REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

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

Monday, February 7, 2022 

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

Chuck Conzo, City Treasurer

Matt Vlahovich, Police Chief

John Hoblit, City Attorney

Ty Johnson, Asst. Fire Chief

Remotely:

Walt Landers, Streets Superintendent

Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer

Andrew Bowns, Veolia Water, Project Manager

Absent:

Bob Dunovsky, Fire Chief

Presiding:

Tracy Welch, Mayor

City Attorney Hoblit sworn in Jared Kink as a new patrolman and Tim Butterfield and Chris Reed as Corporals.

Public Comment:

There were several video gaming business owners present to speak to the City's intention to increase the fee from $25.00/per terminal to $250/per terminal.  All of the owners are against the increase and ask that the Council reconsider the increase due to businesses still trying to recover from the losses from COVID.

A few members of the council feel that the increase is very small compared to the amount that the businesses bring in from the terminals.

This increase is being granted from the State and is an option for municipalities to utilize.  The business owners are under the impression that the fee rests solely on the business owners and will not receive help from the terminal companies. The city feels that the terminal companies will continue to split the cost of the fees with the business owner. City Attorney Hoblit will research this statute. The businesses asked the Council to table this item until the statute is more understood.

Consent Agenda by Omnibus Vote:

A. Payment of Bills

B.Approval of minutes December 20, 2021 Regular City Council Meeting, December 28, 2021 Committee of the Whole Meeting, January 3, 2022 Regular City Council Meeting, January 11, 2022 Committee of the         Whole

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

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: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.

Ordinances/Resolutions:

A. Ordinance Increasing the Video Gaming Terminal Fees from $25.00 to $250.00 per terminal.

Alderman Bateman made the motion to table this item, Alderman Zurkammer seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called the roll.

This item will move back to the Liquor Commission for further review.

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. Ordinance Amending Ordinance 2019-900 Increasing the Loan Amount Requested for the Union Street Pump Station Project

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)

New Business/Communications:

A.  Approval of the use of $40,000.00 of ARPA Funds per year for three (3) years for the support of the following events: Balloons over Route 66 = $15,000.00; Up in Smoke= $15,000.00 and Logan County Professionals Network =$10,000.00. 

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

The ARPA guidelines were again explained. There was also some concern that the Railsplitter event was not being considered. $10,000 may also be allocated for the Railsplitter in the future if a request is received.

Alderman Zurkammer made an amended motion to raise the annual amount to $50,000 and include three years of support to the Railsplitter event.  Both of these motions were rescinded to include another motion.

Alderman Zurkammer made the amended motion to raise the annual amount to $50,000 and include three years of support to the Railsplitter event, to request annual audits of all the organizations for their use of funds after their events and to for the organization to have separate bank accounts for their ARPA funds. Alderman Downs seconded.

There being no further discussion, City Clerk Bateman called the roll on the original motion.

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (1) Alderman Kevin Bateman

Absent: (0)

City Clerk Bateman called roll on the amended motion.

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (1) Alderman Kevin Bateman

Absent: (0)

B. Approval of Agreement for Vehicle Towing Services for the City of Lincoln and the County of Logan.

Alderman Bateman made the motion to approve, Alderman Parrott 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)

Announcements:

• Alternate parking during winter storms was It is extremely encouraged to find alternate parking, whether in a nearby parking lot or a neighbor's driveway. It makes it much easier for the streets to be completely cleared and makes less work for the vehicle owner to have to clean out their car.

Adjournment:

There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Hoefle motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Bateman. Mayor Welch adjourned the meeting at 8:46 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted By:

Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary