 As legislative chairman for the county board, Jan Schumacher said,
"We still have the authority to appoint tourism bureau board
members," and the city was requesting that they do so at this time.
Schumacher told the board: "The city has asked us to make the
appointments of the following people: Andy Anderson, Lincoln; Andy
Meister, Mount Pulaski; Keith Snyder, Lincoln; Tom O'Donohue,
Lincoln; Andi Hake, Lincoln; Jean Jachino of Springfield,
representing Hampton Inn; and Darlene Begolka (a current board
member with unexpired term)."
The tourism bureau is still seeking an executive director.
Anderson, who serves with Meister as the county's liaisons to the
tourism bureau, said that all of the tourism board member terms
except for Begolka were set to expire at the end of November. "Of
course, you have to have a board in place before you can hire
anybody," he said.
There was some discussion on what is happening at the Lincoln &
Logan County Development Partnership toward hiring a new director.
Vic Martinek, development partnership president, was present and
said that he has been working in the office, and Christel Huff has
also been working extra hours to keep projects going.
The search for a new director is underway and several
applications have come in. The position is posted in several
professional locations. Resumes are still welcome to be sent to the
office, Martinek said.
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Schumacher commented that she'd like to find someone who will
stay for a little while and has the right skills.
The office has had several short-term turnovers. The last two
directors were here for only a year.
Martinek assured everyone that they would be looking for someone
who would be a good fit. "We're not going to rush just to have the
job filled," he said. Regarding keeping someone, he said, "The
average is three to five years, nationwide."
The last two directors were lured to the private sector with
larger salaries.
"We’re confident we're going to have a good person in place,"
Martinek said.
Ruben commented that the conditions are that we are a little guy
who can't compete, and that makes us a training ground. "That's not
all bad," he said, adding by way example: "Brian Bergen moved up,
and maybe down the line he'll remember us and push something our
way."
Schumacher added that the chamber of commerce is moving forward
with a new initiative, a Real World program for the high school. It
is an outflow of the Boomtown program hosted last month.
Anderson said the next Main Street Lincoln event would be the
Lincoln Christmas Parade that takes place on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m.
[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]
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