COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING

Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers 700 Broadway Street I Lincoln, Illinois

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 

The Committee of the Whole Meeting of the City Council of Lincoln was called to order by Acting Mayor Tracy Welch at 7:00 p.m., 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

Present:

Elizabeth Kavelman, City Administrator

John Hoblit, City Attorney

Peggy Bateman, City Clerk

Chuck Conzo, City Treasurer

Remotely:

Wes Woodhall,  Building and Safety Officer

Andrew Bowns, Veolia Water, Project Manager

Paul Adams, Police Chief

Walt Landers, Streets Superintendent

Absent:

Bob Dunovsky, Fire Chief

Presiding:

Acting Mayor Tracy Welch

Public Participation:

There was no one present or on the phone for public participation.

Request to Permit: Balloons over 66 use of city owned vacant lot at 315 8th Street for balloon launches and glow Friday, August 27, 2021 through Sunday, August 29, 2021.

This item will be placed on the consent agenda.

Pay Application #5 Plocher Construction Company for the CSO project in the amount of $846,534.25.

Christy Crites shared that this is work for January 2021.  Work includes installation of 60" pipe, bridge box culvert, precast pieces of the bridge are set, and upper walls above the flow pump are installed.

The agenda states that this is Pay Application #5 and should be Pay Application '#0.

Alderman Fleshman requested the percentage used on the SRF loan be included on the next pay application.

This item will be placed on the regular agenda.

Discussion of bids for Lead and Asbestos Remediation at the WWTP Lab Building. Bids were received on Friday, February 19, 2021. Crawford, Murphy & Tilley received three (3) bids and will present the bid summary and make a recommendation to the council.

Christy Crites and Shannon Brady were present via Zoom for this item.

3 bids were received.  The lowest bid was half the amount of the next lowest bid.  The bidder acknowledged that he made a mistake so that bid is deemed non responsive/non responsible.  The other 2 bids were within $1900 of each other.

The base bid is for asbestos abatement and lead removal of the lead that is visibly showing. The alternate bid was for the removal to all of the lead in the building.

Lowest base bid came from NES Environmental at $134,300

2nd lowest base bid came from NMO Environmental at $138,700

Lowest alternate bid came from NMO Environmental at $187,400 2nd lowest alternate bid came from NES Environmental at $189,900

The asbestos and lead will be placed in barrels and trucked to Tennessee.

A few Alderman were in favor of remediating everything now so as not to have to deal with it in the future.

CMT's recommendation would be to go with NES Environmental for the full abatement and removal.

Alderman Bateman suggests placing NES Environmental on the agenda for full abatement and removal of asbestos and lead. He'd also like to give Acting Mayor Welch the authority to sign the contract, once approved and available, to get the project started quicker.

These items will be placed on the regular agenda.

Discussion of the City utilizing Sourcewell. 

The Street Department is looking to replace a dump/plow truck.  The City of Lincoln has been a member of Sourcewell since 2016.  Their job is to go out nationally and obtain competitive bids on the City's behalf and according to the City's specific requests pertaining to make and model and added components.   Purchasing heavy vehicles like this is difficult due to so many manufactures of vehicle and of the added components. The State of Illinois has approved Sourcewell as an authorized purchasing organization.  Sourcewell was used several years ago when the City purchased a Vactor truck.

There is no cost for Sourcewell's services.

Superintendent Landers will move forward with obtaining quotes.   He will bring the best quote to the council for approval.

Discussion on IT Consultant for the City of Lincoln 

Police Chief Adams has been the City's IT person for quite some time.  Now that the City has so many different buildings, he is finding it really hard to get to each building when issues come up in a timely matter.  He is also finding that these issues are also pulling him away from his daily duties more and more as Chief of Police.

Servers need to be maintained with monthly updates.  Chief Adams estimates that at least 50 hours./year will be needed to maintain all 4 servers at all 4 buildings.  He also suggested breaking it down with bids for emergency situations, with a 2 hour response time, and monthly maintenance that could be done during the day or evenings.

The IT committee will put an RFP together, send it out and bring the bids back to the council.

Mulligan Solar Project 

Erin Baker from Apex Clean Energy and Emily Davenport from the Logan County Board are present via Zoom.

The City will ask Mulligan to pay a stipend as all other entities that have utilized the Enterprise Zone have done in the past. Also in the past, criteria has been set that businesses utilizing the Enterprise Zone must employee at least 35 individuals. It was said again that if this is passed, the City opens the door for all other solar farms to come in a use the Enterprise Zone. There is 5.5 miles left in the Enterprise Zone, the Mulligan Solar project is requesting 1.4 miles. The Council is concerned about the last few miles being all used up by solar farms.

