Tourism Commission

​MINUTES​ ​CITY OF MINERAL POINT TOURISM COMMISSION MEETING​ ​Monday, April 7, 2025​ ​Chamber of Commerce Office​ ​CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL​ ​The meeting was called to order by Chair John Spady at 2:00 PM.​ ​Present:​​Commissioners Brander, Burrows, Cisler, Spady,​​Zupke​ ​Also Present:​​Chamber Executive Director Cory Bennett​ ​Absent/Excused:​​Powers​ ​APPROVAL OF MINUTES – February 4, 2025 MEETING​ ​Motion (Burrows/Cisler) to approve minutes. Motion carries. 1 abstention (Zupke).​ ​Treasurer's Report:​ ​Commission discusses the cash flow statement that Director Bennett presented. No particular​ ​questions asked. Commissioner Cisler would like a copy of the budget to accompany the cash​ ​flow statement going forward.​ ​Motion (Burrows/Brander). Motion passed, all voting aye (5–0).​ ​Update on Future of Tourism Commission:​ ​Chairman Spady gives an update to the commissioners from his discussion with City​ ​Administrator Honer. The Tourism Commission will continue to work under contract with the​ ​Chamber of Commerce and meet quarterly in the Chamber office. The change that was​ ​anticipated at the last meeting will not transpire. Spady states the City of Mineral Point will keep​ ​an appointed Tourism Commission but operate with its own banking account.​ ​Commissioner Cisler asks about communications between the City and the Tourism​ ​Commission. Commissioner Burrows states that he will remain on the commission as the City​ l​iaison and update the administrator and council as needed. Spady states that he will​ ​communicate with the city admin as needed as well.​ ​Update on Discover Wisconsin:​ ​Director Bennett and Chairman Spady update on DW visits as of March:​ ​●​ ​Drone footage / October 2024​ ​●​ ​Candlelight Shopping / December 2024​  ​●​ ​Interviews (Buttonhill Music Studio, MP Hotel, The Book Kitchen, MP Opera House) /​ ​March 2025​ ​●​ ​Damaso featured as segment spokesperson​ ​●​ ​Director Bennett informs commission of approximate dates of future production visits​ ​●​ ​Next locations will be Hook’s Cheese, Shake Rag Alley, and Globe Clay Center in April,​ ​2025​ ​●​ ​Cafe 43, Midway Bar & Grill, Commerce Street Brewery, Pendarvis, and American Wine​ ​Project all to be scheduled in June/July​ ​Approval of submitted grant applications:​ ​Bennett states she received 9 grant applications. She reviewed them prior to the meeting and​ ​recommended approval with the exception of one application from the Blues Festival. Questions​ ​arise regarding two applications from one non-profit—in this case, the Mineral Point Opera​ ​House submitted two applications: one for Driftless Film Fest and the other for the Blues Fest.​ ​Bennett asks the commission for any information or guidance on this. Commissioners share​ ​their thoughts and agree that a follow-up will need to be done to determine if Blues Fest has its​ ​own non-profit status, and Bennett agrees to inquire further.​ ​Motion (Zupke/Burrows). Motion passed, all voting aye (5–0).​ ​Billboard Update:​ ​Bennett shares an image of the new billboard and its new location with the commission. The​ ​new location is near Galena, Ill. Commissioner Cisler suggests changing the background color​ ​on the bottom of the billboard. Bennett explains that the deadline is passed for changes.​ ​Update on Social Media Outreach Campaigns and Influencer Partner Partnerships:​ ​Chairman Spady informs the commission that he has been researching influencers. He has​ ​reached out to a few and is waiting to hear back. He stated it is difficult to book great content​ ​creators as they are booked out.​ ​Director Bennett presents a work summary from a photographer she has been in contact with.​ ​She shares that the photographer, Ben Jones, was in Mineral Point a few years ago while doing​ ​an article for​​Only in Your State​. The commission​​agrees that we need a portfolio of pictures for​ ​advertising and marketing. Burrows will send Bennett a list of suggested places to have​ ​photographed.​ ​Chairman Spady made a motion to hire Ben Jones.​ ​Motion (Spady/Zupke). Motion passed, all voting aye (5–0).​ ​Establish Next Commission Meeting:​ ​August 11, 2025 at 10:30 AM​ ​ADJOURNMENT​ ​Motion (Spady/Zupke) to adjourn at 3:05 PM. Motion carried, all voting aye (5–0).​ ​___________________________​ ​Matthew Honer, City Administrator​ ​Approved:​