The Jefferson Tourism indicated they are willing to make Jefferson a State of Texas Certified Music Friendly Community as part of a program offered through the Texas Governor’s Office.
Preston Taylor presented the program to the board and outlined the steps required to join.
“When you read through the initial paperwork it sounds like you have to get so many ducks in a row it’s challenging,” Taylor said. “But after exchanging email with them, it sounds like the office in charge of this is anxious to get communities signed up – desperate almost. In their requirements they are very flexible. Most important is the music venues and events in town have to say ‘yes we want to do this’ and that’s easy. There also has to be a city facet to the whole application. Someone has to be designated as a liaison. It seemed to me that Tourism should do that part. Basically say “yes we want to do this and have someone attend the bi-annual meetings of this organization.’ The tourism board would be well informed on what’s going on in town and best suited to supply that information to the organization.
Board Member Chris Bollinger indicated he was interested in being the person from the board who was the designated person for the City.
The Board will formally take up the issue at the next meeting as this was only a presentation item on their agenda.
David Mallette of Texarkana also spoke to the board during the public comment portion of the meeting on a proposed Steamboat line he hopes to have in operation between Texarkana and Jefferson by the summer.
“It’s a 10-12 hour trip, one way, from Texarkana to Jefferson,” Mallette said. “And it’s luxury travel all the way. We will also have a 10-15 person boat here that gives regular tours out of downtown. It’s not only a stroke of genius but a ‘duh’ why isn’t anyone already doing this? We’ve planned to have a truck waiting to port the boat around the dam and we’ll keep going. It shouldn’t take more than 10-15 minutes to port and we’ll be on the way again.
“Mid April is when I’d like to be here, for the car show, but there’s another one a week after that,” he continued.
“Y’all need to get ready to protect this town,” he said. “Because you’ll have all kinds of hotels and tourists pouring in. You will know everything that I know when it happens. I’m holding nothing back.”
Mallette spoke with Jimplecute on Sunday, prior to Monday’s Tourism meeting, and there will be a story in next week’s edition on the project.
In other business, the board plans to discuss the new rental agreement for the visitor’s center at an upcoming meeting. The contract has been under review for several months.
The board continues to do television streaming advertising via the Anderson Marketing group according to Board Member Pam Thomas.
Thomas also reported on a bus tour group which will be here spending the day on their way to Iowa.
“We also had a travel writer here Thursday and Friday and she’s going to write an article on small towns and small trips,” Thomas said. “We’re back in the 2021 Northeast Texas Visitors Guide with our events and ads. We’re number 3 on the ‘See and Do’ in the booklet. It’s not a rating, but we moved way up this year.”
The 2nd Quarter edition of the Discover Jefferson and Marion County visitors guide will be released close to the first of April due to delays caused by the winter storms.
The board will meet again at 5:30 p.m. April 12. The Herald/Jimplecute will be live for that meeting.