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Tourism Bureau reviews memorandum of understanding for the Tropics sign
 

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[June 22, 2015]  LINCOLN - At the June meeting of the Logan County Tourism Bureau, council members continued discussion on the Tropics Restaurant sign. The goal is to work with the city and the Goodrich’s to get the historic Route 66 sign restored to something close to its original condition.

The sign is currently in storage at the Lincoln Landscape Waste facility. It has been placed in a safe location and is covered to protect it from the weather. At the May meeting of the council, it was decided that the Bureau would like to take the lead in the restoration project in partnership with the city and the Goodrich’s without taking ownership of the sign. Council members instructed tourism director, Maggie McMurtrey, to work with the city to draft a written agreement to that effect.

This month, McMurtrey presented a draft copy of a memorandum of understanding to the council, outlining the terms and condition of an agreement. In the document, she pointed out that the Tourism Bureau would take temporary possession of the sign, with ownership remaining with the city of Lincoln.

The Tourism Bureau would handle raising the funds needed to restore the sign, and getting the restoration done.

She pointed out that the agreement stipulated that if funds could not be raised, the ownership of the sign would revert to the Johnson/Goodrich family. She also pointed out a clause that stated if the Johnson/Goodrich’s were unable to take the sign back, the future of the sign would be the responsibility of the tourism bureau. The Bureau would then decide what to do with the sign.

Kristi Powell asked who had requested the stipulation be added. McMurtrey said the Goodrich’s.

Ron Keller noted the memorandum had a two-year limit, but could be renewed. He asked if there was an expectation of when decisions would be made. McMurtrey said there was nothing, but it could be added. Keller said he felt like it would be good to include a time frame for expectations.

Jean Bruner-Jachino asked about bids to restore the sign. There had been bids taken by the city of Lincoln. McMurtrey said one bid was approximately $15,000 without moving the sign. The second bid was approximately $30,000 and included moving the sign to the restoration site. Andi Hake of the Logan County Alliance said that the sign will have to be moved for restoration. Therefore, the difference in the cost of the bids wasn’t significant because the lesser amount would mean additional costs would be incurred to move the sign.

Powell said that she wanted to include in the memorandum that while the Bureau is involved, there will be a separate committee formed to work on the project. Jachino asked if the memorandum could be modified to reflect Keller and Powell’s suggestions and approved at the next meeting of the bureau. McMurtrey said it could.

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Hake told the council that when they do vote to approve a memorandum, they will be voting on a recommendation to the Logan County Alliance Board because that entity has the oversight of the Tourism Bureau. Keller noted that the memorandum specifically names the Bureau. He wondered if that should be changed to name the Alliance. Hake said that was a question for the Alliance attorney.

Hake also spoke about the timeline for approving the agreement. She said if the Tourism Council approves the agreement and sends the recommendation to the Alliance at its July meeting, the Alliance Board will review the agreement at its meeting in late July, but may not vote on it at that time. They could put the item on their voting agenda for August instead. If so, then it would be September before the Tourism Bureau could begin forming a committee and start work on the project. She noted that the timing would be good. McMurtrey has festivals to work on for July and August, but by September that will be off her workload, giving her more time to dedicate to the Tropics sign.

Hake also inquired of city administrator, Clay Johnson, who was present at the meeting, if the city was agreeable to continuing storing the sign. Johnson said it was.

[Nila Smith]


 

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