REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

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

Monday, December 6, 2021

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

Present:

Alderman Greg Miller, Ward 1

Alderman Steve Parrott, Ward 1

Alderman Tony Zurkammer, Ward 2

Alderman Sam Downs, Ward 2

Alderman Kevin Bateman, Ward 3

Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Ward 3

Alderman Rick Hoefle, Ward 4

Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Ward 4

Staff Present:

Peggy Bateman, City Clerk

John Hoblit, City Attorney

Walt Landers, Streets Superintendent

Matt Vlahovich, Police Chief

Remotely:

Chuck Conzo, City Treasurer

Bob Dunovsky, Fire Chief

Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer

Andrew Bowns, Veolia Water, Project Manager

Absent:

Presiding:

Tracy Welch, Mayor

Public Comment:

James Rehmann - Retired Police Officer

Mr. Rehmann served in the military and deployed during his employment with the City.  He wanted to thank the council for being so supportive to military members.

Consent Agenda by Omnibus Vote:

A. Payment of Bills

B. Approval of minutes October 26, 2021 Committee of the Whole Meeting, November 1, 2021 Regular City Council Meeting, November 15, 2021 Regular City Council Meeting

C. Approval of Request from Just Bee Acai (food truck) and Tony Canoli (food truck) to occupy three (3) parking spaces on South Kickapoo Street in front of the Griesheim Building on Saturday, November 20, 2021 from 10:00 a. until 1 :00 p.m.

Alderwoman Rohlfs made the motion to approve, Alderman Bateman seconded.   Mayor Welch called for discussion.

Alderwoman Rohlfs stated that the meeting minutes for Nov 1, 2021 were incorrect.  The minutes showed that Ron Keller and Jeff Hoinacki were present as Alderman.   It should have read Alderwoman Wanda Rohlfs and Alderman Rick Hoefle.

Alderman Bateman made the motion to amend the minutes to correct the names for those that were present.  Alderman Downs seconded.

City Clerk Bateman called roll on the amendment.

Yeas: (8) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman  Kathy Horn, Alderman Greg Miller, Alderman Tony Zurkammer

Nays: (O)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

Mayor Welch called for further discussion.

Alderman Hoefle asked if the city goes out for bid for all supplies that are purchased.  He noticed on the payment of bills that there are a lot of bills paid to vendors outside of the city and he'd wants to make sure local vendors are given a chance to bid on it.

Mayor Welch said there is not a requirement to go out for bid for supplies.  However, the city will always keep purchases local if they can.

Alderman Hoefle said that it was mentioned to him by a constituent that there have been several instances recently where the council has voted on request to permit applications after the event has happened.  He said that going forward he will be a no vote for any request that does not come before the council in a timely manner that allows the council to vote before the event takes place.

The Council will be more conscience about the request to permit approvals going forward. City Clerk Bateman called roll on the item as amended.

Yeas: (7) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman  Kathy Horn, Alderman Greg Miller, Alderman Tony Zurkammer

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (1) Alderman Rick Hoefle

Absent:  (0)

Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.

Ordinance and Resolutions

 Ordinance 2021-961 Authorizing the Purchase of Real Estate at 1017 Tremont Street

Alderman Hoefle made the motion to approve, seconded by Alderman Downs.

Mayor Welch stated that the Logan County Trustees has agreed to hold the purchase price at $800 whether the city decides to demo or remediate the property. Mayor Welch called for discussion.

Alderman Bateman would rather see the property be saved. Alderman Hoefle was also in agreement.

Mayor Welch would like to see the property remediated of mold soon after the sale for the safety concerns of the neighbors.

Building and Safety Official Woodhall stated that it would take upward of $15,000 to cover the roofing and mold remediation costs.

There being no other discussion, City Clerk Bateman called the roll.

Yeas: (8) Alderman Greg Miller, Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Alderman Tony Zurkammer

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda. New   Business/Communications:

A. Approval of Economic Development Grant Application from Mary Todd's Hallmark in an amount not to exceed $7,500.00.

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

Yeas: (8) Alderman Greg Miller, Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Alderman Tony Zurkammer

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

B. Approval of a three-year Liability Insurance Renewal with CIRMA, BCS and IPRF through Arthur Gallagher Risk Management at a cost not to exceed $608,196.00 for the upcoming year.

Alderman Downs made the motion to approve, Alderman Parrott seconded.   Mayor Welch called for discussion.

Alderman Hoefle was disappointed in the material he was given from the claim firm out of Kentucky.

He felt the information was nothing other than an advertisement.   No data or statistics regarding claims. There being no other discussion, City Clerk Bateman called roll.

Yeas: (7) Alderman Greg Miller, Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Alderman Tony Zurkammer

Nays: (1) Alderman Rick Hoefle

Abstain:  (0)

Absent: (0)

C.  Approval of design for the construction and re-alignment of State Street and College Street to accommodate the Department of Juvenile Justice Facility. (Tabled 11/15/2021) 

With no motion to remove this item form the table for discussion or approval, the item dies. The item will be brought back to a future COW when more information is available.

Mayor Welch moved on to other items on the agenda.

Announcements:

• Alderman Downs brought signs in the right of way along State property to the Council for After discussion, the council agreed to bring this topic to a future COW.
• Alderwoman Horn thanked the Street Department for the work they did on Wyatt Ave with the road resurfacing and sidewalk
• Alderman Zurkammer thanked the Street Department for the leaf cleanup at the Postville Courthouse.
• Due to redistricting, the fire department will need to purchase their Scott air packs through NEC rather than
• A fire truck that needed restoration is in An additional firetruck has recently went down. The department in down to two trucks. Chief Dunovsky wanted the council to be aware.
• Chief Dunovsky will probably be bringing a proposal to the next COW for the council to consider appointing a temporary Fire Investigator to alleviate some of the duties while James Cosby is deployed
• Chief Vlahovich shared with the council that several officers had to enter a house that was on fire because the homeowner was still This was the 2nd house fire of that night. The first fire had a fatality and had these officers not went inside, there very likely would have been a second fatality.  All officers had to be treated at the hospital. He also shared that along with responding to the two calls, both departments (fire and police) were dispatched to burglaries and domestic calls.  He commended both departments.
• Mayor Welch asked Landers to remind constituents how they can clean up their leaves. They can mulch the leaves in their yard, leave them for the one final leave pickup or take them to the landscape waste facility. There have been several reports of people blowing leaves into the street. This is against city code. If you observe someone blowing leaves into the street, you are to call the non-emergency number for dispatch and a police officer will address the issue.
• The contract for Revisions as an IT consultant will not be signed, the reason was previously shared with the There will be another company brought to the council very soon.

Adjournment:

There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Parrott motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Hoefle. Mayor Welch adjourned the meeting at 8:04 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted By:

Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary