COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers
700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois
Tuesday, December 13, 2022
The Committee of the Whole Meeting of the City Council of Lincoln was called to order by Mayor Tracy Welch at 7:01 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
John Hoblit, City Attorney
Bob Dunovsky, Fire Chief
Walt Landers, Streets Superintendent
Joe Meister, Deputy Police Chief
Andrew Bowns, Veolia Water, Project Manager
Remotely:
Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer
Absent:
Matt Vlahovich, Police Chief
Presiding:
Mayor Tracy Welch
Public Comment:
There is no one present for public comment.
5th Street Road Project Discussion
Bryce with Hanson Engineers, project manager for the 5th St Road Project
Ambra Knox with CMT, assisted in obtaining the right of way for the 5th St Road Project
There are ongoing negotiations with 4 parcels. There are 21 parcels have temporary construction easements that were purchased for this project that have expired or will expire before this project gets to a letting status. These easements will need to be renegotiated and possibly repurchased. The land acquisitions have taken longer than normal due to the city not wanting to utilize eminent domain.
Due to inflation, the cost for the 5th Street Road project will now cost approx. $8 million dollars. Up from $3-4 million. After learning that amount increase, Mayor Welch reached out to Treasurer Conzo. He researched that acquiring a bond for this project for 20 years will have an annual payment of $600,000.00.
Any state funding used by the city will need to be repaid back to the State of Illinois if the project does not moved forward.
There was some interest within the council to address the drainage issue around Westminster and Canterbury Lane and then just add 5th Street road to the resurfacing targets for next year. The property around Westminster and Canterbury has been purchased by the City to address the issue.
Mayor Welch asked the Council how they wanted to proceed. Do they want to end the project that involves Hansen and CMT and do an internal project? He cautioned the council that IDOT is getting very impatient with this project.
Superintendent Landers will take a few weeks to put a Plan b together and Treasurer Conzo will look to see if financially possible to make Plan a work.
This will be brought back to a later COW.
Pay application #22 from Plocher Construction Company for the CSO Project
This pay app is for $74,383.39. Final testing cannot be performed until it rains.
This item will be placed on the regular agenda.
Resolution approving the content of Certain Executive Session Meeting Minutes
The council will review the minutes
This item will be placed on the regular agenda.
New appointment for Diversity and Inclusion Commission
Mario Cannon and Peter Ahart are potential members to be appointed to the Diversity and Inclusion Commission. Mayor Welch will meet with each person before the voting meeting next week.
This item will be placed on the regular agenda.
Appointment of Detective/Sergeant Matthew Comstock to Deputy Chief of Police
Deputy Chief Meister provided the council with a memo as to why he chose Matt Comstock. He asked the council if they had any questions, they did not.
This item will be placed on the regular agenda.
RAS Pumps 3 & 4 Replacement
One pump was in the budget to replace this year knowing it was reaching the end of its life. An additional pump failed and the cost to fix it exceeds the price of a new one purchased four years ago.
The total bid is $47,240.00.
This item will be placed on the regular agenda.
Residential Sewer payment annual 10% discount
Now that the CSO project is coming to an end, discussion was had to bring back the 10% discount for sewer bills. The 10% discount option will only be available during the February billing cycle, when the first bill with new rate begins. Your account must be current and there will be no exceptions.
This item will be placed on the regular agenda.
Announcements:
There were no announcements
Adjournment:
There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Hoelfe motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Downs. All were in favor. Mayor Welch adjourned the meeting at 8:24 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted By:
Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary