|
Parades, festivals, celebrations
and dedications approved for
Lincoln's 150th summer
[JUNE 17, 2003]
With the first day of summer only five
days away, the Lincoln City Council focused their major efforts on
paving the way for various events during the city's upcoming
sesquicentennial celebration. The council also passed a couple of
resolutions and heard the treasurer's report.
|
|
The sesquicentennial committee's petition was thoroughly debated by
the council at last week's work session. The major issue revolved
around the secured staging areas and where alcohol will be sold and
consumed in the downtown area (city streets and sidewalks) during
two evenings of the celebration. Permitting alcohol throughout the
entertainment area concerned the council members.
The petition asks the council to approve five entertainment stage
areas. The Main Stage will be at Kickapoo and Broadway. The Dance
and Swing Stage will be on McLean Street across from the courthouse.
Clinton and McLean in front of Scully Park will be the site of the
Hometown Stage. Pulaski and Chicago streets will be where the Rock
Till Ya Drop Stage is located, and Sangamon Street and Broadway will
have the Partytown Stage. Street closures will be coordinated
through the Lincoln police and fire departments.
A
revised, compromise for the area of alcohol sales and consumption
was presented.
--Beer consumption will be allowed across from the courthouse on
Broadway and McLean streets and sidewalks. The area will be blocked
off using barricades and caution tape.
--The beer will not be allowed in non-alcohol-licensed businesses
within the festival area.
--Consumption of the beer will not be allowed outside of the
designated areas.
--Wristbands and special sesquicentennial cups will be required for
the purchase and consumption of beer. Wristbands will be sold by
participating bars and at the beer wagons to customers with valid
ID.
--Beer consumption in the designated street areas will be allowed on
Friday and Saturday, Aug. 29 and 30, from 5 p.m. to 1
a.m., with last call at midnight.
J.C.'s Pour House on Chicago Street and Old Joe's on Sangamon Street
requested to be permitted outdoor beer sales as part of the festival
on those same evenings.
The sesquicentennial committee also asked the city council to
approve the use of the Shay Parking Plaza (located in back of the
arcade) for picnic tables in conjunction with the Ethnic Festival.
The sesquicentennial committee also asked permission to close city
streets from 7 a.m. to noon for a parade on Saturday, Aug. 30. A
portion of the parade route will be on Business Loop 55 through the
city. The parade will begin at Fifth and Washington streets, then
proceed east on Fifth Street to Logan Street, then north on Logan
Street to Broadway Street and on to downtown Lincoln. A marked
detour route will be provided for Business Loop 55 on Lincoln
Parkway and Keokuk Street for the duration of the parade. City
police and flaggers will direct traffic through the detour, and the
city will remove debris after the parade.
[to top of second column in
this article] |
The city council also gave approval of a request for the closure of
city streets during the dedication of the Abraham Lincoln well on
Aug. 24. The streets at Fifth and Madison and Fifth and Monroe will
be closed from 3 to 7 p.m. for the dedication.
The Main Street Lincoln petition for The Art of Wine event, which
will take place on Kickapoo Street by the Logan County Courthouse,
was also approved by the city council. The Art of Wine will occur in
conjunction with the Lincoln Art and Balloon Festival. Street
closures for this event were approved.
Cindy McLaughlin of Main Street Lincoln said that they were hoping
to have up to 15 Illinois wineries at The Art of Wine. She said that
Main Street was working really hard to bring in wineries. They are
running into difficulties currently because the festival is
scheduled at the same time as the wineries are harvesting.
Mayor Beth Davis said that with their approval of these various
petitions the city council has recognized the tremendous efforts of
the sesquicentennial committee. They also opened the door for
Lincoln to have an exciting summer celebrating the first 150 years
of the city.
After hearing petitions the city council attended to other business.
The council heard a resolution establishing the work rates for the
city of Lincoln. This resolution is in accordance with a 1941 law
that established that the general rate for people doing work for the
city would be the prevailing wage. The resolution assures that the
1941 law is followed.
City Treasurer Les Plotner gave the treasurer's report for May 2003.
The bank balance total available at the end of May is $3,726,694.
The council also agreed to discontinue the practice of beginning the
council meetings at 7:15 p.m. and then immediately taking a break
until 7:30 p.m. for the chairmen to review the bills. Meetings will
continue to begin at 7:15 p.m., but the council has discontinued the
breaks.
The council meets
again for a work session next Tuesday, June 24.
[Don
Todd]
 |
