REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers

700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois

Monday, August 3, 2020

The Regular Meeting of the City Council of Lincoln was called to order by Acting Mayor Tracy Welch at 7:00 pm, with proper notice given. City Clerk Peggy Bateman called roll. 

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

Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Ward 4

Alderman Jeff Hoinacki, Ward 4

Staff Present:

Elizabeth Kavelman, City Administrator

Peggy Bateman, City Clerk

Chuck Conzo, City Treasurer

Paul Adams, Police Chief

Walt Landers, Streets Superintendent 

Remote:

Bob Dunovsky, Fire Chief

Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer

John Hoblit, City Attorney

Andrew Bowns, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Veolia Water

Absent:

None

Presiding:

Tracy Welch, Acting Mayor

Public Comment:

Jonathon Cox wanted to share his opinion regarding the Economic Grant Program.  He’d like the city to focus more on the City’s infrastructure.  He feels that Census results will show a decrease in the City’s population and that safer streets and safer neighborhoods will draw more people to our community.  He agrees that a thriving downtown area is important but feels that would follow once there is a base here to support it.   

Consent Agenda by Omnibus Vote:
A. Payment of Bills

B. Approval of minutes July 14, 2020 Committee of the Whole Meeting

C. Advise & Consent to the Mayoral appointment of Stacy Bacon to the Fire & Police Commission to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Joe Haning.

D. Advise & Consent to the Mayoral re-appointment of Marilyn Montgomery to the Fire & Police Commission.

E. Advise & Consent to the Mayoral re-appointment of Christopher Herzog to the Fire & Police Commission.

Alderman Hoinacki made the motion to approve, Alderwoman Horn seconded.  Acting Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called the roll. 

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0) 

Ordinance and Resolution

A. Ordinance creating the City of Lincoln Economic Development Grant Program and the Economic Development Commission.

Alderman Welch made the motion to approve, Alderman Hoinacki seconded.  Acting Mayor Welch called for discussion.

Alderman Bateman would like the program to be geared more towards established businesses that are already operating in the city or infrastructure.  He doesn’t want to invest money into “hopes” that a business opens here. 

Alderman Hoinacki said this program is completely different to the TIF program.  There is no repayment and the work must be completed and receipts submitted before the grant money can be awarded.    

Acting Mayor Welch said that once these buildings are restored it’s likely that they will be valued above their base when the TIF program was created, generating more TIF money for the TIF district which will result in less money coming out of the General Fund to make the annual bond payment.  He also said that while he agreed our roads need repair, he also feels the community needs economic development.  He said that this fiscal year, only 2.84 miles of the 170 miles of roads in Lincoln will be repaired on a budget of $500,000. It will take 60 years to repair all the roads in Lincoln at that rate, not including inflation. 

Alderman Parrott feels that a grant amount of $10,000 would be more of an incentive than $7500. 

Treasurer Conzo feels that this program, starting out modestly, is a good start to getting these buildings restored.  If the City lets the building deteriorate, if could affect the businesses next to them. 

City Administrator Kavelman said if these buildings are not purchased and restored the city will be burdened with the costs of demolition and asbestos inspections and removal.  He said if the new property owner walks away from the property, they would have still made improvements. 

Alderman Hoinacki wanted to clarify that this program is not for just empty buildings. 

Alderman Bateman said he is for the program, just not as it stands.  He would like for the grants to be ONLY for established businesses struggling through the pandemic, at least for the initial year of the program.      

Alderman Parrott said the program was brought to the council in hopes that the buildings that were no longer viable for a business would be purchased and use this grant to restore them.  To then generate sales tax and property taxes. 

Acting Mayor Welch called for any amendments.  The ordinance currently reads at $7500 per property owner in a given year with a cap of $60,000. 

Alderman Parrott made the motion to increase the grant amount to $10,000 from $7,500.  There was no second. 

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

Yeas: (5) Alderman Tracy Welch, Alderman Ron Keller, Alderman Jeff Hoinacki, Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Alderman Colby Leith

Nays: (3) Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Steve Parrott

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0) 

B. Resolution creating the City of Lincoln Diversity and Inclusion Commission.

Alderman Keller made the motion, Alderwoman Horn seconded.  Acting Mayor Welch called for discussion. 

