Lincolnite

Imagine you own a house, and some new guy plans to move in. You don't really care if the new guy moves in or not. But for the pleasure of having this new guy as a neighbor, you'll have to fork out a hundred grand or more to help pay for his driveway, ostensibly because the driveway could benefit you somehow. You'd be ticked, wouldn't you? I sure would be.

Kudos to Deena Winter for her lengthy piece in yesterday's Journal Star on the firetruck controversy. It was exactly the sort of article I had hoped the LJS would run: a straightforward, chronological analysis of how a simple firetruck purchase could go so badly. Thanks, Deena. Ms. Winter's article is perfect for evaluating Mayor Seng's statement that Lincolnites should thank her for her actions related to the controversy:

I think I should be thanked quite a bit because I fired the fire chief.

I'm curious how many of you agree with her self-assessment.

In light of today's article about city-owned pools, I wonder: do municipal pools make sense any more? Granted, they have a strong emotional draw. But are they worthwhile from a more rational perspective? I'm really not sure. I do know one thing: pools open to the general public serve a legitimate and desirable purpose. I haven't been an avid public pool user for years, but it seems clear that a pool-less summer in Lincoln would be, for many Lincolnites, a disaster. Closing Lincoln's pools without a solid backup plan (i.e. a private company or two coming in and guaranteeing a certain level of service at certain prices) would cause more problems than it would solve. I don't think Lincoln should spend too much energy trying to build new pools in Lincoln's newest neighborhoods. We need to ensure that Lincoln's older (and often poorer) neighborhoods have ample recreational opportunities. Let's take care of the most-used pools in the city's core first. I also think investing in Star City Shores might make sense. It has proven very popular and there is space available for expansion. As a bonus, SCS is accessible via three bus routes (6, 16, and 27S) and two bike paths, meaning kids from all over can get there relatively easily without needing a ride. I also wouldn't mind building a second SCS-like park somewhere on the north side of town, preferably a spot that is likewise accessible. North 27th Street is an obvious candidate, but man, do we really need to put everything on North 27th Street? My biggest concern is cost. When I hear questions like "How are we going to pay for new facilities?" I think, "Shouldn't they pay for themselves?" It sure seems like they should. But then you think about the short season, subsidies for low-income families, and so on, and the financing difficulties become a little clearer. What do you think? Do municipal pools still make sense today? Where should we focus our efforts? Should we pursue private options to replace or supplement the public options?

Sorry for the lack of posts this morning. I was on daddy duty to take Robbie to a mid-morning doctor's appointment. He did very well, four shots and all. He is officially bigger than a bowling ball, having crossed the 16 pound barrier by two ounces. He is also getting taller, now stretching 27 inches. But one important note to all you new parents out there: don't be stupid and schedule an appointment right in the middle of your child's usual naptime. I sure hope he doesn't give his babysitter too much grief today.

Just now The Missus and I were sitting across from one another at the kitchen table. She was giving Robbie a bottle and reading the newspaper; I was tap tapping away on my laptop. It all felt so familiar... "B-5," I said as I looked up at her over the top of the laptop. The Missus looked up at me and gave me that "What the hell are you talking about" look that she gives me so often. Then it hit her. "You're weird." Yeah, I know.

Yesterday sure was a good day for college football fans. I missed a good chunk of the day since I had to spend most of it in Omaha at a referee clinic, but I caught the 4th quarter of the Husker game and the entirety of the K-State/Texas game. I predicted a Husker loss when the score was 21-10, and I was very nearly proven correct. Thanks to an impressive two-minute drill and with a little help from an unwise ATM defender, I was wrong. Lordy, I hope we don't have to pull that sort of a stunt against the Blundering Buffs. I could tell from the start that the K-State game was going to be interesting. I even called my father right after the first Texas touchdown. "Dad, you've got to turn on the K-State/Texas game. Colt McCoy is done for the day, and it looks like it'll be a doozy." I was right. It wasn't pretty, but it was a classic college game. I'm not Kitty Cat fan, but it was nice to see somebody from the Big XII North pull an upset this season. We may as well begin pondering next week's big matchup. Who ya gonna pick? Ohio State or Michigan? I think I'll be a Wolverine for the day.

