REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers
700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
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 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
Walt Landers, Streets Superintendent
Joe Meister, Police Chief
Ben Roland – Asst. Fire Chief
Remotely:
Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer
Andrew Bowns, Veolia Water, Project Manager
Absent:
John Hoblit, City Attorney
Bob Dunovsky, Fire Chief
Presiding:
Tracy Welch, Mayor
Public Comment:
There was no one present or on the phone for public comment.
Consent Agenda by Omnibus Vote:
A. Payment of Bills
B. Approval of minutes for January 10, 2023 Committee of the Whole Meeting, January 24, 2023 Committee of the Whole Meeting, February 6, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting.
Alderwoman Horn made the motion to approve, Alderman Jones seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
Alderwoman Rohlfs found an error in the meeting minutes for February 6, 2023. These minutes were pulled from the consent agenda, will be corrected and voted on at the next voting meeting. Alderwoman Rohlfs made the motion to amend to remove the February 6th meeting minutes, Alderman Hoefle seconded. City Clerk Bateman called roll on the amendment.
Yeas: (8) Alderman Rob Jones, 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)
City Clerk Bateman called roll on the consent agenda as amended.
Yeas: (8) Alderman Rob Jones, 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)
Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.
Ordinances and Resolutions:
A. Resolution 2023-469 authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement for Participation in the Mutual id Box Alarm System (MABAS).
Alderman Bateman made the motion to approve, Alderwoman Horn seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called roll.
Yeas: (8) Alderman Rob Jones, Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Alderman Tony Zurkammer, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs
Nays: (0)
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (0)
B. Ordinance 2023-999 amending Section 9-15 of the City Code to Allow Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles on certain sections of Business 55.
Alderwoman Rohlfs made the motion to approve, Alderman Downs seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
The new ordinance will be given out to sticker renewal users. A map will also be created.
There being no other discussion, City Clerk Bateman called roll.
Yeas: (7) Alderman Rob Jones, Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderman Tony Zurkammer, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs
Nays: (1) Alderwoman Kathy Horn
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (0)
Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.
Reports:
A. City Treasurer’s Report for January, 2023
General Fund balance is similar to a month ago.
Police Pension fund for December 2022, back up over $10 million
Fire Pension fund for December 2022, 4.8 million – down from last month
Municipal Sales tax – down $110,000 from a year ago
Non-Home Rule Sales tax – up from last year
State Income Tax – up this year
Replacement Tax – up this year
MFT – same as a year ago
Video Gaming Tax – increase from last year
Alderman Hoefle pointed out that with the $243,771 in gaming revenue and $60,000 in machine fees, gives the Street Department over $300,000 to use for street/alley repairs.
B. City Clerk’s Report for January, 2023
$413,452.05 was collected in sewer payments for the January 2023. $23,174.92 was received from the prisons. 833 accounts have taken advantage of the 10% discount so far. Total savings equaled $41,348.83 to residents. Total amount received for accounts paid in full is $372,534.81.
C. Department Head Reports for January, 2023
These reports are either on file or will be shortly.
Mayor Welch moved on to other items on the agenda.
New Business/Communications:
A. Approval of Financial Audit for FY 2021-2022.
Alderwoman Rohlfs made the motion to approve, Alderman Jones seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called the roll.
Yeas: (8) Alderman Rob Jones, 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. Approval of purchase of 2012 Dodge Ram 5500 HD Bucket truck from All Trucks USA, in an amount not to exceed $73,536.00.
Alderman Hoefle made the motion to approve, Alderman Parrott seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
Street Superintendent Landers informed the council that the truck was sold out from under his department. They did offer another unit, but it didn’t meet requirements. Mr. Landers asked if it would be possible to put this item on the agenda with a do not exceed amount of $80,000.00 so if a unit becomes available, he doesn’t have to wait for a meeting cycle to get approved.
Alderman Hoefle made the motion to amend the item with a do not exceed amount $80,000.00 and to strike the specifics of the current truck, Alderman Parrott seconded.
There being no other discussion, City Clerk Bateman called the roll on the amendment.
Yeas: (8) Alderman Rob Jones, 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)
City Clerk Bateman called roll on the item as amended.
Yeas: (8) Alderman Rob Jones, 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)
C. Approval of purchase of nine (9) new Police vehicles in an amount not to exceed $366,066.00. This amended from amount from vote on March 7, 2022.
Alderman Jones made the motion to approve, Alderwoman Horn seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
Alderman Parrott asked Chief Meister why we aren’t leasing police vehicles instead of purchasing. Treasurer Conzo shared that the city is able to use a debt certificate for funding instead of traditional lending. The debt certificate is a much lower interest rate than leasing. Chief Meister would like to come back in 3-4 years to replace the four Dodge Durango’s that are currently giving the department fits.
Yeas: (8) Alderman Rob Jones, 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)
Mayor Welch moved on to other items on the agenda.
Announcements:
· The John Welsh memorial tournament is this weekend. There are 153 girls and boys teams competing in all gymnasiums in Lincoln.
· The meeting next week will be on Wednesday.
· Congratulations to the Lincoln Lady Railer Basketball team on making it to the Super-Sectional.
· There is only one Ward that made it to the primary and will be on the ballot next Wednesday.
Adjournment:
There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Hoefle motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Zurkammer. Mayor Welch adjourned the meeting at 7:37 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted By:
Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary
City of Lincoln