 While the recently formed Sanford Center work group presented some of its findings and held a discussion last night about how success should be defined at Bemidji's Sanford Center. Our Josh Peterson was there and shares with us how talk of a new tax could be the answer to help Bemidji's event center be successful. In a study done by the Sanford Center's management company, VenuWorks, Bemidji's event center leaves a $24 million dollar economic impact on the city of Bemidji. To get the most out of the Sanford Center is all about how you define the event center's success. Ultimately we have to decide how do we define what success at this event center is and so we've been meeting this group's been meeting for a couple months and I would I think it's fair to say we've kind of got a couple ideas. The Sanford Center work group which was created last fall after concerns over staff turnover and questions about event center policies were brought forward. The city of Bemidji budgets annually a $400,000 subsidy as an operational investment that stems from property taxes. That is where the conversation began on a hospitality tax on lodging. A food and beverage tax was also brought to the table as a way to offset the use of property taxes. I think the point of the meeting last night was to further the conversation with the council and to start to formulate a plan to have some community conversations about an alternative revenue here to help that facility. While one of the reasons for the hospitality tax would be to provide property tax relief, council members discussed gaining support for the tax to fund an event center with a tarnished image due to financial impropriety would be an obstacle. This building hasn't got the best news going around the community and even if the business communities and stuff the reputation for the Sanford and Bemidji city manager Nate Matthew says that while they are aware of the negative issues surrounding the event center the issue that has the most impact is making sure the event center is a success. I mean we're aware of some of the issues of staffing and some of the financial propriety that's notwithstanding the subject that we're reviewing which is a sustainable ability to help our community. While the hospitality and food and beverage tax remains as an option the city plans to make sure everyone is on board. In Bemidji Josh Peterson, Lakeland News. To make sure there is no miscommunication about the possible hospitality tax the city will be seeking public input and will hold more meetings regarding the issue this spring. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.