 Last
year, in spite of a tight economy, the city offered financial
support to several entities that work together to serve Lincoln and
Logan County in promoting local businesses, economic development,
community improvements and tourism.
Requests granted last year included $25,000 for the Lincoln &
Logan County Development Partnership, plus $5,000 for the
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy; $5,000 to the
Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce for sponsorship of the
annual art and balloon fest; $15,000 total to Main Street Lincoln
for support of that program plus sponsorship of the annual Christmas
parade; and $2,500 to the Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting
Festival.
They also awarded $10,000 to the regional planning commission
though no one came forward to request funding.
This year, the council asked community partners to submit their
requests in writing, accompanied with financial information
regarding their organization.
The council also heard from a new organization this year, which
has never before had to ask for funding from the city.
Lincoln Pastoral Counseling Services
Dr. Kristen Green-Morrow, president of Lincoln Pastoral
Counseling Services, and the service director, Clare Gramley,
presented their request for $2,000 to the council.
Green-Morrow said the service is finding itself in a difficult
situation this year, in that they do not have enough money to meet
the needs of the community.
The services they provide include couples counseling, parent and
child counseling, as well as abuse and grief counseling and helping
those who suffer with chronic mental health issues. The counseling
service has been providing this kind of help for 30 years, and no
one is turned away.
The services are offered on a sliding fee schedule, which enables
many who could not otherwise receive this type of help to get it at
little or no cost.
Green-Morrow said they have cut their budget to the bare bone and
are still falling short. In their last fiscal year, the service
showed a net loss of $2,999.85.
Gramley spoke up, saying he knew this was an unusual request. He
said the organization has never sought help in this manner, but they
have seen considerable increases in the number of clients served,
and they need greater funding to keep the services going.
During discussion, Alderman Jeff Hoinacki asked if the group
would be making a similar request from the county. Green-Morrow said
they are working on formulating a plan of whom to approach, but
currently no, they have not approached the county.
According to their financial statement, the group is supported by
three local churches, United Way of Logan County and through fees
that are collected from clients.
Lincoln & Logan County Development Partnership
Mark Hughes, board president of the development partnership,
accompanied by Joel Smiley, executive director, presented a request
for $25,000 again this year plus $5,000 for the Comprehensive
Economic Development Strategy.
The CEDS is a long-range financial plan that allows access to
federal funding for economic development projects.
Joining a regional effort of that nature strengthens a
community's position in applying for both state and federal funding.
The partnership has been working to join Lincoln and Logan County to
the Economic Development Council for Central Illinois, a regional
consortium that represents Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Mason and
most recently Logan County.
Smiley recently reported that the process is nearing completion.
During discussion Alderman Tom O'Donohue asked for a better
explanation of how the $5,000 is being used each year.
Hughes said the money was for the CEDS application, with the
total cost of the application being approximately $7,500-$10,000.
O'Donohue said it appeared to him the city has paid repeatedly
for the application, which has not yet been filed. To date the city
has paid a total of $10,000 for the CEDS and is now looking at an
additional third request.
Hughes said there was an annual expense involved that included a
maintenance fee. Smiley added that this year the Economic
Development Council is working to take a group to Washington, D.C.,
for a lobbying trip.
O'Donohue said the money wasn't just for the application then; it
is also for CEDS activities. He added that he wasn't comfortable
giving this money year after year for what appears to be a single
item, when it is actually being used for multiple purposes.
Alderman David Wilmert spoke up, saying that what he thought the
aldermen would like to see is a better breakdown of how the money is
being used by the development partnership and the EDC.
Lincoln/Logan Country Chamber of Commerce
Andi Hake, executive director of the chamber of commerce, and
Heidi Browne, events coordinator, presented their request for $5,000
for the annual Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival.
They spoke about the large number of people who attend the event
each year and the anticipation of additional attendees this year to
witness and participate in the festival's first "Up in Smoke on the
Square" Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned cook-off.
The festival promotes tourism, promotes local businesses and
serves as a venue for several organizations in their fundraising
efforts, in addition to being a fundraiser for the chamber.
The financial report Browne included with her written request
showed that last year the festival grossed $164,362. Browne said in
her letter that the chamber uses as many local businesses as
possible to provide souvenirs and supplies for the event. The
financial report also shows they use a great deal of in-kind or
trade of services for sponsorship.
