Mayor Keith Snyder noted that Alderwoman Stacy Bacon was taking the
night off in celebration of her 31st wedding anniversary.
Also absent for the evening was Denise Martinek, city clerk. The
deputy clerk, Susan Gehlbach, attended the meeting in her stead.
Snyder reminded everyone that due to the July 4 holiday, the
Monday night voting session next week will be moved to Tuesday.
He also commented that there are some great activities planned
for the weekend of the Fourth, including the children's parade and
water fight in Lincoln and a huge celebration going on in Mount
Pulaski for their 175th anniversary. He encouraged everyone to take
the drive to Mount Pulaski and support "our neighbor community" in
celebrating this weekend.
Employees express dissatisfaction with the location of their HSA
accounts
Snyder said he has heard from a few city employees who are
somewhat unhappy about the fact that their health savings accounts
are being established at the State Bank of Lincoln, instead of at
the banks where they conduct business.
When changing health insurance providers this spring, the city
went to programs offered by Health Alliance. Included in the options
for coverage was an HSA plan where the city will deposit a certain
amount of money into a savings account on an employee's behalf. The
employee can use the money saved to cover deductibles or non-covered
medical expenses.
The new coverage starts July 1, and the city clerk's office has
issued letters to participating employees that they need to open
their accounts at the State Bank of Lincoln by that date.
The way the accounts are set up, the city will deposit the base
amount, but if employees want to add money to the savings account on
their own, they may do so. They may also withdraw the money or
transfer it into a different account on their own. Some have
expressed that having the account at a bank where they do not do
regular business is an inconvenience.
During the course of the discussion, Alderman David Wilmert
wondered if it really mattered that much because, in his own case
for instance, he has to turn his medical bills in to his employer
and get reimbursed.
Alderman Tom O'Donohue, who was instrumental in getting the
changes to the health plans made, said that this particular option
didn't work that way.
He noted that he has an HSA that is the same as the city now has,
and he had no choice in the bank the employer used. He said in his
case at least, it hadn't really been an inconvenience. The account
was established, he received a debit card and can use the card
anywhere he goes.
Because the decision of where to place the HSAs was made by the
city clerk, O'Donohue also wondered whether the city could or should
overrule a directive from an elected official.
Alderwoman Melody Anderson said she understood the employees
wanting the accounts in their own banks, but she wondered how much
additional work it would make for the clerk's office if the city
agreed to a change.
Gehlbach was asked about this, and she said that as it is now,
the city will cut one check to the bank, and State Bank employees
will handle depositing the various sums into the correct accounts.
With multiple banks involved, there would have to be multiple
checks. She indicated that doing the first set would be more work,
but after that there would be little difference.
Anderson commented: "When we make changes like this, it gets
people all wound up. It might be worth it just to keep our employees
happy to change this. I know I'd want the money in my bank too."
On the other hand Anderson said she wasn't really happy about
making this kind of decision without first talking to Martinek about
it.
"I think for now we should leave it alone," Anderson said. "We
need to talk with the city clerk and decide together what is right."
In the end the decision was made to tell employees that the city
is looking into the situation, but for the time being, their
accounts will have to be established at the State Bank of Lincoln.
However, at some point in the future, that may or may not change.
Future of Third Street facility being discussed
The mayor reported that next week there will be a conference call
between the city, Commonwealth Edison and Nicor regarding the future
of the street and alley department facility on Third Street.
Snyder has been told that the EPA is asking for more testing for
soil contaminants along the railroad right of way at the site, and
the utilities will need to come in and do more sampling.
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Between 1873 and 1935, the Third Street location was the city's
coal gasification plant. At the plant, coal was burned to produce a
natural gas that was piped throughout the town to businesses and
residences as part of the city utilities.
Over the years it has been discovered that such plants produced a
hazardous waste that leached into the soil. When testing was done at
the site last year, the results came back that the soils contained
benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Because of this the utilities are going to have to do a recovery
of the contaminated soils. This will involve demolishing the
standing buildings, removing the contaminated soil and replacing it
with safe fill dirt.
At this time it is unknown whether or not the city buildings will
be rebuilt at the same location, and Snyder said that is one of the
things to be discussed in the upcoming conference call.
Snyder said that also on the agenda for the conference call will
be to find out what the utilities are willing to do in regard to
architectural services, regardless of whether the move from Third is
permanent or temporary.
City discusses its needs in the case of block parties
Alderman Jeff Hoinacki asked to put on the agenda for next week a
request for a street closure in the 300 block of North Sheridan for
a block party on July 9.
The request spurred a discussion on whether or not the city
needed to be named as an additional insured by the party host.
Snyder said he wanted to see these kinds of activities more in
the city, and he wondered what kind of hardship the additional
insurance would place on the hosts.
O'Donohue said insurance of this type can be purchased for a
one-time event, and the cost can range from as little as $50 to as
much as several thousand dollars, depending on the activities at the
party. He noted that based on the written request, insurance for
this particular party would probably be closer to the $50 amount.
Discussions around the subject also included research that has
been done by Kathy Vinyard of the building and safety office
regarding what other communities ask for in these situations.
The mayor shared forms received from other towns, such as Peoria
and La Grange. The forms are filled out at the building and safety
office by the party hosts. Snyder was asked if any of those required
proof of insurance, and he said he didn't see that on any of the
forms.
It was noted by Mike Geriets, deputy police chief, who was
filling in for Chief Ken Greenslate, that the location of this party
is not a high-traffic area, and therefore the risks of vehicular
incidents are lower there than they might be in other parts of the
city, and perhaps the insurance requirement was something that would
have to be subject to location.
The request had been made by Mario Bonaparte, and it was noted
that in the past his father, Napoleon Bonaparte, had at least one
block party and requested a street closure.
The council surmised that perhaps Bonaparte knew that proof of
insurance was a part of the request and was prepared to offer the
coverage.
In the end, the item was placed on the agenda subject to proof of
insurance, but with a note that this is a subject the council wants
to look into.
Snyder along with Alderman Joni Tibbs said that these types of
activities are good for neighborhoods and that the city should do
what they can to encourage more of this.
Canadian National will repair crossings
Snyder said he has heard from Canadian National Railway that
there are crossing repairs in the future for Illinois Route 10,
Kickapoo Street and Nicholson. When repairs begin, each of the three
crossings will be closed approximately five days, or one workweek.
Snyder said he has made the firm aware of the summer activities
going on in Lincoln and has asked that they work around those
schedules.
[By NILA SMITH]
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