Dec. 3--SCOTT CITY -- There are signs of growth in Scott City -- a new law enforcement center is being built, new stores have opened, and a new hotel opened earlier this year.

And because people are staying in the new hotel, Best Western El Quartelejo Inn and Suites, the city is seeing a larger transient guest tax than in years past.

Barbi Winderlin is the new director for travel and tourism, an office created using funds from the tax.

The tax comes from local hotels and motels in Scott City. When people stay in rooms overnight, they pay a 5 percent tax, which is sent to the state. The state sends that money back to local communities with the idea that the money will be used to draw more people to stay overnight.

Winderlin, whose new post is a part-time position, has no shortage of projects already in the works. She is working on trying to get a scenic byway constructed that would start at Oakley, go by Scott Lake and into Scott City, then through Leoti and up to Wallace County. She also is working on a 32-page booklet about Scott City and county that she hopes will help lure more people to relocate to the area, and she is trying to get motor coach tours to the lake and historical sights in the county.

She aims to bring and promote new and existing special events, parks and historical sights that attract tourists to the community.

"There are so many different opportunities people don't know about," Winderlin said.

Winderlin said her new position was needed in the community.

Before she was hired, the Scott City Chamber of Commerce handled tourist calls. Julie Eikenberry, director of the chamber, hired Winderlin to take care of the travel and tourism aspect so the chamber could focus its other duties. Winderlin's office then was moved to City Hall.

City Clerk Brenda Davis said the city and county never have really been promoted before now.

"We want to make Scott City a place that someone might want to come see," Davis said.

Davis said when people spend the night in Scott City, they eat at local restaurants and shop at local stores. The guest tax will be recirculated into the community, Davis said.

Other goals Winderlin said she'd like to see are organized tours for bird watchers at Lake Scott, a fishing contest at the lake and other festivals come to Scott City. She also wants to get brochures that promote Scott City and Scott County to convenience stores and grocery stores.

Winderlin also wants to create a hands-on harvest experience and bring in people from other states to be involved in harvest.

Winderlin is from Lindsborg and worked in Junction City before moving to Scott City. She has experience as a travel agent, and for the past two and a half years she ran a home-based travel business in Scott City.

Eikenberry said the travel and tourism director is an important aspect to the community because the Scott City area offers historical sights from the Paleolithic era to the 1800s, along with a unique natural attraction, Lake Scott.

"We offer lots of wonderful things you couldn't get in other areas of the state," Eikenberry said.

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