Council Minutes

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING

Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers

700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

 

The Committee of the Whole Meeting of the City Council of Lincoln was called to order by Mayor Tracy Welch at 7:00 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 Rohlfs, Ward 3

Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Ward 4

Alderman Rick Hoefle, Ward 4


Present:

Peggy Bateman, City Clerk

Chuck Conzo, City Treasurer

John Hoblit, City Attorney

Bob Dunovsky, Fire Chief

Matt Vlahovich, Police Chief

Andrew Bowns, Veolia Water, Project Manager

Walt Landers, Streets Superintendent

Remotely:

Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer

Absent:

Presiding:

Mayor Tracy Welch


 

 

Public Participation:

There was no one present for public participation. 

 

Bid opening for 227 N Kickapoo St

There was only one bid received.  The bid was received from Grandpa Inc.  They will purchase the property at 227 N. Kickapoo St for $1.00 if they are able to obtain proper certification for the asbestos removal for the building. If certification can be obtained, they will demolish the building currently on site.  The mailboxes will remain.  They request to be included in the downtown mapping of Lincoln and the installation of a sidewalk that runs down Delevan Street.  They will be building an approx. 10,000 square foot multipurpose retail center at the location.  A drawing was included.

Mr. Woodhall has the certification of asbestos removal that he will pass along when requested too. 

This item will be placed on the regular agenda. 

 

Update Smoking Policy for City Handbook

The council reviewed the updated policy that was available in the packet.

This item will be placed on the regular agenda. 

 

Sludge/Grit/Waste Disposal

There is a mass quantity of nonorganic waste at the Sewer plant that needs to be dispose of.  In the last IDNR review it was mentioned that it needs to go. $110,000.00 was budgeted for FY 22/23 for this work.  The vast majority of the cost will come from hauling and landfill charges.  Depending on how results come back from the lab, there may be additional costs from the landfill for certain wastes.   

Once the tanks are emptied of the waste, this is something that will need to be budgeted for annually to keep up on the removal. The buildup of this waste has been happening for approx. 50 years. 

This item will be placed on the regular agenda. 

Flow and Loading Reconciliation for Fiscal Year 2020-2021

This was a bill that the city sat on at the request of the Sewer committee that consisted of Alderman Bateman and past Alderman Ron Fleshman.  The contract has a rider in it that states the city gets compensated if the sewer plant has to treat more waste than it was designed to treat.  This bill is cleaning up the flow and loadings that are over average.

It is possible that the overage of waste could be due to COVID when more people were home and during the construction at the plant.   

This item will be placed on the regular agenda. 

M&R Reconciliation for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.

This is the same reconciliation that is done annually.  This is for the maintenance and repairs that are not covered under the previous operator’s rate.  It does not cover the oils, greases and belts etc.  All receipts have been made available to the Clerk’s office.

This item will be placed on the regular agenda.

 

Grinding Operations at the Landscape Waste Facility

The contractor was on site to grind for four weeks.  The $100,000 mark was hit last week.  That covered 60% of the pile.  The contractor gave a quote of not to exceed $40,000.00 to grind the rest of the pile.  There is an additional cost of $7500.00 included in the quote for the larger material that needs to be split before it can go through the grinder. 

Superintendent Landers feels he can cover approx. $10,000.00 of the cost with his current budget.

This will be the 3rd time the facility has been cleared in 8 years.  The contractor, R&R services, is interested in having a long term relationship with the City by possibly entering a contract for routine grinding.   

Alderman Bateman would like to place $40,000 on the regular agenda. 

 

Keystone Power Holdings, LLC Proposal.

Keystone Power Holdings, LLC is requesting to use 20 acres of farmland for a solar farm to operate the sewer plant.  They will then pay the city $1100 per acre annually, $22,000.00, and also offer a .04 rate to the city for any additional city buildings.  Anything energy left will be put on a grid and sold to the community.  This is a nonbinding proposal, they just need permission from the City before they can apply for permits. 

There is currently a farm lease agreement for this property.  That lease runs November to November.  That lessee will need to be notified and given advance notice. 

This item will be placed on the regular agenda.   

Replacement Hiring – 4 new-hire Police Officers and Promotions

The police department is anticipating 4 retirements.  One replacement for a retirement has already been approved.  The State has added an additional 2 weeks of training in the academy.  There will not be any budget constraints because the department has been understaffed for some time.

This item will be placed on the regular agenda.

Economic Development Grants and Façade Grants

A memo has been provided in the packet by Ashley Metelko.  The Commission approved the following grants…

2 structural improvement grants

1.  Mario Taylor dba Almighty Investments for property at 110 N. Kickapoo Street for $7,500.00 for roof replacement

2. Nick Cummings dba Almighty Investments for property at 604 Broadway Street for $7,500.00 for roof replacement

2 Façade Grants

1. Ethan Hoinacki dba Guesthouse for property at 111 S. Kickapoo St for $900.00 contingent upon approval from the Historic Preservation Committee.

2. Jenny Abbott dba American family Insurance for property at 407 Pulaski Street for $5,515.00, contingent upon approval from the Historic Preservation Committee.

These items will be placed on the regular agenda. 

 

Announcement

  • Free Halloween event at the Lincoln Park District on Thursday, October 27, 2022
  • Heebee Jeebee Jamboree Trick or Treating at the Logan County Safety Complex on Saturday, October 29, 2022.
  • Fire Department will be handing out candy on Halloween night.
  • Railroad Crossing Closure for repairs at the Keokuk crossing starting Nov 2nd. Should be reopened within 48 hours.
  • Curb project will begin soon, possibly tomorrow.
  • Leaf collection will begin on Nov 2nd through Dec 7th on Wednesdays. Extended hours at the LWF will be through Dec 7th.
  • Sewer plant lab this Saturday from 12-1. There will be refreshments
  • Trick or Treat with the mayor on Saturday

 

 

 

Adjournment:

There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Hoelfe motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Parrott. All were in favor. Mayor Welch adjourned the meeting at 8:28 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)

 

 211

Contact Information

 

cityhall smallCity of Lincoln

City Hall
700 Broadway Street
Lincoln, Illinois 62656

(217)735-2815

 

Legal Disclaimer

Mayor
(217)735-1612
 
Administrative Assistant
(217)732-2122
 
City Clerk
(217)735-2815
 
Building and Safety
(217)732-6318
 
Street and Alley
(217)732-4655
 
Waste Water Treatment
(217)732-4030
 
Fire Department
(217)735-4020
 
Police Department
(217)732-2151