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� � ^ / <br /> C � <br /> COUNCIL MEMORANDUM � <br /> #2006-02 I'�, <br /> DATE: April 27, 2006 <br /> TO: Honorable Mayor Osborne and City Council <br /> FROM: Steve G an, City Manager <br /> SUBJECT: Director the Decatur Abraham Lincoln Heritage Project <br /> During the last City Council goals session it seemed evident that the <br /> development of the city's Lincoln heritage is of utmost importance to the Council. <br /> Since that time we have been working diligently to come up with ways to best <br /> facilitate that development and we believe that we have created an extraordinary <br /> opportunity to meet this goal that we may never see again. <br /> Kim Bauer, Lincoln Curator for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library <br /> and Museum, has agreed to oversee our future Lincoln development efforts, a <br /> move that would come at no new cost to the city. Mr. Bauer's salary of $67,000 <br /> and for other Lincoln-related projects would be funded from the "Looking For <br /> Lincoln" fund established a couple of years ago and supported through the <br /> hotel/motel tax (in other words, the funds have come for the most part from <br /> visitors to our city, not local taxpayers). Additionally, it is staff's belief that the <br /> position will attract more economic benefit to Decatur (in the form of grants, <br /> tourism, events, publicity, etc.) than the cost of the position. <br /> In order to facilitate this, the city council would need to approve the <br /> attached ordinance authorizing the position of Director of the Decatur Abraham <br /> Lincoln Heritage project. If accepted, this position is anticipated to be terminated <br /> following the fiscal year 2009/2010. It should be emphasized that the city <br /> council's sole issue to decide is whether or not to create the position and access <br /> the Looking for Lincoln fund. The issue of filling the position, if the city council <br /> creates the position, is a decision for the city manager. <br /> Mr. Bauer is widely regarded as one of the state's premiere authorities on <br /> all things Lincoln and has been involved from the very early stages in the growth <br /> and development of the Lincoln museum. As you know, the museum has been <br /> an unquestionable success as officials estimate that more than 600,000 people <br /> have visited the site since it's opening in 2005. <br /> The year 2009 represents the Lincoln Bicentennial year and in recognition <br /> the State of Illinois and the Federal government are planning major events during <br /> and leading toward that Bicentennial. Since Abraham Lincoln began his political <br />