COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING

Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers

700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

The Committee of the Whole Meeting of the City Council of Lincoln was called to order by Mayor Pro Tempore Tracy Welch at 7:01 p.m., with proper notice given. City Clerk Peggy Bateman called roll.

Present:

Alderman Steve Parrott, Ward 1

Alderman Sam Downs, Ward 2

Alderman Kevin Bateman, Ward 3

Alderman Ron Keller, Ward 3

Alderman Kathy Horn, Ward 4

Alderman Jeff Hoinacki, Ward 4

Present:

Elizabeth Kavelman, City Administrator

John Hoblit, City Attorney

Peggy Bateman, City Clerk

Chuck Conzo, City Treasurer

Paul Adams, Police Chief

Bob Dunovsky, Fire Chief

Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer

Andrew Bowns, Veolia Water

Absent:

Seth Goodman, Mayor

Walt Landers, Streets Superintendent

Colby Leith, Alderman Ward 2

Alex Williams, Recording Secretary 

Public Comment:

Mayor Pro Tempore Welch called for anyone under public participation.

There being no further public participation, Mayor Pro Tempore Welch moved down to other agenda items.

Stahlhut Drive Payment Schedule:

Treasurer Chuck Conzo stated that Dolan Dalpoas and Joe Hurwitz from the hospital was here if anyone had any questions regarding the project.  The loan amortization schedule was included in your agenda packet. When the project had been voted on they thought the interest would come in about 2%, but I am glad to say it is at 1% which this will save the city a lot of money. I am asking the council to approve this item. The item would be placed on the regular agenda.

Dolan Dalpoas from ALMH just wanted to say thanks for the trust. It has enhance the public safety having 3 ways in and out of the hospital. Joe Hurwitz the developer has come under budget.

Request to permit the 31^st Annual Royal Grand March at the Logan County Courthouse and grounds on Saturday, May 2, 2020, beginning at approximately 3:30 p.m.  A minimum of ten barricades is needed to block streets from Broadway (Flossie & Delzena’s Restaurant) to McLean (US Postal Office). A letter of approval has been sent to the Logan County Board/Sheriff Mark Landers, as well.  Proof of insurance is on file and will be provided at the City’s request.  Submitted by Jeff Maxell, Royal Grand March Director, on behalf of the WLCN 96.3 FM and LCHS Junior Class:

This items was placed on the consent agenda.

Mayor’s Appointment of Three New Members to the Lincoln City Civil Service commission: James Meece, Jason Maxheimer, and Bobbie Jo Smith:

Alderman Bateman stated that regarding previously discussion we were going to omit having the Civil Service based on conversation with Mr. Landers that he needs someone that has the skill set that he is needing and just not someone that finished first on the test. This would require the City to have it on the referendum.

City Attorney Hoblit stated that the city would have to have a Civil Service in place before putting it on a referendum to demolish it.

This item was placed on the regular agenda.

FOP Union/City current Lincoln Labor Contract Agreement, Amendment to Article 22.1, Health Insurance to be effective March 1, 2020 for the remainder of CY 2020:

City Administrator Kavelman stated that the FOP met with the City Clerk, Chief Adams that they had already voted on the ratification before the City Attorney sent out his Letter of Understanding.   They would like us to approve their side letter.

This item was placed on the regular agenda.

IAFF#3092 Fire Fighters Union/City current Lincoln Labor Contract Agreement, Amendment to Article 22.1, Health Insurance to be effective March 1, 2020 for the remainder of CY 2020:

City Administrator Kavelman stated as of today she had not heard back from the Fire Fighters if they approve of our Letter of Understanding.

This item was placed on the regular agenda.

Street Operators #399 Union/City current Lincoln Labor Contract Agreement, Amendment to Article 22.1, Health Insurance to be effective March 1, 2020 for the remainder of CY 2020:

City Administrator Kavelman stated that Frank Hoskins the Business Agent for Local #399 has the authority to sign and he will be sending this back to us.

This item was placed on the regular agenda.

CMT Invoice #207922 for $10,928.15 for Professional Services for Union Street Construction for the period 01/01/2020 – 01/31/2020:

Christy Crites with CMT stated that there is all good news. The contractor has surveyors out and Julie locates been done. They originally was going to start at the south end but has decided to start at the other end.  The schools had activities going on and there are some utilities that needs to be relocated. She believes within the next couple week we will be seeing some materials dropped off.

This item was placed on the regular agenda.

Discussion to Authorize Police Chief Adams to hire to fill Travis Cole Grenlund’s position due to his resignation:

Chief Paul Adams stated that Cole Grenlund has accepted a position with the Illinois State Police as of March 1^st.  He would like to open it up to the lateral list so we can fill that position.  We are currently down 3, his last day will be March 6^th.

This item was placed on the regular agenda.

City Administrator’s Proposed Resolution Amendment to Add Language to New Subsection 8, “Being kept apprised of all City Operations”:

This item was placed on the regular agenda.

