Bennett Asks About Tourist Center Locating On County Property

By MARK EVANS

mevans@stegenherald.com

Gina Bennett had an idea for solving the city’s trouble in getting information to visitors.

In recent weeks, Tourism Tax Commission members had made suggestions of removing the “Welcome Center” sign from the Welcome Center and possibly seeking a small space for a city-run tourism office, following numerous complaints about the National Park Service personnel’s level of service there.

During last Thursday’s county commission meeting, Bennett bounced an idea off of the commissioners of how to solve the problem.

She asked whether any county space might be available for housing personnel to give information to visitors.

One location she wondered about was the Sainte Genevieve Art Guild Museum and Center, on the courthouse square. Since it is not used seven days a week by the art guild (of which she is a member), she suggested an individual or two could man a desk there every day to deal with visitors.

Her other possibility was in erecting an enclosed kiosk on the county parking lot “in the shaded area, just big enough for one person and a desk to distribute information and help.”

Presiding Commissioner Garry Nelson told her that while the county supports the city’s tourism program financially, the city controls how things are done.

Bennett said she had spoken with her alderperson about it.

“The city would need to approach us with a plan,” Nelson said, before the county would consider offering county space for a tourist operation.

The city is currently without a tourism director. Jeff Wix, who had held the job just over a year, resigned in mid July, after being away from the job for about a month.

SCHMIEDER GIVES ROAD REPORT

Scott Schmieder, road and bridge foreman, reported that the county’s boom mower broke down. The needed part had been ordered, he said.

He said his crew had been mowing and patching. Weather permitting; they would be doing chip-and-seal paving this week.