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Discussions during the evening included talk about the upcoming
budget-building process, good and bad news from the state of
Illinois, the Route 66 Garage Sale coming up, downtown parking, and
more.
Budget meetings set for March
Alderwoman Melody Anderson, who chairs the finance committee,
offered a reminder to department heads that their budget drafts for
the new fiscal year beginning May 1 are due in to Mayor Keith Snyder
by the end of January.
She said that there will be two special committee-of-the-whole
meetings, on March 12 and 26, from 8 a.m. to noon.
Mayor relays "good news" and "bad news" from the state
Snyder said he has heard from the Illinois Department of Commerce
and Economic Opportunity regarding funds that were allocated to the
city of Lincoln in the state's 2009 capital plan.
Sen. Larry Bomke had submitted requests on behalf of the city for
capital funding from that plan, and Snyder has now gotten grant
surveys from DCEO regarding three sources of funds.
The plan had included $156,000 for the replacement of the roof on
City Hall, $100,000 for general downtown improvements and $40,000
that was originally pegged as money to go for the exhaust system for
the city fire station.
Snyder said he contacted DCEO about the roof money because the
city had taken a loan for that project, and he was told that the
award could be used to pay off that debt.
In addition, the fire department has been awarded a separate
grant for the exhaust system, and Snyder said the $40,000 in the
capital plan would be categorized to be used for downtown
improvements.
Snyder said it looked like the city was at least a step closer to
receiving those capital plan funds, but he noted that the cover
letter from DCEO stated that completion of the surveys was not a
guarantee of future funding.
Snyder also took a moment to express appreciation to Bomke for
his efforts to help the city of Lincoln.
Snyder then turned to the bad news, a printout of an article
written by Brian Day, staff attorney for the Illinois Municipal
League, regarding the newest tax increase proposals by the state
legislature.
Day offers some very detailed information about the effect the
tax increase will have on municipalities, and the bottom line is,
the state is working out this tax increase so that municipalities
will see nothing from the increased tax, and could even see reduced
revenues in future years.
Snyder expressed his concern over this, saying: "It is a little
unsettling in that the state is going to take $2 out of every $100
earned by the people of Lincoln, but they are not going to give the
city a dime."
Anyone wishing to read the full article written by Brian Day may
do so by following the link listed at the end of this article.
Route 66 Garage Sale slated for May 13 and 14
The Route 66 Heritage Foundation is asking once again this year
for permission to use Postville Park on Fifth Street as one of their
vendor locations for the annual Route 66 Garage Sale.
In addition to the standard request, the foundation also asked
the city to consider upgrading the electric access in the park from
110 to 220 volts and to add a new pole for additional access.
They also asked if water could be turned on in the park for that
two-day event.
During discussion, Tracy Jackson, street and alley
superintendent, said that turning on the water would require some
replacement of water lines. He noted that there is a water fountain
in the park, but there were multiple leaks the last time he had it
turned on. He estimated that to get the water running again, the
city would have to replace approximately 175 feet of water line.
He also said that to have the utility company come in and install
new electric cable and a pole would run in the vicinity of $3,000.
He said the pole alone would cost about $2,200. However, he also
noted there was a possibility that the park district had some poles
available, and he would check into that.
Alderwoman Marty Neitzel asked if the work at Postville could be
paid for with money from the state capital plan, and Anderson said
she believed it would qualify as a capital expense.
Because there is still no solid answer as to if and when the
capital funds might arrive, the discussion was tabled to a future
date.
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 City will look at two-hour parking ordinance
City engineer Mark Mathon provided copies of a city map that
outlines the two-hour parking areas of the town as they are defined
in the current city ordinance.
There have been requests from citizens and downtown organizations
that some of the two-hour restrictions be lifted. In order to change
any of the parking laws, a new ordinance will have to be drafted and
passed.
The council will look at the map and consider this request at a
future date.
During discussion, city police Chief Ken Greenslate said he is
receiving fewer complaints about parking violators and the city is
seeing some increase in revenues as a result of the volunteer
parking enforcement officers.
O'Donohue urges council to discuss gambling issues
Alderman Tom O'Donohue said he'd like for the council to come to
the workshop meeting on Jan. 25 prepared to discuss what position
the city will take regarding the new video gaming program that is
slated to be released by the state this summer.
He said he didn't know what position the city would end up
taking, but if they are going to ban the new gaming machines, they
should do so well in advance of local businesses purchasing them.
In 2009 Illinois passed video gaming laws that opened the door
for gaming machines that legally pay out money to winners. The law
mandated that existing machines that were "for entertainment
purposes only" be outlawed, and business owners would be forced to
either do away with video gaming or take on the new state-approved
machines.
In October of 2010 the council heard from Anita Bedell, executive
director of the Illinois Church Action on Alcohol & Addiction
Problems organization out of Springfield, regarding the risks that
lie ahead if the city allows video gambling to become a part of the
community.
Since that time, there has been little discussion in council
chambers regarding this issue.
City looking for parts for antique traffic light
Lincoln is one of only two cities in the Illinois that still have
genuine antique traffic lights in their downtown area. According to
Jackson, the last time one of the downtown lights had to be
repaired, parts literally came from a museum warehouse.
In the last week, the light at the corner of Kickapoo and Pulaski
has gone on the fritz. Currently the light is flashing red in all
four directions, making the intersection a four-way stop for
motorists.
Jackson and Mathon explained that the light needs a new
controller board, and they are working to find one. They said they
have been in contact with a firm that has a board "almost identical"
to the one that has gone bad. They'll continue investigating to see
if the part they have found is compatible with the city light.
Meeting ends with an executive session
At the end of the evening Anderson called for an executive
session in accordance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act, Section
2-C-1: Employee hiring, compensation, discipline and performance;
and also Section 2-C-3: Selection, appointment, performance and
considered removal of a public official.
Department heads, guests and media were asked to leave the
meeting with the exception of Mark Miller, interim fire chief.
[By NILA SMITH]
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