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Commissioners should get some help in breaking tie on tourism contract
As individuals who participated in Klamath County’s competitive process for awarding its tourism promotion services contract, we were thrilled to see so many great ideas brought forward by the four groups who made presentations to the county commissioners this past Tuesday.
Even though our proposal did not come out on top, it was great to see so much interest in promoting Klamath as a tourist destination.
By an extraordinary turn of events, the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce tied with Travel Klamath in the commissioners’ scoring of the four proposals.
It’s probably fair to say no one had anticipated an outcome like that.
Now that the commissioners must decide between the two organizations, we think they should approach this situation carefully. We have doubts about the validity of the tie-breaking strategy they improvised in a matter of minutes following Tuesday’s surprising results.
The commissioners’ plan is to bring representatives of the chamber and Travel Klamath back on Dec. 1, ask them to respond to a single question, and then award the five-year contract based on the responses.
Considering how much is at stake, and the past track records of how each of the finalists has handled their turn at running the county’s tourism effort, we would urge the commissioners to exercise due diligence in this process.
We would recommend that the commissioners find three or five volunteers from the business community to review the two remaining proposals and submit comments.
Alternatively, the commissioners could open up a public comment period, and use that input to make sure they arrive at a decision the community can support.
A new five-year tourism contract is such a substantial investment in this county’s potential growth and economic health that the commissioners should resist the urge to dispatch this matter too hastily.
Karyn Mielosyzk Linda Weider
Jenifer Roe Todd Kepple
Mark Clark Rich Touslee
Even though our proposal did not come out on top, it was great to see so much interest in promoting Klamath as a tourist destination.
By an extraordinary turn of events, the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce tied with Travel Klamath in the commissioners’ scoring of the four proposals.
It’s probably fair to say no one had anticipated an outcome like that.
Now that the commissioners must decide between the two organizations, we think they should approach this situation carefully. We have doubts about the validity of the tie-breaking strategy they improvised in a matter of minutes following Tuesday’s surprising results.
The commissioners’ plan is to bring representatives of the chamber and Travel Klamath back on Dec. 1, ask them to respond to a single question, and then award the five-year contract based on the responses.
Considering how much is at stake, and the past track records of how each of the finalists has handled their turn at running the county’s tourism effort, we would urge the commissioners to exercise due diligence in this process.
We would recommend that the commissioners find three or five volunteers from the business community to review the two remaining proposals and submit comments.
Alternatively, the commissioners could open up a public comment period, and use that input to make sure they arrive at a decision the community can support.
A new five-year tourism contract is such a substantial investment in this county’s potential growth and economic health that the commissioners should resist the urge to dispatch this matter too hastily.
Karyn Mielosyzk Linda Weider
Jenifer Roe Todd Kepple
Mark Clark Rich Touslee
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of HeraldAndNews.com. Comment Disclaimer: The editors of heraldandnews.com reserve the right to refuse publication of any comment posted for consideration. We may refuse for any reason, including use of profanity, disparaging comments, libelous comments, etc. Any reader who notices a comment they believe is particularly offensive, should notify us at webmaster@heraldandnews.com.
dee wrote on Dec 1, 2008 7:17 AM:
" Sorry, but Bill Brown has stepped down on this decision, so it is up to other two. It is their job. I think what you folks are asking for has already been done. A fair assessment has been done and that ended in a tie. So they need to resolve this, with a dooooosey of a question. There is much to done to help tourism, especially the fight to open up our forests for recreation, since we cannot log them anymore. I don't see this happening currently. All I see is promoting what we have in place already, and that is not enough. We have to compete with the likes of Bend and others, and we can. But it isn't going to happen with pencil pushers. "
My vote is for .... wrote on Nov 30, 2008 6:13 PM:
" The signators on this letter are correct - let's make this more than two commissioners asking a single question??? Based on past performance, Travel Klamath has been so successful in promoting the area that I think they deserve to continue. Let's don't make this a dog and pony show as the previous author notes. Five years is way too long for a contract in these economic times anyhow. Who knows if we will even have money for this if we sink into a depression.
We use alot of brochures in our office for promotion of the Basin at the present and Travel Klamath is so professional in these items "
We use alot of brochures in our office for promotion of the Basin at the present and Travel Klamath is so professional in these items "
Kirk Oakes wrote on Nov 30, 2008 4:00 AM:
" To say I was somewhat stunned that a decision of this importance to our community's future was going to be decided in a manner akin to a school essay contest is an understatement. I was hoping that calmer heads would prevail and I completely concur with the sentiments above.
Let us decide this very important contract by judging stability, past performance, past delivery of promises and action.
Whichever method we use to decide, I hope it is more than a single question dog and pony show.
Based on merit, I would advocate staying with Travel Klamath. Can I vote? "
Let us decide this very important contract by judging stability, past performance, past delivery of promises and action.
Whichever method we use to decide, I hope it is more than a single question dog and pony show.
Based on merit, I would advocate staying with Travel Klamath. Can I vote? "
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I watched wrote on Dec 1, 2008 9:35 AM:
The Chamber won the day......make the award to them and be done with it. "