REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers
700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois
Monday, October 17, 2022
The Regular Meeting of the City Council of Lincoln was called to order by Mayor Welch at 7:01pm, with proper notice given. City Clerk Peggy Bateman called roll.
Present:
Alderman Rob Jones, 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
John Hoblit, City Attorney
Walt Landers, Streets Superintendent
Matt Vlahovich, Police Chief
Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer
Ty Johnson, Assistant Fire Chief
Remotely:
Andrew Bowns, Veolia Water, Project Manager
Absent:
Alderman Steve Parrott, Ward 1
Bob Dunovsky, Fire Chief
Presiding:
Tracy Welch, Mayor
Public Comment:
There was no one present for public comment.
Consent Agenda by Omnibus Vote:
A. Payment of Bills
B. Approval of request from Logan County Tourism to permit Big Horse Farm to use parking spaces on Pulaski Street in front of the Arcade for Horse & Carriage loading and unloading on Friday, November 25, 2022 from 6:00pm until 9:00pm; Friday, December 2, 2022, Friday, December 9, 2022 and Friday, December 16, 2022 from 5:00pm until 8:00pm; Saturday, November 26, 2022, Saturday, December 3, 2022, Saturday, December 10, 2022 and Saturday, December 17, 2022 from 12:00pm until 3:00pm.
C. Approval of request from Logan County Tourism to permit the closing of various City Streets on Thursday, December 1, 2022 from 5:30pm until 8:00pm for the Annual Christmas Parade.
D. Approval of request from Don Sielaff to permit the closing of 10th Street from Union Street to Chestnut Street on Monday, October 31, 2022 from 3:00pm – 9:00pm for Halloween Trick or Treat.
E. Approval of request from Kathie Williams of Lincoln Illinois Winter Wonderland Festival to permit the closing of S. Kickapoo Street between Broadway Street and Pulaski Street on Friday, November 25, 2022 from 4:30pm – 5:30pm for the Fourth Annual Winter Wonderland Festival Tree Lighting Ceremony.
F. Approval of Trick or Treat hours on Monday, October 31, 2022 from 5:00pm until 8:00pm.
G. Approval of Trick or Treat with the Mayor in Downtown Lincoln on Saturday, October 29, 2022 from 10:00am until 12:00pm.
Alderwoman Rohlfs made the motion to approve, Alderman Hoefle seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called roll.
Yeas: (7) Alderman Rob Jones, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Alderman Tony Zurkammer
Nays: (0)
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (1) Alderman Steve Parrott
Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.
Ordinances and Resolutions
A. Ordinance authorizing the Purchase of Real Estate at 114 S. Chicago St.
Alderman Zurkammer made the motion to approve, Alderwoman Horn seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called roll.
Yeas: (7) Alderman Tony Zurkammer, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderwoman Wanda Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Alderman Rob Jones
Nays: (0)
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (1) Alderman Steve Parrott
B. Resolution Establishing Salaries and/or Pay increase for the City of Lincoln.
Alderman Downs made the motion to approve, Alderman Jones seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
Yeas: (7) Alderman Tony Zurkammer, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderwoman Wanda Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Alderman Rob Jones
Nays: (0)
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (1) Alderman Steve Parrott
Bids
A. Approval of bid from Otto Baum Co. for the 2022 Curb Improvement project in an amount not to exceed $307,100.00
Alderman Zurkammer made the motion to approve, Alderman Downs seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
Yeas: (7) Alderman Tony Zurkammer, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderwoman Wanda Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Alderman Rob Jones
Nays: (0)
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (1) Alderman Steve Parrott
Reports
A. City Treasurer's Report for September, 2022
General Fund is considerably larger due to the 2nd installment of ARPA funds and the last installment of the Rebuild Illinois. These funds are restricted for general use.
Police Pension is down considerably due to the Stock Market.
Fire Pension was consolidated in August with the State. This pension is also down due to the stock market.
Municipal Sales tax has dropped a little.
Non Home rule sales tax is up.
Income tax is up from last year due to increase in minimum wage.
Motor Fuel Tax very similar to where it was.
Video gaming is very consistent.
B. City Clerks Report for September, 2022
$422,330.96 was received in sewer payments for the month of August. $32,668.28 was received from both of the prisons.
C. Department Head Reports for September, 2022
These reports are either on file or will be soon.
Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.
New Business/Communications:
A. Approval of Landscape Waste Tipping fee to be charged at $8.00 per cubic yard for Commercial Dumping.
Alderman Downs made the motion to approve, Alderman Jones seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
Alderman Downs made the motion to amend this item to have the new rate go into effect Jan 1st, 2022. Alderman Bateman seconded.
City Clerk Bateman called the roll on the amendment.
Yeas: (7) Alderman Rob Jones, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Alderman Tony Zurkammer
Nays: (0)
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (1) Alderman Steve Parrott
City Clerk Bateman called roll on the item as amended.
Yeas: (7) Alderman Rob Jones, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Alderman Tony Zurkammer
Nays: (0)
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (1) Alderman Steve Parrott
B. Approval of payment of five (5) invoices to the Farnsworth Group for Engineering Services in an amount not to exceed $16,800.50.
Alderman Downs made the motion to approve, Alderwoman Horn seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
These invoices are dated from 2017.
Alderman Bateman posted a poll on his Alderman Facebook page. He said an overwhelmingly amount of people said that if the council votes to pay these invoices, they should pay no more than half the cost and then vote to never do business with Farnsworth again. Alderman Bateman also stated he would be voting no.
Alderwoman Rohlfs feels that if services were completed, then the City should pay the bill.
According to Gary Davis, with Farnsworth, these invoices are for engineering services for the City of Lincoln. Mr. Davis said that this invoices were brought forward for consideration by the council for payment. He takes some of the responsibility for not following up on these invoices for payment. .
Alderwoman Rohlfs suggested paying Invoices #193356 and #193358 totaling $8,257.25. These two invoices will total almost half of the total amount. These invoices were chosen because it was clear to this council that the work was done.
Alderwoman Rohlfs made the motion to amend that all invoices be considered to be paid in the amount of $8,257.25. Alderman Jones seconded.
City Clerk Bateman called roll on the amendment.
Yeas: (5) Alderman Rob Jones, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Alderman Tony Zurkammer
Nays: (2) Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Kevin Bateman
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (1) Alderman Steve Parrott
City Clerk Bateman called roll on the item as amended.
Yeas: (6) Alderman Rob Jones, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Alderman Tony Zurkammer
Nays: (1) Alderman Kevin Bateman
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (1) Alderman Steve Parrott
Announcements:
· Ribbon cuts and open houses - Lincoln Daily News new location, Friday at 9am; Prairieland Title, Friday at 4pm; Logan County Genealogical and Historical Society, Saturday at 1:45pm
· Fundraiser for Humane Society, Stuff the Truck.
· Harvest of Talents Saturday, October 22, 2022
· Sewer lining will begin along Water Street this week.
· There was some concern with drainage from the geothermal drilling being done at the Logan County Courthouse. The issue was addressed and a mitigation program is in place.
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 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted By:
Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary
City of Lincoln