Lincoln, Illinois
June 6, 2011
Minutes of a regular City Council Meeting held in the Council Chambers of City Hall, Lincoln,
IL, on Monday, June 6, 2011.
Mayor Snyder called the regular City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. City Clerk Mrs.
Martinek called the roll. There were eight Aldermen present (Alderman Anderson, Alderman
Armbrust, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman
O’Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs) and two absent (Alderman Busby and Alderman Wilmert).
Also present were Fire Chief Miller, City Engineer Mr. Mathon, EMC Manager Mr. Tackett,
Assistant Street Superintendent Mr. Wright, and Police Chief Greenslate. Also present were City
Treasurer Mr. Conzo, City Clerk Mrs. Martinek, Mayor Snyder, Assistant City Attorney Mr.
Blinn Bates, and Recording Secretary Mrs. Riggs.
Mayor Snyder said for some times in the past he had asked for moments of silence for maybe
on a more somber occasion but tonight we can all stand in celebration because he had news that
on Saturday, June 4 at 6:22 a.m. Cameron Tiberius Wilmert was born to Alderman and Mrs.
Wilmert. Mother and baby are doing well and father is doing well himself.
Those present recited the Pledge.
Public Participation:
Ms. Nila Smith of the Lincoln Daily News said they were now on Facebook and everyone should
check them out.
Mayor Snyder called for the Consent Agenda:
Payment of bills
Approve Minutes of May 2, 2011 and May 16, 2011 Regular City Council Meetings
Petition by Lincoln Area Music Society to place a sign in the vacant lot at the corner of Pekin
and North Kickapoo Street
Petition by Logan County Relay for Life to hang purple ribbons around the town square poles on
Friday, June 10, 2011
Petition by Main Street Lincoln to close the 100 block of South Kickapoo Street for the Honest
Abe’s Barbecue Cook Off from Friday, June 10 at 3:00 p.m. through Saturday, June 11 at 5:00
p.m.
Resolution 2011-240 Establishing Work Rates for the City of Lincoln
Resolution 2011-241 declaring June 2011 as Home Safety Month
Resolution 2011-242 for the Lincoln Logan Chamber of Commerce Balloon Fest Parade on
August 26, 2011
Alderman Anderson said I would move to approve the Consent Agenda as written and Alderman
Horn seconded it. Mayor Snyder said any discussion and said the Resolution for the Chamber of
Commerce is for the state to approve the route.
Lincoln, Illinois
June 6, 2011; Page 2
Consent Agenda:
City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call. There were eight yeas (Alderman Anderson,
Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel,
Alderman O’Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and two absent (Alderman Busby and
Alderman Wilmert); motion carried.
Approval of any items removed from the Consent Agenda
There were no items removed from the Consent Agenda.
Petitions
Petition by George DeWees to construct a sidewalk at 529 N. Sherman Street
Alderman Armbrust move to accept the Petition by George DeWees to construct a sidewalk at
529 N. Sherman Street the work to be done by and at city expense and Alderman Tibbs seconded
it. Mayor Snyder asked if there was any discussion on that. Alderman Armbrust said there
was a question on the dimensions and it is going to be a two to three square and basically the
sidewalk is settling where it is a trip hazard at the curb. Mayor Snyder asked if there were any
other questions or comments on that. City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call. There were
eight yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Hoinacki,
Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O’Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and
two absent (Alderman Busby and Alderman Wilmert); motion carried.
Petition by Charles Kodatt to construct a sidewalk at 912 N. Logan Street
Alderman Armbrust moved to accept the petition for Charles Kodatt to construct a sidewalk at
912 N. Logan with the following modifications the work will be done by and at city expense
and Alderman Anderson seconded it. Mayor Snyder asked if there was any discussion on this.
Alderman Armbrust said that it was a petition to be done and requesting reimbursement and
Mr. Jackson negotiated with the gentleman and they would be closer to hitting our specs if
it was done by us. Mayor Snyder asked if there was any other discussion on this. City Clerk
Mrs. Martinek called the roll call. There were eight yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman
Armbrust, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman
O’Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and two absent (Alderman Busby and Alderman
Wilmert); motion carried.
Ordinances and Resolutions
There were no Ordinances or Resolutions to come before the City Council.
Lincoln, Illinois
June 6, 2011; Page 3
Unfinished Business:
Approve using Midwest Credit and Collections for certain delinquent accounts (tabled May 16,
2011)
Alderman Neitzel made a motion to take this off the table and Alderman Bacon seconded it.
City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call. There were eight yeas (Alderman Anderson,
Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel,
Alderman O’Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and two absent (Alderman Busby
and Alderman Wilmert); motion carried. Alderman Neitzel moved to approve using Midwest
Credit and Collections for certain delinquent sewerage accounts to be determined by the
sewerage billing department and Alderman Bacon seconded it. Mayor Snyder asked if there was
discussion on this. Alderman Neitzel said the reason she added to her motion that the billing
clerks know the accounts better than we do and we know the ones that will not pay and ones that
may be a little late so she is leaving it up to them to submit the ones to the Midwest Credit and
Collection. Mayor Snyder asked if they would have some guidelines in terms of which ones
to submit such as over a certain dollar amount. Alderman Neitzel said they hadn’t set a certain
dollar amount but she presumed they would pick the oldest ones but didn’t know and asked if
she should add that. Mr. Conzo said the only problem with setting a certain dollar amount you
could conceivably have a subscriber who leaves town and doesn’t pay and maybe they only owe
one bill. Alderman Neitzel said that is the reason she left it up to them. Mr. Conzo thought
that was a good idea because if you restrict it someone who leaves town and owes us $80.00 we
wouldn’t be able to turn over to collections because you set it at some amount and could see it
causing problems. Alderman Neitzel said she didn’t set an amount because she thought they
were familiar with all the accounts and they would know which ones would be the best ones and
they could review it after a while to see how it is going. Mr. Conzo thought that was a good
idea.
Alderman O’Donohue said he was sure they would do a great job but his question was that if we
are not going to set stricter guidelines of what they should do what happens in the case they do
something they shouldn’t do. What if they accidentally send someone who is just late paying to
collections, an oversight?
Mr. Conzo said that could happen. Alderman Neitzel said hopefully it won’t be us.
Mayor Snyder said if at some point there, it might be more hypothetical, at some point if there
were some agreement worked out with the water company where the liability issue might be
resolved and we could come to some agreement on connecting the shut off of water when the
sewer is delinquent. If we had some in the pipeline here, I mean I am not familiar enough with
how collections work and maybe Mrs. Martinek could chime in here. If they don’t collect it at
some point could we then go after it if we had the water contract in place or do those things ever
time out? If something is turned over to a credit collection agency and they are unsuccessful.
Lincoln, Illinois
June 6, 2011; Page 4
Approve using Midwest Credit and Collections for certain delinquent accounts (tabled May 16,
2011)
Mr. Blinn Bates said they would file a lawsuit if they are unsuccessful and you get a judgment
against the people and then try to collect on that judgment. Alderman Hoinacki said he thought
what the Mayor was asking was if there was a time frame that if it is in collections for one year
and after one year we get those names back if they haven’t resolved anything. Mr. Blinn Bates
said typically they attempt to collect the bill if you are unsuccessful you file a lawsuit and if you
are successful in getting a judgment that judgment is valid for ten years and you can renew that
judgment and try to collect.
Alderman Tibbs said right now they are going to try collections and so then if something should
pass and we come up with an agreement with the water company then that would be something
else that would be presented to vote on and it would be a completely different issue. We will go
with this first and if the other comes about then we will change off to that.
Mayor Snyder said obviously if we turn something over to a collection agency it’s out of your
hands at that point and they are going to do their best to collect. Alderman O’Donohue said he
thought if they would have to do that as part of the negotiation if you wanted it in the contract
with the collections and said you have two years to solve or we get it back. Mr. Conzo said
during that time I don’t think there is anything that prevents you from shutting the water off.
Mayor Snyder said if we do that and shut the water off and they pay then we’ve lost that 30%
and again it is hypothetical because it is not in place at this point. Mr. Conzo said you may recall
I talked with Belleville Treasurer where they do have a contract in place to turn off the water
and once they started doing that they didn’t have much to turn over to the collection agency
except for those that have left town. Mayor Snyder said Mr. Conzo was still trying to get a
copy of a contract they have with Illinois American Water and take a look at how they handle
the liability issue there. City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call. There were eight yeas
(Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman
Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O’Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and two
absent (Alderman Busby and Alderman Wilmert); motion carried.
New Business/Communications:
Approve Agreement for Legal Services with Woods and Bates
Alderman Anderson moved to Approve Agreement for Legal Services with Woods and Bates
at the same amount as the previous fiscal year and it is included the in the current budget and
Alderman Horn seconded it. Mayor Snyder asked if there was any discussion. City Clerk
Mrs. Martinek called the roll call. There were eight yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman
Armbrust, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman
O’Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and two absent (Alderman Busby and Alderman
Wilmert); motion carried.
Lincoln, Illinois
June 6, 2011; Page 5
Approve Fifth Street Road Agreement
Alderman Neitzel said is that the same agreement. Mr. Mathon said what had been distributed
and discussed included the revisions that had been requested previously at the committee as
a whole meeting in April. Alderman Neitzel asked it was the billing agreement. Mr. Mathon
said it is the agreement with the county for work (Fifth Street Road improvements). Alderman
Neitzel made a motion to approve the Fifth Street Road Agreement with Logan County and West
Lincoln Township and Alderman Bacon seconded it.
Mayor Snyder asked if there was any discussion on this and said as Mr. Mathon indicated there
was some discussion previously at a workshop meeting where the city requested some revisions
and Mr. Mathon passed those back to the County Engineer. They have agreed to those and asked
Mr. Mathon to just summarize briefly this calls for basically the funding agreement for Fifth
Street Road if the funding ever became available but also with the additional provision that the
city would take over a portion of the maintenance on Fifth Street Road.
