Brownstown/Ewing Main Street Minutes

Aug. 5, 2010 Meeting, Ewing Uniques

Present: Linda McCormick, Dick Rumph, Sandi Kidwell, Janet Peters

The July 15 meeting minutes were reviewed but a treasurer’s report was postponed until the fund is officially set up at the Community Foundation’s October meeting. Sandi was instructed to call Sue Smith at the foundation for the fund balance.

An election was held via e-mail and in person on July 26 and the slate of officers was approved with Linda as chair, Ray Bachmann as vice-chair, Janet as secretary and Sandi as treasurer.

Linda explained the steps needed to become accepted by Indiana Main Street.

• Name: Already chosen at the July 1 meeting to be Brownstown / Ewing Main Street
• Bylaws: Linda hasn’t received a sample promised by Shae.
• Organization/Structure: It was agreed to stay under the Community Foundation of Jackson County until we can obtain the 501C3 designation ourselves.
• Meeting Dates: We will meet the first and third Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at Ewing Uniques until the organization is underway, then only once a month on the first Thursday.
• Mission Statement: To facilitate the preservation, development and improvement of the downtown areas of Brownstown and Ewing.
• Vision Statement: To preserve historic buildings and create appealing green spaces in the downtown areas of Brownstown and Ewing.
• Committee Chairs were chosen.

• Promotion: Janet and Linda. They will work together on articles for the newspapers, possibly set up a table at the Melonfest to pass out brochures and take donations, and will start to organize neighborhood block parties within the township. Linda’s block party invitation was reviewed. We will start with small, neighborhood block parties and may end with a community block party downtown with music and food. Linda wants to ask for donations for the Brownstown Ministerial Association’s food pantry.
• Organization: Dick and Ray. They will create the by-laws using samples provided by Shea and an organizational chart.
• Design: Darlene Butt and Sandi. They will work to shape the physical appearance and image of downtown to shoppers, investors, business owners and visitors.
• Economic Restructuring: Susie Glasgow and Bob Gillespie, with help from Bob’s son, James. They will identify new market opportunities for the traditional commercial district, find new uses for historic commercial buildings and stimulate investment in property. The committee also works with existing businesses in retaining them in the downtown as well, inventory all buildings and properties downtown and survey businesses to see what their needs are.

A draft of the brochure which will be created by the Community Foundation was provided or will be e-mailed to board members. Any changes or ideas for the brochure should be sent to Linda. Lori will put the brochure together. Brad Herndon, a professional photographer, volunteered to take photographs of Brownstown’s retail and commercial areas. Jim Phillips provided a CD with four scanned photographs of 1911 downtown Brownstown from the Jackson County History Center.

Meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m. Next meeting will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, at Ewing Uniques. Hal Kovert, an architect that specializes in public buildings, will bring sample architectural renderings. The public is invited to provide input on what they would like the feed mill property block to look like.