Commission adopts resolution declaring local disaster tied to low reservoir levels

Following a county presentation on visitation and lodging declines, commissioners debated whether a local disaster declaration would help secure coordinated study or funding without unnecessarily alarming potential visitors.

Commission discussion referenced holiday visitation drops, lodgers-tax declines and the difficulty of judging trend lines before July and August data are finalized. One commissioner warned that calling a disaster could affect marketing: “I worry about that,” the commissioner said of broadcasting a state of emergency; others argued regional alignment would strengthen requests for technical studies and assistance. After discussion the commission moved to adopt Resolution No. 182627; the motion passed and the commission recorded its unanimous support.

The resolution was presented as a tool to strengthen the region’s voice to state agencies and to allow time for targeted studies (for example water or downstream impact analysis) and possible funding requests. Commissioners asked staff to continue tracking GRT and lodgers-tax collections and to report back once July and August results were available.