Council reviews and approves Hotel/Motel Tax recommendations

Multiple organizations are receiving a welcome influx of funding thanks to the Red Oak Hotel/Motel Tax committee.
The committee recently reviewed and approved a number of the funding requests. Red Oak City Councilperson Jeanice Lester, who also sits on the Hotel/Motel Tax committee, said there are a lot of great new ideas.
“Several years ago, we decided that we should look at new ideas first, so that is what we did. Beau Boeye with Boeye Tech & Design LLC proposed a project to digitize the Red Oak Country Club, transfer it to an app, and then make it freely available for people to “play the ROCC” and then entice them to come and play it in real life. His request was for $750 and that was approved,” said Lester. “The Rotary Club is doing a live music on the square, and I think there is going to be a food truck and stuff like that. Carrie Shalters made the request for $2,500, and the event will be called Second Thursday Live Music on the Square. It was also approved.”
In addition to the regular requests, Lester said the committee required everyone submitting a funding request to bring in additional information.
“Not only do they have to turn in the receipts, they have to turn in the revenue also. Basically, we do not want to be a line item. We want to be able to help you with your funding, but we don’t want to be part of your budget, or be be subordinated to your budget,” said Lester.
One request, Lester said, ended up being tabled pending further information. Firehouse Mexican Bar & Grill had no representation at the meeting, and the question from the committee was about contacting the DOT regarding the signage on Highway 34.
“I went and visited them to say, we needed you to explain it better to us, because we did not understand it, and I offered to have them apply again in September. They were good with that, and they’ll come up there next time to make the request,” stated Lester.
Other approved funding requests were as follows:
• Amber Jennings representing Behind the Shield made a $1,000 request for funding to benefit the annual National Night Out event. The request was unanimously approved by the committee.
• Mandy Hill representing the Classy Chassis Car Club made a request for $3,500 for the Old Car Days 2026 event in 2026, which was unanimously approved.
• Jim Hoskinson representing the Red Oak Arts Destination committee made a request of $4,900 for the addition of a mural to be painted on the Napa Auto Parts building. All committee members approved the request.
• Wilson Performing Arts Center executive director Valerie Zane made a request of $8,000 in funding to be used towards a Puppet Arts Initiative. The request was unanimously approved.
• Bill Drey representing the Red Oak Park & Tree Board requested $1,600 for concrete work for a project in the dugouts at the sports complex northwest field and a sidewalk in College Park leading to the gazebo. The request was approved as presented.
• Dawn LeRette representing the Red Oak Music Boosters told the committee they  are fundraising for auditorium upgrades. This project is for lighting and sound sources. LeRette’s request of $7,500 was approved by the Hotel/Motel Tax committee unanimously.
• Sara Orme representing Red Coach Inn & Suites requested $10,000 for its Stay & Play program. A total of $8,000 was unanimously approved by the committee.
• Nancy Nelson representing the Montgomery County Ag Society requested funding for the 2026 county fair entertainment. The Hotel/Motel Tax committee unanimously approved $8,000 in funding for the program.
• A request was received from the Red Oak Chamber and Industry Association for the Holiday Season Events 2026. $5,000 in funding was unanimously approved by the committee.
• The final request was from Pete Crawford representing Save Our Depot. A total of $9,000 in funding was requested for a tuckpointing project at the depot building. The committee unanimously approved $8,000 in funding for the project.
Lester said she was pleased with the multitude of projects that they were able to fund, and said approval was easy.
“Behind the Shields, that’s pretty self-explanatory. They bring thousands of people to the square. The Classy Chassis Car Club car show does the same thing. The Wilson’s Puppets Arts Initiative will be the only one of its kind in the Midwest. I know my granddaughter from Milwaukee attended some of their things last year, and she was impressed with them,” explained Lester. “The Park and Tree Board improvements are pretty much self-explanatory, and needed. As for the Music Boosters request, some people may ask why we approved the request, and the reason is that they also do a lot of events for the community. We hold a lot of functions in the auditorium. Also, the county fair, does a lot of free things for the public, so this money will be a great help for them.”
The council approved the Hotel/Motel Tax committee recommendations as presented at its April 6 meeting.