 City
treasurer finds unclaimed money and reports of revenue deficits
Les Plotner, city treasurer,
said that he is having trouble tracking down terms of agreement on
an escrow account that is up for renewal. He said the Rodney White
escrow account is up for renewal and he doesn't know for sure whom
this money belongs to.
Mark Mathon, city engineer, said that the money was a developer's
share of the curb work for a project on Sherman Street and that the
money now belongs to the city.
The account began as $25,000, and
today it is worth approximately $31,000, which can be added to the
city's operating fund.
Bates will verify that the city is entitled to claim the money.
Plotner also reported on the city's revenue stream, saying that
he is concerned about the budget.
He said that looking at the first three months of the year, the
sales tax revenues are down 6.8 percent, and if the trend continues,
in a year's time the revenues will be down approximately $45,000
compared with what was anticipated in the budget.
The non-home rule tax goes by four-month intervals because of the
payment schedule and is down 7.7 percent. It may fall short of
expectations by about $12,000.
The income tax is also down, 16.8 percent, which will cause a
shortfall of approximately $237,000.
On a high note, the telecommunications tax is showing an increase
over what was projected in the budget.
However, Plotner said that overall, with these trends maintained
throughout the year, the city would see a shortfall in expected
revenues of about $115,000.
He also said that under the Truck Access Route Program, the state
still owes the city $517,000 on the Sysco project. Mathon has heard
that the city should soon be receiving around $400,000 against that
bill.
Plotner also warned against spending promised money that is to be
distributed through the state. He cited that the stimulus funds the
city is to receive will be distributed through the state, and they
are not known for quick payment.
He also noted that at the meeting Friday with U.S. Rep. Aaron
Schock, there was no actual check delivered for the homeland
security grant. He warned, "Don't spend it until you get it."
Budget lines are out of line
Alderwoman Melody Anderson spoke about the city expenditures,
saying, "we are a quarter of a year through the budget, folks, and
some of these budget lines are out of line."
She continued: "Anything over 25 percent, you need to ask
yourself why. For some there are good reasons, such as they are
expenses that occur once a year, but others it is a matter of
spending."
Anderson, Plotner and Alderman Buzz Busby have spent a lot of
time studying the finances. Anderson said that she needs for the
committees and department heads to also spend more time paying
attention to them.
She emphasized that the reports now being generated are quite
different from the old ones, and if anyone is having difficulty
reading them, they should ask for assistance.
Also, she noted that some posting errors have been caught and
corrected, but that this needs to be done monthly rather than
randomly. She stressed that the longer an error goes unnoticed, the
harder it is going to be to track down the source and correct it.
Alderman Nathan Turner asked if the budget could be made
available in electronic form. He said that sorting through stacks of
paper is sometimes pretty difficult and that it might be easier to
search through it via computer.
An electronic version really isn't available now, but Anderson
and Denise Martinek, city clerk, said it was something they could
look into.
Sewer arrears prompt a new call to action
Busby said that he and waste treatment manager Bob Tackett are
going to meet to discuss new avenues for collecting sewer bill
arrears.
He said that the best way to address the problem may be to work
with Environmental Management Corp. and Illinois American Water to
have the water shut off when sewer bills are delinquent.
Busby also said that the city looked at entering into an
agreement with Illinois American about 10 years ago but never
finalized anything.
Bates said that as he recalled, the contractual agreement with
Illinois American was quite complex and the city decided to back
away from it.
Busby said that right now the city has about $90,000 on the books
in delinquent sewer payments, and something needs to be done. He
said that Illinois American has two methods for addressing this.
In the first option, the company takes over the billing for the
sewer systems and deals with collecting the fees.
Or, the city can hire the company to shut off the water on a
case-by-case basis at a cost of $50 per shut-off. Busby said that if
they went with the second option, the city could pass that $50 fee
on to the homeowner when they brought their bill to current.
Busby indicated that he would be in favor of allowing the water
company to take over the billing, and Mayor Keith Snyder wondered if
he intended this just for those who were in arrears or for the whole
city. Busby responded that he thought it should be for the whole
city.
Anderson said this was a very timely issue, as it has come to her
attention that the current billing system used by the city clerk's
staff is nearing extinction.
She and Martinek explained that the current system is antiquated
and the software support provider has said that within the next two
to three years, they will stop offering service on the computer
program.
Anderson also indicated that new software is currently carrying a
price tag of approximately $90,000, so perhaps it would be wise to
investigate what Illinois American can and will do.
Bacon sworn in as Ward 1 alderwoman
New Ward 1 Alderwoman Stacy Bacon was sworn in and seated Tuesday
night during the council's committee-of-the-whole meeting. Bill
Bates, city attorney, administered the oath of office.
Bacon was recommended by the mayor and approved by the council to
fill the vacancy left when Alderman Dean Henrichsmeyer resigned in
June. After Bacon took her oath, the mayor welcomed her to the
council, saying, "We look forward to working with you, alongside you
for the betterment of the city of Lincoln."
Sewer debate may come to an end
Alderwoman Marty Neitzel said that in regard to the previously
capped sewer at 1025 N. Monroe, there is a new proposal to settle
the matter.
The proposal includes paying half of the resident's bill incurred
for cleaning her home, which amounts to $1653.48, and relieve the
resident of any sewer payments for up to the next seven years,
providing she is the resident.
Neitzel said that Alderman David Wilmert came up with this idea,
and he has spoken to the resident's daughter, Kathy Miller, and they
appear to be in agreement with this offer.
