 Many times Les Plotner, city treasurer, has warned that no new
revenues are coming into the city next year, and those that have
always been relied on are not going to see any growth, and as a
matter of fact may dwindle.As the city's community partners and
civic groups came in to make their annual requests for support and
sponsorship, it appeared that they too had considered the dire
straits the city may face this year, and they asked for no
additional funding for their programs this year over past years.
Roger Matson speaks on behalf of Main Street Lincoln
Roger Matson, owner of Action Rental and Sales in downtown Lincoln, is
this year's president of Main Street Lincoln.
He spoke on behalf of Main Street, asking that the city support
the organization with a contribution of $15,000.
Matson said that the downtown area of Lincoln is the heart of
Logan County and that Main Street is its pulse. He said that
downtown business owners are sole proprietors who work six and seven
days a week and believe in their downtown.
Main Street is introducing a streetscape plan this year for the
downtown area. Matson said that the sidewalks around the square are
deteriorating, and Main Street is hoping to work with the city as
the sidewalks are replaced.
The Main Street plan includes using concrete and pavers. Earlier
in the morning Mayor Keith Snyder had spoken on this same topic,
saying that at a cost of $52,000 for one city block, he anticipated
that this project would have to be done one block at a time.
A project that will be new for this year is what Matson referred
to as the "3-50 Project." Shoppers will be encouraged to choose
three stores and spend $50 in each one as a gesture of appreciation
to the downtown businesses.
Main Street Lincoln will also be doing a new mapping this year
for the downtown district.
Matson said that currently the historic district boundaries of
the city run from Regions Bank on South Kickapoo to Holland Barry
and Bennett Funeral Home on Pulaski, to the Christian Church on
North McLean, and over to the First United Methodist Church in the
300 block of Broadway.
Main Street director Wanda Lee Rohlfs explained the historic
district, saying that the district was designated 25 years ago and
really cannot be changed because it is on the national registry.
However, what they can do is expand the business district. She
named significant businesses and buildings that the organization
wanted to include. She said that they wanted to add IGA on Pulaski
and also wanted to go north on Kickapoo to Ace Hardware because they
are important to the downtown area.
She named significant buildings not in the historic district such
as Allen Chapel, which is on the national registry, and the Woman's
Club building, which is now 100 years old.
(Note: The Woman's Club building was built in 1910 and
was Lincoln's first and only Jewish synagogue. At that time
there were eight to 10 noted Jewish families in the city of
Lincoln. The synagogue was purchased by the Lincoln Woman's
Club in 1927.)
Matson had said that by expanding, hopefully they would be able
to add new partners to Main Street. He said getting partnerships
isn't always easy because of the financial strains on many
businesses today, but he added, "Somehow, Wanda always gets it
done."
Matson concluded, "We are a group of doers, not sayers. We say
what we are going to do and we get it done."
Ladd introduces Darlene Begolka
Geoff Ladd of the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County
came to the podium with Darlene Begolka.
Begolka is the president of the Logan Railsplitting Association.
This year will be the 40th annual Abraham Lincoln National
Railsplitting Festival.
[to top of second column] |
 Begolka said that the festival offers young people a step back in
time and an opportunity to see what life was like when Abraham
Lincoln frequented Logan County.
This fall, the association believes they will have an encampment
come in for the weekend in addition to the pioneer village and
re-enactments.
The festival will also have a Civil War ball at the park district
again this year. She said that attendees didn't have to come in
period dress, and they didn't necessarily have to know how to do the
dances, as there are instructors there who make learning them very
simple.
Also, Lincoln heritage speakers will come out to tell stories of
days gone by.
The Illinois Country Music Association will return again this
year with country and bluegrass music
All of this will be in addition to the actual railsplitting
contests.
When Begolka finished, Ladd said that he wanted to reiterate how
important this festival is to the community. He commented on the 40
years of festivals, saying the average life of a festival is five
years, so the Railsplitting Association has had an amazing run in
Lincoln.
The association is asking for its usual $2,500 to help defray
costs of the festival.
Ladd speaks on Route 66 garage sales, Abe's wagon and more
Ladd said that as a county agency, the tourism bureau is funded
by the hotel tax. He said that this year they are seeing a 30
percent increase in hotel tax due to the addition of the Hampton Inn
and the new Best Western, where the Railsplitter Covered Wagon is
now located.
Ladd said that a future goal for the wagon stop is to have a
turnoff from Lincoln Parkway for visitors.
Traditionally the tourism bureau does not seek funding from the
city for their project, but Ladd said that he would like to restate
a request from last year regarding Postville Park.
He explained that vendors during the Route 66 garage sales had
asked if there could be greater access to 220-volt electricity in
the park as well as better access to water for the food vendors.
Ladd's presentation brought to an end the requests for the day for funding to
community partners and civic organizations.
In a discussion with Melody Anderson after the meeting, she said
Phil Mahler of the Logan County Regional Planning Commission was on
the schedule but unable to attend. Mahler still has time to issue a
formal request for city support. Should he be unavailable to do so,
the council will determine what should be budgeted for that program.
[By NILA SMITH]
Part 1:
Economic
development partnership and chamber detail progress
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