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 Council members present for the evening were Jean Bruner-Jachino,
Ron Keller, Paresh Patel and Kristi Powell. Also present were
tourism director Maggie McMurtrey and Logan County Alliance Director
Andi Hake. LCA Board Chairman Tom O’Donohue was also present for
part of the meeting.
Firefighters Fall Festival
Middletown Fire Chief Josh Gasparini discussed plans for the fire
department to host a fall festival in Middletown. This will be a
first-time event for the department and they are working on a
variety of events and activities for the festival.
Gasparini said the department was reaching out to local veterans as
well as those farther away in other counties, inviting them to come
be a part of the festival. There are also plans being made for a 5K
Glow Run that will take place after dark.
He said the cash being requested would go for advertising the
festival outside of Logan County. He said the 5K would draw runners
locally as well as from farther away.
Ron Keller complemented Gasparini on the detail he provided on his
written request and said he thought the festival, in general, was
being well planned.
 Kristi Powell asked how the festival would fulfill the tourism
requirement of placing heads in beds.
Gasparini said with the event running multiple days there will be
vendors coming who will need overnight accommodations. He said that
also with the 5K being a night-time run, some of those participants
may also wish to stay over in the area.
Later in the evening, the council discussed the request. They talked
about the fact that there are no motel accommodations in the
Middletown area and the fact that Lincoln would be the closest
location for motels, gas stations, and restaurants. Keller did note
that even though Lincoln is the closest, Springfield would not be
that far away either, and it would be an easy drive to get there.
The group decided that they would be interested in supporting the
festival financially, but with a few contingencies. The motion was
made that the bureau would provide money for advertising with the
stipulation that the registration information for the 5K includes
links to Lincoln motels and that the gift bags given to runners
include the Lincoln Dining Guide. The motion passed by unanimous
vote. [See
the related press release from the Middletown Fire Department]
Funding request for The Mill on Route 66
Bob Wilmert was on hand to request $2,500 for The Mill on Route 66.
On the application it stated that the money would be used for annual
expenses, but Wilmert said the dollars would actually go for future
advertising as the Mill Museum will be opening soon.
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Keller asked how soon. Wilmert said the original plan to open the Mill as a
museum for Route 66 had changed. The local foundation responsible for the Mill
is planning on opening the front octagon room only for the time being. He noted
that Route 66 tourism is a big business that is paying off for communities such
as Atlanta and Pontiac. He said the foundation wanted the Lincoln community to
benefit as well, so getting the front part of the building open to tourists was
now the priority.
Powell asked where the foundation planned to spend the advertising dollars.
Wilmert said in the Bloomington and Springfield papers and wherever else they
could.
At the end of Wilmert’s presentation, Keller once again confirmed the request
said the money was for annual expenses, but Wilmert was saying the dollars would
be for advertising. Wilmert confirmed that was correct.
Later in the evening when the item came up for discussion again Keller said he
felt the application was “problematic.” He recounted that the written document
originally said annual expenses even though Wilmert did confirm it was for
“future advertising.” McMurtrey said when the application arrived, she had noted
the annual expenses and reached out to the foundation. That is when it was
changed to future advertising.
She said she also wondered about the word “future.” She wondered how soon the
money was going to be used.
Powell wondered if the foundation had a marketing plan for The Mill that it
could share so the council could see what will be done with the money.
Paresh Patel also noted that advertising in Bloomington and Springfield might
not be the best plan for a Route 66 attraction. He noted when he encounters
people who are on Route 66 tours, they are often from much farther away, and
even from other countries.
Jachino asked if the council wanted to table the request and seek further
information from Wilmert and the Foundation about the marketing plan. All agreed
that would be the best.
Keller wrapped up the conversation on the Mill saying that he thought the Mill
was important to Lincoln and Logan County. He wants the tourism bureau to
support the efforts of the Foundation, but in the right way.
McMurtrey will seek further information from The Mill and the conversation on
funding will continue at a later date.
[Nila Smith] |
