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New firehouse funding Joel Smiley, executive director of
the Lincoln & Logan County Development Partnership, spoke to the
council regarding funding requests made for infrastructure projects
through the Economic Development Council for Central Illinois. He
has added to the request $4 million that would be needed for the
construction of a new firehouse and multiuse facility.
Alderman Buzz Busby said that he wanted the council to know that
if funds do come to Lincoln, the Fifth Street project would be the
first to be implemented. This project has been considered critical
for years now and has gained importance, as it would provide access
to business property that could be developed and bring more jobs.
Alderman Verl Prather affirmed that Fifth Street needs to be the
priority, recognizing that Lincoln currently has no other direction
to grow.
Smiley said that he would submit the additional request directly
to U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin today (Wednesday).
The projects that Smiley will have submitted for federal
infrastructure funding on behalf of Lincoln and Logan County are the
Fifth Street Road project; Viper mine roadwork; extension of road to
new Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, if they build; Mount
Pulaski/Elkhart blacktop, business incubator project; and the
Lincoln fire station. The area's request for the federal
infrastructure funds now totals $18 million.
Council members have also signed a letter addressed to U.S.
legislators, seeking funding for the firehouse through the economic
stimulus package. Busby said that he wanted the same letter sent
directly to newly appointed U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray
LaHood.
City to beef up patrols Super Bowl Sunday
Deputy Chief of Police Mike Geriets told council members that the
department would be increasing patrols on Super Bowl Sunday in an
effort to cut down on drunk driving incidents.
Alderwoman Marty Neitzel, who is on the board of the Alcohol,
Tobacco and Other Drugs Task Force, added that the organization will
be picking up the tab for cabs that weekend. All the bar owners in
the area have been notified and are responding favorably to that
offer.
Highway authority agreement
The city has received a request from Illico to sign a highway
authority agreement. This pertains to the Apollo Mart gas station
property at Hamilton and Broadway streets, formerly owned by Illico.
Craig Gocker of Environmental Management Technologies,
Bloomington, spoke to the council, explaining that the agreement is
done between the Illinois Department of Transportation and
municipalities throughout the state. It restricts and notifies
workers of contamination that may be in the rights of way and
protects the city financially if contamination is found.
In 1996 there was a gasoline leak from one of the underground
storage tanks on the property. Gocker said that gasoline dissipates
by natural attenuation and over a period time will clean itself up,
usually in five to 20 years. He said that the soil currently meets
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency standards and doesn't need
to be dug out or treated.
Council favors Heritage Days continuation
Busby said that he supports the continuation of the Heritage Days
celebration for the 2009 year and recommended that the council bring
it to a vote at the next meeting.
He added that he discussed the issue with Geoff Ladd of the
Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County and learned that the
event has already been placed in state tourism brochures for this
year. He also said that it is advertised as a four-day event,
starting on Thursday, July 2, and running through Sunday, July 5.
Busby said that when the council meets to budget for next year,
funds allotted for a 2010 Heritage Days celebration should be at the
new mayor's discretion.
Council members agreed to remove the item from the table on Feb.
2 so that a vote may be taken.
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Arbor Day plan would include help beautify downtown courthouse
grounds
Tracy Jackson, street and alley superintendent, said that he is
working with John Stewart of the county board to replace the trees
on the courthouse square that have been damaged by storms.
The plan is to plant eight new trees on the square as part of the
city's April 24 Arbor Day observance.
Jackson said that he wants to take the landscape surrounding the
courthouse back to what it was in the 1950s. At that time the trees
were Chinese elm, and two trees were planted on each side of the
courthouse. He would like to use October glory maples, planting one
on each side of the four main walkways. He says the trees will grow
quickly at about a foot a year, to 50-feet tall with a 40-foot span,
and would add color to the landscape.
The council would need to approve this action, as the trees would
be planted on county property.
Railsplitter Antique Auto Club's popular car shows to return to
the square
The Railsplitter Antique Auto Club is asking permission to use
city streets on the square for monthly car shows again this year.
The warm-weather seasonal event is set to take place on fourth
Saturday in April, May, June, July and September. In addition the
club is seeking permission to have a special show on the square on
Sunday, Aug. 30, during the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival. Other
shows on the club's schedule for 2009 are June 12, July 10 and Sept.
11 at Culver's restaurant and on Oct. 10 at The Mill.
City seeking bids on insurance
The city will be taking bids for the coming year's insurance in
all areas except employee coverage and workers' compensation. Bid
packets will be available at the city clerk's office Feb. 5 and due
back April 2. The insurance committee will begin reviewing bids
April 14.
Fire truck for sale
The city's new fire truck arrived this past week. With its
arrival the city now has a used truck that they need to dispose of.
Attorney Bill Bates will draft an ordinance for taking sealed bids
on the truck.
County board chairman visits council
Among visitors to the meeting was Terry Carlton, Logan County
Board chairman. He is one of six county board community connections
liaisons assigned to city and village meetings. The community
connections liaison is an initiative of the new county chairman
intended to improve communications, relations and collaboration
between the county board and each community. The other liaisons are
Chuck Ruben, Bill Martin, Jan Schumacher, Pat O'Neill and Rick
Aylesworth.
[By NILA SMITH]
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