Local tourism got an end-of-the-year shot in the arm at Monday’s short meeting of the Ellsworth City Council.

Approval was given to the following disbursement recommendations from the Ellsworth City Bed Tax Committee for 2021: Ellsworth County Historical Society, $10,000, to start a fund to maintain the caboose; Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce, $5,000, for tourism, marketing and advertising; the National Drovers Hall of Fame, $1,500, for matching grant funds; and the Ellsworth Area Arts Council, $1,500, for ongoing artist recruitment and gallery upkeep.

Mayor Mark Kennedy said the total amount available for disbursement is $24,553.48. However, $18,000 was disbursed. The balance will remain in the account for future disbursement.

In other business:

• Cereal malt beverage licenses were approved for 2022 for the National Drovers Hall of Fame, the Ellsworth Coop (Ampride), and the Ellsworth American Legion.

• In response to a question asked by Ellsworth resident Karen Shriner, Rusty Varnado, city administrator, said bids are being solicited to demolish the homes on West Street and St. Louis Street which have been discussed by the council in the past.

“They are going to be demolished,” Varnado said.

• Approval was given to provide Kennedy with a lifetime membership to the Ellsworth Golf Course. Varnado sought approval due to Kennedy having served on the governing body for 9.5 years instead of the required 10 years according to city policy.

“You guys didn’t have to do that,” Kennedy said. “Thank you very much.”

Kennedy, who didn’t run for re-election this past November, is stepping down as mayor in January. He will hand the gavel over to Dan Finnegan, who voters elected to succeed him.

• Varnado said thanks to a $38,000 grant from the Horst Reiter Foundation, new carpet has been installed in the Rec Center and new flooring soon will be. The walls will also receive a fresh coat of paint. He hopes work on this phase of the project will be complete by the end of January.

• Varnado said as part of the infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden, the Ellsworth Airport will receive $159,000. Varnado said a couple of projects at the airport are under consideration to be paid for with the funding.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth City Council is at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, at city hall.