Lincoln, Illinois

May 4, 2009

Minutes of a regular City Council Meeting held in the Council Chambers of City Hall, Lincoln, IL, on Monday, May 4, 2009.

Mayor Pro Tem Neitzel called the regular City Council Meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.  She said before the roll call she wanted to say a thank you to her mother who is 93 years old and all I want to tell her is Mom thanks for watching me tonight.  It means a lot to me. 

City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll.  There were eight Aldermen present (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, and Alderman Tibbs) and none absent.

Those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Alderman Armbrust.

Swearing in of Elected Officials - Associate Circuit Judge of the 11th Judicial Circuit Thomas W. Funk

Judge Thomas Funk said on behalf of the Mayor and the new City Alderman and City Clerk I would like to thank you for being here tonight and I just want to say I don't know if I was supposed to say anything but I have only been a Judge for 5 months and I can't think of anything that I would rather do than swear Keith Snyder in as Mayor.

The following were each sworn in by Judge Thomas W. Funk:

Mayor Elect - Keith Snyder

City Clerk Elect - Denise Martinek

City Treasurer Elect - Lester D. Plotner

Alderman Ward 1 - Dean Henrichsmeyer

Alderman Ward 2 - David Wilmert

Alderman Ward 3 - David Armbrust

Alderman Ward 4 - Nathan Turner

Alderman Ward 5 - Martha Neitzel

Mayor Snyder said thank you very much and congratulations to all of you, Mrs. Martinek, Mr. Plotner. We are turning a page tonight and it's up to us now to write a new chapter in the story of Lincoln.  Even though we have a blank page here in front of us it's not like we're starting with a blank story behind us because we have a great story behind us.  We've got a lot of successes and maybe a few failures along the way but that's ok.  I'm not naïve enough to think that going forward we are going to have nothing but glowing accomplishments because I am certainly going to make my fair share of mistakes but that's ok we can learn from those and we can move forward and we can build on our triumphs of the past but the thing that is most exciting to me is as we start to write this new chapter of Lincoln is the fact that we're not going to be writing this chapter by ourselves. 

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Mayor Snyder said the fact is that when we're up here we make the headlines and you know we might be on TV but the fact remains that the author of life is really the one that crafts our stories and the one that guides us and also the best part of the story of the City of Lincoln is being written by our families by our fellow citizens around town and being written around dining room tables and in work places and it's being written in schools and in churches.  That is an exciting thing to me that we don't have to work on this story by ourselves.  We need to remember that as we pick up our pens if you want to think of it that way tonight and start to work.  We'll never be the best part of the story of Lincoln but we sure can help those people that are.  We can assist them in everything that we do.  We can assist them by serving ethically and by serving humbly and by serving with excellence as a friend of mine says we may be leaders some of the time but we're really servants all of the time.  That's what we're really about up here and I am proud to be serving the people of Lincoln alongside with all of you and I look forward to what the story is going to be in the future and how we can write that altogether.  I'm looking forward to it.  Thanks.  We have a few items that were left from the prior agenda.

Mayor Snyder called for the Presentation of the Minutes:

Alderman Anderson made a motion to approve the Special Council Meeting on 4/14/09, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of 4/20/09 and the Adjourned City Council Meeting of 4/28/09 and Alderman Horn seconded it.  City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call.  There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.

Mayor Snyder said for the purpose of going further on into the agenda for Agenda item 6 through what is actually 14b.  If you want to look at it that because I think there are some miss numbering on the second page but down through New Business second item b what I am going to be doing is having the existing chairman handle those items and then at the very end when we get to 14c I'll do the appointments for the new committee chairmen and from that point on then we'll go with the new committee chairmen but from this point on forward through the rest of the agenda down to that point we'll go with the existing chairmen to handle those items. 

Mayor Snyder asked for the Presentation of Petitions:

Petition for 2nd Annual Scout Sweep Day on June 20, 2009 by Chard Bennett, Cub Scout Pack 105

Alderman Tibbs said I move to approve the 2nd Annual Official Scout Sweep Day which will be held on June 20, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. and this petition was submitted by their Scoutmaster Mr. Chad Bennett and Alderman Henrichsmeyer seconded it.  Mayor Snyder asked if there was any discussion. Alderman Tibbs said last year was very nice I believe that Alderman Hoinacki had his scouts there too.  Alderman Tibbs said there were what about four different packs.  Alderman Hoinacki said yeah I think so.  Alderman Tibbs said it was just a beautiful day and we really appreciate this.  Mayor Snyder said they sweep downtown. 

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May 4, 2009; Page 3

Petition for 2nd Annual Scout Sweep Day on June 20, 2009 by Chard Bennett, Cub Scout Pack 105

Alderman Tibbs said yes we really appreciate this.  City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call.  There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.

