Renewal of IDOT agree ment put on hold
The city of Lincoln maintains an agreement with the Illinois
Department of Transportation for maintenance of traffic signals
located on state routes within the city limits. With the agreement,
the city is responsible for keeping the lights in good working
condition and receives a reimbursement from the state for the costs
incurred.
Tuesday evening city engineer Mark Mathon said a new agreement
with IDOT needs to be signed. Once signed, the agreement will be in
effect for the next 10 years.
City attorney Bill Bates said he had read through the agreement
and had not clearly understood the document. He said that when he
was finished, he really didn't know who was responsible for what.
He asked Mathon if he understood the document, and Mathon
replied: "Not every word, but I understand the structure of it and
have discussed it at length with the administrator (at IDOT)."
Bates also noted that in at least two places in the agreement,
there are indemnity clauses that hold the state harmless in any
liability issues.
As the city's attorney, Bates is always hesitant to endorse any
contract where there is not at least shared liability.
Alderwoman Melody Anderson asked Bates if he had the same issues
with this agreement as he had with the Illinois American Water
agreement, and he confirmed that he did.
Mathon was asked if there were significant differences between
the current agreement and the new one, and he said he would look at
them together and report back to the council.
It was also noted that the agreement caps out at $163,000 per
year, and it was questioned what would happen if the city's annual
costs exceeded that amount.
Mathon said there was an approval process for large expenditures.
He would submit a quote to the state, and it would be approved for
reimbursement.
It was mentioned that over a 10-year period, inflation could
affect the dollars actually spent for maintenance.
Alderwoman Mary Neitzel commented, "In 10 years, just think what
a union electrician may be making."
It was also noted that the new signal on Fifth Street and the
ones on Stahlhut Drive are not included in the agreement.
Mathon said the agreement had been written prior to those being
completed, and IDOT will do separate agreements for those two
lights.
The agreement with IDOT is due back to the state by July 1. In
the end the council asked Mathon to do some more research on the
differences between the new and old contracts and report at the next
committee-of-the-whole meeting.
Vote on the agenda for Fifth Street Road maintenance
On Fifth Street Road east of Lincoln Parkway, there is a
quarter-mile between Picture This Photography and Connolley Road
where the county wishes to turn the maintenance over to the city of
Lincoln.
According to Mathon, the county has already approved paying a
one-time fee of $10,000 and giving the responsibility for
maintaining the road to the city.
Mathon said the stretch of road is very rough and will require
two coats of sealant to smooth it out, and then regular maintenance.
The city will vote on approval of the agreement at the June 6
voting session.
Roads damaged at First and Walnut
It was reported that one of the subcontractors for Union Pacific
accidentally damaged about 300 square yards of road surface in the
vicinity of First and Walnut streets.
Mathon said he has been in contact with Union Pacific and the
subcontractor. The city is to provide quotes to the subcontractor
for needed repairs and it will be taken care of.
Mathon also noted that his experience with both UP and the
contractor was quite positive. He said that UP was very concerned
about the situation and very prompt in addressing the issue, as was
the subcontractor.
Along the same line, it was noted that a street light on Sangamon
and Pulaski has been damaged. Tracy Jackson, street and alley
superintendent, said he has contacted the subcontractor there and
was told to get the light fixed and send them the bill.
And finally, Bates questioned UP's use of asphalt in replacing
sidewalks that had been torn out at the various railroad crossings.
He said that asphalt was not acceptable under city code.
Mathon was asked to investigate what has been done and contact UP
if they need to redo the sidewalks approaching the tracks.
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Development partnership seeks new director
Mayor Keith Snyder shared that the Lincoln & Logan County
Development Partnership is now searching for a new director to
replace Joel Smiley.
The partnership has put together a search committee that includes
Rick Hamm representing the city of Lincoln.
Snyder also noted that Chuck Conzo is now a member of the
partnership, representing the city along with him, Alderwoman Kathy
Horn, Glenda Allison and Hamm. Conzo is replacing Derrick Crane, who
recently resigned.
The ad seeking a new director is in this week's Lincoln Daily
News and can be viewed by following this link:
http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/
2011/May/25/classifieds/employment.shtml.
On the agenda: offering early retirement
Police Chief Ken Greenslate told the council he has investigated
within all the city departments who is eligible and interested in
taking early retirement and has found that while there are a few who
are eligible, only one is interested: police officer Robert Rawlins.
Greenslate will put together a document outlining the early
retirement offer, which will include paying 50 percent of Rawlins'
health insurance to age 55. It will be reviewed by Bates, approved
by the council and then sent on to the union for their approval.
Water and electric at Postville and Melrose parks
The city of Lincoln has upgraded the electric service in
Postville Park with the help of Eaton Corp. Jackson said Eaton had
donated everything needed but the underground wire and labor.
The city is now looking at adding electric service to Melrose
Park and is hopeful of more assistance from Eaton.
The added electric service is making it possible for the Junior
Woman's Club to offer free movies in the park this summer.
The first movie was scheduled for the Saturday night of the Route
66 Garage Sale but had to be rescheduled due to rain. The movie
"Cars" is now scheduled to be shown in Postville Park on Saturday.
Also on the club's agenda is to show "Space Jam" in Melrose Park on
July 30.
In addition to electric upgrades, there are upgrades in the works
for running water.
Snyder said he has contacted Geoff Ladd of the Abraham Lincoln
Tourism Bureau of Logan County and offered him the opportunity to
use Melrose Park in next year's Route 66 Garage Sale. Snyder said
Ladd was very excited about the offer.
Leftover money will go to floor upgrades in the fire station
Fire Chief Mark Miller said the grant that covered the costs of
adding a new exhaust system to the city fire station provided
approximately $5,000 more than was actually needed.
The $5,000 will be added to a $2,400 safety grant the department
has received, and the money will go toward adding an epoxy finish to
the floors of the bays in the station. Miller said the epoxy finish
will include a nonskid abrasive to make working around the vehicles
safer for firefighters.
[By NILA SMITH]
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