 Resolution lays groundwork for new train station
For the past few weeks the city council has often ended their
meetings with an executive session to discuss the acquisition of
property.
The Monday night voting session meeting was no exception. On the
agenda for vote was a resolution "in support of IDOT concept plan
for station improvements." When the council got to that item, Snyder
asked that it be put on hold.
At the end of the evening, an executive session was called, and
guests were told that the council would be taking action on a matter
after the session concluded.
When the media was allowed back in council chambers, Snyder
distributed copies of a resolution the city would vote on pertaining
to a new Amtrak station for the city.
According to Snyder the $1.1 billion federal grant that is
allowing for the construction of high-speed rail from St. Louis to
Chicago includes money for station improvements.
The Illinois Department of Transportation has done studies on
what will be needed for the new high-speed trains. They are
suggesting stations with 500-foot platforms. The current station
platform consists of the length of one city block, which makes it
only 350 feet long.
The IDOT outline also includes waiting areas with plenty of room,
and amenities, as well as sufficient parking.
IDOT is specifying that new stations will be built on city-owned
property.
The resolution that came to a vote and passed unanimously lays
the groundwork for the city to make the purchase, and Snyder said
this would put the city in a position to work with IDOT to find a
solution for the Lincoln station.
At last night's meeting, there was no discussion regarding how
the purchase would be funded, or where the property might be
located. These topics will more than likely come up at a later date.
Currently the high-speed rail program is scheduled to be
completed by 2014. It is not known where in the timeline new train
stations may fall.
Lincoln Chrysler Dodge Jeep wins bids for police vehicles
By unanimous vote of the council, the city police department will
purchase three vehicles from Lincoln Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Lincoln.
The bids for a new patrol car included a 2012 Dodge Charger from
this dealership. During discussion, police Chief Ken Greenslate said
he'd compared the trade-in value of the Charger with other vehicles
in the bid and considered that even though it came in $150 higher
than the lowest bid, it was worth purchasing because it would retain
more of its trade-in value. He also noted that the lowest bid was
for a 2011 vehicle. The Charger will cost the city $22,831.
The dealership also won the bid for the two preowned SUVs, with
two 2008 Ford Explorers priced at $18,105 each. Greenslate said
these were the lowest bids meeting all the specifications.
City will go out for bid on overlay projects
The council approved going out for bid on overlay projects for
sections of Sixth, Pulaski, and Kankakee streets, plus Lincoln
Avenue.
During discussion Alderman Buzz Busby asked how these particular
streets were chosen.
On Pulaski the sections that are being considered are currently
brick, and area residents have petitioned for the overlay.
Snyder said he was concerned about the overlay on top of brick
because when this was last done, it didn't work all that well. City
engineer Mark Mathon said the last time such work was done, the
overlay was only 2 inches thick; this time it will be 3.5 inches.
Snyder said he still wondered if the city should take a bid on
having the brick dug up and the road properly prepared for
surfacing.
There will be a specification written for this, and it will be
added as an option in the bid packet.
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This led to discussion of a problem that has arisen on Broadway
Street, where water is not draining properly.
Alderwoman Joni Tibbs brought this up, noting that the overlay on
Broadway has some problems. She called the work unfinished and said
she was very disappointed.
Mathon said the area in question is not draining because there is
a high spot in the overlay that interferes with drainage. He said
the city plans to rent a machine this fall that would plane the area
down and improve drainage.
Mathon was asked if this was a problem left by the contractor,
and he said it was, but it had gone unnoticed for quite some time.
Snyder still wondered, if it was a contractor issue, shouldn't the
contractor be contacted about it? Mathon said he would do that.
Tourism asks for new resolution
Geoff Ladd of the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Lincoln and
Logan County appeared before the council to share information about
Route 66 wayside signage and to ask for a new city resolution.
Ladd explained that a new wayside sign will be put up in the very
near future at the covered wagon on Lincoln Parkway. He encouraged
all the aldermen to come out for the dedication, which should occur
in the next four to six weeks.
He also shared that Lincoln is one of only 13 locations statewide
that has been chosen to receive a Route 66 Experience Hub. This is
another signage program being implemented all along the Mother Road.
Ladd said that in looking for locations, the tourism bureau
doesn't actually own any property. He's looking at the city-owned
Postville Park as the ideal spot for the new signage. He noted that
with the recent upgrades in electricity at the park, along with the
landscaping work that has been done by the From the Ground Up group,
the park is a lovely setting for this impressive signage.
He's asking that the city permit the sign in their park. In
addition, Ladd asked for a change in a resolution from 2004.
That year, the city did a resolution designating North Kickapoo
to Broadway, Broadway to Logan, Logan to Fifth, and Fifth to Lincoln
Parkway as the official Route 66 though the city. Ladd said the true
Route 66 would have turned south on Washington off Fifth Street and
gone past The Mill and the old LDC campus. He's asking for a
resolution to amend the route accordingly.
Although there was some discussion about the signage and what it
would look like, the council agreed that they wanted Ladd to come
back to a workshop session so more time could be devoted to
discussion. Ladd said he would be happy to do that and is planning
on making a new presentation on Aug. 12.
Four-way stop passes 8-1
The petition brought by Sarah Wilson for a four-way stop at
Sherman and Willard Avenue passed with a vote of 8-1. Busby voted
"no" but offered no reasoning for his vote. There was also no
discussion prior to the vote.
At last week's workshop an alternative was presented by
Greenslate and Tracy Jackson of the street department that stop
signs would be placed in various intersections throughout that area.
That proposal was rejected.
[By NILA SMITH]
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