Minutes of the City of Lincoln City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, August 11, 2015.
Those present were Alderman Bauer, Alderman Cooper, Alderman Hoinacki Alderman Horn, Alderman Mourning, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Parrott, and Alderman Tibbs and none absent. Also present were Street Department Superintendent Mr. Landers, Fire Chief Miller, Building and Safety Officer Mr. Lebegue, EMC/American Water Mr. Ferguson and Police Chief Adams. Also present were City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach, City Attorney Mr. Blinn Bates, City Administrator Mr. Johnson, City Treasurer Mr. Conzo, and Recording Secretary Mrs. Riggs.
Acting Mayor Cooper called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. There were eight Aldermen present (Alderman Bauer, Alderman Cooper, Alderman Hoinacki Alderman Horn, Alderman Mourning, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Parrott and Alderman Tibbs) and none absent.
Acting Mayor Cooper led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Participation:
Mr. Bob Rankin with the Railsplitter Festival was present to ask for the City of Lincoln’s financial support. This will be in the amount of $1,500.00 which is in the City’s budget. This will be placed on the agenda for Monday, August 17, 2015.
Logan County Bike Trail Plan Final Draft:
Mr. Bret Aukamp was present to discuss the plan by the Farnsworth Group for the Logan County Bike Trail. This is the beginning of building the network with other communities. The Logan County Regional Commission has undertaken this process. There has been some preliminary discussions with the railroad about the old railroad line that was taken out.
Presentation by Logan County Humane Society:
Mr. Josh Slightom with Anytime Fitness was present to discuss Woofstock. He was asking the City of Lincoln to declare the 3rd week of September as Animal Awareness Week. This will be placed on the Consent Agenda on for August 17, 2015.
Presentation by Logan County Alliance:
City Administrator Mr. Johnson said the Logan County Alliance would like to do their presentation on August 17, 2015 while it is being televised.
Ordinance: Amending City Code for Fence Requirement:
Mr. Lebegue said there isn’t much in the City’s code for fences. There are no height standards in the code. A five (5) foot setback would be needed for any home. The Planning Commission has approved these requirements. The code will need to be changed to allow fencing for the Industrial district. The residential code will need to be changed to delete the sentence “The fence shall not, however, extend it to the required front yard (Section 11-6-2E and 11-6-3F)”.
This will be placed on the agenda for Monday, August 17, 2015.
Reimbursement Agreement – High Speed Rail Program:
City Administrator Mr. Johnson said this was discussed during budget time with the relocation of a decorative light. The City of Lincoln incurred costs at the direction of IDOT. This will be reimbursed to the City of Lincoln. This will be on the Consent Agenda for Monday, August 17, 2015.
Ordinance: Establishing the Sewer Clerk Position:
City Administrator Mr. Johnson said that with the retirement of the Police Secretary and the new ordinance for the Police Secretary position, there was only one person left in the union. The City did not have a structure for a non-union employee. There was discussion on the skill set of the individual in the Sewer office, the IT skills, and raises for the extra work that has been accomplished. City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach said the individual should receive the full amount of what was budgeted. This individual has designed and fixed issues with the computer system that saved the City of Lincoln several thousand dollars. It was agreed to give $25,750.00 for the annual salary. This will be placed on the agenda for Monday, August 17, 2015.
Façade Review Committee Application and Recommendation – 501 S. Kickapoo Street:
Amanda Cross has purchased the White Auction House and will be making it into a sports facility which will initially be for softball. City Administrator Mr. Johnson felt that $4,400 would be an acceptable amount. The overall project has a cost of $34,000.00. This will be placed on the agenda for Monday, August 17, 2015.
2015 Road Resurfacing and Sidewalk Replacement Program:
This will be placed on the agenda for Monday, August 17, 2015.
Consideration of Pre-Tax Contributions for Fire Department:
This is a one-time deal for the Fire Pension. There are still some questions that the IRS will need to answer. This will be placed on the Agenda for Monday, August 17, 2015.
Tropics Sign Rehabilitation Memorandum of Understanding:
City Administrator Mr. Johnson said back in the spring the Goodrich/Johnson family was concerned about the restoration and keeping the sign in Lincoln. Tourism will own the sign and be the lead in rehabilitation and, if the sign is ever discarded it will go back to the Goodrich/Johnson family. This will be placed on the agenda for Monday, August 17, 2015.
Library Parking Lot Cost Sharing Agreement:
City Administrator Mr. Johnson said the Library will give an amount up to $35,000.00 for their share of the project. The grants are not available while the State does not have a budget. Mr. Ferguson said the $25,000.00 might have to be used in the sewer issues. This will be placed on the agenda for Monday, August 17, 2015.
Acceptance of Rescue Truck Bids:
Fire Chief Miller said the lowest bid came from Graue Chevrolet in the amount of $41,097.00. This will be placed on the agenda for Monday, August 17, 2015.
Acceptance of Spray Patcher Bids:
Street Superintendent Mr. Landers said the spray patching machine would be a more permanent solution. The street spray patcher and tank cost is approximately $80,000.00. This will be placed on the agenda for Monday, August 17, 2015.
City Administrator Mr. Johnson said he has worked with a company to have a payment for equipment being purchased at a previous employer. This would make it so the budget wouldn’t take such a hit all at once. A proposal will be put together and will be brought back to the City Council.
Approval of Advance Checks to City Officials for IML Annual Conference:
City Administrator Mr. Johnson said they City Council should consider doing reimbursement instead of doing advance checks. This will be placed on the Consent Agenda for Monday, August 17, 2015.
Advise and Consent to Selection of Deputy Chief:
Police Chief Adams said his selection for Deputy Police Chief would be Sergeant Matthew Vhalovich. This will be placed on the agenda for Monday, August 17, 2015.
Authorization to Hire Police Officer:
Police Chief Adams said with the retirement of Police Chief Greenslate they need a replacement officer from the new hire list. This will be placed on the agenda for Monday, August 17, 2015.
Authorization to Hire Street Department Employee:
Street Superintendent Mr. Landers would like the new employee to start on August 31, 2015. This will be on the agenda for Monday, August 17, 2015.
Other Discussion:
Acting Mayor Cooper said that Saturday, August 15, 2015 an ALS benefit would be held at the Stag-R-Inn in Emden.
Acting Mayor Cooper said a letter was received by the LCHS sophomore class asking to use the Street Department on North Hamilton to build their float. He said he would be sending them a letter that they could use the facility to build their float.
Acting Mayor Cooper stated that there was going to be a celebrity donkey race to assist with the Balloon Fest costs. He said the race would be on Saturday, August 29, 2015 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Executive Session:
There was no Executive Session.
Upcoming Meetings:
Council: Monday, August 17, 2015 – 7:00 p.m.
Committee of Whole: Tuesday, September 15, 2015 – 7:00 p.m.
Alderman Tibbs made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Alderman Neitzel seconded it. There were eight ayes (Alderman Bauer, Alderman Cooper, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Mourning, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Parrott and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.
The City of Lincoln Committee of the Whole Meeting adjourned at 9:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Risa Riggs
Recording Secretary
City of Lincoln