 The city supports these partners as groups that are able to help
bring money into the city through events or by attracting business
and industry to the area.
Alderwoman Melody Anderson, who chairs the city finance committee
and leads the discussions during the budget building process,
approached the subject Saturday morning by saying she wanted
everyone to offer their input on how these groups should be funded
in the coming year.
"What I want to you to think about is the areas that we give or
contribute money to that are outside agencies," she said. "This is
the chamber, Main Street, the Logan County Regional Planning
Commission, economic development and CEDS, and the flow-through
accounts, which is the Christmas parade and Railsplitter, along with
the requests from tourism and Lincoln Pastoral Counseling."
Anderson explained that in the current budget, the council
designated $60,000 to these partners. However, this year she has
received suggestions for cutting back on that support. She outlined
what she has currently.
"Main Street Lincoln last year was $10,000. There was a
suggestion to reduce that to $5,000. Logan County Regional Planning
Commission -- we gave them $10,000 last year. They requested
$17,500.
"Lincoln Logan Development Partnership requested $25,000 plus
$5,000 for CEDS. Right now it is in the budget to eliminate $5,000
however they want to spread it. We'll keep $5,000 for chamber and
$2,500 each for Christmas parade and Railsplitter and nothing for
tourism or Lincoln Pastoral Counseling."
Anderson said she wanted each member of the council to voice how
they would spend the $60,000.
"It is not going to be one or three people on this council who
will make this decision; it is all of us. Here is your opportunity
to say where you think these dollars should be spent."
Anderson said she wanted each alderman to give a brief
explanation of what they wanted to give to each organization and
why.
She started with her own take on the situation and then skipped
away from this topic for a while to give council members an
opportunity to think about what they wanted to do.
Alderwoman Melody Anderson
Anderson began with the $5,000 for the chamber. "The $5,000 is
basically support for the balloon fest," she said. "My opinion: I
see no need to change that. Based on what I saw last year, I thought
it was a huge success, and I think they are working hard to improve
it and bring more revenue to Lincoln.
"Main Street Lincoln -- in the past I have not been overly
impressed with their performance. Last year we gave them a signal
(when) we took $5,000 from their budget.
"I think they responded this year in a positive manner. This was
the first year that I actually saw the positive results that I am
seeking. Again, this is my opinion.
"They brought the barbecue, the wine-tasting improves every year
in terms of the attendance, and the train day they implemented where
they are meeting and greeting people on the train.
"Their beautification to downtown, not everything brings revenue,
but it increases the atmosphere, if you will, so that is a plus.
"I would be inclined to leave it at $10,000. It was $15,000, we
cut it to $10,000, and there has been a suggestion to cut it to
$5,000.
"Logan County Regional Planning Commission -- we cut them to
$10,000 last year.
"I do like the direction they are going," Anderson said, "but
haven't seen any results yet. If we can use the revenues we get from
enterprise zone, which we haven't been counting in our budget, I
don't have any problem with the $17,500, but I will be inclined to
reduce that in the future if I don't see the organization going in a
positive direction.
"Economic development -- I've been out on the fence on this for a
long time. I am not happy with the direction it is going.
"I'm tired of hearing the same thing and the pats on the back for
the same thing. The suggestion was made to eliminate $5,000, whether
it comes out of the CEDS or their budget.
"I'm inclined to support that and reduce it to $25,000."
She added Mayor Keith Snyder has made some suggestions regarding
tying funding to that agency with some type of performance
standards.
Anderson continued her list.
"The $2,500 for the parade, I'm not sure that is $2,500 well
spent. However it is a tradition that I am not inclined to cut out
of our children's lives.
"The $2,500 for Railsplitter -- they bring people to town, and I
think those people do spend at other places besides the Railsplitter,
so I'm not inclined to cut them."
She concluded her recommendations by saying, "I'm not inclined to
add. I think if we are adding anywhere, we should add to things that
will create a city government that runs more efficiently and better,
and we do have a place to do that."
Anderson's total came to $57,500 if the award to Main Street were
dropped to $5,000 and regional planning raised to $17,500.
Later in the meeting, Anderson came back to this, beginning the
polling with Stacy Bacon.