Neitzel and Wilmert both emphasized that there would be a waiver
written by attorney Jonathan Wright that would relieve the city of
any further responsibility and hold the waiving of sewer fees to the
current resident only.
This will be decided on Sept. 7, the next scheduled voting
meeting.
[to top of second column] |
Recycling hassles
Wilmert said there have been a couple of issues in the solid
waste management program.
He said first of all he'd gotten a report of overflowing bins,
and he addressed that with the manager, Mitzi Rohlfs. It will be
taken care of in the next few days.
He said that there was a more serious issue of people leaving
inappropriate items such as paint cans and other trash at the
recycling bins. Rohlfs has been using her own vehicle and time to
clean up those areas and take away the things that don't belong
there.
Wilmert asked for suggestions on how to resolve this problem, and
it was immediately suggested that a surveillance camera be placed
there.
The mayor said that the street and alley crew has also spent time
cleaning up around there. And Tracy Jackson, street superintendent,
reiterated that they fill a trash container once a week just from
that location.
The mayor also said that at one time there was a sign that
clearly stated "No Cardboard," and people were putting their
cardboard behind the sign. He concluded that he, too, thought a
surveillance camera would be a good idea.
Bates said there is a nuisance ordinance that can be enforced as
well. The ordinance allows for fining people who purposefully leave
their trash on city property. The fine would range from $25 to $100
per occurrence.
Wilmert said that Rohlfs has received reports from citizens when
they see the violations taking place. People have called her with
names and license plate numbers.
Wilmert believes that enforcing that ordinance would be a good
idea and that perhaps it should be advertised in the papers that the
city will enforce it and violators should expect to be fined. He
said it might cause them to stop and think before they just throw
stuff out there.
Special committee to address Amtrak area
Snyder is asking that there be a special committee formed to look
into the property where the Depot Restaurant, the Amtrak shack and
the watermelon statue are located.
That full city block is privately owned, and he said that the
owner has contacted him about the liability concerns of having
public access on private property.
The mayor said the owner has indicated that he might be willing
to sell a portion of the land that is home to the Amtrak shack and
the statue, or he might consider a long-term lease.
Snyder said the owner had hoped for money via the state capital
bill that would allow the city to purchase the property, but that
didn't happen.
The mayor says he would like a small committee to explore what
can be done, especially in regard to the Amtrak building and the
statue. He said, "I think that piece of property is important to the
people of the city of Lincoln, so that they can gain access to the
station and the statue."
Row Motors property for sale
Snyder said he has heard from Dan Row that he would be interested
in selling the lot at the corner of Clinton and McLean Street to the
city.
Row has had an appraisal done, and the lot is valued at $25,000.
Row said that he wanted to offer it to the city first at that price,
and if they decline, then he will pursue other options.
Tibbs said that the city was not in the business of buying
properties, but the mayor and Neitzel interjected that if there was
a need for the property, then it could be purchased. However, the
mayor also said he had spoken with Anderson, and as is the case most
times, it becomes a question of where is the money coming from to
pay for it.
Life insurance to increase for police officers
Turner reported as chair of the insurance committee that he is
working with the current provider of life insurance policies for the
city to increase life coverage on police officers as mandated in
their new contract with the city.
Turner also said that he would discuss reasonable changes in the
policy with the providers, and this could result in a savings on the
premiums.
New fire captain and firefighter to be sworn in
Pending the results of the police and fire commission meeting
Sept. 3, Alderwoman Kathy Horn wants a promotion of officers to be
placed on the next agenda. This will be an oath of office in the
fire department for a captain and one firefighter.
Policy and procedures under review
Anderson said that the Finance, Policy and Procedures Committee,
which she heads, will start working on the current policy and
procedures for the city.
The current document hasn't been updated for several years, and
with a new mayor and city clerk, she is looking forward to working
with them, getting their input and making "a more dynamic document,
something that can be continually reviewed, revised and kept up to
date, versus something that is printed then left go forever."
Castle Manor sewer dedication hits small snag
Bates said that he and Mathon have reviewed the agreement between
the city and Lincoln Town Center, the group that owns the Kroger and
the old Wal-Mart property, regarding the sewer work that has been
done for Castle Manor.
Lincoln Town Center must give the easement to the city, and Bates
said they won't do that until they have an "as constructed" survey
showing the sewer is in the easement as described.
Bates said that he received an e-mail from Lincoln Town Center
attorneys saying they are ordering the survey and it should be
completed by next week.
The easement from Lincoln Town Center to the city will then be
assigned to the developers of Castle Manor, so that they can show
that the portion of sewer work done in the parking lot between the
old Wal-Mart and the Kroger store is completed.
Window ledge falling
Alderwoman Joni Tibbs reported that City Hall roof work is
complete and that it came in approximately $15,000 below the
original estimate.
She said that additional money had been allowed for unforeseeable
repairs or construction issues and none occurred.
However, on Sunday afternoon, Tibbs received a call that some of
the sandstone mortar had fallen from a windowsill on the second
floor.
Tibbs said she asked Mathon to check into the condition of the
windowsills. He said that he looked at all the windows on
traffic-facing sides of the building and there were no serious
issues with them.
Tibbs said there is a barricade beneath the damaged windowsill to
protect pedestrians from anything else that might fall while the
issue is being addressed and, hopefully, repaired.
[By NILA SMITH]
 |
