 Firefighters sworn into new ranks of service
Three city of Lincoln firefighters were presented to the council
by Assistant Chief Steve Dahm.
Darren Coffey and Todd Koehler were given promotions in rank, and
Ashley Williams was sworn in as the city's newest firefighter.
By way of introductions, Dahm said that Coffey, who has served on
the fire department for 10 years, is being promoted to captain;
Koehler, who has served nine years, will be made a lieutenant; and
Ashley Williams, the city's newest firefighter, having joined the
department June 8, will be sworn into duty.
Dahm also recounted that in the last four days, two lives have
been saved by the actions of Coffey and Williams along with their
shift mates.
He noted that on Monday, Williams and Lt. Harding arrived on the
scene of a cardiac arrest, administered CPR, used the automated
external defibrillator to restart the heart and intubated the
patient, prior to the arrival of an ambulance.
He said, "I am proud of these men and the city of Lincoln should
be proud of them as well."
Conzo offers first official report on city finances
Four weeks into office as city treasurer, Chuck Conzo delivered
his first official report of the city's finances to the council.
He said that he greatly appreciated the efforts of the city
clerk, Denise Martinek, and her staff in guiding him through the
workings of the city's accounting software.
He said that he was reviewing the software and learning what
types of reports it would generate.
He is also working to redesign the financial reports that he
presents to the council and asked for their input as to any specific
information they would like for the reports to include each month.
In the meantime, he spoke briefly on the cash-flow issues the
city is experiencing, saying that it is a problem that the council
is well aware of.
He also noted that the problem is not unique to Lincoln as all
municipalities and state-funded programs are suffering from the
state's inability to honor its obligations.
On the good-news side, he noted that the city did receive
$120,257.81 from the state of Illinois. He said that the payment,
though, was the January allotment of state income tax, demonstrating
that the state is running about six months behind in making their
payments.
City says no to sweeping the fairgrounds
At last Tuesday night's committee-of-the-whole meeting, a request
from the Logan County Fair board was added to the voting agenda.
The fair board had asked, as they have in the past, that the city
crews run the street sweeper through the midway of the fairgrounds
each morning.
In the past this has been an easy decision for the council, with
approval by unanimous vote.
[to top of second column] |
However, with the city being strapped for cash and considering
every expenditure, the discussions that ensued last week and again
Monday night indicated that this year the city was not willing to do
the work free of charge.
It was mentioned that the fairgrounds is not city property and
that the city has taken a stand against doing work on private
property in other instances.
Monday night Alderwoman Marty Neitzel made the motion to deny the
request of the fair board.
"The Logan County Fair Association is a private concern," she
said. "We have not given help to Campus View Drive because they are
private. We have asked our employees to take furlough days. I think
that the fair association should make payment."
She also noted that if they would pay, she would like to see the
money given to the Logan County Food Pantry.
"The people who go to the fair don't have the money to go, but
they will spend it and the next week they'll be looking for food,"
she said.
In the roll call vote, a "yes" vote was agreeing to deny the
request. There were seven yes votes, with Busby and Alderwoman Joni
Tibbs voting no and Alderman David Armbrust abstaining.
City will spray West Lincoln Township
By unanimous vote the city approved spraying in West Lincoln
Township. The township will pay for time and materials.
Council adjourns to next Tuesday night
Alderwoman Melody Anderson asked that the Monday night voting
session adjourn to next Tuesday evening at 7.
When the council meets next week, prior to their
committee-of-the-whole meeting, they will re-adjourn their voting
session and vote on the city's annual appropriations ordinance.
Anderson handed out drafted copies of the financial section of
the ordinance to the council for their review over the next week.
With a motion to adjourn, the voting session concluded for the
evening and will resume next week.
[By NILA SMITH]
 |
