By MIKE MALTAIS
Reporter at Ward Media
CHELAN – Being a tourist destination has its drawbacks, but it also has its advantages, such as when tourism-related expenses are covered by tourism revenue. Such is the case with the Chelan County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol Vessel, which recently required an expensive engine replacement.
Sergeant Rob Huddleston reported on the repair work at the City Council meeting last Tuesday, August 27th.
“When it rains, it pours,” Huddleston said. “Since I was last here, Marine 1’s engines have gone out and we just replaced them. To get that running again, we had to spend $50,000 from the Marine Corps budget.”
Huddleston delivered his last speech to the council in March, when he recommended a major modernization of Marine 2, which is two years younger than Marine 1.
“We have done some research and believe we can fund this with tourism dollars,” said City Administrator Wade Farris.
“The funds come from the 103 three percent fund (Lodging Tax Fund),” said Finance Director Jackie Tupling. “The report Rob gave us says the majority of his water police are people from outside the county or city that he tickets or issues warnings to, so we can use 103 for that.”
“Last winter, when we collected the statistics, it was about 84 percent of the work from outside the region, and that’s true every year,” Huddleston said. “We have the highest concentration of boat rentals in the entire state.”
The MRSC and DOR guidelines support the City’s findings.
The Council approved $100,000 from Lodging Tax Fund 103 to repair the vessel.
Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or [email protected]