Now here's a problem I've never had before: I have too many vacation days at work, and I'm being encouraged to get out of the office before I lose some of the days at the end of the year. It's a nice problem to have. It looks like I have 8 days to use before next year. What should I use them on? I already (kiddingly) asked if I could take vacation and work at the same time, earning double pay, but that idea was shot down. I will probably take off the three days of Thanksgiving week (Thursday and Friday are covered). That leaves five more days. Take off a whole week? Take off Fridays through the end of the year? And then there's the question of what I should do on those days. I always have web work to do. There's lots of work to be done in and around the house. I could be a bell ringer. Any other ideas?

If you've been playing Who is it? and you got stuck, check back and take a look at the clues I just posted in the comments. The clues are: 3. She isn’t Willa Cather, but she spent a lot of time with her. 5. He isn’t a Lincolnite. He is an architect who is very important to Lincoln. 6. Even if you don’t know who he is, you probably know his house.

Now that the 2015 Visioning Group has stepped up to deal with the next decade of development in and around Downtown, I wonder what other pieces of Lincoln could use a little help from an ambitious band of volunteers with the goal of bringing unity to a variety of goals and plans. Five possibilities:

1. Micro-cores. I suggested this the other day. There is an opportunity for more comprehensive and ambitious planning in Lincoln's "micro-cores" like College View, Uni Place, and Havelock.
2. Transportation. Lincolnites love to complain about transportation in the city, so this sounds like a perfect area for a group to step in and make recommendations for change and commitments to help improve the situation.
3. Arts & Entertainment. "There's nothing to do in Lincoln!" I hear it all the time. Is it true? What can be done about it?
4. Recreation. Many, many groups are involved in sports and recreation in Lincoln. Coordination and planning among power players could help improve recreation opportunities across the city.
5. Education. Lincoln has a very strong history of public and private, K-12 and higher education. But coordinated planning among all of the entities involved in educating Lincoln's youth, not to mention entities not traditionally associated with education, has been spotty.

The 2015 Visioning Group has ballooned to about 70 members. They include:

