Minutes of the City of Lincoln City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, October 14, 2014.
Those present were Alderman Anderson, Alderman Bauer, Alderman Cooper, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, and Alderman Tibbs. Also present were Building and Safety Officer Mr. Lebegue, Street Department Superintendent Mr. Landers, EMC/American Water Mr. Ferguson, and Police Chief Greenslate. Also present were Mayor Snyder, City Attorney Mr. Bates, City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach, City Treasurer Mr. Conzo, and Recording Secretary Mrs. Riggs.
Mayor Snyder called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll call. There were seven Aldermen present (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Bauer, Alderman Cooper, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, and Alderman Tibbs) and one absent (Alderman O'Donohue).
Mayor Snyder led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Participation:
There was no Public Participation.
Petition from Don Sielaff for block party on 10/31/14:
Mayor Snyder said they could allow the blocking of 10th Street from N. Union to Chestnut or Mundy Street from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Alderman Neitzel liked N. Union being blocked to Chestnut. Alderman Hoinacki was also in favor. Everyone agreed to block from N. Union Street to Chestnut Street.
This Petition will be placed on the Agenda for Monday, October 20, 2014.
Petition from Main Street for Christmas parade on 12/4/14:
Mayor Snyder said Main Street did not list the streets for the parade route on their petition but submitted their Certificate of Liability Insurance. This item will be placed on the Consent Agenda for Monday, October 20, 2014. Alderman Tibbs will contact Mr. Tracy Welch, Chairman of Main Street Lincoln, for this information.
Sewer issues on Pulaski Street:
Mr. Ferguson said Stark came in and reconstructed the road (Pulaski from Hamilton to LaDue). There have been two sewer issues. The first issue was a slow draining sewer for a homeowner for a month or so and the homeowner decided to dig it up himself. A contractor was contacted to excavate his yard and found the tap was stubbed off and capped. After some due diligence it was found that it was tied into a neighbors sewer line. After discussion with Prairie Engineers and Stark Excavating there were several sewer lines that had more than one home on it. Letters will be sent out to the homeowners that are connected in these particular lines.
The second issue was another slow draining sewer at a vacant house. The contractor, Stark Excavating, on the project hooked up the lateral to an inactive line. Stark Excavating will be notified that the homeowner has suffered a sizable sewer repair bill. Mr. Ferguson will be calling Stark Excavating to seek reimbursement for this homeowner.
Comcast – agreements for transfer of Ch. 5 to Lincoln College:
Mayor Snyder said Comcast has been in discussion for several months with Lincoln College regarding Channel 5. Comcast has agreed to transfer Channel 5 to Lincoln College. Comcast and Lincoln College approached the City of Lincoln with two separate agreements.
Alderman Anderson said the City has always had a problem with Comcast not televising both City Council and Committee of the Whole meetings. Mayor Snyder said the Committee of the Whole meeting held twice a month has always been an issue with Comcast. The City has been told in the past that they did not have the personnel to broadcast the meetings. Alderman Bauer couldn't see why they couldn't have a Lincoln College student worker broadcasting the meetings. Mayor Snyder felt the City of Lincoln now has leverage with Comcast. City Treasurer Mr. Conzo said they receive almost $40,000.00 in franchise fees per quarter. Mayor Snyder said Comcast should provide a public access channel. It was agreed to place the EG agreement for transfer of Channel 5 to Lincoln College on the agenda for Monday, October 20, 2014. The 25 year franchise agreement with Comcast was entered into September of 1994, which ends August 31, 2019.
Proposed new bylaws from Logan County Economic Development:
Mayor Snyder said he and Alderman Horn attended the last meeting of the Logan County Economic Development Partnership. The partnership is preparing their bylaws. The new board would have one representative from each community but the County Board gets two members. Mayor Snyder said he and Alderman Horn had some issues with the proposed bylaws. Alderman Neitzel didn't feel that this would benefit the City. Alderman Anderson said she would not support not knowing what the dues would be or the fact that the City of Lincoln could lose their representation on the Logan County Economic Development but still be required to pay fees to the Logan County Economic Development. Alderman Bauer thought this was an additional cost without benefits.
Mayor Snyder said the City has paid the dues for the Logan County Economic Development through the end of April, 2015. There will be new opportunities for Economic Development through the UOC. Alderman Neitzel didn't think Economic Development had helped the City. Alderman Horn felt that at the meeting they were rude to Mayor Snyder and were not willing to answer questions when they were asked and didn't feel the need to support them.
The rejection of the Logan County Economic Development bylaws will be on the Agenda for Monday, October 20, 2014.
Proposed rent increase at Safety Complex from County Board:
Mayor Snyder said he received a letter from County Board Chairman Mr. Farmer informing the City that the space the City Police Department currently rents would be raised to $35,000.00 per year which will be effective December 1, 2014. The City is looking for other space for the Police Department. The increase is almost a $5,000.00 per year increase which is more than the City budgeted.
The Public Safety Committee is currently looking for space for the Police Department and Fire Department.
Mayor Snyder said he and a couple of Aldermen would talk with the County.
Authority for Street Dept to fill one vacant laborer position:
Mr. Landers requested authorization to hire an employee. This item will be placed on the Consent Agenda, for Monday, October 20, 2014.
Authorization to go out for bids on site preparation work at the Depot on or about Wednesday, October 29, with bids to be submitted on or about Wednesday, November 12:
Mayor Snyder said the bid package may be ready sometime next week but this needs authorization by the City Council to proceed. Everyone agreed to place this item on the Consent Agenda for Monday, October 20, 2014.
Information:
IDOT Public Meeting on Multi-Year Transportation Program, 10/22/14 in Springfield
PSB Committee meeting with architects, 10/22/14:
This was an information item.
Other discussion/informational items:
Mr. Landers said the City of Lincoln has fulfilled their part of the agreement with R & R. He asked if the City would like to give a set time to do this or to get another contractor to do the work. City Attorney Mr. Bates and Street Superintendent Mr. Landers will have another discussion.
Mr. Landers said leaf pickup will begin on October 27, 2014. There will be a press release at a later date.
Mayor Snyder announced that the Chamber After Hours is being hosted by the City of Lincoln on October 23, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Executive Session:
Personnel
Purchase or acquisition of real estate
Alderman Anderson moved to go into Executive Session pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) personnel and 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 seven yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Bauer, Alderman Cooper, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays and one absent (Alderman O'Donohue); motion carried.
The meeting adjourned to Executive Session at 7:56 p.m.
The meeting returned to regular Session at 8:31 p.m.
There were seven Aldermen present (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Bauer, Alderman Cooper, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, and Alderman Tibbs) and one absent (Alderman O'Donohue). Street Superintendent Mr. Landers was present. Also present were Mayor Snyder, City Attorney Mr. Blinn Bates, City Treasurer Mr. Conzo, City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach, and Recording Secretary Mrs. Riggs.
Upcoming Meetings:
Council: Tuesday, October 20, 2014 – 7:00 p.m.
Committee of Whole: Tuesday, October 28, 2014 – 7:00 p.m.
Alderman Neitzel made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Alderman Tibbs seconded it. There were seven yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Bauer, Alderman Cooper, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays and one absent (Alderman O'Donohue); motion carried.
The City of Lincoln Committee of the Whole Meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Risa Riggs, Recording Secretary
City of Lincoln