Wednesday, November 12, 2008
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City briefs

City may be trimming blades at Lincoln's Postville Courthouse

Search for electricity; quit-smoking signs; Christmas parade route

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[November 12, 2008]  Tim Guinan, site manager for the Lincoln New Salem State Historic Site, came before the Lincoln City Council this week with a request.

Guinan said that state financial troubles have caused some problems for the historic sites. In addition to running the New Salem site, he is also in charge of the overseeing Postville Courthouse in Lincoln and Mount Pulaski Courthouse. Guinan said that he would be losing several staff members, which was going to affect his open hours.

He said that the one guy in charge of maintenance is being pulled off. That person traveled to Postville Courthouse, Mount Pulaski Courthouse and other state historic sites.

It would be a great benefit if the city were to take over mowing at Postville. Guinan proposed a temporary cooperative agreement to do this.

Guinan said that Lincoln is fortunate to have Shirley Bartelmay running the Postville Courthouse on behalf of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. She does a wonderful job and keeps it open with all volunteers, he said.

Postville brought 6,000 visitors, which included a number of international guests, into the community last year. Guinan pointed out that the historic site has an economic impact on the community as people stop, eat out, maybe shop or stay overnight. It would be in the city's best interests to help keep it open.

Tracy Jackson, Lincoln street superintendent, said that it would take an hour and a half and very little gas to mow the site.

In the proposed agreement the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency would still maintain anything to do with the interior, including heating and cooling systems, and the exterior structure. They would also still take care of any storm damage, such as large sticks and branches. This would just be for mowing at the city's own determination of when it is needed. It would begin next season.

Guinan said that snow removal is already taken care of by contract. He also said that he would be going to Mount Pulaski to offer the same agreement for their courthouse.

The council put the matter on next week's agenda.

After the meeting Bartelmay said that she is always in need of more volunteers to help welcome guests to the courthouse.

Electric supplier

Wastewater treatment plant manager Dave Kitzmiller updated the council on a matter brought to their attention a while back. He had received a letter from Ameren stating that they would no longer supply electricity to a specific rate user. The city had until June 2010 to find a new provider.

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Alderman Busby said he had attended a seminar where there were brokers to contact. He contacted six of those companies, and only one has been cooperative and willing to work with the city.

Kitzmiller provided aldermen with "a lot of information to look over" and copies of the contract, which could be for two, three or five years. The city has the option to make its switch either as a portion, all at once or in phases over a few years.

When Ameren first announced this change, Kitzmiller said that he thought they were being unreasonable. But since then he has changed his mind. "It really looks like it's going to be a good thing for the city," he said. "We can purchase electricity for the city from someone else much cheaper."

Smoking message

Lincoln Reality teens will soon be reminding our community that smoking is bad. The group has petitioned to place Great American Smokeout signs along Wyatt Avenue next week. The 32nd annual event is sponsored by the American Cancer Society and observed the third Thursday in November each year.

Annual Christmas parade route

This year's Christmas parade route will stay the same as last year, beginning with lineup on Wyatt Avenue, turning on Kickapoo Street to head downtown, traveling counterclockwise around the courthouse square, then exiting downtown on Broadway Street to Chicago Street and ending at the Regions Bank parking lot.

[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]

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