Downtown organization sets bylaws

After several months of discussion and revisions, Downtown Marshall Association members approved the organization's bylaws at their meeting Monday evening, Feb. 22.

In that document, DMA's vision is outlined in four parts: to "retain and promote downtown Marshall as the center of business, culture and entertainment"; to "provide a forum for mutual solutions to common problems downtown"; to "encourage preservation and enhancement of the area's physical beauty"; and to "create public awareness of the historic and cultural significance of Marshall's unique downtown to the community as a whole."

The bylaws state that DMA will be governed by a board of directors, with no more than 21 members. Seven of those positions are reserved for the following: a representative of Marshall city government, a Marshall City Council member, a representative of Marshall-Saline Development Corporation, a representative of Marshall Chamber of Commerce and three downtown Marshall merchants.

Directors will be chosen by an application and voting process.

DMA Chairperson Amy Crump said she plans to have applications available by April, when DMA will likely hold a kickoff reception and its first "annual meeting."

Then, board members can be chosen by July, when all terms begin, according to the bylaws.

DMA will meet again Monday, March 8, at 6 p.m. at Marshall Public Library.

Contact Sydney Stonner at marshallbusiness@socket.net