Lincoln, Illinois

January 4, 2010

Minutes of a regular City Council Meeting held in the Council Chambers of City Hall, Lincoln, IL, on Monday, January 4, 2010.

Mayor Snyder called the regular City Council Meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.  City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll.  There were nine Aldermen present (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Busby, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert) and one absent (Alderman Armbrust). Also present were Department Heads Police Chief Erlenbush, Fire Chief Hulett, EMC Manger Mr. Tackett, City Engineer Mr. Mathon, Safety Building Officer Mr. Last, and Street and Alley Superintendent Mr. Jackson.  Also present were City Attorney Mr. Bates, City Clerk Mrs. Martinek, Mayor Snyder, City Treasurer Mr. Plotner and Recording Secretary Mrs. Riggs. 

Mayor Snyder said Alderman Armbrust was under the weather this evening and that was why he was not present.  Mayor Snyder asked for a moment of silence for Clifford "Sonnie" Sullivan who passed away and had been a member of the Fire and Police Commission and was currently the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission.  Those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Mayor Snyder.

Mayor Snyder called for the Consent Agenda:

Minutes of the City Council Meeting on 12/21/2009

Payment of Bills and Claims:  Finance, Fire/Water & ESDA, , Buildings &Grounds, Insurance, Ordinance and Zoning, Police, Sanitation, Sewerage, Streets & Alleys, and Sidewalks, Forestry, Lighting

Alderman Anderson said I would move to approve the Consent Agenda as presented on the agenda and Alderman Horn seconded it.  Mayor Snyder asked if there was any discussion on the Consent Agenda.  City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call.  There were nine yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Busby, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and one absent (Alderman Armbrust); motion carried.

Mayor Snyder asked for the Presentation of Petitions:

There were no Petitions to come before the City Council.

Mayor Snyder asked for the Presentation of Communications:

There were no Communications to come before the City Council.

Mayor Snyder asked for the Presentation of Bids:

There were no Bids to come before the City Council. 

Lincoln, Illinois

January 4, 2010; Page 2

The Mayor then asked for the Presentation of Ordinances and Resolutions:

Ordinance Amending Title 8, Chapter 10 pertaining to Signs of the City Code of the City of Lincoln (tabled 4/28/09)

Alderman Neitzel said she would like to leave this on the table.

Presentation of Official Reports:

There were no Official Reports to come before the City Council.

Presentation of Special Reports:

There were no Special Reports to come before the City Council. 

Presentation of Unfinished Business:

There was no Unfinished Business to come before the City Council.

Mayor Snyder asked for New Business:

Highway Authority Agreement for Illico Property (tabled 2/2/09)

Alderman Turner asked to leave on the table.

Accept check from Ameren Cilco in the amount of $6,000.00

Mayor Snyder said I think you have at your places a letter that I received on December 18, 2009 and with the way that it arrived we didn't get it on the agenda for the meeting we had on Christmas.  What it is a letter from Ameren Cilco where we had requested that they reimburse the city for electrical expenses we had paid for a period of time as a result of the city switching its electrical services from Ameren to this other provider?  The total cost was somewhere in the $7,600.00 range.  Ameren has provided us with a check for $6,000.00 so it’s a good portion of that amount to make up for our expenditures there.  As you will notice in the last sentence there it says by accepting this amount the City of Lincoln acknowledges it has no claim or right to any further compensation for the subject period.  Just as a bit of background our franchise agreement with Ameren Cilco says that the city will pay no electrical costs for certain facilities that we have one of which is City Hall. As a result of the switch we were actually being billed for City Hall so this will help basically make us whole for that error.  This will address about $6,000.00 of the $7,600.00 amount.  He asked if anyone had any questions about this. 

Alderman Turner said how did they come up with the $6,000.00. 

Mayor Snyder said I think it was just a figure that they, I'm not going to say pulled out of the air but just a figure that they arrived at. 

Lincoln, Illinois

January 4, 2010; Page 3

Accept check from Ameren Cilco in the amount of $6,000.00

Mayor Snyder said Cilco was just following instructions they were passed on to them by Mid America so it was just basically Ameren Cilco out of the goodness of their heart basically helping to make us whole for a good portion of that $7,600.00.  I don't know if there was any type of formula that they used to arrive at that.

Alderman Wilmert said so everything is back the way it should be and I think it was 5 accounts that we weren't paying on and we are back under our old agreement and we've gotten $6,000.00 of the $7,600.00 and that's where we stand.  Alderman Busby said right there are four buildings that don't pay electricity.  Alderman Wilmert said does anybody else think we should go after the $1,600.00.  Alderman Neitzel said we have to hire an attorney.

Alderman Anderson said with the language in this letter the $6,000.00 from Ameren would we be unable to go to Mid America for the balance.  Mr. Bates said I think this is just between Ameren and us and does not keep us from asking for reimbursement from any other party.  Alderman Anderson said the way I look at it is Mid America was probably the instigator of the whole problem to begin with and I think it might be worth asking them for the balance.  Alderman Wilmert said can't hurt.  Alderman Anderson said the worst they can say is no.  Mayor Snyder asked if there was any other discussion.  Alderman Busby said I would like to hold off on that for a little bit because I am working with EMC to possibly come up with the extra money and that is all I can say right now.  Mayor Snyder said to basically recoup the entire amount so if you want to proceed with accepting this check from Ameren we would need a motion and a second to do that and Alderman Busby will continue to pursue that additional amount.  Alderman Wilmert said it doesn't expire does it.  Alderman Busby said I don't think there is any reason not to accept it.  Mr. Bates said you can make a motion in terms of just making an agreement with Ameren and not releasing the other parties.  Alderman Anderson said I would make a motion that we accept the $6,000.00 check from Ameren releasing them but not further parties that may be obligated to the balance and Alderman Horn seconded it.  Mayor Snyder said any further discussion.  City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call.  There were nine yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Busby, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and one absent (Alderman Armbrust); motion carried.

Announcements

Alderman Wilmert said on the broadband funding I think the funds are starting to trickle in from the feds but so far I don't think anyone in Illinois has been awarded anything but a small percentage of the funds have been dealt out. 

Mr. Jackson said Christmas tree pickup is going to be next Monday starting at 7:00 a.m. and we think we can cover the whole city in one day. 

Lincoln, Illinois

January 4, 2010; Page 4

Announcements

Mayor Snyder said I think I had emailed all the Aldermen and I think I put a copy at Alderman Busby's spot. We're going to do a second round for the Economic Development summit.  We are going to do that on Saturday, January 23 and Keith Ray is going to lead the discussion about the book that was talked about at the first go round of the summit and also Dolan Dalpoas is going to lead a session on strategic planning so that is going to be out at the Campus of Lincoln Christian University and will start at 8:30 on the 23rd.  Then on Saturday, September 30 some of you probably read in various media accounts that there is going to be a day of events out at the local VFW to help get some funds to support to get them out of their situation.  At our workshop next week I am going to have a Resolution that is going to declare that day as Cronin Brothers VFW Post whatever the number VFW day in Lincoln so I just wanted to make sure you were all aware of that. 

Mayor Snyder said I am looking forward to 2010 and I think we're going to have some good things happen in the city.  Castle Manor the project that is going to open up this summer and the hospital later in the year.  I think we have some good things coming in 2010. 

Alderman Busby made a motion to adjourn and Alderman Neitzel seconded it.  There were nine yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Busby, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Turner, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and one absent (Alderman Armbrust); motion carried.

The City Council Meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted By:

Risa Riggs

Recording Secretary