APRIL 21, 2025 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers

700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois

Monday, April 21, 2025

The Regular Meeting of the City Council of Lincoln was called to order by Mayor Welch at 6:06pm, 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 Stan Anderson, 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

Remotely:

Andrew Bowns, Veolia Water, Project Manager

Absent:

Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer

Presiding:

Tracy Welch, Mayor

Public Comment:

Molly Pickering – new board president of Logan County tourism

Molly addressed the council regarding misconceptions that the council may have regarding Tourism and their funding/spending/budget.

Discussion was then had regarding the actions of Logan County Tourism.

Consent Agenda by Omnibus Vote:
A. Payment of Bills

B. Approval of minutes for March 11, 2025 Committee of the Whole Meeting, March 17, 2025 Regular Meeting.

C. Request from Lincoln Community High School to close Kickapoo Street between Broadway Street for the LCHS Prom Grand March on Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 3:30 pm until 5pm.

D. Request from Washington Monroe School to close N. Sheridan Street from Pekin Street to Delavan Street from Sheridan Street to N. Sherman on Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 9am – 1:30pm for Community Carnival put on by school PTO.

Alderwoman McClallen 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 Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Alderman David Sanders

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (1) Alderman Stan Anderson

Absent: (0)

Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.

Ordinances and Resolutions:

A. Resolution 2025-513 approving the Content of Certain Executive Session Meeting Minutes of the City Council of the City of Lincoln.

Alderwoman O’Donoghue made the motion to approve, Alderman Sanders seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called roll.

Yeas: (6) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderman David Sanders

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (2) Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Alderman Stan Anderson

Absent: (0)

B. Ordinance 2025-1044 authorizing the sales of excess surplus property.

Alderman Bateman 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 Stan Anderson, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderman David Sanders

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

C. Ordinance 2025-1045 amending Term and Composition of the Historic Preservation Commission.

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

D. Resolution 2025-514 adopting working budget for FY 2025-2026.

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

Mayor Welch moved to other items on the agenda.

Bids:

A. Approval of bid from Mid-State Exterior Solutions, LLC for a two-year for mowing of Nuisance properties at a cost not to exceed $40 per hour.

Alderman Sanders made the motion to approve, Alderwoman O’Donoghue seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called roll.

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

B. Approval of bid from Resilient Premier Cleaning, LLC for general cleaning contract for City Hall in an amount not to exceed $210.00 per week.

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

C. Approval of the bid from Goodman Fence, Inc. for the purpose and installation of fencing for outdoor storage in an amount not to exceed $9,000.00.

Alderwoman O’Donoghue made the motion to approve, Alderman Anderson seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called roll.

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

Reports:

A. City Treasurer’s Report for March 2025

General Fund Balance – down from a year ago

Police/Fire Pensions – dropped due to stock market

Municipal Sales Tax – finished above for the calendar year

Non-Home Rule Sales Tax – up from last year

Replacement Tax – fallen off from what it was a couple of years ago

Motor Fuel Tax – up from a year ago

Video Gaming Tax – close to the same as a year ago

Cannabis Sales Tax – consistent

B. City Clerk’s Report for March 2025

$379,189.12 was received in sewer receipts. $24,407.78 was received from both prisons.

C. Department Head Reports for March 2025

These reports are either on file or will be soon.

New Business/Communications
A. Advise and Consent to the Mayoral Appointment of William “Bill” Cooper to the position of Code Enforcement Officer.

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 Stan Anderson, Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Alderman David Sanders

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent: (0)

B. Mayoral proclamation 2025-515 of Friday, April 25, 2025 as Arbor Day in the City of Lincoln.

Alderwoman Rohlfs 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 Stan Anderson, 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 investment of $2,000,000.00 from the Sewer Enterprise Fund in 3 certificates of deposit.

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

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

D. Approval of the process to purchase of a new Fire Engine within the next four-year period.

Alderman Sanders made the motion to approve, Alderwoman O’Donoghue seconded. Mayor Welch called for discussion, there being none, City Clerk Bateman called the roll.

Nays: (0)

Abstain: (0)

E. Approval of the retention of Hotel Motel Tax revenue for the purpose of promoting tourism, effective June 1, 2025.

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

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

Alderwoman Rohlfs, Alderman Parrott and Treasurer Conzo all feel that there needs to be more time for discussions and clarifications before a vote is made.

City Clerk Bateman called the roll on the amendment.

Yeas: (4) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Stan Anderson, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs,

Nays: (4) Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Alderman David Sanders

Abstain: (0)

A tie vote goes to the Mayor. Mayor Welch voted no to not table the item.

City Clerk Bateman called the role on the item as read on the agenda.

Yeas: (4) Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue, Alderwoman Robin McClallen, Alderman David Sanders

Nays: (4) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Stan Anderson, Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs

Abstain: (0)

A tie vote goes to the Mayor. Mayor Welch voted yes to retain the funds.

Announcements:

· Electronics Recycling began this week. Approximately 158 visitors stopped by today.

· Ribbon cut: Veteran’s assistance building at the John Logan Building

· Trash pickup in the City will be this Saturday at 10am. Meet at Latham park.

· Railsplitter Ave will be closed for a culvert repair beginning 4/23.

Adjournment:

There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Downs motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderwoman O’Donoghue. Mayor Welch adjourned the meeting at 7:33 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted By:

Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary