Lincoln Chamber Plans Ahead

LINCOLN — The first topic discussed at the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce meeting on Thursday was how Christmas On the Square went and what could be done to make it better this year.

“I think it went real well,” said Kenneth Reeves, chamber president. “It was awesome,” adding some things did need improvement and asking for ideas.

“I know we need more help,” said Mayor Rob Hulse. “We didn’t expect to feed 700 people this year.

Reeves agreed more volunteers would be needed for the 2012 Christmas On the Square.

“Everything I’ve heard has been good, but I think we can make it even better,” Reeves said.

Reeves said any organization or group that would like to participate in this year’s event would be welcome.

“I loved the balloons,” Maria Reeves, chamber secretary, told Christi Beaumont, who attended the meeting. Beaumont is running for Circuit Judge of Washington County.

Beaumont, her husband Tim Snively and sister Kim Beaumont passed out balloons to the children who attended the Christmas event.

“Yes, we appreciated it,” Kenneth Reeves told Beaumont. “The kids loved the balloons.”

Chamber members then discussed times for the June 16 Car Show. It was decided the hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. would work with judging in the afternoon and awards given just before the event ended.

The annual Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Banquet was set for Friday, March 16. Reeves asked for nominations for Citizen of the Year and Business of the Year be turned in before the event. A committee was selected to work out the details.

Maria Reeves announced her retirement as secretary of the chamber. Jennifer Whitney will take over as secretary beginning at the Feb. 7 meeting.

Mayor Hulse asked for the chamber’s support for the election being held March 13. On the ballot will be two issues — a .635 of 1 percent sales tax for construction and payments for the expansion and renovation of the Lincoln Public Library; and a .375 of 1 percent sales tax for library operation, parks and recreation.

Reeves said he supported the library and agreed the city needs a much larger library.

“Every time I go in there somebody is always on a computer,” Reeves said.

Doug Hutchens, chamber member, said many people go to the library to use the computers because they lack Internet connections at home.

“The library is about more than checking out books,” Reeves said.

Hulse said Lincoln is the least burdened city in Washington County with it’s low taxes.

“It don’t like taxes any better than the next person, but it will help that people who stop for a hamburger or do business here will help us pay for the library,” Hulse said.

Hulse said the library served a purpose for the young people of Lincoln.

“We want to create a posi- tive influence for kids — what’s the best place for kids — the library,” Hulse said.

“The people of Lincoln deserve a good library,” he added.

Eleven members attended the meeting along with Terry Bibbs, Beaumont and Hulse.

Bibbs currently is serving as Justice of the Peace, District 1, Crawford County. He’s a candidate for state representative of District 80, a new district that was established after the 2010 Census.

Bibbs said he is running for office because he has enjoyed helping the District 1 community and would like to extend his community service to doing more for the area. He has served as a school board member and volunteer with a rural fire department.

Beaumont currently works as a defense attorney and has worked in the past as a prosecutor. She told chamber members she is running for “Judge [Mary Ann] Gunn’s seat because she’s interested in the drug court and helping people.” Gunn retired to do a drug court program on television.