COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers
700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
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:
Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Ward 1
Alderman Steve Parrott, Ward 1
Alderman Sam Downs, Ward 2
Alderman Kevin Bateman, Ward 3
Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Ward 3
Alderman Craig Eimer, Ward 4
Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Ward 4
Staff Present:
Peggy Bateman, City Clerk
Chuck Conzo, City Treasurer
John Hoblit, City Attorney
Walt Landers, Streets Superintendent
Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer
Joe Meister, Police Chief
Andrew Bowns, Veolia Water, Project Manager
Absent:
Alderman David Sanders, Ward 2
Bob Dunovsky, Fire Chief
Presiding:
Mayor Tracy Welch
Public Comment:
There is no one present for public comment.
Proclamation 2023-480 General Federation of Women’s Club Inaugural National Day of Service September 30, 2023.
Mayor Welch read to proclamation to the Council.
This item will be placed on the regular agenda.
Planning Commission 2023-03 Request for Special use Permit at 227 N. Kickapoo St.
This is a request for a drive-thru at a new construction at 227 N. Kickapoo St. The permit was unanimously approved by the Planning Commission.
Alderwoman Rohlfs questioned some of the wording on the Special Use Permit application. She felt there wasn’t enough information on the application according to the questions asked. Mr. Woodhall will tweak the application to be more clear.
This item will be placed on the regular agenda.
Bid opening for 638 6th Street
There weren’t any bids received. The neighboring property owner, interested in purchasing this property, was unaware there was a bid opening. He was waiting for a notice to posted on the property. Alderman Bateman asked that the city go out for bid a 2nd time with a minimum bid of $250.00 to cover the cost of the advertising costs for the 2nd time.
This item will be placed on the regular agenda.
Appointment of new members to the Liquor Commission.
Mayor Welch would like to appoint Ashley Metelko, Julie Landers, and John Hoblit to the Liquor Commission. Through email, there was concern with these appointments. The main concern that the Commission would be all city employees.
Mayor Welch shared that there was never an ordinance codified regarding the Liquor Commission. This means the Mayor is the Liquor Commissioner. The Commission has been operating and following State statute.
The current Commission consists of Mayor Welch and Alderman Eimer, after Alderman Hoefle and Zurkammer resigned from the Council. There are applications waiting to be processed.
City Attorney Hoblit feels it would be better if he sat on the commission as a non-voting member.
Mayor Welch would still like to appoint Julie Landers and Ashely Metelko as voting members to the Liquor Commission. He would like a recommendation from council members for the 3rd person.
There is no need for a vote on this item, so it will not be added to the agenda.
Parking on North Union Street
Alderman Bateman has been contacted by several people that live along N. Union St, from 20th St to Feldman Dr. The no parking code is from the 1980s. At that time there weren’t any homes built on the east side of N. Union. After speaking with the Police Chief and Street Superintendent, they both feel the street is wide enough to allow parking.
Street Superintendent Landers has some other streets in town that he’d like to change parking for. He will compile a list of streets, including the N Union St, and bring back to the Council at a future COW to make one vote.
Purchase of Security Cameras from Beck Tech for phase 1 for Downtown in amount not to exceed $25,000.00 from line item 02-0604-6436
Phase 1 will consist of seven cameras.
This item will be placed on the regular agenda.
Application from Rt. 66 Rec. LLC 401 Broadway – Cannabis Craft Grower
There was some concern from a neighboring business with this property regarding odor and construction due to the two businesses sharing a wall. They are not against the type of business possibly going in to 401 Broadway.
Alderman Parrott was also concerned with the odor from the cannabis. Mayor Welch explained that the Cresco lab is 10,000 square feet and the craft grower will only be 1000 square feet. The growing will be inside a room within a room.
There will be conversations with the neighboring business to make sure their concerns are addressed.
This item will be placed on the regular agenda.
Mayor Welch moved on to other items on the agenda.
Announcements:
- Alderman Bateman asked for an update for the non-union employee wages. Alderman Parrott said they are still working on it.
- Alderman Eimer thanked the Street Department for their sidewalk work along 5th
- Homecoming is this Friday. The city will walk representing 3rd
- Work Camp for Life will have their launch party this weekend.
- Street closures will happen on Wyatt on Thursday evening for Homecoming decorating. Use Caution.
Adjournment:
There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Downs motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Eimer. All were in favor. Mayor Welch adjourned the meeting at 8:31 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted By:
Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary
City of Lincoln