Main Street Thermopolis president steps down, board member resigns

Main Street Thermopolis met June 15 to discuss board member changes and important community projects.

President Stefanie Gilbert decided to step down from her position as president. She did, however, decide to stay on with the committee as a member of the board.

“I didn’t step down because I don’t support Main Street,” Gilbert said. “I’m a huge supporter, which is why I’m staying on the board. I just don’t think I have the time for the responsibilities of president.”

The board also accepted the resignation of Lea Schoenewald as a board member.

Though Main Street Thermopolis has no standing president, vice president Johnny Dorman has stepped in for the time being, conducting the meetings. The board decided to wait until next month to handle board elections to fill the vacant President seat.

Main Street Thermopolis also organized a downtown cleanup effort. The cleanup took place on Friday, June 17.

The board received the new design of this year’s ornament. Everyone agreed that they liked the design. The board accepted the design.

Board member Meri Ann Rush said everything was set and ready for the PRCA Rodeo Dance to be held after the rodeo on Saturday, June 25 downtown.

Gilbert said things were coming along for Oktobrewfest, stating that there will be three food vendors and that the music is lined up. The only thing left to work on is the “beer situation,” she said.

The board plans to have a special meeting next month to discuss the remaining details of Oktobrewfest.

Board member Howie Samelson mentioned that maybe next year coffee brews be included in Oktobrewfest, for individuals who do not drink beer. Gilbert said that she did not like the idea at first, but that she now thinks it would be a good idea.

“Our version of a Brew Fest is completely different than anyone else’s,” she said.

The board is continuing to work on the Eat & Shop Downtown Thermopolis Map as well as the Way-Finding Signs project.

Since Main Street Thermopolis was denied the Technical Assistance Funds for which they applied, the board is continuing to discuss ways to implement some fundraising to raise money for future projects.

“Fundraising is something we need to continue to think about since we didn’t get the TAF fund,” board member Shurie Scheel said.

Gilbert mentioned that Main Street Thermopolis might be able to do some sort of fundraising at Oktobrewfest.

Rush pointed out that before beginning any fundraising efforts, the board needed to work on a budget to determine how much would need to be raised via fundraising to fund various projects.

“We do need to have this in the back of our heads to work it in,” Rush said.

Dorman suggested Main Street Thermopolis might find other organizations that they could work with on fundraising efforts and then split the funds raised.

Howie said it is most important for the board to focus on one thing at a time.

“We should focus on one or two things at a time instead of trying to spread ourselves around,” he said.

Gilbert agreed with Howie, saying that the group can choose to do something really well or try to do everything OK.

Dorman said the group should discuss the issue of fundraising at a later time, when a budget has been finished and when everyone has had time to come up with some solid ideas.

Howie and Suzanne Samelson discussed their experience at the National Main Street Conference and offered some ideas that could possibly be implemented in Main Street Thermopolis.

Howie discussed a program called American Express: Shop Local that American Express is working on to provide more promotions for local shops. Howie and Suzanne intend to send other board members more information about this program.

He also discussed the idea of tax incentives through the National Park Service that needs more research, but it may be able to help Main Street Thermopolis.

Getting youth or teen involvement in the same way that the Chamber of Commerce has board members from the high school could be beneficial to Main Street, Howie said. Trying to cater more to historic tourism and encouraging local businesses to participate could also be extremely beneficial.

Howie said that using second stories of downtown businesses for residences, particularly for younger people, has been beneficial to larger communities. Perhaps, some of the empty second stories downtown could be repurposed for this sometime in the future. Involvement in local government, particularly attending city meetings such as Town Council meetings, and explaining what Main Street Thermopolis is doing for the community could also help. Expanding Main Street Thermopolis to include businesses that are not necessarily in the Main Street area or even downtown, but that do affect the local community including downtown might increase participation in community projects.

Suzanne also mentioned the raffle she won at the National Conference that includes six 18x36 banners that could be used for a project of Main Street Thermopolis. The board decided to think of ideas for which the banners could be used and to discuss it at a future meeting.

Though not a project of Main Street Thermopolis, Rush explained a recent win for the community that would affect downtown and Main Street Thermopolis.

Rush said the town has agreed to pay for the 20 percent cash match of an 80/20 grant through the Office of Transportation to build or fix already existing sidewalks in the community and build ADA ramps. This would include a sidewalk that would connect Hot Springs State Park to the downtown area. It would also build some sidewalks and crosswalks where they do not already exist.

They also plan to put signs on both sides of the railroad tracks at the only legal pedestrian crossing that read something along the lines of, “You are approaching a railroad. Please remove your headphones.

“This will be an improvement for the entire community,” Rush said.