The City of Lincoln City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, May 13, 2014. 

Those present were Alderman Bauer, Alderman Cooper, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O’Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs.  Also present were Street Superintendent Mr. Landers, Safety and Building Officer Mr. Lebegue, Fire Chief Miller, American Water/EMC Mgr. Mr. Ferguson, and Police Chief Greenslate.  Also present were City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach, Mayor Snyder, City Attorney Mr. Blinn Bates, City Treasurer Mr. Conzo, and Recording Secretary Mrs. Riggs.  

Mayor Snyder called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll call.  There were seven Aldermen present (Alderman Bauer, Alderman Cooper, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O’Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs), and one absent (Alderman Anderson).

Mayor Snyder led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Introduction of Joellen Earl from GovHRUSA:

Ms. Joellen Earl, a co-owner of GovHRUSA formally known as Voorhees with their main focus on recruiting for local governments.  She asked for input from the City Council members.

Alderman Neitzel said the City of Lincoln needs someone with a human resources background.  Alderman Tibbs said the City Administrator will need to live in Lincoln.  Mayor Snyder said there is a job position profile and will do interviews on August 11, 2014. 

Ms. Earl said all the information will be electronic.  She will come back to the City of Lincoln to discuss candidates that GovHRUSA felt would be good matches.

Petition from Logan County Farm Bureau for “Taste of Logan County Agriculture”:

Mr. Dave Opperman was present to let everyone know of the Taste of Logan County Agriculture event.  Mr. Opperman requested to have McLean Street closed on Sunday, June 22, 2014 between the Courthouse and Farm Bureau building. 

Mayor Snyder said any organization requesting to block a street is required to have a Certificate of Insurance.  He placed this item on the Agenda for Monday, May 19, 2014.

Ordinance creating a new liquor license class of “Pour License”:

Mayor Snyder said this came before the City of Lincoln Liquor Commission. 

Mr. Cliff McCumber thanked the City Council for allowing him to address the City Council.  He told the City Council that he addressed the liquor commission about a way to allow him to be competitive.  This liquor license would allow him to have video poker machines in his store.  This has created an unfair practice.  The locally owned businesses are putting hard earned money back into the City of Lincoln.  He was asking the City of Lincoln City Council to think outside the box.  He found three Illinois communities that have these licenses: Loves Park, Marion, and Benoi.  He was asking for the City of Lincoln to help to make the playing field level. 

Leslie Cooper said she did not realize this was for the gambling machines.  Road Ranger makes $90,000.00 a month with the gambling machines.  Dixon City Council did not pass the pour license.  She was concerned about the gambling machines coming in through a pour liquor license.    

Bob Arneaud, CFO of Chronisher Oil Company which is the parent company for Qik-n-Ez, thanked Mayor Snyder and the City Council for allowing him to address the City Council.  He sympathized with Mr. McCumber’s position.  The Qik-n-Ez stores have five (5) stores with the video gaming which does not include Lincoln.  If this license is approved, Qik-n-Ez would be seeking one of the licenses. 

Liquor Commissioners Dan Wheat and Lester Plotner were present. 

Mr. Plotner said people were not going into the gas station to drink they are going in to gamble.  The owners of these establishments will have to build a separate area.  You have to have a Class A (package) liquor license to get the pour liquor license.  There will be no more than five (5) licenses available. 

Mr. Wheat said these people would pay for two licenses.  The total cost would be approximately $2,375.00.

Mayor Snyder said these people could get a tavern license but need a separate entrance. 

Mr. Conzo thought if the City of Lincoln was going to have video gaming they should level the playing field.  The City of Lincoln took in over $75,000.00 from the video gaming in the last fiscal year. 

Mayor Snyder said that means the people lost over $1M.  Mr. Conzo said there are five or six video gaming sites around town.  Alderman Cooper said he is not a proponent for expanding gambling.  Alderman Neitzel said she was struggling with the decision for more gambling. 

Mr. McCumber said gambling is here to stay.  You have people who want to go gamble but don’t want to go out to a bar or sit with truckers. 

Mayor Snyder said there is a draft ordinance for the Pour Liquor License.  Alderman Horn said to put it on the agenda for Monday, May 19, 2014. 

Ordinance implementing codification revisions in R-1 and R-2 districts:

Mayor Snyder said this is the clarification of the Ordinance that was not passed.  Mr. Bates said these are revisions that Sterling Codifiers suggested. This was only changed for section purposes. Alderman Bauer and Alderman O’Donohue requested this be put on the agenda for Monday, May 19, 2014. 

Ordinance allowing display and sale of monuments under mortuary special use:

Mayor Snyder said this breaks out the display and sale of monuments from the revisions in the R-1 and R-2 District.  This is only the monument piece of the Ordinance. This was placed on the agenda for Monday, May 19, 2014. 

