REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers
700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois
Monday, October 21, 2024
The Regular Meeting of the City Council of Lincoln was called to order by Mayor Welch at 6:00pm, 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
John Hoblit, City Attorney
Ty Johnson, Fire Chief
Walt Landers, Streets Superintendent
Joe Meister, Police Chief
Chuck Conzo, City Treasurer
Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer
Remotely:
Andrew Bowns, Veolia Water, Project Manager
Presiding:
Tracy Welch, Mayor
Public Comment:
Soren Aukamp gave a presentation regarding his painting project through the Boy Scouts.
Consent Agenda by Omnibus Vote:
A. Payment of Bills
B. Approval of minutes for October 7, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting
C. Approval of request from Don Sielaff to permit the closing of 10th Street from Union Street to Chestnut Street on Thursday, October 31, 2024 from 5pm – 8pm for Halloween Night.
D. Approval of request from Lincoln Christian Church to permit the closing of N. McLean Street between Pekin Street and Delevan Street on Friday, December 6, 2024 from 3 pm until 8 pm for the Lincoln Christian Church Hometown Christmas Carriage Rides.
Alderman Downs made the motion to approve, Alderwoman Rohlfs 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)
Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.
Ordinances and Resolutions:
A. Resolution #2024-500 approving the Content of Certain Executive Session Meeting Minutes of the City Council of the City of Lincoln.
Alderwoman McClellan made the motion to approve, Alderwoman O’Donoghue 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 create 1-6-10 of the Lincoln City Code (Tabled 10/7/24)
Alderman Eimer made the motion to remove the item from the table, Alderman Downs seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called roll.
Yeas: (7) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Craig Eimer, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderman David Sanders
Nays: (1) Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (0)
Alderman Eimer made the motion to remove the item from the agenda. There was no second.
Alderman Bateman made the motion to approve, Alderman Sanders seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
The changes that were discussed in the previous COW have not been added to the Ordinance at this time.
Alderman Eimer is against this, he feels like this could be weaponized against certain people.
Alderwoman O’Donoghue said this started only as a tool to prevent the City from getting sued. To hold the elected officials to a higher standard.
The council does already have the authority to censure a council member. Infractions will be documented and voted on. The council member still has a right to attend meetings and vote. Censuring just lets the public know the council does not approve of the actions of the council member.
Alderman Downs made the motion to table the item, Alderwoman McClallen seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called the roll.
Yeas: (3) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderwoman Robin McClallen
Nays: (5) Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderman Craig Eimer, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderman David Sanders
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (0)
Motion did not pass.
Alderwoman McClallen would like the document reworded before a vote takes place. Alderwoman Rohlfs and Alderman Eimer feel the same.
There was no more discussion, City Clerk Bateman called on the item as written.
Yeas: (4) Alderman David Sanders, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderman Kevin Bateman
Nays: (4) Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Craig Eimer, Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Alderman Steve Parrott
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (0)
A tie vote goes to the Mayor to break. Due to a conflict of interest, he abstained. The item dies.
C. Resolution #2024-501 of the City of Lincoln adopting Civility Pledge (Tabled 10/7/24)
Alderman Eimer made the motion to remove the item from the table, Alderwoman Rohlfs seconded.
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)
Alderman Bateman made the motion to approve, Alderwoman McClallen seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
The Civility Pledge is something being circulated among the Illinois Municipal League because ethics is becoming more and more of an issue. It is not required to sign the pledge. All signed pledges will be attached to the resolution and filed.
Any new Council members will be asked to sign a pledge.
There being no other discussion, City Clerk Bateman called the 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)
Bids:
A. Approval of bid from Jaren Industries for the demolition of property at 129 S. Sangamon Street in the amount not to exceed $210,000.00.
Alderman Eimer made the motion to approve, Alderwoman Rohlfs seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
Alderman Bateman stated that he’d like the city to take every avenue available to recoup the city’s money.
There being no other discussion, 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)
Reports:
A. City Treasurer’s Report for September 2024
General Fund Balance - a little over $4.4 Million
Municipal Sales Tax & State Use Tax - up substantially from last year
Non-Home Rule Sales Tax - down from last month, but ahead for the year by $12,000
State Income Tax – Down from last year
Motor Fuel Tax – up a bit from last year
Video Gaming Tax – up from a year ago
B. City Clerk’s Report for September 2024
$357,549.18 was taken in sewer receipts for the month of September 2024. $25,223.10 was from one of the prisons.
C. Department Head Reports for September 2024
These reports are either on file or will be soon.
New Business/Communications:
A. Approval of Sewer Department M & R Reconciliation for Fiscal Year 2023/2024 in an amount not to exceed $19,015.75.
Alderman Bateman made the motion to approve, Alderman Parrott 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 the expenditure of an amount not to exceed $32,000.00 for design and engineering costs for a Community Pavilion at the Eighth Street Park.
Alderwoman O’Donoghue made the motion to approve, Alderman Sanders 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 proposed additional target improvements to Stahlhut Drive, Malerich Drive, and Taylor Court at a cost not exceed $400,000.00 from the Re-Build Illinois and MFT Funds.
Alderwoman O’Donoghue made the motion to approve, Alderman Sanders seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
Some council members thought there were other city streets more in need of repair than the targets listed in the item and would like to table the item to look for other targets.
Mayor Welch stated that he was informed by CMT that if targets weren’t approved by Nov 18th, the city risks losing the remaining rebuild Illinois funds.
The current targets will require only street work. All sidewalk and curb work was completed years ago. Malerich Drive is 20 years old.
There being no other discussion, 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)
Announcements:
· Alderman Eimer said the new Rock Quarry is open.
· Large crowd for the season finale of the Racetrack
· Mayor Welch thanked everyone involved the Movie in the Park and all who attended.
· The COW meeting next week will start an hour later due to the Veteran Tiny Home dedication in Atlanta.
· Extended hours at the Landfill will begin Oct 30th with leaf pickup beginning Nov 6th.
Adjournment:
There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Downs motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Parrott. Mayor Welch adjourned the meeting at 8:11 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted By:
Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary
City of Lincoln