Bylaw Changes Should Streamline Tourism Efforts
By ERIC X. VICCARO
eviccaro@stegenherald.com
Ste. Genevieve city administrator Happy Welch earlier this year brought up the idea of bylaw changes to help streamline tourism goals in the city.
Both the Ste. Genevieve Tourism Tax Commission (TTC) and the Tourism Advisory Council (TAC) unanimously approved bylaw changes at its joint meeting on April 20 at city hall.
“I think it’s for the betterment of tourism,” Welch said. “I think it will make for a stronger board, combining the two.”
TAC chair Sara Menard concurred in an email to the Herald.
“I am in favor of the bylaw amendments,” Menard said. “It makes perfect sense to me that the Tourism Tax Commission and the advisory council meet at the same time and work together with the director of tourism.”
Menard added that, “good ideas are frequently born of collaboration,” and she doesn’t see any downside to the changes.
Outgoing Ste. Genevieve tourism director Toby Carrig, who has accepted a position in Kansas, said the bylaw changes will create “less redundancy.”
Whomever takes the helm as tourism director also will be able to distribute information more easily and readily.
Bylaw changes, which have already been reviewed and okayed by city attorney Mark Bishop, will be brought forth to the Ste. Genevieve board of aldermen at a future meeting.
During the TAC meeting, aldermanic representative Susie Johnson made a motion to approve the bylaw changes, with a second from Jack Koetting.
The motion carried, 7-0-2, with Ste. Genevieve Chamber of Commerce executive director Dena Kreitler and Donna Rausch absent from the vote.
During the TTC portion of the meeting, chairman Mike Fallert noted the “pledge of allegiance” needs to added to each agenda.
Koetting made the motion to approve the changes, with a second from Nichole French, with Dee Patel, Lawrence Myers and Fallert all casting “yes” votes.
So, it appears both the TAC and TTC groups will be streamlined soon, and joint meetings will continue — including last night’s gathering.
Also during the TAC meeting, Carrig reported obtaining quotes from several different companies on the cost of printing Ste. Genevieve’s new tourism guide.
The guide will be extensive, covering 44 pages. Carrig reported he has three local and two regional bids on the project.
There also was a discussion on Carrig approaching Ste. Genevieve County for additional financial support, and he was expected to follow-up with the county commission.