• Lynn Roper, Merrill Lynch executive
• Roger Larson, Mayor’s Arena Task Force member, planning commissioner
• Carl Sjulin, Westgate Bank president
• Mark Hesser, Pinnacle Bank Nebraska president
• Robert Scott, Kinport Corp. co-owner, property developer
• Don Linscott, developer
• Will Scott, Kinport Corp. co-owner, property developer
• Donna Woods, vice president, Woods Charitable Fund
• Ron Harris, MDS Pharma Services executive
• Deane Finnegan, Leadership Lincoln executive director
• Chandler Tyrrell II, president, Lincoln Community Foundation
• Chris Kingery, building construction
• Harvey Perlman, chancellor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Chuck Pallesen, attorney
• Bruce Wright, attorney
• Kim Robak, attorney, lobbyist
• Bill Mueller, attorney, lobbyist,
• Earl Scudder, attorney
• Gates Minnick, retired DuTeau Chevrolet owner, former City Councilman
• Gil Lundstrom, TierOne Bank president, CEO
• JoAnn Martin, Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. president, CEO
• Tom White, developer
• Pam Baker, Woods Charitable Fund executive director
• Polly McMullen, Downtown Lincoln Association president
• Steve Pella, Aquila executive
• Joe Hampton, retired developer and builder
• Susan Gourley, Lincoln Public Schools superintendent
• Dick Campbell, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce chairman, Campbell's Nurseries and Garden Center Inc. president
• Don Wesely, former mayor, former state senator
• Clay Smith, developer, B&J Partnership general partner executive
• Angie Muhleisen, Union Bank and Trust president, CEO
• Steve Erwin, U.S. Bank Nebraska market president
• Linda Wilson, former City Councilwoman
• Jon Hinrichs, physician
• James Seacrest, former president and chairman of the board for Western Publishing Co.
• Rhonda Seacrest, arts patron
• Doug Lienemann, president, Haymarket Development Corp.
• Rick Herink, First National Bank Lincoln president
• Jennifer Brinkman, neighborhood leader
• Bill Cintani, Mapes Industries CEO
• Heidi Cuca-Conklin, development director, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation
• Terry Uland, executive director, NeighborWorks Lincoln
• Russ Bayer, former planning commissioner
• Scott Miller, Telesis Inc. president
• Janet Labenz, partner, Labenz & Associates accounting firm
• Thomas C. Woods IV, Woods Charitable Fund program officer
• Mike Morrow, attorney
• Brad Hedrick, Windstream vice president and general manager
• Dave Snitily, president and co-owner, Snitily Carr advertising
• Bob Lanik, Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center president
• Drew Stange, NAI FMA Realty executive vice president/broker
• John Sampson, president, Sampson Construction
• Margaret Donlan, community volunteer
• Kathy Campbell, executive vice president of Cedars Home for Children Foundation
• James Strand, former Alltel executive
• Rick Wallace, Community Development Resources executive director
• Mark Koller, president, CEO of HRConnex Inc.
• Tom Henning, president, CEO, Security Assurity Group of insurance companies
• Jim Abel, chairman, Nebco
• Marc LeBaron, chairman, CEO, of Lincoln Plating
• Larry Arth, chairman, CEO, Unifi Mutual Holding Co.
• Tonn Ostergaard, president and chief executive, Crete Carrier Corp.
• Mike Dunlap, chairman and co-chief executive officer, Nelnet
• Kent Seacrest, attorney
• Terry Fairfield, president, University of Nebraska Foundation
• Roger Severin, chairman and chief executive officer, Olsson Associates
• Brad Korell, chief financial officer, Olsson Associates
• Tom Smith, chief executive officer, Smith Hayes Financial Services Corp.
• Nick Cusick, IMSCOR partner
• Liz Fieselman, Foundation for Educational Funding president
• Jim Krieger, vice chairman and chief financial officer of the Gallup Organization
• Frank Hilsabeck, retired Alltel executive

I used to be a decent archer back in my Boy Scout days. I think I need to make a trip out to the new Lincoln Archery Range some day. The range, if you were wondering, is a project of Lincoln Parks and Rec, Nebraska Game and Parks, the Prairie Bowmen, and the Lincoln Trap and Skeet Club.

This is bugging me: Why is it Phreddy's Phillys instead of Phreddy's Phillies?

The 2015 Visioning Group is talking, and the plans are ambitious. Fortunately, the plans aren't especially surprising. The Group has simply built on existing plans and proposals and merged everything together. That's a relief. If they had decided to go out on their own and say "No, this is what we think Lincoln should look like"... Lincolnites should be energized by the Groups existence, if not its proposals. The Group's composition demonstrates that Lincoln's biggest players are willing to ante up. We should be thankful that the folks that will have to foot a large chunk of the bill are willing to do just that. It also signals that these folks think there is money to be made in moving Lincoln forward. None of the group's members is just going to throw his money into a black hole; that they think the projects are worth their investment is a good sign that the projects can succeed. Still, let's not pretend that the Group's ambitions will make all of this easy. We are, after all, talking about big, big money. Well over $1 billion in the coming years, just on these projects. There are many hurdles between today's ideas and tomorrow's (hoped for) reality. And I'll be honest, I continue to be disappointed that all of these big plans are typically limited to the Downtown environs. I would like to see Lincoln consider strengthening its "miniature urban centers" in College View, Uni Place, and Havelock. Investing even small amounts in those areas would go a long way toward keeping those and surrounding neighborhoods lively and vibrant. That's what we want, after all. A strong Downtown is great, but strong cores across the city are better. But don't get me wrong. I'm excited. I'm excited that others are excited, and excitement breeds excitement. Maybe the 2015 Visioning Group's presence in Lincoln will be enough to kick us out of this little funk that I allege we've been in. Let's hope so.

Below are photos of six individuals. Your task is to identify the person and explain what relationship the person has to Lincoln.

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