Petition to block off various streets and a request for police assistance on July 3 & July 4, 2009 for the Heritage Days Celebration

Alderman Horn said I move to approve the petition by the Heritage Days committee to block off various streets and they ask for police assistance on July 3 & 4 for the Heritage Days celebration and Alderman Anderson seconded it.  Mayor Snyder asked if there was any discussion on this item.  Alderman Busby said does that include the insurance on that.  Alderman Horn said they do have insurance.  Mrs. Gehlbach said it's through the city.   Mayor Snyder asked if there was any other discussion. City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call.  There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.

Petition to have the intersection of Broadway and McLean Streets flashing red lights on for distribution of poppies on Saturday, May 23, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon by Tecia Hennessey, Chairman

Alderman Horn said I move to approve the petition to have the intersection of Broadway and McLean Streets flashing red lights for the distribution of poppies on Saturday, May 23, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon, do we have to insurance on that one.  Mr. Bates said you do if it's on a city street.  Alderman Horn said providing with insurance provided and Alderman Busby seconded it.  Mayor Snyder said any discussion.  Alderman Busby said Mr. Jackson I don't believe we use the flashing any more don't we just cover them.  Mr. Jackson said we cover them.  Mayor Snyder said any further discussion.  City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call.  There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.

Sidewalk petition at 125 Park Place by Norman Newhouse (work to be done by and at the expense of the city)

Alderman Hoinacki said I move to approve the sidewalk petition at 125 Park Place with the final dimensions to be at the discretion of the Street Superintendent and with the work to be done by and at the city expense and Alderman Anderson seconded it.  Mayor Snyder asked if there was any discussion.

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Sidewalk petition at 125 Park Place by Norman Newhouse (work to be done by and at the expense of the city)

City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call.  There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.

Sidewalk petition at 411 College Avenue by Diane Osborne (work to be done by and at the expense of the city)

Alderman Hoinacki said I also move to approve sidewalk petition at 411 College Avenue with the final dimensions to be at the discretion of the street superintendent with the work to be done by at and the city expense and Alderman Anderson seconded it.  Mayor Snyder said is there any discussion.  City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call.  There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.

Petition from the Lincoln Bicycle Advisory Committee to paint directional arrows on City streets from the YMCA to Kickapoo Creek Park for the Family Bicycle Ride on May 17, 2009

Alderman Armbrust said I move to accept the petition for the Lincoln Bicycle Advisory Committee to paint directional arrows on City streets from the YMCA to Kickapoo Creek Park for the Family Bicycle Ride on May 17, 2009 and that was submitted by Mr. Lyle Johnson and Alderman Tibbs seconded it.  Mayor Snyder asked if there was any discussion.  City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call.  There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.

Mayor Snyder asked for the Presentation of Communications:

City Clerk Mrs. Martinek read the letter from Jim Kirk, Street Department Employee.

Mayor Snyder asked for the Presentation of Bids:

City Clerk Mrs. Martinek stated that there were no Bids to come before the City Council. 

The Mayor then asked for the Presentation of Ordinances and Resolutions:

Ordinance Amending Title 8, Chapter 10 pertaining to Signs of the City Code of the City of Lincoln (tabled 4/28/09)

Alderman Neitzel said she would like to leave this on the agenda.

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Proclamation for Comcast Cares Day

Alderman Neitzel asked City Clerk Mrs. Martinek to please read the Proclamation.  City Clerk Mrs. Martinek read the Proclamation.  Alderman Neitzel said I make a motion to accept the Proclamation as read and Alderman Armbrust seconded it.  Mayor Snyder asked if there was any discussion.  There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.

Proclamation for the 25th Anniversary of the Oasis Senior Center

Alderman Neitzel asked City Clerk Mrs. Martinek to please read the Proclamation.  City Clerk Mrs. Martinek read the Proclamation.  Alderman Neitzel said I make a motion to accept the Proclamation for the 25th Anniversary of the Oasis Senior Center as read and Alderman Armbrust seconded it.  Mayor Snyder asked if there was any discussion.  There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.

Proclamation for Municipal Clerk’s Week

Alderman Neitzel asked Mayor Snyder to read the Proclamation.  Mayor Snyder read the Proclamation.  Alderman Neitzel said I make a motion to accept the Proclamation for Municipal Clerk's week as read and Alderman Armbrust seconded it.  Mayor Snyder asked if there was any discussion.  Mayor Snyder said first day on the job and you get your own week.  There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.

Proclamation for May, 2009 to be Motorcycle Awareness Month

Alderman Neitzel asked City Clerk Mrs. Martinek to read the Proclamation.  City Clerk Mrs. Martinek read the Proclamation.  Alderman Neitzel said I make a motion to accept the Proclamation for May, 2009 to be Motorcycle awareness month as read and Alderman Armbrust seconded it.  Mayor Snyder asked if there was any discussion.  Alderman Armbrust said yes sir. Mayor Snyder called on Alderman Armbrust. 

Alderman Armbrust said while not being a member of ABATE I've had the pleasure to ride a motorcycle for 52 years.  I will add that riding that did not have anything to do with that cane that I lean on sometimes.  Really I am happy to see this awareness month because folks generally are not looking for a motorcycle. My personal feeling is everyone should ride one for a year because you will start seeing things you have never seen before but you will know that a squirrel will hurt you. 

