I am beginning to think maybe I made a mistake in blaming Steve Powell for the many misuses of the tourism tax.
Recently the Convention and Visitors Bureau gave a grant of over $4000 to do a archeological dig in the South Main Street yard of one of the members of the board. I realize trying to find keys to the past might be neat but what will this dig do for the City and tourism? To pay for this dig over $40,000 will have to be spent just to get break even collecting the one percent tourism tax. Let me say to the CVB, it was better when Steve spent money at Riverport Amphitheater. At least that had some remote chance to pay for itself.
I think I was to hasty in discharging my venom on Powell.
The waste of tax money might be tied to the other person who has strong ties to the many vendors who cash tourism department checks, Councilman Riddler. We all know his passion for history but his interests should not be paid for on our dime.
This easy spending does not stop with the dig. At the same meeting with Brian Hill as the acting chairman, the CVB gave $6,500 to help seed an upstart magazine for South Main.
With all due respect to the many who hold South Main in high regard, when are you going to produce any money for the rest of the city? This street is welfare at the highest level. Now they need money to start an ad rag. The two involved with this start up venture knew who to ask. Lets ask the CVB, they won’t say no. After all this is for Main Street.
Riddler has been the longest sitting member on the honey pot CVB and we thought it was all Steve. Well Steve is gone and a new board is there and they are doing the same things the same way.
So here is my solution. Get rid of the CVB board and let the CVB Director come directly to the council. Let's strip the newly crowned king of his ability to spend tourism tax on none tourism items. We can't wait 14 years like we did with Steve.
Did you know the City sent inspectors to Kimmswick, Missouri to inspect the Robert E. Lee riverboat. We hear that Jim Reed wants to bring the boat to St. Charles and lease offices and restaurants onboard.
The Robert E. Lee had been taken from the St. Louis Riverfront to Kimmswick where it was a dismal failure. It was also moved illegally without Coast Guard permission. I wish Jim Reed good luck with the venture but I hope he is not expecting the taxpayers of St. Charles to contribute any funds either for the vessel or for our $1.5 million dock.
