Minutes of a regular City Council Meeting held in the Council Chambers of City Hall, Lincoln, IL, on Monday, March 21, 2016.

Mayor Neitzel called the regular City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll.  There were seven Aldermen present (Alderman Bauer, Alderman Hoefle, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Mourning, Alderman Tibbs and Alderman Welch) and one absent (Alderman Parrott). Also present were Street Superintendent Mr. Landers, Police Chief Adams, and Fire Chief Miller.  Also present were Mayor Neitzel, City Treasurer Mr. Conzo, City Administrator Mr. Johnson, City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach, and Recording Secretary Mrs. Riggs.

Mayor Neitzel led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Presentation from Adena Rivas, Representative from Elevate Energy, will explain the meter and grid upgrades to Ameren’s electric system

Adena Rivas said that Ameren is upgrading to a smart grid.  The electrical grid has not been changed in over 100 years.  This is digitizing by placing new smart meters.  The second phase will have signals which will allow quicker response times to figure out where the issue is.  They do home evaluations.  The cost to evaluate to your home is based on your income.

Public Participation:

Thomas O’Donohue, President and Keith Snyder, Treasurer of the Logan County Alliance were present to discuss the Funding Agreement with the City of Lincoln.  Mr. Snyder said Mr. Pollice was not able to be present for this meeting.  The board wanted to have a discussion with the comments made by Mayor Neitzel at the Grand Opening of the Lincoln 8 Theater.  Mr. Snyder also said the City has the right to ask for an audit and just needed to ask for that audit.  The Tourism Bureau cannot be audited by the City.  The Tourism Bureau has hired a company from Springfield to do an audit.

Mr. O’Donohue said the City of Lincoln will receive a copy of their audit.  Logan County Alliance is still the Chamber of Commerce.  The Chamber is a 506(a) organization.  He did not know of any authority that the City had to audit.  He said that Mrs. Hoefle put on a good presentation.  The board has decided that if Mrs. Hoefle is interested in being a board member that they have a seat for her.  They have decided that if an exificio seat is needed they will place someone from the City Council in that position.

Mrs. Hoefle said there was nothing on the website.  She would be interested in being a member of the Alliance.  Mr. O’Donohue said they are doing a full audit review. 

Mrs. Hoefle had questions from Alderman Mourning’s Facebook page.  She was supporting an audit and thought they had inflated the Chamber assets. 

Alderman Mourning said there was so much information and requested a copy of the presentation before the meeting and was denied.  Mayor Neitzel ended the conversation with Mrs. Hoefle. 

Mr. Jason Hoffman was present about the sculpture, named “Maintain Equilibrium”.  He was hoping to inspire everyone. 

Mr. Lance Rainforth wanted to know how often we have to hear about an association that is not in question.  He said his first point was procedural structure.  There was social media from Todd Mourning which went to him via Michelle Bauer.  Technology in the Chamber there has been texting, emails, etc. which falls under FOIA. The Logan County Alliance has used the same Council (Mr. Blinn Bates).  He felt that a third party audit needs to take place. 

Alderman Bauer said we have often had the same legal counsel.  Mr. Rainforth said this is not a co-counsel situation. 

Mr. Don Frontone brought more information for the City Council on the numbers on the rate zones for Ameren.  The rates had to be lowered due to Ameren having excess power. 

City Administrator Mr. Johnson said when the City Council decides they are ready to go out for bids for electric aggregation and it will be with ICCAN until the contract runs out. 

Mr. Frontone read an article from the Courier.  He was here for the citizens and to educate.  He offers his assistance for free and is a citizen of Lincoln.  The City needs some unity and healing.  Nothing has been done to this point.  He wanted to know why the City’s consultant has not gone out for bids at this point.

Alderman Mourning asked when the Contract with ICCAN is up. Mr. Johnson said he believed it was May.  Alderman Bauer said they would be willing to look and see what the rates are doing. 

Mr. Sink said the amount was excessive and it sounds very high and felt that it was unfair to the citizens of Lincoln.  He wanted to see the Council forego that fee.

Mr. Tobi Grinch was present to ask what Art was.  Art gives the opportunity for everyone to use their imagination.

Mayor Neitzel called for the Consent Agenda by Omnibus Vote:

Payment of Bills

Approval of minutes for December 15, 2015 Committee of the Whole Meeting

Request from Caleb Meador, Boy Scout Troop 1102, to permit the installation of a headstone on the Lincoln Depot grounds to honor Korean War Veterans for Eagle Scout Project

Approval of Lincoln Speedway Schedule for 2016 with a total of 90 minutes time extensions for the season

Approval of request to permit of Postville Park by VFW Post 1756 during Route 66 Garage Sale from Thursday, June 9, 2016 through Sunday, June 12, 2016

Approval of request from the St. Jude Lincoln to Peoria Rn Team for collection of donations at the intersection of Broadway St. and N. McLean Street on Saturday, May 14, 2016 and Saturday June 11, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Approval of Memorandum of Understanding between the Kiwanis Club and the City of Lincoln for the upkeep of park space in the 200 block of N. Union Street

Approval of Mayoral Proclamation #315 of National Lutheran Schools Week from March 7 through March 11, 2016

Approval of Mayoral Proclamation #316 of April 5, 2016 as “National Service Recognition Day”

Approval of Mayoral Proclamation #317of March 29, 2016 as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veteran’s Day”

Alderman Horn moved to approve the Consent Agenda as read and Alderman Tibbs seconded it.  City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll call.  There were seven yeas (Alderman Bauer, Alderman Hoefle, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Mourning, Alderman Tibbs and Alderman Welch), zero nays, and one absent (Alderman Parrott); motion carried.

