REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers
700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois
Monday, December 16, 2024
The Regular Meeting of the City Council of Lincoln was called to order by Mayor Welch at 6:01pm, 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
Chuck Conzo, City Treasurer
Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer
Andrew Bowns, Veolia Water, Project Manager
Absent:
Joe Meister, Police Chief
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 26, 2024 Committee of the Whole Meeting, December 2, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting.
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 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)
Ordinances and Resolutions:
A. Resolution 2024-503 abating the Tax Heretofore for the year 2024 to Pay Debt Services on $2,285,000.00 General Obligation Bonds (Alternative Revenue Source Series 2014) of the City of Lincoln, Logan County Illinois
Alderwoman McClallen made the motion to approve, Alderman Sanders seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
This GO Bond is for the TIF district. Last payment will be in 2034.
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)
B. Resolution 2024-504 abating the Tax Heretofore for the year 2024 to Pay Debt Service on $3,270,000.00 General Obligation Bonds (Alternative Revenue Source Series 2018) of the City of Lincoln, Logan County, Illinois
Alderwoman Rohlfs made the motion to approve, Alderwoman O’Donoghue seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
This is for the Lincoln Police Department building on 5th St. Last payment on this will be in 2033.
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 2024-1038 for the Levying of Taxes for the Corporate Purposes, for the City of Lincoln, Illinois for the Fiscal Year beginning May 1, 2024 and ending April 30, 2024.
Alderwoman O’Donoghue made the motion to approve, Alderman Downs seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
There was a type in the year stated on the agenda.
Alderman Downs made the motion to amend the item dates to read May 1, 2024 and ending April 30, 2025, Alderman Eimer seconded. City Clerk Bateman called roll on the amendment.
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)
City Clerk Bateman called roll on the item as amended.
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: (1) Alderman Kevin Bateman
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (0)
D. Ordinance 2024-1039 regarding baseline building codes.
Alderman Bateman made the motion to approve, Alderman Sanders 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)
Bids:
A. Approval of bid from Harold Goodman, Inc. for the demolition and removal of the property at 605 Lincoln Ave in an amount not to exceed $16,000.00.
Alderman Eimer made the motion to approve, Alderwoman McClallen seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
Proper steps have already been taken for this process.
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 November 2024
General Fund Balance has improved from a month ago, but considerably down from a year ago.
Municipal Sales Tax and State Use Tax - ahead from a year ago
Non-Home Rule – up from last month
State Income Tax – up from a year ago by $120,000
Motor Fuel Tax – level
Video Gaming Tax – small increase in October
B. City Clerk’s Report for November 2024
$356,258.17 was taken in for sewer payments in November. $27,033.80 was received from both prisons. A letter will be sent out in January bills for the 2025 10% discount.
C. Department Head Reports for November 2024
These are on file or will be soon.
New Business/Communications:
A. Approval of Work Order No. 12 for Engineering Services for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Dechlorination addition from Crawford, Murphy & Tilley in an amount not to exceed $65,000.00.
Alderman Bateman 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, 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 Funding agreement between the City of Lincoln and the Logan County Tourism Bureau for the year beginning January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.
Alderwoman Rohlfs made the motion to approve, Alderman Downs seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
Alderman Bateman made a motion to amend the item to lower the percentage given to Tourism down to 90% from 95%, Alderman Downs seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion.
The 5% extra will generate approximately $700 a month for the city. The city currently bills Tourism $900/month rent for the depot and those funds go into the General Fund. The $900 will now go into a different line item in the General Fund to be used for City events such as Third Fridays. Alderman Bateman and Sanders withdrew their first and second.
There being no other discussion, City Clerk Bateman called roll on the original item as presented.
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 thanked the police department for their quick work on identifying the person or persons that stole the Christmas tree downtown.
· There will not be a Committee of the Whole meeting on December 23rd.
· Website redesign is coming along nicely.
· Update on Sangamon St demo: all walls are down. Contractors have moved on to cleanup.
Adjournment:
There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Bateman motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Parrott . Mayor Welch adjourned the meeting at 6:44p.m.
Respectfully Submitted By:
Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary