Old Town Cape search starts anew

~ The candidate who committed changed her mind.

Old Town Cape's search for an executive director to replace departing director Tim Arbeiter must be restarted because the candidate who accepted the position changed her mind.

For the last two weeks, Dr. Steven Hoffman and others on the OTC's executive search committee believed they had found their leader in Taryn Merideth. A Girl Scout community development coordinator in Paducah, Ky., and native of Sikeston, Mo., Merideth had orally committed to the position. The search committee had sent her a contract to sign to complete the process.

But after delaying an announcement to allow Mer-ideth a few days to resign her current post, the search committee got a surprise Tuesday. Meredith turned down the job.

"I guess I just decided that my heart is with the Girl Scouts, and that's where I have to stay as far as my ultimate happiness," she said.

Hoffman said her decision came as a shock and a disappointment, but there is a bright side. "Basically our position is it's better to have this happen now," he said. "If this isn't the job she wants, we're happy to know it now before she gets on board. We need somebody whose heart is in the job."

Hoffman said the search will now begin anew. None of the previous candidates will be reconsidered, he said.

The committee will begin advertising the job with the National Main Street Center, economic development listserves, local media and probably some St. Louis publications.

The organization also received some bad news when the city of Cape Girardeau denied its request for $40,000 in funding for fiscal year 2006-2007. OTC's funding from the city will stay at $20,000, the level the organization has received since its inception in 1999.

Hoffman cited OTC's 2006 accomplishments as an indication the organization could achieve more with more money.

"We've proven we have value that goes above and beyond what is invested," said Hoffman. "As it is now we have to use the money just to keep the lights on and keep a paid staff, and that can distract us from doing other things. ... It's really about unleashing our potential."

Hoffman pointed to an internal study showing that for every $1 invested in OTC, $358.02 was generated in reinvestment to the district.

Last year, said Hoffman, OTC helped bring a net 15 businesses to the district, held five special events and dedicated more than 2,350 volunteer hours to various causes.

Old Town Cape's annual operating budget is $155,000.

Despite the funding denial, the city's support for OTC is "unwavering," said Heather Brooks, assistant to the city manager and an OTC board member. "We are investing money in downtown with water line improvements, parking lot and riverfront improvements. With the current budget we have we weren't able to commit any more than in past years," she said.

A telephone call to Mayor Jay Knudtson was not immediately returned.

tgreaney@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245