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REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers

700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois

Monday, January 4, 2021

 

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

 

Present:

Alderman Tracy Welch, Ward 1

Alderman Steve Parrott, Ward 1

Alderman Ron Fleshman, 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:

City Administrator Elizabeth Kavelman

City Clerk Peggy Bateman

City Treasurer Chuck Conzo

Remotely:

City Attorney John Hoblit

Fire Chief Bob Dunovsky

Police Chief Paul Adams

Building and Safety Officer Wes Woodhall

Streets Superintendent Walt Landers

Veolia Water, Andrew Bowns

Absent:


Presiding:

Acting Mayor Tracy Welch

 

 

Public Participation:

There was no one present or on the phone for Public Participation. 

 

Consent Agenda by Omnibus Vote:
A. Payment of Bills

B. Approval of minutes December 7, 2020 Regular City Council Meeting, December 10, 2020 Regular City Council Meeting, December 21, 2020 Public Hearing – Tax Levy

Alderman Keller made the motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented, Alderman Fleshman seconded.  Acting Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called roll.

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

Acting Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.


Ordinance and Resolution:
A. Resolution providing for and requiring the Submission to the voters of the City of Lincoln, Illinois, at the General Municipal Election to be held on the 6th day of April, 2021, of the proposition to abolish the Civil Service Commission. 
 

Alderman Bateman made the motion to approve, Alderwoman Horn seconded.  Acting Mayor Welch called upon City Attorney Hoblit to speak on this item. 

After further research, City Attorney Hoblit learned that a resolution from the City Council to abolish the Civil Service Commission is not the correct way to proceed.  The City will need to petition the Court in order to abolish the Commission.  This process was confirmed by the Illinois Municipal League. 

At this time, the Council has no action on this item.  Alderman Bateman and Alderwoman Horn rescinded their motions. 

Alderman Hoinacki made the motion to remove this item from the agenda, Alderman Fleshman seconded.  Acting Mayor Welch called for further discussion.

Alderman Fleshman asked what the deadline would be for this to be on the next election.  Mr. Hoblit said the City would have to file within 92 days of the next municipal election.  Also required is public signatures totaling 1/8 of the total number of voters in the last municipal election. 

Superintendent Landers asked for continued research to be done to verify whether the abolishment even needs to go on the ballot.  City Attorney Hoblit stated that the way the Commission was established, is the way it needs to be abolished.  So if it was not established properly, by petitioning the Court, then the City could take another approach. City Attorney Hoblit will continue to research this item.   

Acting Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.



New Business/Communications:
A. Approval of invoice #0212624 from Crawford, Murphy & Tilley for professional services for the CSO Improvement from October 31, 2020 through November 27, 2020 in the amount not to exceed $29,793.85.

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

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

B. Approval of Invoice #90103073 from Union Pacific Railroad for the 5th Street Road project not to exceed $126.12.

 

Alderman Downs made the motion to approve, Alderwoman Horn seconded.

 

Acting Mayor Welch stated that this invoice falls within the extension agreement the Council previously passed.  This item will bring the total spent to $9,636.70 of the $15,000 agreement. 

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

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

Nays: (1) Alderman Kevin Bateman

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

 

C.  Approval of City of Lincoln, IL’s Economic Support Business Sustainability Grant in the amount of $2,500.00 to each of the following ten applicants: American Legion, Post 263, Athletic Position, Blue Dog Inn, Café Billiards, Cindy’s Cottage, El Mazatlan, Guzzardo’s Restaurant, H-T-1/Logan Lanes, Mama’s Café, Oasis Senior Center. 

 

Prior to voting on this item, Acting Mayor Welch recommended an amendment to remove Athletic Position and El Mazatlan, due to the Committee not having an adequate amount of time to review their application. 

Alderman Parrott made the amended motion to remove Athletic Position and El Mazatlan from this item and approve Item C, Alderman Downs seconded.  Acting Mayor Welch called for discussion. 

Alderman Fleshman asked if the City has already received the $150,000 in funding from the Economic Support Sustainability Grant that will fund the $2500 grants to businesses that apply within the City of Lincoln.  City Administrator Kavelman explained that the deadline was December 11th at 11:59 pm.  She submitted the City’s application at 4:08pm however, there was a glitch in the system and Mrs. Kavelman instead emailed herself the application, resulting in the application not being submitted.  Once the error was discovered, all of the grant funding had already been allocated to other applicants.  The City will not be receiving this grant. 

The CURES reimbursement grant that is due January 31, 2021, can also be used to fund these $2500 grants.  Mrs. Kavelman was told pretty strongly that the City would be receiving $598,000 for the CURES grant, she will be requesting $3.2 million to cover first responder salaried.  Once approved, Mrs. Kavelman was told funds could be received within a week.  

Alderman Parrott rescinded his motion to approve, not his motion to remove Athletic Position and El Mazatlan, Alderman Downs rescinded his second.  Alderman Parrott made the amended motion to approve the 8 grants pending the received funding from the CURES grant.  Alderman Downs seconded.   

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

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

 

Acting Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.

  

Discussion:

Liquor License Renewal 2021

 

Alderman Bateman brought to the council for discussion, the suggestion to waive the fee for the 2021 liquor licenses for businesses that only have a liquor license to be able to have video gaming.  He feels that these businesses were only able to utilize their liquor licenses for half of 2020.  Businesses that sell packaged liquor, such as IGA, Thorntons, or Walmart have still been open and selling liquor.  Alderman Bateman counted 10 businesses that qualified and would total approx. $25,000 in lost revenue for the City.  He was even open to waive half the fee. 

Alderman Downs and Alderman Parrott wonder why these businesses didn’t apply for the $2500 grant the City offered.  That grant would more than cover their liquor license fee for 2021. 

City Treasurer Conzo felt from an ethical standpoint that there would be no way to pick and choose who paid and who didn’t.  He stated that the video gaming is hurting financially as well, it is shown in the tax revenue.  Along with the hotels. 

Alderman Fleshman suggested all 29 businesses that currently have liquor licenses, complete some sort of application and then give a 6 month reduction on the 2021 fee.

Alderman Keller suggests asking for businesses financials in order to get the discount and that this topic be brought to the Liquor Commission.

Alderman Bateman would like to add a resolution to the next agenda waiving half of everyone’s liquor license fee for 2021 except for the Class A package liquor licenses. 

Acting Mayor Welch has asked the Council to email their recommendations on this topic to him in the next couple days. He and Alderman Bateman will compile a packet and will forward on to the Liquor Commission.  If the Commission is in favor, this item will be brought back to the Council. 

 

Acting Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.

 

 Announcements:

·         Acting Mayor Welch wanted to remind the public that the reopening of bars and restaurants is in the hands of the Health Department and the State’s Attorney’s office.  They are having individual discussion with businesses about ways to safely reopen on a case by case.  If businesses have questions, they should contact Mr. Cavi or Faye Allison at the Health Department. 

·         COVD-19 update: as of Jan 1, 2021, Region 3 was down to a 3.5% average rate.  That means more ICU beds and lower cases.

 

Adjournment:

There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Hoinacki motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Parrott. Acting Mayor Welch adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.

 

Respectfully Submitted By:

Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

Information is available on the following sites:
Logan County Current Statistics

Memorial Health System  - Includes daily statistics for MHS and a COVID-19 Risk Screening

Local Business Resources
Logan County Department of Public Health
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

 

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Contact Information

 

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City Hall
700 Broadway Street
Lincoln, Illinois 62656

(217)735-2815

 

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