CEDAR CITY – While Cedar City received more than $1.2 million in requests for the RAP tax money allocation this year, the committees charged with overseeing the funding had only $477,000 to work with. On Wednesday, City Council members approved several of these requests.
The RAP taxes are collected annually and dispersed to various programs falling under the category of recreation, arts or parks.
The beneficiaries of the money have to apply for the funds. Their applications go to a parks and recreation committee or an arts committee, both of which meet every July to hear presentations from the various applicants.
This year’s excess of requests isn’t unusual, as the city generally has more requests than funds.
The committees’ recommendations are then forwarded to the City Council for final approval.
During Wednesday’s City Council meeting, the legislative body approved the recommendations of the two committees, freeing up the money to now be allocated to the different applicants.
This year the requests going to the parks and recreation committee exceeded $1 million, with only $318,000 in the fund balance. Cedar Ridge Golf Course was the largest benefactor, receiving $80,000 to replace a water pump for the second phase of an irrigation project.
The committee also recommended the Southwest Wildlife Foundation receive $27,500 for restroom facilities at the Cedar Canyon Nature Park on state Route 14. The council approved the recommendation.
The requests for the arts portion of the funding came in at approximately $249,000; only $159,000 was available for distribution.
The Utah Shakespeare Festival received the largest share at $55,000, while the Neil Simon Festival took in $20,000.
Other business
In other business, the City Council approved the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s application to sell alcohol before performances.
The council’s vote gives the applicants the ability to now go to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for the final stamp of approval.
Depending on how fast the state approves the application, the festival may be able to start selling the alcohol later this season.
Similar to other concession sales, the festival plans to sell 6-ounce glasses of wine approximately 30 minutes prior to the opening curtain and during the 15-minute intermission.
Additionally, Cedar City Police Sgt. Jimmy Roden was sworn in as a lieutenant during the council meeting
Roden, who has been with the department for 17 years, has been the agency’s public information officer but will now be responsible for overseeing the Patrol unit.
Roden said he was humbled by the promotion and committed to working diligently with his officers, the department and the community.
Besides his role as a police officer, Roden is also 10-year veteran of the Triple Deuce of the Utah Army National Guard.
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Twitter: @tracie_sullivan
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Enjoying a cocktail while watching a play? That’s not gonna make the locals very happy.
Seriously. ..nobody cares what you think.
May The lord bless you and give my regards to your loved ones
There is the old Dumpster. Welcome back. I take it you got your refill.
Seriously nobody cares what you think