publicly.

But like a bunch of fish nibbling on that earthworm on the hook, no bass are taking the bite. 

So the city council will be contemplating sweetening the bait — i.e. add a bigger worm.

The council will be considering using touring tax derived from the use of hotel/motel rooms as incentives for developers. The idea is to use the monies to pay infrastructure costs associated with hotel development.

Currently the city of Wellington levies a 6 percent tourism tax on the gross receipts derived from people staying at hotel/motels here. These monies are then used to promote tourism to assist with marketing of conventions, etc.

Wellington City Manager Gus Collins said in a memo to the council this week that the council needs to revise the charter ordinance so that the city could use this type of revenue for infrastructure costs associated with hotel development. It will not affect tourism money going to the Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce, Collins said.

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Also, Collins is requesting the implementation of a committee that will deal with the distribution of the tourism tax. Currently, that decision is up to the Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce.

In other business items, the council will decide on the following matters:

•Determine whether to grant the Wellington Recreation Commission a $990,000 bond issue for the $1.8 million proposed expansion of the WRC facility to the west.  The city’s role would be to serve as Guarantor, someone who guarantees a debt can be repaid. Collins said to issue the bonds in this project will go through a Public Building Commission. The bond issue would not have an impact on the city’s ability to issue debt and it does not affect the debt limit, Collins said.

•Determine whether to assist Susan’s Portraits and Designs, a photography business that is looking to move to North Plum (near Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy Store). The proposal is to provide the business funding to prepare the site, construct a parking lot and any other additional site improvements as necessary. The cost is estimated not to exceed $18,000 and will be paid back by the owners over a 10-year period. The deal is identical for the one given to Gill/Erickson for its Crossfit, Dentistry, and Chiropractic Center on U.S. 160.

•contemplate approving the CMB application because the change of the business from La Fiesta to Mi Casita Mexican Restaurant.