REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers

700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois

Monday, July 15, 2024

The Regular Meeting of the City Council of Lincoln was called to order by Mayor Welch at 6:30pm, 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, Fire Chief

Walt Landers, Streets Superintendent

Joe Meister, Police Chief

Andrew Bowns, Veolia Water, Project Manager

Absent:

Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer

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

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

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.

Ordinances and Resolutions:

A. Ordinance #2024-1031 adopting amendment No 2 to Appropriation Ordinance for FY 2023-2024.

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

Treasurer Conzo explained the amendments that are detailed line by line in the ordinance.

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

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

Nays: (1) Alderman Kevin Bateman

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

B.  Ordinance #2024-1032 creating 3-3-8 of the Lincoln City Code.

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

Alderman Eimer feels the number of gaming licenses/machines shouldn’t change.  He doesn’t agree with cutting the revenue when it could be put towards the Police/Fire pensions that are underfunded. 

Alderwoman McClellan is in favor of this reduction in the number of gaming machines in the City.  She receives feedback on the appearance of the city’s corridor with all of the gaming signs and businesses.  She’s also concerned of the addiction and its repercussions that video gaming can cause. 

Alderman Downs feels there will still be plenty of machines to generate revenue, but he’d like to address the signs. 

Mayor Welch shared that even though the city has stopped signing new gaming licenses, the revenue still increases annually. 

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

Nays: (1) Alderman Craig Eimer

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.

Reports:

A. City Treasurer’s Report for June, 2024

General Fund balance is up to $5 million.

Police Pension/Fire Pension funds both have seen an increase from the previous month

Municipal Sales tax – up from last year

Non-Home Rule Sales tax – up from last year

State Income Tax – up to $80,000

MFT – same as a year ago

B. City Clerk’s Report for June, 2024

$218,033.04 was collected in sewer payments for June 2024.  $22,859.62 was received from the prisons.

C. Department Head Reports for June, 2024

These reports are either on file or will be shortly. 

Mayor Welch moved on to other items on the agenda. 

New Business/Communications:
A.  Approval of Crawford, Murphy & Tilley Work Order No 10 for Engineering Services for the 2024 Curb & Sidewalk Project in an amount not to exceed $33,000.00.

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

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

B. Revocation of previously assigned interest and approval of Assignment of Interest to Hometown Redevelopment LLC.

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

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

Mayor Welch moved on to other items on the agenda. 

Announcements:

·         3^rd Friday is this Friday.

·         Alderman Parrott had a constituent contact him regarding the poor condition of the alley behind the Library.  This item will be brought back soon to the council for discussion. 

·         Alderwoman Rohlfs shared two flyers that were given her.  One is a softball tournament for the prions and a food drive. Both are on the 26^th. 

·         Still needing volunteers for the tiny home construction in Atlanta.

·         A burglary to the trailer owned by Central Illinois Veteran’s Commission was reported.  Several thousands of dollars in equipment was stolen.  Please reach out to the Lincoln Police Dept. with and information. 

·         Mt. Pulaski Hilltoppers shotgun sports team took 2^nd in the Nation in a competition in Michigan. Several Lincoln public school students participate on that team. 

Executive Session 2C5 Purchase of Real Estate:

There being no further announcements to come before the council, Alderman Eimer made the motion to move into Executive Session, seconded by Alderman Downs.  All were in favor. 

The Council recessed from the Regular City Council meeting at 7:06pm in order to enter Executive Session.  Mayor Welch announced there would be a Public Hearing meeting upon reconvening. 

Return from Executive Session:

The council reconvened from Executive Session at 7:31pm in order to reconvene the Regular City Council meeting.  Roll call was taken.

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

Adjournment:

There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Eimer motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderwoman McClallen. Mayor Welch adjourned the meeting at 7:31 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted By:

Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary