09/09/2025 MinutesMINUTES OF THE Main Street Board MEETING
'*F THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
September 9, 2025
The Main Street Board of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 4:30 p.m. on
Tuesday, September 9., 2025 at the PARIS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 107 E. KAUFMAN
PARIS, TEXAS 75460,
Present Board Members: Glee Emmite, Kim Kalina, Tyrone Hayden, Mary Hart, Kevin Moore
Chamber Representative: Karen Dougherty
City Representatives: Cheri Bedford, Main Street Manager,
Osei Amo-Mensah, Director of Planning and Community
Development and, Alix Putnam, Liaison/City Council Member
Absent Board Members: Melissa Jones and William Walker
1. Call meeting to order.
Kevin Moore, Chair called the meeting to order at 4:29 p.m. Moore read the vision and
mission statements.
2. Citizens'Forurn.
Paris Downtown Association President, Misti Scott, spoke as the voice of PDA and saw where we
can help each other. Reminder to the board of Witches and Wine is Oct. 11th. They will be selling
cups at the fountain. Looking forward to the scarecrow competition (that Mainstreet Board is
sponsoring) that also brings fun and decor leading up to the Festival of Pumpkins.
3. Approve minutes from the meeting of August 12, 2025.
Moore asked if members had a chance to review the minutes or had any questions or changes to
the minutes. A motion was made to approve the August meeting minutes by Hayden. Motion was
seconded by Hart. 5 ayes, 0 nays. Motion carried.
4. Committee Reports:
a, Workplan Updates: Kalina reported that she worked on social media for the Main
Street FB page including: a video introducing The Battle of the Artists. She
reminded the board to please follow the Main Street FB page and to like and share
to spread the word on our activities. Paris Arts Movement Group has finished the
garden stakes and will await notification to install at the Parc de Art.
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Hart reported that the next crosswalk will be an illusion, and we need to get approval
for a different location. Festival of Pumpkins Donors are coming in. PJC donated several
big table and easels. Working on 3 Pumpkin Queens. PJC Art Dept will assist with
decor. She also attended the online board training with Cheri. Mary asked the Guild and
Alliance in Paris for their vision and mission statements at the request of Kevin Moore.
He wanted to know which group would be best to include in our meetings in order to
continue or progress in the area of art in the future. Both groups are working on these
statements. However, Mary and Melissa are both members of the Guild and Alliance.
So, at this time, we have representation for these groups.
Emmitte reported that she attended the MS Regional Board Training and Tour of
Do
Hayden reported that he coordinated Salsa Night plans and advertisement with Cheri.
Salsa on the Square will be Sept. 20th.
Moore- also attended the regional meeting for MS Board. He wants to create
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b. PDA: Emnn*te reported that they will support the Festival of Pumpkins by sponsoring a
Pumpkin Queen. The business of the month is Credit Union of TX Also, the PDA voted on
a new logo for Paris Downtown Association.
c. HPC: Emmi'te reported that held an emergency meeting on August 25th to vote and
approve Hygge Realty Office to have a door opening on West interior wall. Paris. House
facade rant was also a
gpproved.
d. Chamber/VCC: Dougherty reported regarding August Events in Paris: Aug 28-31 is the
Evening in Paris -250 registered. To encourage attendees to eat, shop, and stay, they asked
attendees to turn in a receipt for a door prize. Aug 12th and 13th Music Festival and Paris Balloo
at Fairgrounds. 9/20 Paris Pair Marathon at the Civic Center. 9/24 Outlaw Boat Races at Crook
Lake 9/27-28- Bug Tussle 57th year Banquet at Heritage Hall. I
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Cheri Bedford, Main Street Manaer, shared that part of our goal is to review each yea
gr
Transforming Strategies from the Toole Plan. We have a 4 -part transformation strategy. We need
to streamline our efforts, look at what we do well(lighting), and what our focus needs to be(possibly
parking? Or maybe not?). We need to break our goals down into achievable steps. She reminded
us that downtown belongs to everyone. Individual recognition is important, but remember, it is
downtown. Last week there was a Q/A Session regarding the First Street Project. Brochures were
shared for Brick Fundraiser. There is a limited amount to be sold. Need to order by 9/30 to be the
first round on the street. A professional Grant Writer attended the Q/A and shared opportunities
for a grant. Cheri recommends strongly that we need to focus on trying for a grant. We also need
[Main Street Board] Meeting
[September 9, 2025]
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to engage our Paris Downtown Association business members. The first week in October, Cheri is
asking for assistance with how many businesses, employees and people living in downtown for our
report. Hatch Chile Festival- 1800 in attendance, raised $2700.00 through sale of t -shirts and
donations. No parking issues were happening during this event. The Placer app showed people
from 2.5 hours away attended. Festival of Pumpkins preliminary map is ready. Our goal this year is
to get downtown merchants more involved. For example, we are encouraging merchants to create
scarecrows. Paris Brewery will be hosting a beer garden, South Main Iron will display their
products, we are adding a street pickleball tourney sponsored by Chiseled Millworks and In a
Pickle.
AUX Putnam- Spoke regarding the Toole Plan- If we re -ignite our design plan. Currently, some of
it is on the shelf, and some we have accomplished. Council is in favor of new leadership and
Moore asked that the board begin thinking of creative or alternative ways to park.
There being no further business, A Motion to adjourn was made by Board Member Glee
Emmitte and seconded by Board Member Mary Hart. Motion carried, 5 ayes 0 nays. Kevin
Moore, Chair, adjourned the meeting at 5:35 p.m.
Kevin Moore, Chair