Report

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING

Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers

700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

 

The Committee of the Whole Meeting of the City Council of Lincoln was called to order by Mayor Tracy Welch at 7:04 p.m., with proper notice given. City Clerk Peggy Bateman called roll.

 

Present:

Alderman Rob Jones, 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

Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Ward 4

Alderman Rick Hoefle, Ward 4


Staff Present:

Peggy Bateman, City Clerk

Chuck Conzo, City Treasurer

Matt Vlahovich, Police Chief

Bob Dunovsky, Fire Chief

Walt Landers, Streets Superintendent

Remotely:

Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer

Andrew Bowns, Veolia Water, Project Manager

 

Absent:

John Hoblit, City Attorney – IML Conference

Presiding:

Mayor Tracy Welch


 

 

Public Comment:

There is no one present for public comment. 

A group was present for discussion for an East West Bike path.  Molly Pickering and Brett Aukamp addressed the council.  A grant deadline for the project is on September 30th.  The council is being asked to approve an engineering agreement with Farnsworth to develop a cost estimate for the project and to pass a resolution to show the Council’s support of the project. Both items are required for the grant.  This it’s a matching grant.  If approved, IDOT will cover 80% of the cost and the City will cover the remaining 20%.  The city would need to pay for the project up front, then be reimbursed by IDOT.  The date of project completion requirement is 10 years, giving the ability to space out the cost for the city.  They are looking to add a crosswalk at the Stahlhut intersection.  Currently, the only crosswalk for Lincoln Parkway is at Woodlawn/Lincoln Parkway.  The group’s hope for this project is to give safe access to the West side of Lincoln Parkway to the residents on the East Side.  The cost for the engineering agreement is $5,800.00.

The Farnsworth engineering agreement and resolution will be placed on the regular agenda.

 

City Parks update

Melrose Park – The project will begin the first week of October.  New swing frames will be installed.  A tree will be removed to allow for the expansion of the playground. 

A request was made to have access to the remaining $180,000 of funds for the parks.  Mulch needs to be put down in the other 3 parks to bring them up to code. Needs to be a certified mulch and checked annually. Mulch will cost approx. $6300.00.  The Park District has shown interest in the swing frame. 

The remaining $180,000 request will be placed on the regular agenda.      

 

Dog Park – 8th St Park

A booklet was provided to the council that included signage.  The name of the park is going to be called Central Bark.  Also included in the booklet is the budget, park rules, benefits to the community, layout of the park, waste station, and drinking fountains. Discussion was had regarding park hours, insurance, how the area residents felt about a dog park and who would enforce the rules or a dog that may escape the park.  These concerns will be taken back to the committee and more information will be brought back to a later COW.

 

Proclamation - National Rail Safety Week

This item will be placed on the regular agenda.  

 

Ordinance amending 3-24 adding additional recreation businesses that can operate in the City of Lincoln. 

Mr. Woodhall was approached by a business owner looking to purchase a building in Lincoln to open an Infusion business. 

Tom Myron was present and addressed the council with his business plan.  An infusion business takes a small amount of oil from a marijuana plant and infuses it into gummies or chocolates.  There will be zero retail from his location, he is strictly manufacturing.  He plans to employ 12-15 employees with hopes to increase to 20.  These will not be minimum wage jobs.  There is precise engineering involved and salaries would be in the six figures.  There will not be any flashy signage at his location and no smell will come from the production.

This item will be placed on the regular agenda. 

Intergovernmental Agreement with Illinois Department of Resources for the upkeep of IDNR property (Postville Courthouse)

The Street Department staff has been maintaining the grounds at Postville Courthouse for at least the last 8 years.  Mr. Landers was invited to a meeting where he met Mr. Mildstat with IDNR.  Mr. Landers went to the meeting in hopes to get compensated for the upkeep of the property.  The proposed agreement will pay the City $3000.00 a year for the upkeep. 

This item will be placed on the regular agenda. 

 

Easement and Agreement

There is more clarification needed on this item, so this item will be pulled from the agenda. 

All were in favor. 

 

Easement Upgrade request – Transmission line Fogarty-Kickapoo

This is a request to increase the size of the easement that the City has already offered to Ameren.  In return, Ameren will give the city $6825.00.  This is needed to stop any interruption with lines they are running.  Superintendent Landers suggests not moving forward with this request.  He stated that there are 2 city garages that are already on the 50 foot easement that Ameren currently has.  Mr. Landers will discuss this item with City Attorney Hoblit.

This item will be pulled from the agenda as well. 

 

 

Announcements:                                                                                                                                         

  • There is a new app called GoLink where citizens can report concerns and issues they see within the City limits. The app will need to be downloaded and the user register.
  • Treasurer Conzo asked the Council to consider closing City Hall on Monday, September 19th to honor the late Queen Elizabeth during her funeral. The regular city council meeting would need to be moved to Tuesday, September 20th. There wasn’t any agreement from the Council. 
  • Heitmann Drive was completed last Friday. Grinding at the LWY will begin on Thursday. Oil and Chip resurfacing should begin on Thursday. The bid opening for the curb and gutter project is September 29nd.
  • Ribbon cuttings: Saturday at 10am at Postville Courthouse for the Railsplitter Festival. Another on Thursday, September 22 at 5:30pm at Tremont Bank.
  • Ribeye and porkchop Sandwiches will be sold this Saturday at Lincoln IGA. Proceeds go to The Purple Heart organization.
  • Homecoming Parade is this Friday.
  • The 50th anniversary of the Class of 1972 will be this Saturday
  • Golf Outing this Friday for Veteran’s Commission.
  • Railsplitter Festival is this weekend.

Adjournment:

 

There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Hoelfe motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Zurkammer. All were in favor. Mayor Welch adjourned the meeting at 8:42 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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