City Hall
getting fixed up, Fifth Street inches forward
[MAY 10, 2006]
Like spring cleaning chores, Lincoln City
Council's checklist for discussion contained a variety of matters --
some ongoing or annual, some new projects.
First off was a new project. They agreed to hire Robert High to
perform restoration and improvements to the Lincoln City Hall and
firehouse. Council members were confident that High has the
necessary experience, with his reputation for having worked on
numerous local historic buildings.
High's proposal tallied $65,930 total costs. It is on next week's
agenda and would require a two-thirds vote to bypass the bid
process.
An engineer was also called in to evaluate the building this
spring, but it was unclear what he would be doing for the $7,500 he
listed in his proposal.
*
Another item discussed is one that has finally made it to the top
of the short list. The Fifth Street Road project was first addressed
when the streets committee met prior to the work session. A revised
intergovernmental agreement with Logan County is expected to be
approved at next week's voting session.
Finance chairman Verl Prather said this project has been on the
city's scope for a long time; he has documents dating back to 1993.
He is with Mayor Beth Davis in saying that it's time to get it done.
*
A representative of the Abraham Lincoln Crippled Children's
Fundraiser, formerly known as the Elks CCF, addressed the council on
issues of concern about this year's event.
Sarah Stuart Faith said that there have been some changes in the
charity setup. They have become more official, adding a 501c3, and
are now identified as a registered Illinois charity.
Some people were upset when last year's funds were not used
locally. The committee had felt that it was a good choice and in
line with their intent to "help needy children" to respond to the
national disaster, Hurricane Katrina. The national Elks club
leadership helped to distribute the funds to "needy children" in
Louisiana.
Some other issues of music after the midnight, motorcycle noise
and broken glass were also addressed, with proposed plans to
control, eliminate or avoid.
Faith said they have been in contact with Railsplitter event
organizers and that neither believes there would be a conflict,
because of different crowds and staggered event times.
*
Work at Hamilton and Pulaski streets has gone well, city sewer
manager Dave Kitzmiller said. The underground work is complete. The
road will be milled, tentatively on Friday, and then a binder will
be laid over the areas that were dug. Tracy Jackson will have his
crew from the city add curb work. Then a surface course will be
applied after it settles, to complete the area.
*
A citizen requested further investigation into an ongoing gutter
problem. Jim Griffin said that there is a flooding problem, and it
leaves behind mud at Edgar Street and Woodlawn Road.
Both the city streets superintendent, Tracy Jackson, and city
engineer Mark Mathon have looked at it in the past. Mathon said that
the catch basin doesn't function. IDOT engineered it, and he has
some communication in with the state on it.
*
With the kickoff of a new fiscal year and replenished funds,
sidewalk and curb replacements petitions are pouring in. A pile of
requests is on next week's agenda, with anticipated approval.