Mr. Mathon said correct the County currently has a quarter mile section with either side of city
jurisdiction. Under the terms of this revised agreement the city will pick up the maintenance of
that portion and compensation from the accounting for doing so and when the agreement sunsets
in 5 years it goes back to the status quo.
Mayor Snyder asked if there were any questions or comments. Alderman Hoinacki said so they
would be doing maintenance from Lincoln Parkway clear out to I55. Mr. Mathon said currently
the city’s jurisdiction runs from Lincoln Parkway out to the western property line of Sysco and
thought it was about 600 feet short of the interstate bridge with the exception of the county’s
portion which runs between Picture This and Connolley Road. City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called
the roll call. There were eight yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Bacon,
Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O’Donohue, and Alderman
Tibbs), zero nays, and two absent (Alderman Busby and Alderman Wilmert); motion carried.
Letters of Understanding for Early Retirement Incentive
Alderman Anderson moved to approve 4 individual letters of understanding to each of the
bargaining units for the early retirement incentive very similar to what we have done in the past
but moved to approve the 4 and each should have one. Alderman Anderson moved to approve
the 4 letters of understanding one with each of the bargaining units for early retirement incentive
and Alderman Horn seconded it.
Mayor Snyder said just for a clarification he thought that previously the letter they saw was
where all four unions were asked to sign off on the letter and it was suggested by our Negotiation
Attorney to break it up in 4 individual letters so that each bargaining unit has the opportunity to
consider it individually and if one bargaining unit wanted to approve it and others were reluctant
for whatever reason it wouldn’t be held up in the reluctance.
Lincoln, Illinois
June 6, 2011; Page 6
Letters of Understanding for Early Retirement Incentive
Mayor Snyder said it provides that an employee that is currently covered by the city sponsored
health insurance if they are at least 50 years of age and not 55 on or before December 31 and if
they are going to retire prior to March 31, 2012 they have to let us know by October 1, 2011 and
then the city will pay ½ of the amount that we would otherwise agree to pay in the collective
bargaining unit agreement for their health insurance until they reach age 55. It is very similar to
the prior early retirement incentive that the city has done in years past. He asked if there was any
discussion or comments.
City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call. There were eight yeas (Alderman Anderson,
Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel,
Alderman O’Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and two absent (Alderman Busby and
Alderman Wilmert); motion carried.
Approve a new hire from the Police lateral hire list
Alderman Hoinacki moved to approve a new hire for the police department from the lateral
hiring list and Alderman Tibbs seconded it.
Police Chief Greenslate said it was with sadness and with pleasure that he received a letter of
resignation effective June 13 from Officer Kasey Slack who has accepted a position with the
State of Illinois. She has been an outstanding officer for us and they are going to miss her but
he does wish her well in her future endeavors. This is obviously going to create quite a few
overtime positions in the time that it takes to fulfill it and this just filling a vacancy that is being
created by her departure.
Mayor Snyder said the use of the new hire list will be to get someone in. Police Greenslate
said we will have somebody in with a very short period of time and by short period of time I
mean weeks or week and that person will be up and serving the City of Lincoln as opposed to a
new hire which would mean up to one year of training and the associated costs. Mayor Snyder
said the position is obviously built into the budget. Police Chief Greenslate said yes it is and
actually because it will be a new officer it will be a lesser salary. Mayor Snyder asked if there
was any other discussion. City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call. There were eight yeas
(Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman
Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O’Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and two
absent (Alderman Busby and Alderman Wilmert); motion carried.
Public Announcements
Mayor Snyder said they had received a letter from Libbi Stein with Comcast which had been
handed out. He said they were decreasing some and increasing more than decreasing.
Lincoln, Illinois
June 6, 2011; Page 7
Mayor Snyder said that he and Alderman Tibbs wanted to report on the drop boxes. They had
contacted everyone that has a drop box over on North Kickapoo Street location and all ten
organizations would like to acquire new boxes and have committed to purchasing the new boxes.
There are 2 slots that are available at the end. They will put out a press release where they open
it up to organizations or businesses that have the need for a drop box payment services and
afford them the opportunity to take one of those two spots and will do on a first come first serve
basis. The cost for installation and everything will probably be a little less than $400.00. It is
their goal to try and have the new boxes in there and to be spruced up by Balloon Fest.
Police Chief Greenslate said Friday, June 17, 2011 will by their 17th Annual DARA golf outing.
They do this as a fundraiser every year for DARE. They are still encouraging people who wish
to play in the golf outing and of course hole sponsors. It will be held at the Elks and tee off
begins at 12:30 p.m. It is $75.00 per player and covers your lunch, dinner and golf. They would
work with anyone for the hole sponsorships.
Alderman Neitzel made a motion to adjourn and Alderman Anderson seconded it. There were
eight yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Hoinacki,
Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O’Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and
two absent (Alderman Busby and Alderman Wilmert); motion carried.
The City Council Meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted By:
Risa Riggs
Recording Secretary
City of Lincoln