Visitors bureau proposes river signage, contracts firm to find noncompliant short-term rentals

Miranda Burrell, executive director of the county visitors bureau, told commissioners she is pursuing two projects aimed at public safety and tax compliance.

Burrell said the bureau will install blue, reflective 12-by-18-inch signs about every half mile along roughly 20 miles of river. Each sign will identify the county and include a location number so callers can tell emergency services where they are. "My intentions with this project is to put a sign every half mile, designating what county they're in and a number," Burrell said, adding that law enforcement and emergency management agencies will receive maps showing access points. She said the visitors bureau will fund the signs and is collecting memoranda of understanding to place them on private property, mounting the signs on trees instead of posts to reduce the risk of washout.

Burrell also said the bureau contracted a company called Deckard to identify noncompliant short-term rentals that are not remitting bed tax. The company scrapes listings to find units, ownership data and contact information; Burrell said she intends to work with the county prosecutor to bring owners into compliance and to educate hosts about bed-tax obligations.

Why it matters: River signs aim to make it easier for stranded or injured boaters to give accurate location information to first responders. Short-term rental compliance could increase local bed-tax revenue and level the playing field for compliant property owners.

Next steps: Burrell said the bureau is finalizing MOUs, working with local law enforcement and campgrounds and will proceed with pricing and installation studies for the signage project.