REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers

700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois

Monday, December 18, 2023

The Regular Meeting of the City Council of Lincoln was called to order by Mayor Welch at 7:16pm, 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

Ty Johnson, Asst. Fire Chief

Walt Landers, Streets Superintendent

Joe Meister, Police Chief

Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer

Andrew Bowns, Veolia Water, Project Manager

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 November 20, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting, November 28, 2023 Committee of the Whole Meeting, December 4, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting.

Alderman Downs 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 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)

The next two items were moved up on the agenda by Mayor Welch.

A.  Approval of the Mayoral Appointment of Assistant Fire Chief Aaron Ty Johnson as Fire Chief.  (Swearing in after voting)

Alderman Parrott made the motion to approve, 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, 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.  Swearing in of the following promotional positions in the Fire Department: Captain Chris Harding to Assistant Chief, Lieutenant Bret Tripplett to Captain, Firefighter Shelby Boise to Lieutenant. 

Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.

Ordinances and Resolutions:

A. Ordinance 2023-018 authorizing Real Estate to go out to bid at 112 S. College St, 114 S. Chicago St and 116 S. College St.

Alderwoman Rohlfs made the motion to approve, Alderman Downs 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)

B. Ordinance 2023-019 for the Tax Levy for the City of Lincoln for the Fiscal year beginning May 1, 2023 and ending April 30, 2024.

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

Alderman Bateman made the motion to leave the tax levy flat (meaning no increase), Alderman Sanders seconded.  Mayor Welch called for discussion.

Alderman O’Donoghue verified with Treasurer Conzo that this tax levy increase would not increase property taxes, it would only increase the amount the city would receive from the property taxes from the county. 

Council members voiced their concerns for the underfunded police/fire pensions.  Those in favor of the tax levy increase are voting yes to fund the pensions.  Those that are not in favor, feel the pensions could be funded by the General Fund. 

There being none, City Clerk Bateman called roll on the amended motion. 

Yeas: (4) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderman David Sanders

Nays: (4) Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderman Craig Eimer

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

A tie vote takes the item to the Mayor for his vote.  Mayor Welch voted to keep the tax levy flat, no increase. The amended motion passes.

City Clerk Bateman called the roll on the item as amended. 

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)

C. Ordinance 2023-020 regarding the Paid leave for All Workers Act in the City of Lincoln.

Alderwoman O’Donoghue made the motion to approve, Alderman Downs 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)

D. Ordinance 2023-021 increasing The Pay of Elected Officials Effective in the next voting cycle.

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

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (1) Alderman Kevin Bateman

Absent: (0)

Reports:

A. City Treasurer’s Report for November, 2023

Municipal Sales Tax – ahead from last year

Non Home Rule Sales Tax – ahead from last year

Income Tax – down a little from last year

Motor Fuel Tax – down a little from last year

Video Gaming – leveled off

Cannabis tax will be included in this report when the City begins receiving the funds.

B. City Clerks Report for November, 2023

$377,697.46 was received in sewer receipts for the month of November. Letters will go out in the next two billing cycles for the 10% discount.

C .Department Head Reports for November, 2023

These reports are either on file for will be soon. 

Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.

New Business/Communications:
A. Approval of funding agreement between the Logan County Tourism Bureau and the City of Lincoln for 2024.

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: (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)

B. Approval of the purchase of Ti Training Simulator three screen system for the Police Department in an amount not to exceed $78,950.00.

Alderman Bateman made the motion to approve, 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)

C.  Approval of the placement of two (2) stop signs on Second Street at its intersection with North Elm St. and two (2) yield signs on Second Street at the intersection with North College Street.   

Alderwoman O’Donoghue made the motion to approve, 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)

D. Approval of funding agreement between the Logan County Regional Planning Commission and the City of Lincoln in the amount of $12,500.00 for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. 

Alderman Downs made the motion to approve, 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)

Announcements:

·         Mayor Welch wished the Council and department heads a Merry Christmas

·         Chief Meister thanked the Council for their consideration and approval of the purchase of a K9 officer.  Diesel is now certified and in his first deployment, he detected narcotics in a vehicle and fentanyl that led to an arrest of a career criminal.

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 8:28 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted By:

Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary