City mulls incentives for motel project

The Weiser City Council made no decisions at a special meeting Monday night on potential economic incentives for a proposed motel project  in Weiser.

 The council was missing two members for a discussion that lasted about an hour. 

 City officials discussed a potential range of incentives, not only for a motel development, if that happens, but for any project. The range of incentives could potentially include in-kind work to waiving some fees. 

 “It went round and round,” council member Dan Randleman said of the discussion.

 Mayor Diana Thomas said the discussion was fairly “generic” on what kind of potential incentives the city could offer a developer or investors in a project.  

 She said the city officials didn’t get into specifics because there is no proposal yet for a motel or any other development for city council members to consider.

 Monday’s discussion was prompted by a request from economic task force member Patrick Nauman, who asked the city what incentives could be offered to developers of a motel project.City officials will take up the issue of potential incentives for developers or investors in a motel at a future date. 

 In September, Washington County commissioners said they would support tax incentives for a new motel in Weiser if the project becomes a reality.

 Commissioners said they would write a letter that could be given to potential investors in a motel project to be located in Weiser. 

 Idaho law allows counties to waive all or part of the taxes on a new business project or expansion that meets the investment threshold for up to five years. 

 The state law until July of 2018 required at least a $3 million investment by companies for tax breaks from counties, but that amount dropped to $500,000. 

 Commissioners said the tax breaks are available to any new or existing business that meets the criteria. 

 The Weiser economic task force is waiting for the results of a hotel feasibility study that is expected to be completed soon. Core Distinction Group of Arizona was hired with proceeds from a grant to do the feasibility study and make recommendations.

 Once the feasibility study is done, the next step will be to find investors in the project. An LLC made up of local investors who would own the hotel would be the preferable way to finance the project, Nauman said.

 The feasibility study also will have the details on what the total buildout cost might be. 

 Nauman said a potential location for a motel has been found in Weiser.