Minutes of the City of Lincoln City Council Committees' Meeting held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, August 13, 2013.

Those present were Alderman Anderson, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs. Also present were Street Superintendent Mr. Jackson, City Engineer Mr. Forgy, Safety and Building Officer Mr. Lebegue, Fire Chief Miller, American Water/EMC Mgr. Mr. Ferguson, and Police Chief Greenslate. Also present were Mayor Snyder, City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach, City Treasurer Mr. Conzo, City Administrator Ms. McLaughlin, and Recording Secretary Mrs. Riggs.  

Mayor Snyder called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. There were five Aldermen present (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs) and three absent (Alderman Carmitchel, Alderman Hoinacki, and Alderman Wilmert).

Public Comment:

Wanda Rohlfs was present to discuss the utility tax and said she thought most of the Aldermen had received an email from her regarding the utility tax. She had the following questions and the following answers were given:

1. 1.Electric aggregate and possible costs that might increase Ameren Cilco and what happens in a year when the issue of an electric aggregate increase and the possibility with Ameren’s rates going up and how will that be impacted by the utility tax? Mayor Snyder said a year from now when the aggregate rates expire, the City of Lincoln of Lincoln will put together a packet of information, go out to the market and solicit bids and take the lowest appropriate bid which could go up or down. Alderman Anderson said the tax is not on the dollar amount but on the usage.
2. 2.Will this be a burden (as much as $30.00 per month) to some of the citizens of Lincoln, especially those on a fixed living? Mayor Snyder said it will not be any where close to $30.00 per month and a guess for 4% on $100.00 is only $4.00.
3. 3.What will this tax go towards and is there a breakdown for each of the items it is going toward? Mayor Snyder said it will come up later tonight on the agenda but it is for a public safety building, sewer construction, downtown improvements, and pension contributions.
4. 4.Have all avenues been exhausted at looking at how this can be financed without going through with this tax? Alderman Anderson said she received a letter from a constituent talking about when the safety complex was built and a unique way they approached that but has not found any information on how they actually did that.

Dan Fulscher said the safety complex when it was built had federal and state funding and 80% was grant funding. Mr. Fulscher’s father (Harold Fulscher) was the finance chairman at the time and they paid 5% at the time and $500.00 per month for 20 years. Harold Fulscher and Bud Behrens were involved from the beginning.

Mr. Fulscher said the new weather watch system is up and running. There will be future upgrades on their software. There will be a Hazard Mitigation Plan on October 17, 2013 at Lincoln Park District from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Mayor Snyder announced that Dan had received the EMA Coordinator of the Year.  

Revision for Street Cut Specifications:

Ms. McLaughlin said this previously went through the zoning office. This will now go through the City Engineer. Mr. Ferguson said this came up on some of the projects for the sewer. Mayor Snyder asked to have this item on the Agenda as an Ordinance.

Smoke-free Playgrounds:

Mayor Snyder said this was presented by a group from the High School that came to the City Council. Mayor Snyder asked to have it on the agenda for Monday, August 19, 2013.

Lincoln Police (School Resource Officer) SRO Contract:

Ms. McLaughlin said that Police Chief Greenslate had been working on this with the school Superintendent.

Police Chief Greenslate said this will be paid one-half by Lincoln Community High School and one-half by the City of Lincoln. He has applied for a grant to help pay for this position. Hours will coincide with school hours and would be assigned back to the police department during school breaks.

Ms. McLaughlin said Police Chief Greenslate was told he had to find the money to do this in his budget. Police Chief Greenslate said a new hire list is being prepared and there is a lateral hire list with names also. Police Chief Greenslate said it is the cost of a non probationary officer (approximately $43,000.00).

Mayor Snyder said this item could be placed under New Business on the agenda Monday, August 19, 2013.

Purchase of dump truck:

Ms. McLaughlin said this item was self explanatory and was on the list. Mr. Wright said the 1980 truck they are replacing is not usable and the new truck will be set up to do more than the current truck. Mayor Snyder asked to have this item placed on the Consent Agenda for Monday, August 19, 2013.

Resolution Regarding 2012 NFPA Life Safety Code:

Ms. McLaughlin said the State Fire Marshall brought this to her attention. Ms. McLaughlin said she and Mr. Lebegue are against this new code to put in sprinklers for single family residences. Fire Chief Miller sided with the State Fire Marshall. Everyone decided to wait.

Utility Tax Discussion:

Mayor Snyder had a handout entitled Rebuilding our Foundation. This is for things such as downtown revitalization, public safety building, pensions, and sewer construction. There were tours taken tonight at the police station and fire department. He said they could pay a certain amount and reach 90% funding of the pensions by 2040.

Alderman Anderson said the city would be issuing the bonds. She is not in favor of a West Side Fire Station.

Mayor Snyder said an architect has been engaged.

Fire Chief Miller said the fire department needs more space. Alderman Anderson said assuming we take this route how soon it would take effect. Ms. McLaughlin said it would be October 1 to start collecting the utility tax. Mayor Snyder said it is not an increase on the property taxes. Mr. Ferguson said the MFT fund is getting smaller every year with the fuel efficient vehicles. Mayor Snyder said the City is still looking for grants to benefit the city.

Ms. McLaughlin said the City of Roselle is offering a rebate program for the senior citizens. Ms. McLaughlin is going to look into this program.

Mayor Snyder asked to have this Ordinance on the agenda for Monday, August 19, 2013.

Other Discussion:

Mr. Forgy stated that the estimate was $1,593,986.50 and the bids came in over the budgeted amount.

The following bids were received for Pulaski Street:

UCM of Springfield, Illinois with a bid of $2,342,878.99

Stark Excavating of Bloomington, Illinois with a bid of $1,770,913.87

Mr. Forgy said the bid for Oglesby Bridge was higher than the last bid they received.

Upcoming Meetings:

Council:                          August 19, 2013 – 7:00 p.m.                              

Committee of Whole:     August 27, 2013 – 7:00 p.m.

Alderman Anderson moved to go into Executive Session under 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(5) purchase or lease of real estate and Alderman Horn seconded it. City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll call. There were five yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs) zero nays, and three absent (Alderman Carmitchel, Alderman Hoinacki, and Alderman Wilmert); motion carried. The meeting adjourned to Executive Session at 8:19 p.m.

The meeting returned to regular Session at 8:51 p.m. City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll. There were five Aldermen present (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O’Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs) and three absent (Alderman Carmitchel, Alderman Hoinacki, and Alderman Wilmert). City Engineer Mr. Forgy was present. Also present were Mayor Snyder, City Attorney Mr. Blinn Bates, City Treasurer Mr. Conzo, City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach, City Administrator Ms. McLaughlin, and Recording Secretary Mrs. Riggs.

Alderman Neitzel made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Alderman Anderson seconded it. There were five yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs) zero nays, and three absent (Alderman Carmitchel, Alderman Hoinacki, and Alderman Wilmert); motion carried.

The City of Lincoln Committee’s as a Whole Meeting adjourned at 8:56 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Risa Riggs, Recording Secretary