Tourism Commission to explore possible joint project with Chester Public Library

<span>CHESTER -- The Chester Tourism Commission held its monthly meeting on Wednesday at the Chester Municipal Building and a joint project with the Chester Public Library was proposed.</span>

<span>The project would involve hosting a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit as part of the Illinois Humanities Council's Museum on Main Street program, which is part of a partnership between the two organizations.</span>

<span>The exhibit is "Water: Resource for Life," and applications to host the six-week exhibit are due April 17. Commission Chairwoman Sandra Starr said the exhibit requires at least 800 square feet of space, which is where the library comes in.</span>

<span>"What we need to do is form a subcommittee, sit down with her and decide if we want to go forward with this," Starr said, referring to Administrative Librarian Tammy Grah.</span>

<span>A subcommittee of Cynthia Lawder, Pam Fraley and Starr was formed to examine the possible collaboration with the library. The subcommittee's first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at the library.</span>

<span>According to the Illinois Humanities Council's website, if Chester is selected as one of six hosts sites, it would be part of a tour of the exhibit that would begin in late May 2016 and run through mid-March 2017.</span>

<span>The orientation workshop for representatives of the host organizations will take place July 30 and 31 of this year at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. Additionally, representatives will be asked to participate in three additional workshops - a program and exhibition workshop, an installation workshop and a docent workshop.</span>

<span>All will take place prior to hosting the exhibit.</span>

<span>The commission also discussed the changes to the city ordinance regarding membership on the tourism and beautification commissions. Each commission shall consist of 12 members from the 62233 zip code.</span>

<span>Previously, members had to be residents of Chester in order to participate. The changes were approved at the Chester City Council's Feb. 2 meeting.</span>

<span>Starr said three people have approached the Tourism Commission, which currently has 10 members, about membership.</span>

<span>Chester Alderwoman Nancy Crossland, who is the city council's representative on the commission, suggested the commission interview the candidates to determine "what their vision is."</span>

<span>The commission later agreed to invite all three candidates to the commission's next meeting, which is scheduled for March 18 at 10:30 a.m.</span>

Roundup

<span>Commission Secretary Brenda Owen reported on the progress of the Stone Cottage renovations.</span>

<span>Owen said there have been discussions with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency on building a balcony on the back side of the building.</span>

<span>"We're hoping to identify more of what had been back there, so if you went out those two back doors, you won't fall down the hill," she said.</span>

<span>Owen said plastering, painting and electrical work in the Stone Cottage has been completed this winter. The attention has now been turned to the sidewalk in front of the building.</span>

<span>"We're holding off on landscaping until the sidewalk is finished," Starr said.</span>

<span>In its treasurer's report, the commission reported it had a balance of $6,880.40 in its bank account and $143.44 in petty cash.</span>

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