Greater Peoria Economic Development Council (GPEDC) $2,000.00 invoice for services to the City of Lincoln:

Alderman Parrett asked if we can have someone come to a council meeting and give us an update so everyone knows what they do for the city.

This item was placed on the agenda. 

Discussion about reinstating the annual 10% discount for sewer bills:

Item removed from the agenda.

Discussion regarding Proposed Amendment to City of Lincoln’s Garbage/Trash Ordinance:

Alderman Bateman had met with Area regarding our trash mandate. The problem is that we allow owners to transfer the bill to the tenants.  With some research other communities has had this same type of problem. They had changed the ordinance that the home owners could not transfer it to the tenant. This may put a stop to a lot of fly dumping that takes place.  This will take some time to implement this. Looking at August 1^st which will give the home owners and tenant to get this transferred over. This will be residential only.

City Attorney Hoblit stated if you are looking for language that he can recommend some of our own city codes that could implement that type of language.

Chief Paul Adams stated yes fly dumping is against the law it is a class B misdemeanor on the first offense and class B on second, class 4 felony.

Mayor Pro Tempore Welch stated instead of discussing this in a voting session, can we just bring it back on the next COW in 2 weeks.

Alderman Downs asked if they were done with trash discussion he would like to bring up about revisiting regarding the Park District and the Parks.  Can we put this on for a vote?

Alderman Parrett stated that Tracy and he had talked with Abby and we think she needs to come back to the council show us their plans so the council may understand what they are wanting to do.

City Administrator Kavelman brought up regarding a survey on the Park District.

Alderman Parrett did state that he had asked Abby with the Park District about the survey.  She stated that an outside company does those surveys that the Lincoln Park District did not come up with those questions.

Update of Progress on the City’s Portion of the Fifth Street Road Project and Eminent Domain Progress:

City Administrator Kavelman said there has been little progress.  Mr. Welch and Downs has worked with her for economic development. We are updating the plats and legal descriptions. We have 1 that maybe final the second week of March, 1 that is having a cancel letter being sent out for we do not need the property and 1 commitment letter.

Alderman Bateman stated he would like to know how much money the city has spent on 5^th Street Road.  Nobody knows, we have gone through a lot of Mayor’s, Clerks and City Administrators over all these years. There are questions of invoices if they have been paid, properties and deeds. 

Mayor Pro Tempore Welch stated we made the option to move forward on this project for the cost if we kill it.  People were not happy about Stahlhut Drive.  He asked Alderman Bateman if he was wanting to know how much money the city has spent or reimbursed?

Alderman Bateman stated he wanted to know what had been spent, outstanding bills, parcels that people will never give up.  Have we filed everything we need to file to get reimbursed?

City Administrator Kavelman stated the city has made a commitment to do this project.  Julie said the money is still there.

Alderman Parrett asked if the city could have the group come back to tell us where we are at.

City Administrator Kavelman asked to put the supplemental of $59,000.00 on the agenda.  It is for properties that was never included in the original acquisitions.

Treasurer Conzo stated that the property acquisitions this far it has been a couple of years since we have seen any reimbursements. It would be helpful to have some reimbursements to pay the $59,000.00 since this was not budgeted for.

Mayor Pro Tempore Welch stated that was a good thought, if this is additional money and it was not budgeted for maybe it is time to step back and pause and get a good look at the project.  Maybe Julie and Stan can put something together.  It can go ahead and be put on the agenda.

Alderman Parrett on a different matter, he had a call from an address in Ward 1 on 10^th Street that has the same house number as the house in the alley. She wants to know if the alley can have a name so they both don’t have same address. 

Treasurer Conzo said that would have to be addressed to the Post Master. Changing name of street is a terrible idea, which would cause all kinds of confusion.

Chief Paul Adams stated yes there is a lot of house with half on their addresses. It does cause a lot of confusions.  There are some changes we can look at regarding the GIS is you want to do that.

Alderman Parrett said he will give Wes the address in question and he can take a look at it.

Chief Paul Adams stated that the grant application that he had previously spoke about he said it was a 75/25 split.  He wanted to correct that for it will max out at $125,000.00, we would need to come up with $50,000.00 for a 3 year period.

Alderman Bateman asked when we were going to start on the Budget.

Treasure Conzo stated he had been working on the Revenues.

Mayor Pro Tempore Welch stated he had discussion with the Mayor and had decided to have Beth, Chuck and 2 Alderman to work on the budget. If we could put naming the 2 Alderman on the next COW agenda.

Alderman Bateman stated he also would like to have on the next COW the City Attorney contract for it is coming up due.

Mayor Pro Tempore Mayor Welch stated that the Mayor would like any Alderman that would like to work on the contract regarding the City Attorney to reach out to him.

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Announcements:

There will be a Veterans Dedication Ceremony for Global War on Terror Plaque Dedication at the Courthouse March 4^th at 7:00 PM with reception following at Flossie & Delzena’s. This is to honor our County Veterans who served from August 2, 1990 to Present.

Adjournment:

There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Keller motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Hoinacki. The meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted By:

Peggy S. Bateman, City Clerk