Steelville Forward voted to permanently merge its organization with Steelville Tourism Oct. 29 at its final meeting at Peaceful Bend Winery.

Steelville Forward is a community action group composed of local residents, business owners and politicians. Steelville Tourism is a group that is not affiliated with the city that works to promote community events and tourism in the city.

Marilyn Lakaner, who is a member of both organizations, said that Steelville Tourism’s leadership has dwindled over the years, which has made the job of running the group and organizing events more difficult. According to Lakaner, there are three members of Steelville Tourism who are responsible for putting together annual city-wide events like Witches Night Out and Taste of the Ozarks.

“We used to have a big group. Now, we’re down to three people that really are all business owners in downtown, trying to run Steelville Tourism,” said Lakaner. “And we’re tired.”

Lakaner suggested that Steelville Forward, which has at least a dozen members, could take over the responsibilities of Steelville Tourism, along with the group’s Facebook page, which has nearly 3,000 followers.

“We’re hoping that we could gift (Steelville Forward) our Steelville Tourism Facebook page,” said Lakaner.

Steelville Forward members suggested that a few of their members could take on administrative privileges on the Steelville Tourism page and use it to continue promoting local businesses, events and now, Steelville Forward-related information.

Steelville Forward remains in talks over which members will take over administrative responsibilities for the page.

In other discussion, Steelville Tourism members voted to adopt concrete plans to install Christmas decorations around town. They also accepted a $3,000 fund donated by Steelville Tourism to help pay for this year’s decorations.

This year, the group plans to decorate the “Welcome to Steelville” sign at the intersection of Highways 8 and 19. The sign is owned by Steelville Telephone. Steelville Forward is in talks for permission to do so.

Lakaner also said she plans to ask the city to install guide wires above the railroad tracks near Hutson Funeral Home so that the organization can install a Christmas banner.

Steelville Arts Council member Christine Smailys said that she is in talks with art teachers at Steelville R-3 School District to see if students could be recruited to help paint storefronts across town. She added that the arts council has agreed to chip in around $250 to purchase paint, decorations and pizza for student volunteers.

Lakaner said that Steelville Forward will work to build enthusiasm for both holiday beautification downtown and efforts to promote the Dec. 19 Steelville’s Christmas Parade.

Lakaner suggested Steelville Forward members encourage local businesses to “go all out” on decorations this year. She said that Steelville Forward would provide local businesses with red Christmas bows for their storefronts to get them started and suggested a fun community initiative where store owners would wear Santa hats on weekends.

“It’s cheap fun, right?” Lakaner said.

With plans for the rest of the year in place, Steelville Forward concluded its final meeting of the year. The group will reconvene next year following the holiday season.

Lakaner said that this year, the organization has been faithful in keeping pressure on the city to get things done and be “the squeaky wheel” that the group was intended to be.

Tamra Cape, the founder of Steelville Forward, echoed Lakaner’s comment and added that she’s proud of the work the group has done this year.

“I do feel like we have moved Steelville forward and that was our goal,” Cape said. It doesn’t happen overnight. I think we are really moving in the right direction.”