Tourism commission awards additional funds, reviews Sunshine Law

At their meeting Tuesday morning, Dec. 15, Marshall Tourism Commission members granted an additional $1,500 in tourism funds to the Historic Arrow Rock Council.

The Arrow Rock group already received $2,000 for advertising in 2010, as part of the Marshall Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee's umbrella request.

The additional funds will cover half the costs of advertising for Arrow Rock's Heritage Craft Festival, held annually every fall. With the extra money, advertising will be doubled from previous years, extending to more than a 50-mile radius from Arrow Rock.

In other business, commission members discussed Missouri's Sunshine Law and its requirements.

Gary Grote suggested the commission adopt a resolution naming a custodian of records and outlining fees for obtaining them. After some discussion, it was decided that Secretary Amy Crump will work on the resolution and provide a draft at the next meeting.

"It's nice to have a process in place," she said.

President Shellee Peuster said she thought a general review of commission policies would also be advisable.

"I also think it might be good for us to go through the bylaws," she said, because they haven't been revised since the commission's beginning five years ago.

Treasurer Gracie Bouws added that the commission's bylaws have never been completely approved by attorney Don Stouffer.

Commission member Bob Kueck was absent from the meeting.

The commission will meet again Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 8:30 a.m.

Contact Sydney Stonner at marshallbusiness@socket.net