Peoria Standard

City of Chillicothe Marketing & Tourism Commission met November 1. 

Here is the minutes as provided by the commission:

Members Present:            Lowell Bennett

                                         Amanda Oedewalt

                                         Joe Harper

                                          Mayor White

Members Absent:             Rachael Parker (Medical Leave), Dan

                                          Colwell, Tiffany Moore, Kevin Yates, Nat Zich, Karen Moewe,

                                          Michele Pollack, Parish Patel, Carrie McIntyre, Shirley Loser,

                                          Nancie Cassidy

Others Present:                 Alderman Trish Connor, Kaci Geier for PACVB

The meeting was called to order at 3:30 P.M. Minutes of the previous meeting were not

approved. Mayor White presided over the meeting in Rachael’s absence.

The first agenda item was the downtown Christmas Decorations. Mayor White showed the

banners that the City recently purchased to be hung on the light poles. Those present expressed

their approval. The City is also purchasing garland to be installed on the light poles. Alderman

Connor reported that the Shademakers will be decorating the downtown planters.

The second agenda item dealt with the billboard on Route 6. Mayor White reported that the

billboard was updated yesterday with an advertisement for Nat’s Place/Cedar House. Mayor

White then reported that the line item expense in the M&T budget for the billboard was

approaching 100% at the approximate midpoint of the year and, in Rachael’s absence, how

monies were to enhance the line item by way of advertisers paying for ads on the billboard. It

was explained that not-for-profits and event advertising did not pay, only for-profit advertisers.

Mayor White will check to see if monies have been received that might offset our costs to date.

We then discussed who would be next to advertise. Joe reported that he and Rachael coordinate

this and that “Shop Small” is next, then “Bald Eagle Days”. Mayor White asked if there was a

calendar available and Joe said he would distribute it.

The third agenda item was the Chillicothe Facebook. Mayor White stated that he was told by

Rachael that the committee was made up of Joe, Tiffany, Nat, and Michele, and asked for a

status report. Joe stated that the committee was only Tiffany and himself as no one else showed

up for a meeting. This led to a conversation about things such as a face book page versus a web

site, search engines, the title of the page, etc. Kaci reported the Peoria’ page is named “Enjoy

Peoria and that other nearby communities are also naming theirs “Enjoy _____”. Mayor White

reported that he attended a session at the recent Illinois Municipal Conference about this very

topic and therefore has some insight. He also reported that he has formed a Task Force of

community organizations that have been discussing a coordinated effort at least linking all

community organization to one another. He suggested that we should redirect our committee to

be more inclusive; Kaci should be involved. It was also suggested that we ask for assistance

from Bradley University.

The fourth agenda item dealt with an advertising opportunity in the Pearce Community Center

Guide. The ad might be a list of community events or a listing of local businesses (presented).

Because the list of local businesses was not up to date, and that a listing of community events

does not presently exist, we could not have camera-ready art work available by the print deadline

of tomorrow. And so, Mayor White will contact Pearce and let them know we will pass on the

opportunity.

As a part of the conversation about a listing of community events, it was discussed (as in

previous meetings) that Chillicothe has a multitude of events while other communities have only

one major event; i.e., the Tremont Turkey Festival, the Morton Pumpkin Festival, East Peoria’s

Tree of Lights, etc. If Chillicothe had only one or two major festivals, and highly advertised

them, it might bring more people to town. It was suggested that we put together a list of all of

our festivals, the investigate ways to combine several of them into one or two major events.

The last agenda item was a Round Table discussion of what each member had to offer as news.

Amanda reported that her new establishment downtown, Odie’s, will be opening in November.

Lloyd reported that the Historical Society be celebrating an anniversary for the author of Zorro

next year and the might ask for assistance. Mayor White reported that he has been informed that

Anchors Away will now not be locating in Chillicothe.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

http://www.cityofchillicotheil.com/MT%20November%20Minutes.pdf