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Proclamation for May, 2009 to be Motorcycle Awareness Month

Alderman Armbrust said again, I appreciate the things you've done more to bring attention to some of the car drivers I am a lot of the time but to look out for these folks so thank you.  Mayor Snyder said thank you good point and asked if there was any other discussion.  There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.

Mayor Snyder then asked for the Presentation of Claims, Presentations, Reading, Reference and Reports Thereon:

Alderman Anderson made a motion by Roll Call to approve as presented: Finance, Policy & Procedure, Ordinance and Zoning, Sanitation, Insurance, and Grounds, Buildings & Local Improvements Committees' Reports by roll call and Alderman Horn seconded it.  Mayor Snyder asked if there was any discussion.  City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call.  There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.

Presentation of Official Reports:

There were no Official Reports to come before the City Council.

Presentation of Special Reports:

There were no Special Reports to come before the City Council.

Presentation of Unfinished Business:

There was no Unfinished Business to come before the City Council.

Mayor Snyder asked for New Business:

Highway Authority Agreement for Illico Property (tabled 2/2/09)

Alderman Armbrust asked to leave on the table.

Approval for the Fire Department to hire two new Fire Fighters

Alderman Busby said I move for approval by the City Council to hire two new Fire Fighters's from the eligibility list of the Police and Fire Commission tests and Alderman Armbrust seconded it.  Mayor Snyder said discussion.  Alderman Busby said Chief.

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Approval for the Fire Department to hire two new Fire Fighters

Fire Chief Hulett said I appreciate your consideration on this. Staffing has become a concern of mine and it is only going to get worse with we have a commitment for a retirement for an Assistant Chief at the end of this month and two officers this summer.  Unfortunately two of the officers are on long term disability on a long term injury and we're to the point that our staffing is critical.  We are paying a lot of overtime but the bigger concern is with the amount of calls and our staffing levels that it is to the point that we need to add some additional staffing.  I know this increases our staffing temporarily to 21 but in the summer this will come back down and we will have these two people trained and they are trained firefighters from other paid departments which speaks highly of Lincoln and they are prepared to come to Lincoln.  I would like to get them on as soon as possible.  I'd like to get them training internally and help to get them onto shift so we can get our staffing up to where it should be any questions?

Alderman Neitzel said do we have a date. 

Fire Chief Hulett said if I get your approval tonight I talked to these two gentlemen and I could offer them a job based on a background check and a pre-employment physical they are both paid firefighters and in good shape.  I don't anticipate any issues they would have to give two weeks notice to their current employers and possibly get them sworn in on the 18th and get them started on the 19th.  Timing wise that would give us two weeks.

Mayor Snyder said in terms of having termination notices in hand could you just explain where that is. 

Fire Chief Hulett said I have one from Assistant that is a firm commitment and his last day on the job is the 19th of this month with some carry over days and he's on the payroll until May 31. The other two gentlemen I have a verbal commitment that because of his injuries he said that he's definitely not coming back if he needed to relay that to the Council he would do that but because of his injuries he wants to be cleared of his injuries before he retires from Lincoln Fire Department.  

Mayor Snyder said any other discussion.  City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call.  There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.

Mayor's Appointments of Committees and Chairmen

Mayor Snyder handed out the following Committee assignments:  See attachment.

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Mayor's Appointment to:

Plan Commission (see attached)

Alderman Busby made a motion to accept those and Alderman Anderson seconded it.  City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call.  There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.

Mayor Snyder said just as a point of clarification on both Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals.  There are several there listed obviously and as you notice that some of the terms are staggered.  We had some difficulty in getting the exact in determination dates for their terms so what I am doing is I am appointing them and making it explicit when their term ends and we'll have that on record and all of these commissions the intent is to have staggered terms so they don't all come up at once so that is the reason for the Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals in particular. 

Zoning Board of Appeals (see attached)

Alderman Busby made a motion to accept the appointees to Zoning Board of Appeals and Alderman Henrichsmeyer seconded it. City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call.  There were nine yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), one nay (Alderman Armbrust), and none absent; motion carried.

Civil Service Commission (see attached)

Alderman Horn made a motion to accept and Alderman Anderson seconded it.  Mayor Snyder asked if there was any discussion.  City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call.  There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.

Police and Fire Commission (see attached)

Alderman Anderson made a motion to accept and Alderman Neitzel seconded it.  City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call.  There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.

Liquor Commission (see attached)

Alderman Tibbs made a motion to accept and Alderman Horn seconded it.  Mayor Snyder asked if there was any discussion.  City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call.  There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.

Mayor Snyder said just as a point of information I am deferring any action tonight on appointments of Department Heads.  We will address those at a future meeting.  Those of you on the right side I need you to sign your official oath and I also have a certificate of election for you.  If you would come up afterwards we will take care of that any other business to come up before the Council. 

Alderman Armbrust made a motion to adjourn and Alderman Henrichsmeyer seconded it.  There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.

The City Council Meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted By:

Risa Riggs