STE. GENEVIEVE – The Ste. Genevieve Board of Aldermen met for a regular open meeting and open work session Thursday, July 11.
Aldermen Eric Bennett was absent.
Aldermen Patrick Fahey joined the meeting a little late.
City Administer Happy Welch reported concrete work would begin Monday (July 15) for the path at Pere Marquette Park and was expected would be finished by the end of the week.
Water bills are not being received by customers. Welch said the problem was in the USPS center in Hazelwood. Bills are due Monday (July 15). Customers may call city hall to determine the amount due. Those who sign up for Front Page can have the amount of the bill sent to them via email. They don’t have to sign up to pay them through Front Page, but that is an option.
Reports were presented by the fire chief and tourism director.
The Consent agenda items were approved.
Resolution 2024-34: Agreement with Ste. Genevieve County to use city hall as a polling place.
Resolution 2024-35: Purchase of eight sets of Lion turnout gear for the fire department from Sentinel Emergency Solutions for no more than $25,772.54.
Resolution 2024-36: Purchase of a Roll-N-Rack hose management system for the fire department from RollNRack LLC for no more than $9,480.
Old Business – None
New Business:
Date change for next meeting to July 24, 6 p.m. to allon aldermen to attend a county town hall meeting Thursday, July 25.
Resolution to Appoint Justin Donovan to the P&Z board was approved.
The regular meeting was adjourned and the work session was convened.
Dr. Hoffman was added to the agenda for the work session to speak to her plans for an art gallery and entertainment venue on North Main Street to open in October or November.
The restoration of a four-way stop at Main and Washington Streets was discussed. The new stop signs on Washington would mean that the businesses adjacent to the corner would each lose a parking spot. Welch said he would send letters to the adjacent businesses and then move forward depending on their responses.
The aldermen discussed the dissolution of the city’s Tourism Advisory Council. The members of the TAC would be added to the Tourism Tax Commission as non-voting members. The TTC is required to have five voting members – no more, no less.
The board discussed a proposed increase in the tourism tax from the existing two percent to four percent. A one percent tax is suggested for the county outside of the city limits. The tax would apply to lodging establishments. It would be placed on the November general election ballot.
Mayor Keim reported that he and Ste. Genevieve R-II School Board President David Bova met with an official of MLC (formerly Mississippi Lime Company) regarding the “some lingering issues”. Mayor Keim said he felt the meeting was productive. Another meeting is set for August.
Both meetings were shown live on SteGenTV Channel 991 on the Spectrum Cable TV system and are now available on the SteGenTV You Tube Channel at https://youtu.be/CjDRA9F75b0