Emily Davenport, Logan County Board Chairman, was not under the impression that by voting in favor of allowing solar farms as an eligible use in the Enterprise Zone meant that any future solar farms requesting miles would have to be approved as well.  She, and others on the Logan County Board, thought it would be case by case.

Several of the Council members would like the County and City to be united on this item.  Alderman Bateman would like to see the County make a motion to reconsider this issue on their end and then it be brought back to the City.

Erin Baker responded to the points brought up by the council.  She said although the use of the Enterprise Zone would be beneficial for sales and use tax exemption, not having it will not stop the project.  She also stated that this could likely be the final solar farm requesting miles due the State most likely passing solar farms as a high impact business and the sales and use tax exemption will be automatic to all solar projects.  She said that although they are not employing as many jobs as some of the other businesses in the Enterprise Zone, they are meeting the requirements with DECO for Enterprise Zone inclusion.  Also, the Mulligan Project is not asking for any property tax abatement or building permit fee reduction for the project.  After the last COW, Apex took in to consideration the concern the Council had of a stipend being paid.  Apex is willing to offer, both the City and the County,

a stipend. They have proposals drawn up for that. Acting Mayor Welch brought up decertification.  This would allow the City to recap the miles in the Enterprise Zone if needed in the future.  Erin said Apex would be willing to do that if necessary.

Information regarding the decertification and the draft proposals for the stipend will be given to the council from Apex.  The Council will discuss and this item will be brought to the next COW.  Apex will be ready to pull building permits in April.

This item will be tabled.

How Bird Partners with Local Communities 

Michael Kavatto with Bird was present via Zoom to answer any questions.

City Attorney Hoblit researched this item.  Although there have not been any loss to municipalities regarding electric scooters, there have been lawsuits.  There are not a lot of regulations regarding the scooters. CDC reports that Mr. Hoblit have read say that the majority of injuries are head traumas due to users not wearing helmets.  Also 10% of injuries are people under the age of 18 and 5% of injuries are due to intoxication.

Mr. Kavatto shared that his colleague, provided the council with a memorandum stating that there would be no liability to the City. Bird would also be happy to add the City to their liability insurance in the event that there is a claim, Bird's insurance would be utilized first. He stated that studies show

electric scooters are just as safe a bicycles.  Bird has safety measures in place.  Those included helmet selfies.  If a user takes a helmet selfie at the end of their ride and uploads it, they will get a credit towards their next use.  They also have a speed cap of 6 mph for all new users to get comfortable with the scooter.  Once comfortable, it will gradually increase to the max speed of 15mph.  To limit the use

of scooters by people being intoxicated, Bird would stop use between the hours of midnight - 4am.  Mr. Kavatto suggests 50-75 scooters for the size of Lincoln, all of which will not be running at the same time. Geo fencing will be implemented to prevent riders from entering any 45 mph speed zones.

This item will be placed on the regular agenda.

Discussion on 201 9th Street - City Property

Discussion regarding Intergovernmental Agreement with Lincoln Community High School 

These items were combined.

LTEC entered an intergovernmental agreement in 2017 to utilize City property on Pekin St to build homes.  There is one parcel left on Pekin St.  LTEC approached Acting Mayor Welch and would like to build a bigger home at 201 9th St.  The VAC (Veteran's Association) would then like to build a 600 square foot home on Pekin St to house a veteran.

There is currently a $25,000 debt on the 9th St property.  Acting Mayor Welch feels that it would be beneficial to the City to have a home built there and it be added to the property tax roll.

Due to the increase in cost of lumber, the City may not turn a profit on the 9th St property.  The Council would like to see a couple different designs that LTEC is thinking of.

The intergovernmental agreement with LTEC will be placed on the regular agenda.

Announcements:

• Update on Union Street Construction: Keeley has drafted a letter to hand out to

There is no start date for construction at this time, they are still doing inventory.  There will be a link on the City website that residents can click on and voice any concerns.  Those concerns will be sent to CMT, Keeley, Acting Mayor Welch, Alderman Bateman and Alderman Fleshman.

Christy Crites shared that they would really like to get started in 2 weeks.

Executive Session  2 (C) 1 Personnel:

There being no further announcements to come before the council, Alderman Keller made a motion to move into Executive Session, seconded by Alderman Hoinacki.  City Clerk Bateman called the 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

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0) 

The council recessed from the meeting at 8:40pm in order to enter into Executive Session.  Acting Mayor Welch announced there may be city business conducted upon reconvening.

Return from Executive Session:

The council reconvened from Executive Session at 1O:17pm in order to reconvene the Committee of the Whole meeting.  Roll call was taken.

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

Adjournment:

There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderwoman Horn motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Fleshman. All were in favor. Acting Mayor Welch adjourned the meeting at 10:20p.m.

Respectfully Submitted By:

Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary