By: Jennifer Britt
The Parsons Advocate
Every year Tucker County Parks and Recreation Commission puts out an application for entities that
qualify for the use of motel/hotel tax monies. The deadline for the application was May 31, 2022, and
the commission only received five requests for applications.
Tucker Valley Elementary School requested $7,000 for new playground equipment that totaled in price
$17,100. The Commission elected to deny this request as it did not meet code for the county or
municipality. The Commission will write up a denial letter and mail it to the school officials.
Thomas Fire Department requested $6,000 for the fireworks show in July. The total price for the
fireworks is listed as $18,000. The Commission agreed to donate $4,000 towards the fireworks.
Mountaineer Days requested $5,000 for entertainment and advertising. Mountaineer Days needs a total
of $15,700 in funds and the Commission agreed to donate $3,000.
Tucker County Chamber of Commerce requested $2,000 in funds for the Oktoberfest held by the entity.
The original listed cost for everything is $5,500 and the Commission will be donating the requested
$2,000 in funds.
The total of $9,000 donated with this year’s motel/hotel tax monies is down from the $20,000 or so the
Commission usually donates.
The ball fields owned and ran by the Tucker County Parks and Recreation Commission are receiving
somewhat of an uplift before next year’s ball season. A new score board has been ordered and
delivered. The installation and the tools or products needed, such as posts and electrical wiring, for the
scoreboard are being investigated. The score board was paid for by an individual, but the TC Parks and
Recreation Commission said that they are willing to reimburse that individual for the cost of the score
board.
The fields themselves will be sprayed with weed killer. The fields will also have holes filled in with sand
and new sand brought in to fix the fields. There seems to be a lot of projects that volunteers would like
to see done at the fields, so a meeting is being put together to get everyone on the same page. Some
plans include a press box and a concession stand. The specifics such as electrical hook-up will have to be
considered.
Board member Tom Gutshall said that new rules and regulations will have to be enforced before
next ball season. There are problems with the trash not being to the dumpsters provided. Animals have
been getting in the trash and spreading all over the ball field. The bathrooms are being left in a disarray
and not thoroughly clean like users have found them. TC Parks and Rec Announce Recipients of Hotel/Motel Tax Monies