Alderwoman Stacy Bacon
Bacon commented: "I like the $57,500. I agree with what you
(Anderson) said as far as any increases or decreases, especially
when it comes to economic development.
"The short time I have been on the council, I haven't been real
impressed with that partner. That is my personal opinion. I feel
like you do, there is a lot of patting on the back, and I feel we
should be getting more out of that department than what we are."
[to top of second column]
 |
 Aldermen David Wilmert and David Armbrust
David Wilmert realigned the breakdown of funding. Keeping a total
of $57,500, he suggested keeping Main Street at $10,000 and
providing the Logan County Planning Commission with $12,500.
David Armbrust said he would go along with Wilmert's breakdown.
Alderman Tom O'Donohue
Tom O'Donohue commented: "I have no problem in theory with his (Wilmert's)
numbers. I like those better than what you've given to us.
"However I want to stress 'bang for our buck.' We need to start
honoring it that way. What are the citizens of Lincoln getting from
these organizations?
"In general I have a problem funding organizations just for their
budget: Main Street Lincoln, $10,000 for their budget; regional
planning, $17,500 for their budget," he said. "If we're going to
fund aspects of it, say $5,000 to the chamber for the balloon fest,
I'm more OK with that than giving them money carte blanche to use
however their budget needs."
Back to Armbrust
Armbrust said there was something sticking in his mind. He
recalled that at its inception, Main Street was supposed to
eventually become self-sustaining.
"I believe this was spelled out that it would be self-sustaining
in three to four years," he said. "That is how it was sold to us. I
don't see this happening."
Alderwoman Marty Neitzel
Marty Neitzel said she was in agreement with Wilmert's numbers
with the exception of one.
"I think in a job description for city administrator, it should
include some economic development," she said. "If that is the case,
then I say we have our own economic development without Logan
County. I'm sorry, but I'm a Lincolnite, and that's what I want to
see."
Asked if she was in favor then of $25,000 over $30,000, she said
yes, but if the city can hire an administrator she would eliminate
this support altogether.
Treasurer Chuck Conzo and Mayor Keith Snyder
In the polling, both the city treasurer and mayor also offered
their suggestions on this matter.
Treasurer Chuck Conzo dropped the total contributions to
$47,500, and Mayor Keith Snyder maintained his list at $60,000.
Their comments will be included in the next segment of this
series.
Aldermen Jeff Hoinacki and Buzz Busby
Jeff Hoinacki said he was leaning toward the $57,500 and agreed
with Wilmert's numbers.
Buzz Busby agreed also with the $57,500. He commented on
Armbrust's note that Main Street had said they would become
self-sufficient. He added that economic development had said the
same thing.
He said he wanted to specify that $5,000 go to CEDS and offer
$20,000 for the economic development budget.
He also said: "I am not for giving any money to Railsplitter or
the new organizations. We don't have the money. What little bit we
can save here is going to help us down the road."
Alderwoman Joni Tibbs
Joni Tibbs said that as the city liaison at Main Street Lincoln
she had knowledge of what they are doing.
"I feel the number we are giving them now is not a fair number,"
she said. "We need to go back to the 12 ($12,000) if we can at all.
"As far as economic development, I really feel that should be a
self-sustaining program. I think we've lost a leg, we are no longer
represented. I don't think we work together. I'd put that number at
wherever you want to go from zero to at most $10,000."
Alderwoman Kathy Horn
Alderman Kathy Horn said she agreed with the mayor on the total
of $60,000. She said she wanted to see the Christmas parade and
Railsplitter stay at $2,500 each and would drop her figure for the
regional planning commission to $12,500.
"I think economic development is a partnership we have agreed to,
and we need to stay there or there will be repercussions," Horn
said.
"It does worry me that we've been paying this extra $5,000 for
three years and are still not a member (of CEDS)."
Horn indicated leaving the amount at $25,000, and the development
partnership could designate the $5,000 to CEDS on their side if they
needed to.
The next segment will include the recommendations from Conzo and
Snyder, the discussions that ensued, and the final decision for
funding of community partners in the new fiscal year.
[By NILA SMITH]
Past related articles
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