Council approves chamber contract

The contract between the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Ritzville was unanimously renewed Tuesday.

The contract commits $35,000 in city tourism monies from the 110 Fund for the staffing and operation of the visitors’ center and the general promotion of Ritzville to travelers and potential visitors.

The new one-year agreement is a mirror of the contract from 2013.

The 110 funds are a bed tax collected by the local hotel and motel operators. The city then calls for local proposals for the use of the funds. A portion of the funds directly support community events and organizations such as the Ritzville Festivals Association, Ritzville Rodeo Association and the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair.