Lincoln, Illinois

December 1, 2008

Minutes of a regular City Council Meeting held in the Council Chambers of City Hall, Lincoln, IL, on Monday, December 1, 2008.

Mayor Davis-Kavelman called the regular City Council Meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.  City Clerk Ms. Riggs called the roll.  There were seven Aldermen present (Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Rohlfs, and Alderman Tibbs) and  three absent (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Hoinacki, and Alderman Prather).   Also present were Department Heads Fire Chief Hulett, Police Chief Erlenbush, City Engineer Mr. Mathon, Safety & Building Officer Mr. Last, and Street and Alley Superintendent Mr. Jackson.  Also present were City Treasurer Mr. Plotner, City Attorney Mr. Bates, City Clerk Ms. Riggs, and Mayor Davis-Kavelman. 

Those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Alderman Rohlfs. 

Mayor Davis-Kavelman called for the Presentation of the Minutes:

Alderman Neitzel said I make a motion to accept the Regular Council meeting minutes of 11/17/08 and Alderman Horn seconded it. There were seven yeas (Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Rohlfs, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and three absent (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Hoinacki, and Alderman Prather); motion carried.

Mayor Davis-Kavelman asked for the Presentation of Petitions:

Petition for removal of tree at 708 Lincoln Avenue by Robert R. Hall

Alderman Rohlfs said I move to approve the petition for removal of the tree at 708 Lincoln Avenue by Robert R. Hall and Alderman Armbrust seconded it.   City Clerk Ms. Riggs called the roll call.  There were seven yeas (Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Rohlfs, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and three absent (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Hoinacki, and Alderman Prather); motion carried.

Mayor Davis-Kavelman asked for the Presentation of Communications:

City Clerk Ms. Riggs read a thank you letter from Gary Davis.

City Clerk Ms. Riggs read a letter from Comcast.

Mayor Davis-Kavelman said I have mentioned this before but I would like to mention that Comcast calls me or has customers call my phone number and that is not the number to call.  The number to call is 217-735-1612 is not the number to call if you have a Comcast box or some installation problem because I don't know how to help you other than call you back and delay your process. 

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Mayor Davis-Kavelman asked for the Presentation of Bids:

Bids for 2 new police cars

Alderman Horn said I move to accept the bid of $50,936.00 for two new police cars from Jim Xamis Ford and Alderman Busby seconded it.  Mayor Davis-Kavelman said is there any discussion and she called on Alderman Horn.  Alderman Horn said yes we do have enough money between appropriations and general funds and then capital project funds to accept the bids. Mayor Davis-Kavelman said is there any further discussion and asked Police Chief Erlenbush if this was ok with him too.  Police Chief Erlenbush said yes ma'am.  City Clerk Ms. Riggs called the roll call.  There were seven yeas (Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Rohlfs, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and three absent (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Hoinacki, and Alderman Prather); motion carried.

The Mayor asked for the Presentation of Ordinances and Resolutions:

Possible Ordinance Amending the Lincoln/Logan County Enterprise Zone (tabled 11/17/08)

Alderman Rohlfs said she would like to leave this on the table as well as the Approval of request to expand the Lincoln/Logan County Enterprise Zone for International coal Group Illinois, LLC and related matters including possible Intergovernmental agreement (tabled 11/17/08) (item 12 A under New Business).

Proclamation for National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month - December, 2008

Alderman Rohlfs asked City Clerk Ms. Riggs to read the Proclamation.  City Clerk Ms. Riggs read the Proclamation.  Alderman Rohlfs said I move to adopt the Proclamation for National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month - December, 2008 and Alderman Neitzel seconded it.   Mayor Davis-Kavelman asked if there was any discussion on the Proclamation.   There were seven yeas (Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Rohlfs, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and three absent (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Hoinacki, and Alderman Prather); motion carried.

Mayor Davis-Kavelman said regarding Proclamations we probably should have mentioned that but it was supposed to be a surprise but last week we had a very nice Proclamation given to Congressman LaHood and very nice send off for him.  I thought it was very nice of the Council and everyone's input on that. That was a very good community effort. 

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The Mayor then asked for the Presentation of Claims, Presentations, Reading, Reference and Reports Thereon:

Alderman Neitzel made a motion by Roll Call to approve: Finance, Policy & Procedure, Sanitation, Insurance, and Grounds, Buildings & Local Improvements Committees' Reports by roll call and Alderman Horn seconded it. Mayor Davis-Kavelman asked if there was any discussion on the bills.  City Clerk Ms. Riggs called the roll call.  There were seven yeas (Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Rohlfs, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and three absent (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Hoinacki, and Alderman Prather); motion carried.

Mayor Davis-Kavelman then asked for the Presentation of Official Reports:

City Clerk Ms. Riggs said there were no Official Reports to come before the City Council.   

Mayor Davis-Kavelman asked for the Presentation of Special Reports:

Semi-Annual Oral Reports by the Department Heads (Police Chief Erlenbush, City Engineer Mr. Mathon, Safety and Building Officer Mr. Last, Street Superintendent Mr. Jackson, Fire Chief Hulett, and City Attorney Mr. Bates).

Mayor Davis-Kavelman said I guess at this time I do want to give a statement to the Council.  Usually this is when I give my two times per year statement.  This is a different special statement I think that I did want to give this to the Council and to the citizens of this wonderful city.  Statement to the Citizens of Lincoln, Illinois, Logan County and all of my beloved family and friends regarding my not seeking re-election to a third term as Mayor.  As most of you probably have ascertained by now I am officially announcing I will not be seeking re-election for a third term of this great city.  I received an exciting opportunity to pursue the career that I began 32 years ago.  For the past 28 years I've lived my life around Lincoln City Council meetings and Logan County Board meetings and my health, finances and family relationships have suffered because of it.  Do not be mistaken I love Lincoln, Illinois and I wish it the very best but it is time I move on to live the rest of my life, thank you my husband.  I am leaving this honorable post with the thoughts that I have made a positive difference in the lives of our citizens as well as been instrumental in bringing new economic growth to our community and during my two terms as Mayor some of the commissions I have established were as follows:  Lincoln Sesquicentennial Commission which we really had a wonderful time that was a ten day wonderful celebration of Abraham Lincoln's christening of our community and we worked on that for two and a half years, Lincoln Heritage Days Commission and the Fourth of July celebrations.  I would hope that some of these things would be continued but that's up to the new mayor can't say how that's going to go but up to the Council too.  Mayor's Commission on Disabilities, Seniors, Veterans and Youth I've been very proud of that commission especially our Street Superintendent Mr. Jackson took my vision and worked with that and money we got with disabled parking tickets we put in a fund and made handicap ramps and took us almost four years to do it but all the downtown and surrounding historical downtown district were accessible to the businesses and our community so that's a very positive thing. 

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December 1, 2008; Page 4

Special Statement by Mayor Davis-Kavelman

Mayor Davis-Kavelman said Lincoln Historic Homes and Buildings Commission that's one of my favorites we've had as far as trying to give information to the communities about historic preservation it's so important especially with such a historic town that we have.  Lincoln Beautification Commission that's an ongoing thing and we need to do a few things with ordinances made to expand that a little bit more help. Grants and Legislative Commission there has been with all the administrations ideas unfilled and mine were unfilled due to lack of city funding but I can only wish the new Mayor will believe in some of the City Council's and my ideas and continue forth with positive efforts and enhancements for our beloved city and county to make the change in this office a positive transition.  I very much enjoyed being your mayor these past 7 3/4ths years I'll finish up and be finished April 30 and a public servant to our community for twenty years prior to that.  I am not ruling out running for other public office in the future but I'm just taking a well deserved break.  Thanks again for allowing me the privilege for working with all of you who are dedicated Aldermen, Department Heads and employees making this city and county a wonderful community to live and work.  I am so very proud of all of you and have been humbled by your support in electing me three times into public office.  I want to leave you with I've got two quotes but one of them is one that has been sitting I don't know with all of the paperwork that goes through City Council here and I don't know who put that in there I don't know if it was one of our former Fire Chief's from years ago but that has been sitting in here since May 1, 2001 and it's never been moved but it is, I will read it to you it's by Laura Icily.  "Vision without action is just a dream.  Action without vision just passes the time and vision with action can change the world."  I'll put it back here I don't know I just pass it on here.  Anyway I want to leave you with one of my favorite quotes. "There are two kinds of people those who do the work on those who take the credit.  Try to be in the first group there is less competition there."  That was by Indira Gandhi.  God Bless all of you and our great city and county.  Thank you for everything. 

Mayor Davis-Kavelman asked for the Presentation of Unfinished Business:

City Clerk Ms. Riggs said there was no Unfinished Business to come before the City Council.

Mayor Davis-Kavelman asked for New Business:

Approval for a Resolution to be written to the representatives in the U. S. Congress in opposition of Federal Bailouts

Alderman Rohlfs said I would like to move to approve the writing of a Resolution for the U. S. Congress in opposition for the federal bailout and Alderman Neitzel seconded it.  Mayor Davis-Kavelman said is there any discussion on that. 

Alderman Rohlfs said that I think if every Alderman gets a copy of the National News and Nations City Weekly and there is an excellent article in there about how it's time for a lot of these bailouts to come back to the hometowns. 

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December 1, 2008; Page 5

Approval for a Resolution to be written to the representatives in the U. S. Congress in opposition of Federal Bailouts

Alderman Rohlfs said we have projects that have been put on hold for many years and perhaps we need to make a request to get some of our work done that needs to be done.  She said Alderman Prather brought this out at committee last week very, very nicely.  If you need to look at any information I suggest you go to this but based on that it is quite appropriate that we write a Resolution to the Senate regarding this issue.

Mayor Davis-Kavelman said are you putting that in the form of that we have Mr. Bates help with that.  Alderman Rohlfs said I would definitely approve he would have the language for it.  Mr. Bates said I have no idea what I'm writing.  Couldn't hear what Alderman Rohlfs and Mayor Davis-Kavelman said.  Alderman Rohlfs said actually I will write something and he can improve on it. 

Mayor Davis-Kavelman said any other discussions I do agree with all these things come down to the local level.  It just comes back to our pockets and we can't afford all this stuff. 

City Clerk Ms. Riggs called the roll call.  There were five yeas (Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Rohlfs, and Alderman Tibbs), two nays (Alderman Busby and Alderman Henrichsmeyer), and three absent (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Hoinacki, and Alderman Prather); motion failed.  Mayor Davis-Kavelman said there is some information if you would like to follow up on your own you can do that.

Approval of Alternate Crossing Guard

Alderman Horn said I move to the hiring of an alternate crossing guard which would be Ashley K. Buss and Alderman Busby seconded it.  Mayor Davis-Kavelman asked if there was any discussion.  City Clerk Ms. Riggs called the roll call.  There were seven yeas (Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Rohlfs, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and three absent (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Hoinacki, and Alderman Prather); motion carried.  Mayor Davis-Kavelman said do we have a hire date or should we hire her immediately. 

Mayor Davis-Kavelman said moving back to Approval for a Resolution to be written to the representatives in the U. S. Congress in opposition of Federal Bailouts Mr. Bates looked up the law and would you like to go. 

Mr. Bates said I believe it takes a majority of those elected we have a quorum present of seven it does not take more than a majority of those present so the motion does pass on the Resolution.  Mayor Davis-Kavelman said the motion passes so there is more work and you will get with City Attorney Mr. Bates on that.  Mr. Bates said it is not a vote that requires a majority vote of those elected.

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December 1, 2008; Page 6

Decision on Campus View Drive sewer

Alderman Neitzel said I would like to table this please.  Mr. Bates said is that a motion.  Alderman Neitzel said I make a motion to table the decision on Campus View Drive sewer and Alderman Henrichsmeyer seconded it.  City Clerk Ms. Riggs called the roll call.  There were seven yeas (Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Rohlfs, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and three absent (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Hoinacki, and Alderman Prather); motion carried. 

Alderman Neitzel made a motion to adjourn and Alderman Horn seconded it.  There were seven yeas (Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Rohlfs, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and three absent (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Hoinacki, and Alderman Prather); motion carried. 

The City Council Meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted By:

Risa Riggs

Minutes as recorded in this document were approved by a vote of the City Council on December 15, 2008.

Melanie J. Riggs, City Clerk