Resolutions on sale of two parcels of City-owned land to Union Pacific RR:

The City of Lincoln got their price for a total amount of $20,000.00 for the purchase of the two parcels for the high speed rail work.  It will be on the agenda for Monday, May 19, 2014. 

Contract with Edward Schoenbaum for Code Hearing Officer position:

Mayor Snyder said Mr. Bates has had several conversations with Mr. Schoenbaum.  Alderman Tibbs felt that the City of Lincoln should interview Mr. Schoenbaum.  Mayor Snyder said the City of Lincoln City Council does not interview and this is a contract position. Alderman O’Donohue requested to have this on the agenda for Monday, May 19, 2014.

Change Order on Heat Scarification and Microsurfacing contract:

Mayor Snyder said he had a conversation with Darren Forgy who had conversations with Maurer-Stutz.  With the suggested changes $41,260.50 is the amount above what is in the budget.   

Alderman Neitzel said to address the worst part.  Alderman Hoinacki said to take the 4 blocks out and was not for the additional $41,260.50.  Alderman Tibbs was not in favor of patching.  Mr. Ferguson said a thorough investigation was done on the streets.  Mr. Landers said this particular area is deeper than the base and this wouldn’t help with these repairs but the base is failing and has to be removed and redone.  Mayor Snyder said in order to do this particular repair they will have to take Logan Street off the list to repair.  Alderman O’Donohue said to put this on the agenda for Monday, May 19, 2014.

Bid responses for B&S Office mowing services:

Mr. Lebegue received the following bids:

Mowing Contractor                          Rate

Eugene Mehan:                                   $14.75 per hour

Complete Lawn Care:                         $35.00 per lawn unless mowing exceeds 1 hour then

Mike Neitzel                                       additional charges would be calculated.

Dan Hardin Mowing Service:             $38.00 per hour, with a 1 hour minimum, then

                                                            in ½ hour increments at $19.00 per half hour.

It was put on the agenda for Monday, May 19, 2014.  Mr. Lebegue felt they should go with the low bidder, being Eugene Mehan.  Mr. Lebegue said Complete Lawn Care would be utilized as well. 

Contract with Logan County for Animal Control for 6/1/14 through 5/31/15:

Alderman Tibbs put this on the agenda for Monday, May 19, 2014. 

Budget Amendment #2 to the FY13-14 budget and Amendment to Appropriations ordinance for FY13-14:

Mr. Conzo asked to put Budget Amendment #2 to the FY13-14 budget and Amendment to Appropriations ordinance for FY13-14 on the agenda for Monday, May 19, 2014. 

Other Discussion/Informational items:

Mr. Ferguson said they are working on the long term control plan for the sewer.  A sewer line was found on Clinton Street and they are trying to find where it goes. He estimated the cost to be $5,000.00 to $10,000.00 to put in manholes but not an estimate.  It is on the North side of Clinton Street by Regions Bank.  

Mr. Ferguson said they have a brick manhole on Butler and Clinton that has been scheduled to get a new manhole before the road improvements.

City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach said the annual audit will be held the week of July 7, 2014. 

City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach said Comcast and Thompson Electronics will be present tomorrow to solve the problem with the audio system.

City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach said Paul Adams installed a new router downstairs. 

City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach said everyone is to be present half hour (6:30 p.m.) before the meeting on Monday, May 19, 2014 for pictures being taken for the City of Lincoln’s website. 

Upcoming Meetings:

Council:                         Monday, May 19, 2014 – 7:00 p.m.                             

Committee of Whole:     Tuesday, May 27, 2014 – 7:00 p.m.

Alderman Horn moved to go into Executive Session pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) personnel and 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) litigation and Alderman Hoinacki seconded it.  City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll call. There were seven yeas (Alderman Bauer, Alderman Cooper, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O’Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs) zero nays, and one absent (Alderman Anderson); motion carried. The meeting adjourned to Executive Session at 8:45 p.m. 

The meeting returned to regular Session at 9:04 p.m.  City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll.  There were seven Aldermen present (Alderman Bauer, Alderman Cooper, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O’Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs), and one absent (Alderman Anderson). Mr. Lebegue was also present.  Also present were Mayor Snyder, City Treasurer Mr. Conzo, City Attorney Mr. Blinn Bates, City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach, City Administrator Ms. McLaughlin, and Recording Secretary Mrs. Riggs. 

Alderman Neitzel made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Alderman Tibbs seconded it.  There were six yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Bauer, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O’Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs) zero nays, and two absent (Alderman Cooper and Alderman Hoinacki); motion carried.

The City of Lincoln Committee of the Whole Meeting adjourned at 9:06 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Risa Riggs, Recording Secretary