REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers
700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois
Monday, March 6, 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 Steve Parrott, Ward 1
Alderman Sam Downs, Ward 2
Alderman Kevin Bateman, Ward 3
Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Ward 3
Alderwoman Kathy Horn, 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, Police Chief
Remotely:
Andrew Bowns, Veolia Water, Project Manager
Absent:
Alderman Rob Jones, Ward 1
Alderman Tony Zurkammer, Ward 2
Alderman Rick Hoefle, Ward 4
Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer
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 minutes for February 6, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting, February 14, 2023 Committee of the Whole Meeting.
C. Approval of the Lincoln Speedway 2023 Tentative Racing Schedule.
Alderwoman Rohlfs made the motion to approve, Alderwoman Horn seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
Alderman Bateman shared with the council that he’d like to add an additional 30 minutes to big race nights if they earn those minutes by stopping races before the curfew during the regular races. He feels that this would help the promoter, on the bigger nights, be safer by not rushing the races. These big races draw a lot of fans and drivers bringing revenue to the city.
Other alderman thought it would be easier to just give them additional minutes on the bigger race nights rather than someone keep track of the minutes earned.
City Clerk Bateman will share the racetrack agreement with the council and reach out to Mr. Mackey. This will be brought back to a later COW.
There being no other discussion, City Clerk Bateman called roll.
Yeas: (5) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Kathy Horn
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (3) Alderman Rob Jones, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderman Tony Zurkammer
Nays: (0)
Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.
Ordinances and Resolutions:
A. Ordinance 2023-1000 authorizing and providing for an Installment Purchase Agreement for the Purchase Agreement for the purpose of financing the cost of certain related projects for the City of Lincoln, Logan County, Illinois and authorizing and provided for the issue of not to exceed $366,060 General Obligation (Limited Tax) Debt Certificates, Series 2023, of said City evidencing the rights to payment under such Agreement, prescribing the details of the Agreement and Certificates, and providing security for and means of payment under the Agreement of the Certificates.
Alderman Bateman made the motion to approve, Alderman Downs seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
Alderman Rohlfs felt the agenda item needed to be clarified more. City Clerk Bateman and Treasurer Conzo said this verbiage was provided by Ice Miller and requested to be on the agenda word for word.
For the record, this ordinance is for the purchase of police vehicles.
There being no further discussion, City Clerk Bateman called roll.
Yeas: (5) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Kathy Horn
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (3) Alderman Rob Jones, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderman Tony Zurkammer
Nays: (0)
Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.
New Business/Communications:
A. Approval of Structural Improvement Grant to Ty Tucker for Commercial Property at 720 Sherman Street for removal and installation of garage doors in an amount not to exceed $7,500.00.
Alderwoman Rohlfs made the motion to approve, Alderman Downs seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called the roll.
Yeas: (5) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Kathy Horn
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (3) Alderman Rob Jones, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderman Tony Zurkammer
Nays: (0)
B. Approval for Structural Improvement Grant to Ty Tucker for Commercial Property at 1112 Keokuk Street for installation of shop windows and steel entry doors in an amount not to exceed $7,500.00.
Alderman Bateman made the motion to approve, Alderwoman Horn seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called the roll.
Yeas: (5) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Kathy Horn
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (3) Alderman Rob Jones, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderman Tony Zurkammer
Nays: (0)
C. Approval of Structural Improvement Grant to David White, d/b/a Advanced Heating & Cooling at 309 S. Sangamon Street for removal and replacement of door frame in an amount not to exceed $1,375.00.
Alderman Downs made the motion to approve, Alderwoman Rohlfs seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called the roll.
Yeas: (5) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Kathy Horn
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (3) Alderman Rob Jones, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderman Tony Zurkammer
Nays: (0)
D. Approval of request from Logan County Pride to permit the closing of Kickapoo Street from the South end of its intersection with Broadway Street through its intersection with Pulaski Street and Pulaski Street from its intersection with Kickapoo Street East to its intersection with McLean Street for the Logan County Pride Festival on Saturday, June 3, 2023 from 8:30am until 6:00pm.
Alderman Downs made the motion to approve, Alderman Bateman seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
Alderman Parrott read from a prepared statement. It reads as follows…
Good evening, as Alderman, I represent the electorate of Ward 1.
I believe that those who elected me to Alderman of Ward 1, is due to my conservative beliefs. A fiscal conservative, A social conservative – Someone who holds traditional values. My values and beliefs are rooted in my Christian faith. I make no apologies for believing in and serving Jesus Christ. It is who I am.
When I hear organizations or groups state that the activities they wish to hold are “family friendly” a red flag raises, because I wonder, why wouldn’t the activity or activities be “family friendly”. Why would a group put on an activity that wasn’t family friendly? I know that other Pride groups host activities that would not be considered “family friendly”, such as a drag queen competition. There are individuals in Ward 1 and in other Wards that would not consider a drag queen competition to be family friendly.
Last week when I asked the Pride representatives who are asking for the street closures, if there would be a drag queen competition during the event on the square, they confirmed that there would not be. I am not sure what all of the other activities are, and I will take the representatives word that the activities will be family friendly.
So, at this moment as a representative of Ward 1, I cannot make a vote for or against this request and will vote present.
Have a good evening,
Steve
In response to Alderman Parrott’s statement, Alderman Downs stated that some of the activities being held at the event will be an art fair and a pet costume contest. There is no alcohol being served and no swear words in the music. That is what the Pride Committee meant by the event being family friendly. There will be a Drag Show at a private event at a later date.
Yeas: (3) Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Kathy Horn
Abstain: (2) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs
Absent: (3) Alderman Rob Jones, Alderman Rick Hoefle, Alderman Tony Zurkammer
Nays: (0)
Announcements:
- The City wide cleanup is tentatively being held on May 20th. The recycling event will be a weeklong event held at a different time. There is interest in having a confidential shredding event. State Bank sponsored that event last year. They will be contacted to see if they plan to sponsor another event this year.
- The LWF will reopen on March 22nd.
- Congratulations to the Lincoln Lady Railer Basketball team for being State Runner Up. Thank you to the City Fire and Police Departments for the escorts into town for the team.
- The Dog Park will tentatively open the first week in May. There are still many things that need completed.
- Congratulations to Alderman Tony Zurkammer for completing the Tokyo marathon.
- Funeral services for former Police Chief Robert Rawlins will be March 11th. Police Chief Meister invites the community to park along the procession to pay their respects. There may be some road closures.
- There will be a road closure on S. Sangamon for utility work on 3/8.
- Discussions are still being had on the 5th St Road. Drainage issues are being addressed this year.
Adjournment:
There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Parrott motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Downs. Mayor Welch adjourned the meeting at 7:33 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted By:
Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary
City of Lincoln