PIERCE — Chairman Robert Wehrer presided over a meeting of the Pierce County Visitors Bureau on Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Pierce County Courthouse. Roll Call was taken with members Robert Wehrer, Kelly Hodson, Julie Newman, Rick Higgins and Jean Bierschenk present. There were no visitors in attendance.
The Treasurer reported that there was $3,838.44 in the Visitor Improvement Fund and $3,100.24 available in the Visitor Promo Fund.
Grant reports received since the October meeting for previous grants paid out were as follows: Pierce Lions Club, Village of Hadar, Pierce Baseball Backers, Pierce Historical Society, Pierce County Ag Society, Pierce Threshing Bee, Norfolk Area Visitors Bureau, Brandon Gerdes Memorial Foundation, City of Osmond Orchard (partial report) not complete.
Grant reports not received as of this meeting were: April 2023 grant cycle – Osmond United Methodist music, Osmond Home Town sign; October 2023 grant cycle – City of Osmond Orchard, Pierce Community Golf sign, Pfanny's Farm sign; April 2024 grant cycle – Hadar Fire Dept barbecue, Osmond Methodist Men's Group music, Osmond Home Team alumni, Lambrecht Cemetery Association fence, Osmond Park Board picnic tables.
The following grant applications were presented and approved to be paid: Pierce Old Time Threshing Bee, advertising for 2025 Show, $500 (promo) Klown Doll Museum, building insulation, $750.00 (improvement) Pierce Historical Society, window replacement, $750 (improvement) Osmond Senior Center, window replacement, $750 (improvement) Plainview Historical Society, photo display rack, $750 (improvement) St John’s Lutheran Church, advertising for nativity, $500.00 (promo) Applications submitted by the Osmond Park Board, Osmond Home Team and Osmond Orchard were rejected and asked to resubmit when they have completed the paperwork requirements of their last grant request.
It was brought to the board’s attention, as reported in a local paper, that a grantee was considering a donation of their Pierce County grant funds to another charitable organization. The grantee was notified that this is not an acceptable use of the funds.
The board was informed via email from Sheila Jenkinson of Growing Small Town Nebraska that the final Pierce County podcast was aired on Oct. 8. She received favorable reviews on the two podcasts and expressed her desire to apply for grant funds again in the future.
The next meeting will be held April 3, 2025, at 3 p.m. — Julie Newman, Secretary/Treasurer