Mayor Neitzel read the Mayoral Proclamation for the “Welcome Home Vietnam Veteran’s Day” on March 29, 2016.

Mayor Neitzel read the Proclamation for the “National Service Recognition Day” on April 5, 2016.

Ordinances and Resolutions

There were no Ordinances or Resolutions to come before the City Council.

Bids:

Consideration of bids from January 2016 for the Library Parking Lot Improvements

Alderman Bauer moved to reject the bids from January 2016 for the Library Parking Lot Improvements and Alderman Horn seconded it.  City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll call.  There were seven yeas (Alderman Bauer, Alderman Hoefle, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Mourning, Alderman Tibbs and Alderman Welch), zero nays, and one absent (Alderman Parrott); motion carried.

Reports:

City Treasurer gave an oral report for February 2016, and a copy is on file.

City Clerk Report for February 2016 is on file.

Department Heads Reports for January 2016 (Reports on file are Building and Safety Department 2015 Final Activity Report, Lincoln Police Department and Lincoln Fire Department)

New Business/Communications:

Authorization for artist Jason Hoffman and Moses Pinkerton to proceed with installation of art project at the corner of Kickapoo and Pekin Streets and to reimburse their material and consumable costs in an amount not to exceed $2,200.00

Alderman Bauer moved to approve and Alderman Hoinacki seconded it. Alderman Bauer agreed to withdraw her motion and Alderman Hoinacki seconded it.  Alderman Bauer moved to table the Kickapoo Street and Pekin Street art project and Alderman Hoinacki seconded it.  City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll call.  There were seven yeas (Alderman Bauer, Alderman Hoefle, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Mourning, Alderman Tibbs and Alderman Welch), zero nays, and one absent (Alderman Parrott); motion carried.

Authorization to proceed with the installation of the East-West sewer line in the alley behind MKS Jewelry to Kickapoo Street

Alderman Bauer moved to approve and Alderman Hoinacki seconded it.  City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll call.  There were seven yeas (Alderman Bauer, Alderman Hoefle, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Mourning, Alderman Tibbs and Alderman Welch), zero nays, and one absent (Alderman Parrott); motion carried.

Approval of change orders #2-4 to Spirtas Wrecking for work at the Lincoln Depot in an amount not to exceed $27,125.00

Alderman Hoinacki moved to approve and Alderman Bauer seconded it.  City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll call.  There were seven yeas (Alderman Bauer, Alderman Hoefle, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Mourning, Alderman Tibbs and Alderman Welch), zero nays, and one absent (Alderman Parrott); motion carried.

Authorization of additional work at the Lincoln Depot by Spirtas Wrecking in an amount not to exceed $80,640.00

Alderman Hoinacki moved to approve and Alderman Tibbs seconded it.  City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll call.  There were seven yeas (Alderman Bauer, Alderman Hoefle, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Mourning, Alderman Tibbs and Alderman Welch), zero nays, and one absent (Alderman Parrott); motion carried.

Approval of amendment to the contract between Konica Minolta and the City of Lincoln

Alderman Bauer moved to approve and Alderman Mourning seconded it.  City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll call.  There were seven yeas (Alderman Bauer, Alderman Hoefle, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Mourning, Alderman Tibbs and Alderman Welch), zero nays, and one absent (Alderman Parrott); motion carried.

Authorization for the City of Lincoln to join the Route 66 Scenic Byway Organization in amount not to exceed $400.00

Alderman Tibbs moved to approve and Alderman Bauer seconded it.  City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll call.  There were seven yeas (Alderman Bauer, Alderman Hoefle, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Mourning, Alderman Tibbs and Alderman Welch), zero nays, and one absent (Alderman Parrott); motion carried.

Authorization for the City of Lincoln to request that Logan County Alliance and Logan County Tourism Bureau submit to an audit by an independent auditor

Alderman Tibbs moved to approve and Alderman Hoefle seconded it.  City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll call.  There were five yeas (Alderman Hoefle, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Tibbs and Alderman Welch), two nays (Alderman Bauer and Alderman Mourning), and one absent (Alderman Parrott); motion carried.

Other Discussion:

Alderman Hoinacki thanked everyone who came out for the Boy Scout barbecue. 

Alderman Hoefle said the Oasis will have Coney dogs on Thursday and he understood that the City Attorney’s mother had been rushed to the hospital. 

Mayor Neitzel said this Wednesday, March 23, 2016 a combined meeting with the Logan County Board will be held at the Lincoln Park District (Rec Center) at 7:00 p.m.

Alderman Tibbs moved to adjourn the meeting and Alderman Hoinacki seconded it.  There were seven yeas (Alderman Bauer, Alderman Hoefle, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Mourning, Alderman Tibbs and Alderman Welch), zero nays, and one absent (Alderman Parrott); motion carried.

The City Council Meeting was adjourned at 9:19 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted By:

Risa Riggs

Recording Secretary