 He started to work the next morning.Tuesday evening Bergen
paid his first visit to the Lincoln City Council. After being
introduced by Mayor Keith Snyder, who served on the selection
committee for the director’s position, Bergen took the podium and
spoke briefly about his first impressions of Lincoln and Logan
County.
He said he and administrative assistant Chris Huff had spent a
good deal of the day going about the community and just checking
things out.
He told the council that he believes Lincoln and Logan County
have a lot of assets that can be built upon.
When asked by Jonie Tibbs what he liked about Lincoln, he first
noted that in driving through town he saw occupied homes.
He said he didn’t see a lot of decimated properties. He
punctuated the statement by saying he knew there were probably some
here, but what he saw looked good.
He also noted that the downtown business area is active, with
open businesses and not a lot of vacant buildings, as are most often
seen in small communities. He said that in looking at the downtown
area, he didn’t see any crumbling buildings, although he noted there
might be a few that could use a facelift of some kind.
He also told the council he was happy to be in Lincoln and Logan
County, and he has found people to be very friendly.
Talking about his previous employment, Bergen said he was coming
to Logan County from Indiana -- the Rushville area. He said that
area, which is primarily agricultural, was in a very distressed
state.
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He was hired there for agribusiness development and spent seven
years in the area. While working there he helped develop a five-year
plan for the region and saw the plan through, accomplishing almost
all of what was in it.
He said the area saw economic growth to the tune of approximately
$850 million during that time.
In addition he said he worked on an international trade mission,
teaching local producers and businesses how to export their products
for foreign markets.
As the aldermen took turns introducing themselves, Marty Neitzel
noted that Bergen’s first job was as a claims adjuster for the same
insurance company she worked for years ago. Risa Riggs, the
recording secretary for the council, told Bergen she is from the
same part of Indiana.
Bergen said he hoped the aldermen would feel free to stop by his
office or give him a call any time they wish, and that he looks
forward to working with the city in the future.
[By NILA SMITH]
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