HERMANN – Thinking that a $200-per-seat fee might not raise enough money, the board of the Hermann Regional Economic Development (HRED) Corporation is weighing a purchase boost to $500 for some members.

A fee of $200 was agreed to at the October session of the HRED board but at this month’s session last Tuesday it was felt that additional money might be needed to build a bank balance to fund efforts to promote economic growth in the Hermann area. Board members were urged to consider the two-tiered fee structure and possibly take action at the panel’s Dec. 8 meeting.

As currently structured, there are 15 members on the board. That could change through a potential review of the organization’s bylaws as part of formally setting a fee structure aimed at raising revenue. The Board of Directors include representatives of city and county governments, the local school district, the Hermann business sector, the local hospital and at-large (citizen) members. Some components of the board have more than one member, but according to the discussion at last week’s meeting, adoption of a fee structure likely would mean only one vote from each component of the board even though a component might have more than one representative.

As discussed at last week’s session, the $200 fee would be assessed for an individual member while a $500 fee presumably would be required for representatives of a business, school district, local government or other large organization.

HRED Vice President Raylene Hollrah said she would like to talk with organizations in the community to get a sense of their feelings about the possible membership fees.

Secretary Brian Jett suggested a review of the makeup of the board as part of the fee structure consideration. “I think it’s worth reconsidering each of the 15 board positions,” he said.

Last month’s adoption of the $200 membership fee is a first for the organization, which has struggled in recent years to do much other than talk about what might be needed to promote economic growth in the area. In its earlier years, HRED was able to contract with economic consultants and commission studies aimed at creating jobs. But what money it had for those efforts played out. The need to raise money has been an ongoing topic of discussion for the directors in recent years.

HRED was formed about a dozen years ago largely by then-Superintendent Chris Neale, who was voicing concern about the drop in enrollment in the Gasconade County R-1 School District. It was created in an effort to promote economic development and job growth aimed at attracting families with school-age children. Neale’s successors Tracy Hankins for three years and Scott Smith for another three years voiced the same concerns from their seats on the HRED board. And now, for the past five years, Superintendent Geoff Neill is voicing the same concern about enrollment decline and a reduction in state funding for public education. What the incumbent superintendent is doing, however, is becoming more directly involved in working to promote economic development in the region. For instance, Neill has a seat on the board of the Montgomery County Economic Development Council, which has a hand in such projects as the development of the Greater Montgomery County Port Authority and the development the industrial megasite in that county.

The city of Hermann – because of its municipal airport, Missouri River access and as a crossroads of major highways – is included within the boundaries of the Port Authority District.

Gasconade County R-1 School District includes a significant portion of southern Montgomery County, including the communities of Rhineland and Big Spring.

Hoping to benefit economically from the anticipated growth in Montgomery County, HRED is focusing much of its efforts on promoting housing development in the Hermann area, working alongside the Hermann Area Chamber of Commerce, which is conducting a detailed housing-needs study as a guide for potential developers.

The Chamber, meanwhile, is in the midst of its capital campaign to raise $1 million for a comprehensive Strategic Plan aimed at positioning the business community to benefit from the opportunities provided by the developments in Montgomery County. Chamber Executive Director Melissa Lensing, one of the 15 HRED board members, said last week that about $500,000 has been raised or pledged thus far in the capital campaign.