There will be 12 individuals on the Commission, Acting Mayor Welch welcomes recommendations from the council.  The 12 individuals will be chosen by people reaching out with interest. 

Alderman Parrott would like specific criteria for commission members so that everyone in the community is represented.  

Acting Mayor Welch called for further discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called the roll. 

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0) 

C. Ordinance amending Title VI, Chapter 2 of the city code to allow poultry.

Alderman Parrott made the motion to approve, Alderman Keller seconded.  

Alderman Keller shared the additions to the ordinance.  The Building and Safety Official has the right to not renew a permit if the property owner is not in compliance with the ordinance.  

Treasurer Conzo asked if the permit was transferable.  For example, if someone had 5 chickens and a chicken was lost for any reason other than slaughtering, the chicken could be replaced at no additional permit cost. 

Yeas: (6) Alderman Tracy Welch, Alderman Steve Parrott, , Alderman Ron Keller, , Alderman Jeff Hoinacki, Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Alderman Colby Leith

Nays: (2) Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderman Sam Downs

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

New Business/Communications

A. Approval of Invoice No. 0210108 from Crawford, Murphy & Tilly for professional service from May 30, 2020 through June 30, 2020 for Land Acquisition Services for the Fifth Street Road Project in an amount not to exceed $3,751.49.

Alderman Welch made the motion to approve, Alderman Hoinacki seconded.  Acting Mayor Welch called for further discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called the roll.

Yeas: (7) Alderman Tracy Welch, Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Ron Keller, Alderman Jeff Hoinacki, Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Alderman Colby Leith

Nays: (1) Alderman Bateman

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0) 

B. Approval of Invoice No. 0210175 from Crawford, Murphy & Tilly for professional services for the Lincoln Waste Water Treatment Plant Property Boundary Determination in an amount not to exceed $2,172.96.

Alderman Bateman made the motion to approve, seconded by Alderwoman Horn.  Acting Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called the roll.

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

C. Approval of hiring two (2) additional Firefighters for training at the September Fire Academy.

Alderman Bateman made the motion to approve, Alderwoman Horn seconded.  Acting Mayor Welch called for further discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called the roll.

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

D. Approval of proposal to purchase property at 201 Ninth Street (Tabled 7/6/2020)

This item will remain tabled due to continued research on property lien.

E. Approval of the hiring of one (1) replacement laborer for the Street & Alley Department.

Alderman Keller made the motion to approve, Alderman Welch seconded.  Acting Mayor Welch called for further discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called the roll.

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0) 

Announcements:

·         City Administrator Kavelman received notice that there is online training for IT jobs.  If anyone is interested in more information, please contact her at 217-737-2122.

·         Superintendent Landers said there is some additional work needing done on the sidewalks at Pekin and Sherman and Pekin and Sheridan near Washington Monroe School.  This ADA ramp work needs done before work can begin on the brick road.  The City will provide the brick pavers to the construction company to restore the brick road to the original condition.

·         Chief Adams shared with the Council that several officers will assist Lincoln College students with moving in to dorms.  He asked local businesses to put up “Welcome back” signs at their locations to make the students feel welcome in our community. Police Officers and key members at the college will have monthly luncheons.  Chief Adams feels that this will help build relationships between the students, police officers and the community.

·         Acting Mayor Welch wanted to update the community regarding COVID-19.  Currently, Logan County is at 76 cases per 100,000.  The current target is less than 50 cases per 100,000 which puts us in a warning category. 

The City of Lincoln encourages the community to follow COVID-10 guidelines of washing hands, wear a face covering, maintain 6 feet social distance, and have gatherings of less than 50 people.  They also encourage face coverings when shopping, going to a doctor appointment, travel on public transportation, interacting with clients, customers or co-workers, feel sick or have a cough or sneezing.     

Adjournment:

There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Keller motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Parrott. Acting Mayor Welch adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted By:

Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary