The Valentine City Council met Thursday evening for a regular meeting at the Valentine Public Library. The major item on the agenda was rather or not to proceed with a hotel, motel occupancy tax in the city limits. At
the end of discuss it was approved to begin a 5% occupancy tax beginning in January o 2023. The tax could generate $250,000 to $275,000 annually for the city. The additional tax revenue will be put into the general
fund. There was discussion about designating funds for property tax relief, some for police department and some for strategic projects like daycare, housing and old gym renovation. At this time there is no specific
designation for the revenue. In other business, the council approved a recommendation from the Economic Development Board to for a full time economic development director job description. They also approved the wage scale for that position. The highway 20 law enforcement Inter-local agreement was approved including Fort Niobrara and Valentine Refuges Complex. A resolution was passed for the annual Bull Bash celebration on February 11th, 2023 and the council granted a request from the Heart of Christmas Celebration committee to hold the parade of lights on Green St on November 26th.