City briefs

[August 05, 2009]  The Monday evening voting session of the Lincoln City Council was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Buzz Busby. All nine members of the council were present.

Bid awarded for overlay projects

Bids were opened for city overlay projects on July 28.

The bid was awarded on Monday night to Illinois Paving Company in the amount of $455,583.13 with a vote of 9-0.

One other bid was submitted for the projects, by Brighton Construction, but came in higher than that of Illinois Paving.

According to Tracy Jackson, street and alley superintendent, the first street on the overlay list will be College between Fifth and Eighth.

This is the section of street that was severely damaged when a semi transporting a section of turbine tower for the Rail Splitter Wind Farm took a wrong turn and had to be rerouted via College back to Woodlawn.

With the bid now awarded, hopefully work will begin within the next two weeks.

Bid requirement waived for manhole replacement

A motion was made to hire Petersburg Plumbing and Heating to replace manholes at the intersections of Delavan and McLean and at Pekin and McLean.

The motion included hiring the Petersburg firm at a cost not to exceed $30,500, without going out for bid.

Alderman Nathan Turner asked why the motion included not going out for bid. City engineer Mark Mathon explained that the city does not have the equipment to do this work and that Petersburg Plumbing is the only company locally that does.

Busby also said that the company had done work for the city in the past and that they do an excellent job on whatever they take on.

The motion passed 9-0.

Petition and ordinance approved

A motion was made by Turner to approve a petition from Donald D. Kurtz for the city to vacate the right of way at 704 and 720 21st St.

The right of way was originally platted as a future city street. However, with the development of the Brainard Landings apartment complex, the property is no longer fully accessible.

The council approved the petition unanimously, and an ordinance was passed turning the property over to the owners of the two properties, with the exception of a 10-foot section that will be the city's right of way along 21st Street.

City attorney Bill Bates had at a previous meeting said that the city could not give the right of way to just one owner when it bordered two properties.

The property will be turned over to the landowners at no charge.

Sale of excess property

Bids were opened on July 28 for a vehicle owned by the street department.

The vehicle, a 1980 Ford F-30 flatbed truck, sold to Rick Sheley with a bid of $560. One other bid was submitted, by Brandon Winebrinner, in the amount of $305.50.

This is the same vehicle that was let out for bid late last fall. The original bid specs had a minimum bid requirement, and according to Tracy Jackson, no bids were submitted.

Sidewalk projects approved

Three sidewalk petitions, two of which have been tabled since June, were approved unanimously.

Included in the list is 530 S. State St., by request of John DeOrnellas; 709 N. Sherman, by Jack L. Crane; and 304 Park Place, by Wilma Stocker and Cheryl Lowney.

Petition for curb cut approved unanimously

A petition by James Washburn for a curb cut at 705 Sixth St. was approved unanimously.

The curb cut will enable the homeowner to construct a driveway to his property.

Law enforcement to have tent at the fair

Deputy Police Chief Mike Geriets said that the city police, Lincoln/Logan Crime Stoppers, the Logan County Sheriff's Department and the Lincoln Park District will be sharing a tent at the Logan County Fair on Tuesday through Saturday nights.

He said that the city would have officers there each evening, and he invites everyone to stop by, meet the officers and offer up any questions they might have about the department.

Logan County Joint Solid Waste update

Alderman David Wilmert said that the Logan County Joint Solid Waste Committee had met in July.

They are going over their projected budget for the year and looking at ways to cut costs.

The committee is looking at a few proposals that will achieve that goal, including possibly cutting services to a few smaller communities or dispensing with the truck owned by the group and outsourcing hauling to Area Disposal.

No decisions have been made, and the committee will not meet in August. Wilmert will keep the council posted on upcoming developments.

Letter from John Black -- Logan Correctional Center layoffs

A letter from John Black was made available at the Monday night meeting.

The letter addresses the concern about layoffs at the Logan Correctional Center and informs everyone that Local 2073 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is preparing a petition to be sent to the Quinn administration.

The letter also stated that AFSCME will have a tent at the fair this week where they will discuss the issues with visitors and solicit signatures for their petition.

The council did not discuss this letter.

[By NILA SMITH]