In total, the festival cost the chamber $144,420 last year,
leaving them with a net profit of $19,942, which is used to help
support the daily operations of the chamber office and pay staff
wages.
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The city's $5,000 contribution is typically recognized as being
the sponsorship of the special-shape balloon each year.
Browne was asked if the balloon costs the full $5,000. She said
it does not. The city is giving a $5,000 sponsorship to the festival
and included in that is the balloon, which generally costs in the
range of $2,500. She said the balance of the sponsorship goes to
help cover advertising costs. The festival does a great deal of
advertising, much of which is done locally.
O'Donohue said some of the local restaurant owners were concerned
that bringing in the barbecue competition would hurt their
businesses, as visitors would choose to eat there.
Browne said they, too, are aware of those concerns and are
addressing them.
Hake said: "Know that Heidi and I and our board did not make this
decision lightly. We thought about this for about eight months
before making this decision. The organizers understand this is a
year-to-year thing. If we see that it is not benefiting our downtown
businesses, we will let it go."
It was also noted that the chamber was going to give the
contestants a special type of Chamber Buck requiring a match. They
said, for example, that in order for contestants to spend $25 given
to them by the chamber, they will also need to spend $25 out of
their pocket.
Chuck Conzo, city treasurer, said that in recent times he's seen
increases in sales tax revenues.
"I can guarantee you it is not because the economy is better," he
said. "We all know that."
He said these increases had to be due at least in part to the
work organizations such as the chamber, Main Street Lincoln and the
tourism bureau are doing that is bringing more people to town.
Main Street Lincoln
Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Main Street director, and Roger Matson, board
president, presented the request for that organization.
Main Street is asking for $12,500 in support of their day-to-day
operations plus a $2,500 sponsorship of the 2011 Christmas parade.
Matson showed the council the flowerpot hangers that will be
placed around the city square this summer. The hangers are black
iron, with silhouettes of Abraham Lincoln mounted on them. There
will be two versions of the silhouettes, one with Lincoln wearing a
stovepipe hat and one without.
The pot hangers will also have sponsorship plaques mounted to
them, recognizing anyone who wishes to pay the cost of a hanger.
Rohlfs also said the original plan for the hangers was to place
eight, with two at each corner of the courthouse square. However,
they have upped the number to 12, and will place the additional four
on the merchants' side of the streets forming the downtown square,
with one on each block.
Events planned in the near future include a "Shop local" campaign
for March and April; the Looking for Lincoln and partnership dinner
March 20; observances of National Historic Preservation Month,
National Train Day and National Small Business Week, all in May; and
in June, the Honest Abe's Backyard Barbeque Cook-off and Patio
Party.
During discussion, Rohlfs was asked to give a better breakdown of
how the $2,500 is used each year for the annual Christmas parade.
She said she didn't have that information with her but would get it
to the council. She provided the information at the Tuesday night
council workshop meeting.
Route 66 Heritage Foundation
Geoff Ladd, director of the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of
Logan County and Route 66 Heritage Foundation, was unable to attend
the March 12 budget meeting. However, he submitted a request in
writing for $1,000 to benefit the Route 66 Garage Sale in May and
repeated a long-standing request for 220-volt electricity and
potable running water in Postville Park.
Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Festival
Alderwoman Melody Anderson said no one was available from the
Railsplitter group, but they had submitted a written request for
$2,500 in support of the festival in September.
Logan County Regional Planning Commission
Will D'Andrea, Logan County zoning officer, and Bill Martin,
county board member, attended the budget meeting but made no
official request for funding for the planning commission.
D'Andrea had a previous discussion with the city council
concerning the funding the city provides and how it is broken down
and then asked if he could return with his request on March 26. He
was told he could.
There have been a good number of changes in the planning
commission this year, and D'Andrea is working to fine-tune what the
commission is responsible for and what falls under the direction of
the county after all these changes.
___
This officially concludes LDN's coverage of the first budget
workshop meeting.
On March 26 the council will meet once again to discuss the
projected revenues for the coming fiscal year and determine what the
budget can afford in the area of department head requests as well as
those placed by the community partners.
[By NILA SMITH]
Previous articles on 2011-12
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