Advisory board urges council to fund full-time Main Street manager; council asks staff to explore funding

KERRVILLE, Texas — The Kerrville Main Street Advisory Board asked the City Council on Tuesday to restore a full-time, paid Main Street manager, a step the board says is required to remain in the Texas Main Street program and to sustain downtown revitalization work.

Board members, past Main Street directors and downtown business owners described a long history of downtown-focused projects and argued that a dedicated manager would coordinate volunteers, run events and help small businesses. Bill Rector, vice chairman of the advisory board, presented a recommended set of actions including hiring a full-time manager, budgeting for training and events, and adopting a reduced, “strollable” downtown core defined in the city’s Kerrville 2050 plan.

Board chair Howard Taylor and past Main Street manager Mindy Windley reminded council that the city’s Main Street program produced tangible grant-supported restoration, volunteer coordination and events in prior decades and that the program depends heavily on sustained staff capacity to organize volunteers and partner organizations.

Councilmembers expressed support for the idea but emphasized the need to identify funding. City staff said the Main Street advisory board must work with the Tourism Enhancement and Revitalization (TERS) board and the city’s budget process to identify possible funding sources (hotel-occupancy tax, TERS allocations, grants or general fund). Mayor Joe Herring Jr. and council members agreed they want staff to explore options and return with budget pathways. No appropriation was approved Tuesday.