Brenden Moore
The State Journal-Register
The Springfield City Council voted 7-3 Tuesday to approve a $30,000 subsidy for the Lincoln Land Charity Championship, which was held last week at Panther Creek Country Club.
According to the ordinance, the funds would be used to pay for regional and local marketing, as well as promotion of the event.
Council members voted in committee last week to slash the subsidy to $15,000, which was recommended by the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau advisory committee, but had a change of heart Tuesday night, restoring the full requested amount. Instead of the full amount coming from the SCVB fund as proposed, the subsidy will be split between that fund and the city’s corporate fund.
Some aldermen expressed concern about defying the recommendation of the committee, as well as the merits of subsidizing one event over others that also bring many visitors to town.
“I think we have to be careful about subsidizing one group as opposed to another group,” Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin said. “I think the American Legion is here next week and they’ll bring in, I don’t know, maybe 1,000 rooms for Springfield for several nights. But they’re not asking for a subsidy or any of the other organizations coming to town.”
McMenamin was joined by Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner and Ward 6 Ald. Kristin DiCenso in voting no.
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Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 