HERMANN — A capital campaign will be mounted by the Hermann Area Chamber of Commerce to fund a long-range Strategic Plan for economic development.

The impetus for the effort is the ongoing development of an industrial megasite by the Greater Montgomery County Port Authority (see related story on page 1). The hope by the Hermann Chamber is that the business sector of the county seat community can benefit from that megasite — as well as other developments within the Interstate 70 Corridor.

Chamber Executive Director Melissa Lensing Monday morning told her fellow board members of the Hermann Regional Economic Development (HRED) Corporation that the results of a recent interview process by consulting firm Opportunity Funding swayed Chamber directors to push forward with a drive to raise funds to finance the long-range Strategic Plan.

The results of those interviews were presented to Chamber members at a retreat last month.

“As a result of the 70-plus interviews, there was an overwhelming agreement to move forward with a capital campaign,” Lensing said.

The Chamber was an early advocate, along with the City of Hermann, for the creation of the then-proposed Greater Montgomery County Port Authority. The boundaries of the Port Authority include the City of Hermann, which has a representative on the Port Authority’s Board of Directors in businessman Chad Walton.

The Hermann area actually has two voices on that board. Ron Kraettli, who represents the southern portion of Montgomery County on the Port Authority board, also is a member of the HRED board.

The Port Authority, which was approved for creation by the Missouri Highways & Transportation Commission last year, is designed to serve as the catalyst for assembling the land necessary for the development of an industrial megasite similar to those which have been developed in southern states.

Meanwhile, a Hermann city official told the HRED board that City Hall continues its efforts to attract a lodging facility.

“We’re still looking at getting a hotel,” said City Administrator Patricia Heaney, also a member of the HRED panel. City officials are hoping a hotel capable of hosting conferences can ease the problem of the city having to turn away organizations looking for meeting space and overnight accommodations for conference participants.

Also in city government, Heaney said the Planning & Zoning Commission is recommending making permanent a ban on guesthouses in R-2 and R-3 zoned residential districts. A ban already is in place for R-1 districts. The Board of Aldermen would have to act on the P&Z panel’s recommendation before it becomes official.

“That doesn’t mean it can’t be changed…because it can,” she said. “That just means it would be in the code book.”

A public hearing by the aldermen on that recommendation is set for Monday night, Dec. 9, as part of the board’s regular first session of the month.

The BOA also is scheduled Monday night to receive legislation that would create a maintenance-and-safety inspection program for long-term rental units. It would not cover Bed-and-Breakfast and guesthouse operations, which already are subject to inspections. The program proposed for long-term rental units is part of a broader occupancy permit program, which would be new for Hermann.

Hermann Tourism Director Tammy Bruckerhoff, also a member of the HRED board, was away on business Monday — promoting bus tours to Hermann at a gathering in Atlanta.

“We feel like bus tours are a big part of our tourism,” Heaney said. “The tour bus industry took a big hit from the coronavirus pandemic and are continuing to regain their footing.”