SPECIAL VOTING SESSION – CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers

700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois

Thursday, May 21, 2020

The Special Voting Session with the City Council of Lincoln was called to order by Mayor Seth Goodman at 6:03p.m., with proper notice given.

Present:

Alderman Tracy Welch, Ward 1

Alderman Steve Parrott, Ward 1

Alderman Colby Leith, Ward 2

Alderman Sam Downs, Ward 2

Alderman Kevin Bateman, Ward 3

Alderman Ron Keller, Ward 3 (arrived at 6:10pm)

Alderman Jeff Hoinacki, Ward 4

Alderman Kathy Horn, Ward 4

Staff Present:

City Clerk Peggy Bateman

Treasurer Chuck Conzo

City Attorney John Hoblit

Absent:

Police Chief Paul Adams

Fire Chief Bob Dunovsky

Building and Safety Officer Wes Woodhall

Remotely:

City Administrator Elizabeth Kavelman

Streets Superintendent Walt Landers

Veolia Water, Andrew Bowns

Christy Crites, CMT

Presiding:

Mayor Seth Goodman

Public Comment:

There was no one present to speak for public participation.

New Business/Communications:

Union Street Sewer Project Contract

Bids for the Sewer Plant project came in yesterday.  The lowest base bid was $10,200,000 which was lower than what was anticipated.  Christy submitted her letter of recommendation for Plocher Construction’s bid.  Their bid plus alternates will total $13,300,000.   

This item will be added to the next voting agenda.

Christy brought up for discussion that there has been issues interpreting the contract for the Union Street Upgrades with the contractor, Stark Construction.  There are pretty significant disputes happening and has resulted in CMT and City Attorney Hoblit receiving letters from Stark Construction’s attorney.  She is recommending the City utilize the termination for convenience clause of the contract because she anticipates significant charges in the future from the contractor due to where the utilities are in that 100 year old corridor. 

Alderman Welch made the motion to exercise the termination clause in the contract and to issue the 7 day notice of termination to the contractor, Alderman Bateman Seconded. 

The next step will be to determine what work has been done and what needs to be paid to end the current contract.  They will then go to the 2^nd bidder on this project and offer them the contract.  The SRF loan will be terminated and redone for the new contractor.  EPA is aware and fine with the situation as long as there is explanation as to what is going on and why an understanding can’t be met.

There has been minimal work done, the road is closed and the City has been billed for an additional $96,000 plus an additional bill of $27,000 for Stark Construction’s equipment to sit there idle. 

City Attorney Hoblit said a request for mediation by the Construction Company’s attorney has been made to discuss the additional costs.

Alderman Welch said Stark Construction wants to bypass CMT and negotiate with the City but this situation is why the City has hired a company like CMT because they are the professionals in this field.   

He also said that ultimately, the City is at an impasse with this company and if this continues the project is paused and the street remains closed. 

Christy says that Stark wants CMT to tell them what to do regarding the unknowns with the utilities and consume all the risk.  The risk is on the Contractor not the City. 

Alderman Batemen said a new water line and new gas line is going in at no cost to the City. 

Mayor Goodman asked for further discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called the roll.

Yeas: (8) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Tracy Welch, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Ron Keller, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderman Jeff Hoinacki, Alderman Colby Leith, Alderman Kathy Horn

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

Mayor Goodman moved on to other items on the agenda.

Discussion: 

Phase 3 reopening for the State of Illinois per Governor Pritzker effective May 29th. 

The council is concerned about eating establishments that don’t have parking lots, mainly downtown restaurants.  The council discussed the best way to help assist these restaurants.  The City is prepared to allow restaurants to block parking spaces for outdoor eating, and to offer the 23 City owned picnic tables (2 tables per business) and 100 feet of orange snow fencing to block the eating area off from traffic. 

Alderman Keller suggested asking Area Disposal for trash containers since patrons cannot go inside to throw away trash. 

City Attorney Hoblit said the parking spaces being blocked would be decided by the council, the outdoor liquor consumption needs to be decided by the liquor commission.  He said another special meeting will need to take place on Tuesday May 26^th to vote on these items.  The liquor commission will also need to meet Tuesday morning/afternoon.  He also suggests that the Council considers closing roads down or at least one way, at least in the evenings, on the weekends especially for the bars to limit liability. 

Alderman Parrott suggested business names, that have interest in picnic tables, be put in a lottery and names be drawn to be fair.        

Mayor Goodman reminded the council that retail establishments are also just now able to reopen as well and to keep that in mind when closing streets.

The council will meet again for a special voting meeting on Tuesday, May 26.  The council will vote on the use of picnic tables, blocking off parking spaces, street closures or one way streets and the Liquor Commission’s recommendations.   

Announcements:

There were no announcements

Adjournment:

There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Bateman motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Welch. Mayor Goodman adjourned the meeting at 9:27 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted By:

Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary