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An enterprise zone extension request has been delayed. The request
to extend the Lincoln/Logan County Enterprise Zone to Hartsburg was
not accompanied by an adequate description of the corridor that it
would take to Hartsburg, according to city attorney Bill Bates.
Mayor Beth Davis and Bates explained a letter that was included in
the reports for aldermen. The letter, which came from Lester Van
Bibber at the end of last week, addressed a public notice of change
to the city's Civil Service Code. A portion of that code addresses a
point system favoring hiring veterans for civil service jobs.
Van Bibber questioned in his letter if it was a legal requirement
to hold a public hearing to change such code, and he questioned if
it lessened the opportunity for veterans.
Bates said to the council that the change does not require a
public hearing, it is legal, and further explained that it was done
because the state of Illinois had finally changed their preference
regulation so that it allows for current veterans.
The old Illinois statute pertained only to those that were in an
armed conflict up to the Vietnam era; it left out anyone in Desert
Storm and forward. The change to the city ordinance is in direct
compliance with the state statute change, Bates said.
"We're trying to help the veterans," Davis said.
Jim Horn of J&S Auto
Centre brought forth an offer to the Lincoln City Council that
would be difficult to turn down. As a Bombardier dealer he has the
opportunity to secure a special ATV lease that the company offers.
Bombardier is the company that makes Leer jets, so you know their
product is good, Horn said. The company likes to help police by
leasing them vehicles for special emergency use. The ATV could be
used anywhere a regular vehicle wouldn't go or at special events
like the balloon festival.
The two-place ATV that they would receive is worth $12,000, but
the city would pay only $1 to lease it for the year. All he would
need a proof of insurance and a request letter to get the ATV for
the city.
The offer was met with great favor by the council, mayor and
police chief. Bates was going to work at getting the paperwork done
by the Feb. 1 deadline.
Building and grounds chairman Jonie Tibbs said that an architect
would be looking at the Lincoln City Hall and Firehouse on Thursday
(today). The building is in need of numerous repairs that the
council determined during last year's budget meetings would be
attended to in the 2006-2007 fiscal year if possible.
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The fire department portion of the building is the oldest
functioning firehouse in Illinois. The building may qualify for
historic preservation funds. Lincoln librarian Richard Sumrall and
architecture teacher Bob Johnson have offered to write the grant.
New Fire Chief James Davis said that he found a horn speaker in
back of his desk that the department won in Chicago in 1888.
Alderman Kathy Horn announced that the insurance committee has
identified a candidate to perform insurance selection as the risk
management insurance agent. City attorney Bill Bates asked if he
sells his own insurance.
Horn said, yes, but he won't sell it to us because he knows what
we went through before.
The city was refunded the retention fee from the last insurance
manager after it was noted that she violated agreements by not
disclosing relationships to the insurance carrier she recommended.
Horn said that she and City Clerk Melanie Riggs had contacted
other municipalities for their recommendations. Fred Danner was
suggested. He does work for Jacksonville and they are impressed with
him, Horn said.
The city continues to research parking regulations on a section
of North Kickapoo Street. Two parking spaces are permitted by
ordinance for the area between Burlington and Ophir streets.
Trucks parking in those spaces have been causing a traffic
hazard. Officials want to eliminate the parking before an accident
happens.
The city engineer said he got no response from the company
requesting $4,770 for additional costs of digging deeper for the
installation of a sanitary sewer line at the Sysco site. He wrote
and asked why they had to dig deeper.
Earlier discussions indicated this should not have been an
unforeseen circumstance. If the elevation was incorrect from the
plan, then the responsibility would fall to the company that took
the elevation measurements.
It was determined that no action would be taken by the council on
the matter at this time.
[Jan
Youngquist]
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