REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers

700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois

Monday, September 18, 2023

The Regular Meeting of the City Council of Lincoln was called to order by Mayor Welch at 7:00pm, with proper notice given. City Clerk Peggy Bateman called roll.

Present:

Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Ward 1

Alderman Steve Parrott, Ward 1

Alderman David Sanders, Ward 2

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

Joe Meister, Police Chief

Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer

Andrew Bowns, Veolia Water, Project Manager

Absent:

Bob Dunovsky, Fire Chief

Walt Landers, Streets Superintendent

Presiding:

Tracy Welch, Mayor

Public Comment:

Andrea Runge spoke to the three cannabis items on tonight’s agenda.

Consent Agenda by Omnibus Vote:
A. Payment of Bills

B. Approval of minutes for August 21, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting, September 5, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting.

Alderman Downs made the motion to approve, Alderwoman O’Donoghue seconded.  Mayor Welch called for discussion. 

There being no other discussion, City Clerk Bateman called roll.

Yeas: (8) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderman Craig Eimer, Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Alderman David Sanders

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.

Ordinances and Resolutions:

A. Ordinance 2023-1023 to go out for bid for the sale of property at 638 6^th St with a minimum bid of $250.00.

Alderman Bateman made the motion to approve, Alderman Eimer seconded.  Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called roll. 

Yeas: (8) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Craig Eimer, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderman David Sanders

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.

Reports:

Treasurer’s Report for August, 2023

General Fund – similar to last month

Non-Home Rule Sales tax – that has increased from a year ago, up $7,000

Municipal Sales Tax – not as good as it was a year ago, down approx. $46,000

Police Pension Fund – Decline between July/August due to investing

Fire Pension Fund – went up from the previous month

Income Tax – slightly under from a year ago

Replacement Tax – variations from month to month

Video Gaming – down from a year ago

Motor Fuel Tax – down from a year ago

City Clerk’s Report for August, 2023

$266,350.96 were received in sewer receipts in August 2023.  $39,051.30 was received from both prisons. 

Department Head Report for August, 2023

These reports are on file or will be soon.

New Business/Communications:
A.  Approval of Mayoral Proclamation 2023-480 proclaiming Saturday, September 30, 2023 as General Federation of Women’s Club Inaugural National Day of Service.

Alderwoman Rohlfs made the motion to approve, Alderwoman McClallen seconded.  Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called the roll. 

Yeas: (8) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderman Craig Eimer, Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Alderman David Sanders

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

B.  Approval of Planning Commission 2023-03 request for Special Use Permit at 227 N. Kickapoo St.

Alderman Bateman made the motion to approve, Alderman Downs seconded.  Mayor Welch called for discussion.

Discussion was had in the last COW meeting regarding the wording of the special use permit application.  There was a question on the application that asked for clarification and there was no clarification made.  Due to that, Alderwoman Rohlfs voted no.  A revised application will be brought back to a future COW.

There being no other discussion, City Clerk Bateman called the roll. 

Yeas: (7) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Craig Eimer, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Alderman David Sanders

Nays: (1) Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

C. Approval of the purchase of Security Cameras from Beck Tech for Phase 1 for the Downtown Security in an amount not to exceed $25,000.00.

Alderman Parrott made the motion to approve, Alderwoman O’Donoghue seconded.  Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called the roll. 

Yeas: (7) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Craig Eimer, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderman David Sanders

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (1) Alderwoman Robin McClallen

Absent: (0)

D. Approval of application from Rt 66 Rec. LLC at 401 Broadway Street for a Cannabis Craft Grower license.

Alderman Bateman made the motion to approve, Alderman Eimer seconded.  Mayor Welch called for discussion.

Alderwoman McClallen feels the city may be trading short term financial gain for a long term detriment to the city.  Alderman Parrott agreed. Alderwoman Rohlfs was concerned of the smell in the downtown area. 

There being no other discussion, City Clerk Bateman called the roll. 

Yeas: (5) Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Craig Eimer, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderman David Sanders

Nays: (3) Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

E. Approval of application from Do Mor Development, LLC Cannabis Dispensary at 1120 Woodlawn Rd. (Tabled item from 9/5/2023)

Alderman Bateman made the motion to remove the item from the table, Alderman Eimer seconded.  Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called the roll. 

Yeas: (8) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Craig Eimer, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Alderman David Sanders

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

Alderman Downs made the motion to approve the item as presented, Alderman Bateman seconded.  There being no discussion, City Clerk Bateman called roll.

Yeas: (5) Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Craig Eimer, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderman David Sanders

Nays: (3) Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

F. Approval of application from 1248 IP Holdings LLC for non-retail Cannabis Infusion at 1121 Hickox Dr.  (Tabled item from 9/5/2023)

Alderman Downs made the motion to remove the item from the table, Alderman Bateman seconded.  Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called the roll. 

Yeas: (8) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Craig Eimer, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Alderman David Sanders

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

Alderwoman O’Donoghue made the motion to approve the item as presented, Alderman Eimer seconded. There being no discussion, City Clerk Bateman called roll.  

Yeas: (5) Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Craig Eimer, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderman David Sanders

Nays: (3) Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

Announcements:

·         Alderman Eimer thanked the Sewer plant for their recent work on the intersection of Tremont/Chicago. 

·         There are plans to address the drainage issues on Chicago Street near Moriearity Insurance.  A catch basin will be installed in that area.

·         Contact the Sewer Plant for information regarding sewer/water line coverage.

·         Alderwoman Rohlfs mentioned she was informed of a rat issue in a neighborhood in a different Ward than hers.  She notified Alderman Parrott.  It was instructed that the homeowner call an exterminator.  If the issue is coming from a neighboring property, they can call the Building & Safety Office. 

Adjournment:

There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman McClallen motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Parrott. Mayor Welch adjourned the meeting at 7:44 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted By:

Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary