Logan County Board Building and Grounds Committee
L.E.A.D. presents idea for special holiday events in the Courthouse and Latham Park

 

[September 08, 2024] 

On the evening of September 3rd, the Building and Grounds Committee held their meeting for the month. This meeting, among other things, saw the proposal of a couple of Christmas related events made by Andrea Runge. Runge, the CEO of Lincoln Economic Advancement and Development (LEAD), has a vested interest in seeing Lincoln’s local economy thrive. LEAD’s primary goal is getting new businesses to Lincoln and then supporting them once they are here. During the meeting, Runge shared how the Christmas events held near Lincoln’s Courthouse Square encourage people from out of town to come and visit. Once here, many of these visitors become patrons of one or more of the local businesses. Runge’s suggestions for this year’s holiday season come from the same desire to see these businesses thrive.

The first of the two proposed events would be to have a group come and sing Christmas carols on the first floor of the Courthouse in the rotunda. Runge suggested a Saturday as the day of the week this could potentially happen, seeing as how more people travel on the weekends as opposed to the weekdays. This would also help avoid the normal operating hours of the Courthouse.

Runge was light on the details for this event, suggesting Small Business Saturday (November 30) as a potential date. She also shared that no singers have been chosen yet. Runge was open to the idea of having either kids or adults sing. The reason for Runge’s vagueness on details, she said, was a desire to not get people’s hopes up should the board not approve the event. She said that she would hate to disappoint a group of singers by having to deliver the bad news of the event being rejected by the board.

Committee Chairman Jim Wessbecher’s only real concern with this event was security. Seeing as how Runge’s proposed event would be inside the Courthouse and not outdoors, security would have to be present. The Courthouse is normally closed on the weekends, so security would be an extra cost in this case. Wessbecher also asked about a time frame for the event. Runge informed him that she did not see it lasting more than an hour or two. While Wessbecher gave the impression that this event would be possible, he stopped short of making any promises. The full board will have to decide the fate of this event later in the month. For now, Runge’s proposal is going to be passed on to the Workshop meeting.

The second event that Runge proposed was a live nativity scene. Runge informed the committee of the potential benefit to Lincoln’s economy, referencing how they requested the green and red lights that were installed around the Courthouse last year. Runge said that LEAD is always looking for new things to introduce around the holiday season, enticing people to come and visit. Runge stated that she would like to hold this event outdoors at the Latham Park gazebo and bandstand. She also stated that she planned on having this event on a day separate from the Christmas caroling in the Courthouse rotunda. Runge stated that she plans on having the actors for this scene be a mix of adults and children.

Wessbecher once again asked about a time frame for this event. Runge did not have an exact one, sharing that she imagines it being more of an evening event, with businesses staying open later if they would like to. Again, Runge shared her desire to get permission for this event before planning many of the details. Wessbecher responded by telling Runge that it is difficult to support an event when there are still so many details to work out. Runge did add that she would like live animals for this event, but it was not a deal breaker if they could not have them.

These two events are still in the proposal stage, but are going to be discussed by the full board at the Workshop meeting later this month. This Workshop meeting will be held on Thursday, September 12th at 6 p.m. in the Logan County Courthouse.

If you would like to show your support for either of these proposed events, the public is always welcome to attend meetings, and may even speak on something the board is voting on during the time for public comments, should they have something to add.

[Matt Boutcher]