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 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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