Tourism Commission talks riverboats
<span>CHESTER -- The Chester Tourism Commission met in regular session on Wednesday and discussed this year's slate of riverboat dockings at the Chester riverfront.</span>
<span>Chester Recreation Director Patti Carter said the American Queen, operated by Shore Excursions of America, will visit July 3 and July 18.</span>
<span>Queen of the Mississippi, operated by American Cruise Lines, will stop at Chester on July 15 and September 24. A new paddlewheel vessel, the American Eagle, will dock on Aug. 19.</span>
<span>The commission members also discussed raising the fee for guided tours, from a $70 donation (payable to Chester Tourism) to a $100 donation per bus. The commission will provide one guide per bus, who will share information on sites along the route with passengers.</span>
<span>"We're jumping from $70 to $100 and I'm curious to know what other towns are charging," said Chairwoman Sandra Starr.</span>
<span>The commission members debated whether they were "pricing themselves out of the market" with the fee increase.</span>
<span>Secretary Brenda Owen said for four people for four buses for five-hour tours, the fee increase didn't seem unreasonable.</span>
<span>"None of us get anything, it all goes to tourism," said member Betty Wagner.</span>
<span>Starr later said the fee increase may be negotiable.</span>
<span>The commission also set its donation fee for stops at the Cohen Home, Randolph County Museum and Archives and Pierre Menard Home/Fort Kaskaskia at $50 per location, per bus.</span>
<span>For a $50 donation to the driver, the commission can provide a vehicle and volunteer driver to provide transportation to Wal-Mart, Rozier's Country Market, Dollar General and the post office, when open. </span>
<span>Passengers who wish to visit Lucy's, American Legion, VFW or any other establishment may be dropped off and picked up at a designated time by the commission's volunteer driver for a $5 donation to the driver.</span>
<span>The commission members also discussed the possibility of including the Randolph County Courthouse on the list of possible stops, but security was an issue.</span>
<span>"The courthouse is a good stop because they can see the (Mississippi) river in a completely different way," Starr said.</span>
<span>Linda Sympson, executive director of the Chester Chamber of Commerce and a commission member, provided an update on a beer/wine tasting event at the Cohen Home.</span>
<span>Potential dates of May 31 and December 13 were discussed at the commission's March meeting, but a new date of Sept. 13 was tentatively set on Wednesday.</span>
<span>Sept. 13 is the Sunday of Popeye Picnic weekend and Benson's Wine Bar has tentatively agreed to host. City Attorney Jeff Kerkhover is checking the possibility of acquiring a one-day liquor license for the event, which has a tentative schedule of 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.</span>
<span>The commision would provide hors d'oeuvres (appetizers). </span>
<span>"We're still waiting to find out about his insurance to see if it would cover it," Sympson said, referring to Benson's Wine Bar co-owner Micah Reiman. "We're needing to jump through some hoops because we, as a commission, cannot sell alcohol."</span>
Roundup
<span>Starr said the commission, in conjunction with the Chester Public Library, will be submitting its application to host the "Water: Resource for Life" traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian through the Illinois Humanities Council's "Museum on Main Street" program.</span>
<span>The application deadline is tomorrow. The six site selections will be announced in May.</span>
<span>Owen also gave an update on the status of the Stone Cottage renovations and said that plans are still in progress to add some sort of deck to the rear of the structure. She said her subcommittee met on March 25 and has been able to view old photographs, but none showed a clear view of the rear of the building.</span>
<span>Chester Tourism Committee Treasurer Linda Rader said the commission's bank balance remains $6,880.40 with $143.44 in petty cash. There have been no transactions since Jan. 21.</span>
<span>The next meeting of the Chester Tourism Commission is scheduled for May 20 at 10:30 a.m. at Chester City Hall. It is open to the public.</span>
2015 Riverboat Docking Schedule
<p dir="ltr"><strong>American Cruise Lines</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Queen of the Mississippi</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Wednesday, July 15 - Docking at 9 p.m.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>American Eagle</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Wednesday, August 19 - Docking at 9 p.m.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Queen of Mississippi</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Thursday, September 24 - Docking at 1 p.m.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Shore Excursions of America</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>American Queen</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Friday, July 3 - Docking at Noon / Departing at 5 p.m.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Saturday, July 18 - Docking at 8 a.m./ Departing at 1 p.m.</span></p>