Council OKs room tax funds for Oakridge-Westfir Chamber of Commerce

In a 5-to-2 vote Thursday night, the Oakridge City Council approved a grant of $15,360 in transient room tax revenue to the Oakridge Westfir Area Chamber of Commerce.

The vote came after Chamber President Lynda Kamerrer told the council that her business group needs the funds for continuing its website upgrading and pursuing its mission of promoting business and economic opportunity in the Oakridge-Westfir Community.

Despite a nearly unanimous outpouring of council praise for the job Kamerrer and the chamber have done during this past year of pandemic restrictions, two councilors — Dawn Kinyon and Audy Spliethof — voted against the allocation. Both said they were inclined to approve the funding but first wanted the council to honor a previous commitment to develop a clear city policy for TRT (transient room tax) spending before making any further grants.

Mayor Kathy Holston and councilors Christina Hollett, Bobbie Whitney, Melissa Bjarnson and Michelle Coker voted in favor of the disbursement. Holston offered to meet soon with Kinyon to prepare for council deliberation on a TRT program policy.

In other business, the council unanimously supported The Campfire restaurant’s application for a liquor license from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.

The council also unanimously approved a waiver of a $20 user fee for the Oakridge American Legion Post to use Greenwaters Park for a flag retirement ceremony on June 14, which is National Flag Day.