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South Elm Street work to begin soon
Complete rehabilitation of South Elm
Street is scheduled to begin in just two weeks. City engineering,
sewer management and street departments are ready to start the work
on June 1.
Mayor Davis clarified that the
project plan calls for the street to be straightened and widened to
30 feet, curb to curb, "all the way down." The standard width will
bring the street up to city code.
The new width is likely to make some
residents unhappy, since in places the street is only 12- to 18-feet
wide at present. Residents may think that it is cutting into their
yards, but both Alderman Benny Huskins and city engineer Mark Mathon
said, "It is city property." Even widened, it will be kept well
within the city's right of way, Mathon said.
Huskins raised a concern for a
handicapped resident's accessibility to his home. That has been
addressed, Mathon said.
The Lincoln City Council accepted a
bid of $561,000.44 from Illinois Valley Paving of Springfield for
the project.
In addition the city approved the
purchase of "the Zipper" at $80,000.
Street Superintendent Tracy Jackson
is looking forward to the Zipper's arrival in Lincoln this week. He
explained that it basically attaches to a front-end loader and acts
as a milling machine. It is capable of grinding asphalt from 1 to 12
inches in depth, according to how you set it, he said. It will be
very useful for this and other street projects that are on Lincoln's
list.
Bids are now being sought to repave
Broadway Street from Logan to Union streets and for Brainard's
Bridge maintenance.
The city designated a total of
$705,000 for road rehab and accompanying infrastructure for the new
fiscal year. Elm Street, as the largest project, was budgeted at
$500,000.
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Logan County Regional Planning
Commission on the move
Comprehensive plan information has
been placed in the hands of Lincoln city officials. "The
comprehensive planning process is something that has been put off
for (pause) too long," said Bill Glaze, chairman of the Logan County
Regional Planning Commission.
Glaze addressed the council on the
current direction of the commission. The primary focus at this time
is the development of a new comprehensive plan. McLean County will
put the plan together for Logan County.
With McLean County's experience the
plan will involve the development of greenways -- parks and
recreation areas. As grants become available from the state, we'll
be able to apply for those once the plan is in place, Glaze said.
The development of a comprehensive
economic development strategy and of the geographic information
systems will coincide and feed into this project when it is
completed. They will all work together, Glaze said.
This is something that is needed; I
think our whole county needs it, Mayor Davis said.
Doing the comprehensive plan will
take funding. Glaze is going to each of the major cities and
villages in Logan County, asking them to contribute. The addition of
some private contributions will help make the project happen, Glaze
said.
[to top of second column in this article]
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The planning commission was begun in
1967. It is in need of restructuring, Glaze says. There are
currently six elected officials sitting on the commission, and he
feels that it needs more community membership that will better
represent towns throughout the county.
The commission will have a
presentation for the general public about the comprehensive plan and
other developments. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. on May 26 in
Restoration Hall at Lincoln Christian College. Glaze said that he
hopes it will possibly gain the interest of people who might sit on
the commission.
The commission is also seeking
public input of information via a questionnaire that you can fill
out here or pick up a copy at your local bank. The results will be
used in the development of the new comprehensive plan.
[Questionnaire]
(You will need
Adobe Acrobat Reader. )
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Insurance consultant canned
When Debbra Callan was asked to
attend last week's council meeting to explain her recent
recommendations for city employee liability and workers'
compensation insurance, she did not show.
Callan's recommendation that the
city to accept the bid of $241,163 from St. Paul's Travelers
Insurance Company was called into question when it was discovered
that the bid specs had not been met. Further examination of the bid
revealed violations of the city contract by affiliation with the
recommended insurance company without prior consent.
Last week's article misnamed the
company as the Horace Group. The Horton Group acquired the company
that Callan works for, Independent Risk Managers, in April of 2004.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that
the insurance agent representing the policies that were recommended
is not only Callan's son but that he also works for the Horton
Group.
On Monday the council voted
unanimously to terminate the contract with Callan, effective
immediately. A new insurance consultant is being sought.
["City:
Liability insurance decision overturned -- Risk manager's summary in
question"]
["Insurance
consultant a 'no show'"]
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Heritage Days gains support
The council approved street closings
requested by the Heritage Days celebration that will take place July
1-4. When the question of insurance that will cost $524 for the
event was brought up, city attorney Bill Bates said, "I'll cover
it."
A surprised and delighted mayor
thanked him for his donation.
Scouts supervise council activities
Three Boy Scouts from Troop 102
introduced themselves before the council. The boys are working on
citizenship and community badges.
Mayor Davis thanked the boys for
their attendance and for their role in what they do for our
community.
[Jan
Youngquist] |
