STE. GENEVIEVE — It looks like the city of Ste. Genevieve will create a task force of volunteers to help it determine its next step in marketing Ste. Genevieve to the world.
This comes after the city has lost another tourism director.
City Administrator Happy Welch broached the possibility of hiring an advertising agency to develop a market program for the city.
Many in the audience at last night’s meeting are not in favor of that. They want someone who knows the town well to run the program.
Another idea mentioned last night was removing the city’s welcome center from the National Park Service headquarters in the former Great River Road Interpretive Center. This comes after the city realized the National Park Service will only promote its events.
At the end of the public discussion, it was tentatively decided to form a task force to examine the issue and come forward with a proposal or two.
In other business at the meeting
A public hearing was held on the property tax rates proposed to be set by the city.
The general revenue tax rate remains the same at 48.12 cents for each $100 assessed valuation.
The cemetery tax remains at 4.8 cents for $100 assessed valuation.
The band tax remains at 7.73 cents for each $100 assessed valuation.
The park and recreation tax remains at 12.51 cents for each $100 assessed valuation.
The public safety tax remains at 26.84 cents for each $100 assessed valuation.
The total tax is $1 for each $100 assessed valuation, no change from last year.
The taxes are expected to bring in $74,912,919, which is up from last year’s revenue of $71,498,231.
The public hearing only lasted one minute.
Later the board of aldermen gave both first and second round approval to the tax rate.
In other business, the aldermen approved a street closure request from the Felix Valle House State Historic Site to close Second Street between Market and Merchant Streets for the Rural Heritage Festival October 22.
The aldermen approved following measures:
Bill No. 4500 – A contract between the city and the Ste. Genevieve Community Access Television Board to operation channels 990 and 991 on the Spectrum (Charter) Cable Television System. Final approval.
Bill No. 4501- A change in the code of ordinances dealing with zoning, animals and streets, sidewalks and other public places. Final approval.
Bill No. 4502 – A change in the code of ordinances dealing with buildings and building regulations.
Bill No. 4505 – A change in the code of ordinances dealing with nuisances. Final approval.
Bill No. 4507 – A measure levying taxes on the city’s property owners for the year 2022. First round and final approval.
Bill No. 4508 – A change in the city’s personnel manual. First round approval.
Each of the votes was 8-0 with none absent.
The meeting was shown live on SteGenTV Channel 991 and on the SteGenTV You Tube Channel. It is now available at https://youtu.be/69WAj38u6bE