Cape County Commission authorize VisitCape to promote tourism

Brenda Newbern, executive director of the VisitCape visitors bureau, spoke with the Cape Girardeau County commissioners at their Monday, July 8, meeting on approving a Destination Marketing Organization Resolution for the City of Cape Girardeau.

The commissioners approved it unanimously, authorizing VisitCape to be the county’s tourism leader and bring tourists to the county.

“It allows me to be able to get grant funding, and most of the time that is matching grant funding … from the (Missouri) Division of Tourism. So that's why I have to be recognized by the County Commission, so that way I can market everything,” Newbern told the commissioners.

Newbern said she reapproves the resolution every three years.

The commissioners also approved a memorandum of understanding with the City of Cape Girardeau for aerial photography. The city agreed to pay the county $30,000 in three annual installments of $10,000 to take aerial photography for its assessment process.

These annual installments would be due to the county by the first day of September in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Reappointments confirmed

The County Commission reappointed four individuals to a pair of county boards during the meeting Monday. Betty Brooks was reappointed to a five-year term on the Cape Girardeau County Common Sewer Board ending June 30, 2029. Julie Metzger, Bill Ramsey and Traci Ritter were all reappointed to the Cape County Board for Developmental Disabilities, with terms ending June 30, 2027.