[SEPT. 18, 2002]  Lincoln City Council members ceremoniously bowed to Big Brother this week, averting a lawsuit against the city. They unanimously passed a zoning ordinance amendment that will now permit the construction of Community Integrated Living Arrangement units, CILAs, in residential areas zoned R-1.

The amendment was prompted when Community Services Foundation, Inc. and Charleston Transitional Facility, Inc., part of the Alan G. Ryle Companies, took issue with the city after they were turned down for a building permit. The company wanted to construct a CILA on a lot in Stonebridge subdivision, an R-1 area.

The firm filed a lawsuit in federal court in May alleging violations of the Fair Housing Act. Their attorney, David Krchak, said they would drop the lawsuit if the city would amend its zoning ordinance so that they could attain the building permit.

At the Sept. 10 public hearing, Krchak was the first to step forward. He spoke on behalf of Charleston Transitional Facility, saying the company expressed appreciation to the city for considering this amendment. It complies with the law regarding the needs of developmentally disabled people. These are people who are unable to live independently but can live in homes with supervision.

Mayor Davis addressed the room, saying that the individuals we are talking about are a protected class. Whether we like it or not, this is something we have to comply with. The law supersedes us.

The only challenge to the subject came from property developer Dan Bock. He questioned whether the contracts the residents held within their subdivision held any value. He asked about the subdivision residents’ rights: the right to purchase, the right to sell, the right to quiet enjoyment, the right to dispose of the property.

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City Attorney Bill Bates responded to Bock, beginning with the subdivision contracts. Bates said that it sounded like a covenant issue between the residents and the developer. He explained that "our ordinance does not have to do with covenants." That would be a private matter between the developer and property owners, not a violation of an ordinance. "Our difficulty is that by federal standards our ordinance does not comply with the law." He added, "I have no idea of what you define as quiet enjoyment."

No one else spoke.

Before bringing it to a vote on Monday, Sept. 16, Mayor Davis asked if there was any discussion.

Alderman Bill Melton opened, saying, "I will be voting for this... Though, I am personally opposed to it, as a responsible elected official, from that I assume I must uphold the laws ‘Big Brother’ has passed on to us. I don’t agree with it. So, that is the only reason I will vote for it."

Alderman Steve Fuhrer followed with the same sentiment, "I feel the same way… I don’t feel we really have a good choice. I just don’t like the idea that we’re just wide open. I wish we had a better alternative than what we have. Like what Bill said, it’s pretty much what we have to deal with so… I’m only going to vote yes because I feel I have to."

Dittos went around the room.

The aldermen voted unanimously to approve the amendment that would allow the construction of CILAs in R-1 residential areas.

[Jan Youngquist]

[SEPT. 18, 2002]  In spite of reservations about its zoning ordinances, the Logan County Board in its Tuesday night voting session approved Country Home District zoning for Bradley Luckhart’s 13.542-acre development in West Lincoln Township.

Four of the 13 board members voted against the zoning change: Clifford Sullivan, Roger Bock, Lloyd Hellman and Rodney White. White said his "no" vote was an objection to the procedure followed by the board, which he said was incomplete, not to the zoning change itself.

White has previously objected in principle to the country home zoning, which is less strict than R-1 zoning, and has said the board should rework its 30-year-old zoning ordinances.

Board president Dick Logan also said the zoning ordinances need to be reviewed, but he added that Luckhart has met all the requirements specified in the ordinance as it presently stands.

At last Thursday’s county board work session, several neighbors objected to the zoning change. A major concern was about an adequate water supply to serve the planned 15 new homes in the area.

County engineer Tom Hickman told the board last week he was checking with the Illinois State Water Survey to see if the aquifer would support the proposed new homes. He still had not received an answer by Tuesday, he said.

He is also checking with the state’s attorney’s office to see if the subdivision ordinance requires the county to assure homeowners an adequate water supply. Even if it does not, he intends to complete his check with the state and report to the board, he told the Lincoln Daily News.

Luckhart’s proposed subdivision is located on 840th Avenue, on the south side of Route 10 just past Kickapoo Creek and west of Interstate 55. His present plat shows two five-acre lots, 11 one-acre lots and two lots of slightly more than one acre. However, he has said the plat may be changed. He has also built 980 feet of road to serve the new homes.

Eric Spanton, one of the neighbors who objected last week, told the board the deputy director of Illinois Department of Transportation said the plan for the road should be resubmitted to IDOT. Hickman, however, said he had talked to the head of the IDOT permit section, who said there was no problem with the new roadway.

Before any construction can begin on the 13 acres that were rezoned, a final plat must be submitted and approved by Hickman, the county’s planning commission, and the county board.

In other business, finance chairman Rodney White reported that the county will be looking at a deficit budget next year, and the deficit for the current year will probably be even greater than anticipated.

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For fiscal 2002, which ends Nov. 30, auditor Gary Hetherington anticipates expenses will be $400,000 more than revenue, instead of the $300,000 predicted. The fiscal 2003 budget looks even worse, with expenses of $700,000 over revenue.

This is a "double whammy," White said, but the county has weathered that before. Ten years ago, there were two deficit budgets in a row.

The problem, which is nationwide, is decreasing revenue. Low interest rates cut revenue from investments, and lower sales cut tax revenues.

"All revenues are down, across the board. There is no bright spot to look for. The only way to significantly increase revenue is to increase tax levies," White said. The county does not levy the maximum amount it could by law in the general fund.

White gave the board a memo showing that requests from various departments for money from the general fund are up for fiscal 2003. Last year’s funding totaled $4,701,200, and this year’s requests are $4,779,800, $78,600 more.

The finance committee will have a special meeting Friday morning at 8 to continue work on next year’s budget, and White urged as many board members as possible to attend and help find ways to pare expenses.

In other business, the board voted unanimously to approve a study for a greenways and bike trail development. The Department of Natural Resources will make up to $20,000 available for the study.

Terry Werth of the buildings and grounds committee reported that a good turnout of volunteers Saturday completed the work of installing playground equipment at Scully Park. Werth and Logan both reported seeing 30 to 35 children playing on the new equipment.

In a special ceremony, Emergency Services and Disaster Agency Assistant Director Terry Storer was presented a plaque from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, certifying that he has completed the Professional Development Series to reach "standards of excellence in emergency management."

EDSA Director Dan Fulscher, who presented the plaque, said Storer completed the work required for certification in only two years. It generally requires from five to seven years to complete the 240 hours of class work, he said.

Fulscher also announced that the yearly ESDA exercise will be at the safety complex on Sunday, Sept. 29, from 1 to 5 p.m. He invited all board members to come to the tabletop exercise.

[Joan Crabb]

[SEPT. 18, 2002]  The first Avon Breast Cancer Crusade in Lincoln, sponsored by Main Street Lincoln and Avon Products, Inc., brought about 100 residents to the north side of the Logan County Courthouse Tuesday.

Visitors found a pink line on the sidewalk, free pink lemonade and pink-frosted cookies, a tree decorated with pink ribbons, and various shades of pink lipstick to buy to help fight breast cancer.

Those who came by at noon heard George Mitchell, mayor pro tem, read a proclamation naming Sept. 17 as Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Day of Commitment in Lincoln. Mitchell stood in for Mayor Elizabeth Davis, who was unable to attend the ceremony.

Manning the Avon booth, which was selling Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer lipsticks with appropriate names like Brave Brocade, Courageous Coral, Crusade Rose and Determined Red, were Lisa Haynes of Decatur, Connie Stiltz of Topeka, Mary Leach of Mechanicsburg and Larry Adams, Lincoln’s own "Avon Man," according to his auto license plate.

Many of those who bought lipstick also gave an extra dollar for a pink ribbon to hang on a 5-foot rose of Sharon tree that will be planted on the grounds of the Depot restaurant. By noon the four dozen pink ribbons Adams had brought were gone and people were signing up for more.

Most of those who bought ribbons added the name of a breast cancer victim to the ribbon before it was put on the tree. The rose of Sharon was donated by Lori Page of Bee’s Floral and Landscaping, Lincoln.

An engraved marker will also be placed on the Depot grounds.

[Photos by Joan Crabb]

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Avon began sponsoring its Breast Cancer Crusade in 1993 and so far has raised more than $200 million for the cause, according to the company’s literature.

The company uses the money to fund access to care and work toward a cure. It supports five critical areas: medical research, clinical care, support services, education and early detection programs nationwide, with a special focus on medically underserved women.

Two Peoria women who are part of an Avon-sponsored education and outreach program to get breast cancer screenings for low-income women attended the Lincoln crusade to show their support. Jane Austin and Deanna Higgins said the program, called Encore Plus and sponsored by the Peoria YWCA, has been funded by Avon since 1995.

According to the fact sheets handed out by the Avon representatives, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women of all ages, and one out of every eight women will develop it during her lifetime.

Nearly 40,000 women will die from breast cancer this year. Fatalities are three times more likely to occur in low-income women, mainly because of lack of access to high quality medical care. In 2001, about 1,500 men were diagnosed with breast cancer and 400 died of it. Men account for about 1 percent of all breast cancer cases and deaths.

[Joan Crabb]

[SEPT. 18, 2002] 

[George Mitchell, Lincoln’s mayor pro tem,
read the following proclamation,
standing in for Mayor Beth Davis.]

WHEREAS, one out of every eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime and a new case of breast cancer is discovered every three minutes; and

WHEREAS, nearly 40,000 women will die from breast cancer this year alone; and

WHEREAS, in the past year more than 200,000 women in the U.S. were diagnosed with breast cancer; and

WHEREAS, the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade has joined with The National Trust for Historic Preservation to create "The Pink Line Project: Saving Lives, Saving Communities" with the support and participation of local Avon representatives to demonstrate their shared commitment to preserving the health of women in cities and towns across the U.S.; and

WHEREAS, Avon, the leading corporate supporters of the breast cancer cause, through the local efforts of its community representatives, raises awareness and funds to support the critical areas of breast cancer including medical research, clinical care, support services, education and early detection programs; and

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WHEREAS, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Center is dedicated to strengthening communities in tangible and intangible ways by engaging citizens in rehabilitating historic buildings, strengthening small businesses, creating vibrant public places, and celebrating local heritage; and

WHEREAS, increased public awareness can help Lincoln fight breast cancer,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Elizabeth Davis, Mayor of Lincoln, do hereby proclaim September 17th as Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Day of Commitment in Lincoln, and encourage the residents of Lincoln to acknowledge the ongoing need to support the fight against breast cancer, and to encourage loved ones to follow the recommended steps for early detection to help reduce the impact of this devastating disease.

[Provided by Main Street Lincoln]

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