City of Lincoln FAQs for September

[September 21, 2011]  Monday evening the city of Lincoln department heads released their September "Frequently asked questions."

Included in this month's series of questions and answers are the building and safety office, the fire and police departments, streets and alleys, and a bonus question answered by Mayor Keith Snyder.

During the presentation of FAQs to the council, Snyder drew attention to his own question in particular, noting that it provided the appropriate information for citizens to use to file complaints about railroad crossings in the city. He worked into his commentary several times the facts that the crossing on Fifth Street Road is owned by Union Pacific and that his FAQ offers the information needed for anyone to file a complaint about the crossing.

Also, while he was commenting on Fifth Street Road, it was mentioned that there are still a couple of other crossings that need attention: for example, the one along First Street. That crossing also belongs to Union Pacific.

On a bright side, several commented on the much-improved condition of the crossings on Illinois Route 10 and North Kickapoo. Those crossings, along with one on Nicholson Road, are being repaired this month by Canadian National.

Below is the complete set of FAQs for the month of September.

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(Copies of FAQs presented)

Building and safety officer: John Lebegue

Topic: Fences

Question: Is a building permit required for the installation of a fence? Are fees required for the installation of a fence?

Answer: A fence permit is required for the installation of all fences in the City of Lincoln. A fee is assessed for each fence permit in accordance with the adopted fee schedule.

To obtain a fence permit, please prepare a sketch of the location that includes the height of the fence. Submit that sketch along with a fence permit application to the Building and Safety Office located at City Hall, 700 Broadway Street.

Please call the Building and Safety Office with any questions: 217-732-6318.

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Lincoln Fire Department: Chief Mark Miller

Topic: Leaf Burning

Question: What are the regulations on burning leaves?

Answer: City ordinances allow the burning on "landscape waste" only under certain specified conditions. "Landscape waste" is defined as any vegetable or plant refuse, excluding garbage and agricultural waste. The term includes leaves, trees, tree trimmings, branches, stumps, shrubbery, brush, weeds, grass, and yard trimmings.

Residents of the city may burn landscape waste between April 1 through October 1 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, from eight o'clock (8:00) A.M. until six o'clock (6:00) P.M.

From October 2 through March 31 landscape waste may only be burned on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, from eight o'clock (8:00) A.M. until five o'clock (5:00) P.M.

Any landscape waste that is burned must be attended to by the individual conducting the landscape waste burn and must be burned until the fire is completely out. Burning may only be conducted on concrete or brick streets or on concrete, brick, or paved areas of a citizen's property. The burning area must be located at least fifty feet (50') from any structure. The individual conducting the burn must have an operable hose, of sufficient size and capacity to extinguish the fire, available at the burning site at all times. Landscape waste must be burned in the open and shall not be contained in any barrel or other similar device.

Any police officer or firefighter of the City of Lincoln, or the Lincoln Building and Safety Officer, may require any fire being burned to be extinguished if, in that official's opinion, such fire and the related smoke are injurious to the health or safety of any other citizens of the city. If so requested, any individual conducting the burn shall immediately extinguish such fire.

Any violation of these provisions is punishable by a fine of not less than twenty five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense; fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense; and seventy five dollars ($75.00) for the third offense within a calendar year. Any offense beyond the third offense in a calendar year shall result in a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500.00). (Please see 5-3-4 of the City Code.)

The Lincoln Fire Department recommends that if you wish to burn leaves and landscape waste, be considerate to your neighbors and observe wind conditions so as not to burn towards structures or create road hazards with heavy smoke. Use caution around dry vegetation and pine trees as they can ignite easily and a fire can get out of control.

The best and safest solution for handling landscape waste is to take it to the City's landscape waste facility on Broadwell Drive. It is open in the fall and accepts leaves and landscape waste at no charge.

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City administration: Mayor Keith Snyder

Topic: Railroad crossings

Question: How do I file a complaint about a rough railroad crossing?

Answer: All railroad crossings fall under the jurisdiction of the railroad that owns the rail line. The City of Lincoln has no authority to replace any railroad crossings within the City limits.

Lincoln residents can file complaints about any railroad crossing with the Illinois Commerce Commission. The ICC then takes up the matter with the prospective railroad.

Complaints about railroad crossings may be filed in one of three ways:

Online – go to http://www.icc.illinois.gov/
consumer/complaint/ and follow the steps.

By phone – call 1-800-524-0795 between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday to register a complaint.

By mail – write a letter to file a complaint and send it to:

Illinois Commerce Commission
527 East Capitol Ave
Springfield, IL. 62701

Initial complaints are considered informal complaints and are handled by ICC staff. If a resolution is not reached through an informal complaint, Lincoln residents may pursue formal complaints which are assigned docket numbers and handled by an Administrative Law Judge.

Useful information when completing a complaint form: If Lincoln residents wish to file complaints about the 5th Street Road railroad crossing; it is controlled by the Union Pacific Railroad.

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Lincoln Police Department: Chief Ken Greenslate

Topic: Police Officer Training

Question: What are the requirements to become a police officer?

Answer: There are several mental, physical, and legal requirements to become a police officer.

Illinois law requires that applicants must be 21 years old unless they have graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Law Enforcement, in which case they may be 20 years old. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens and have no felony convictions. Some misdemeanor convictions will also disqualify an applicant. Applicants must have a valid driver license. Applicants cannot be older than 35 years old.

Applicants must first pass a POWER test (physical fitness), a written exam, an oral exam, a background check, a psychological examination, a medical exam, a credit check, a fingerprint check, and a polygraph examination. Approximately 80 percent of all applicants do not pass all of the testing requirements. All of this testing is conducted by the Lincoln Board of Police and Fire Commissioners. Applicants are then placed on a hiring list in the order of the points earned during the testing.

Applicants with previous college and/or military experience are preferred and receive extra points.

The Lincoln City Council then determines when to hire a new officer to fill a vacancy.

After hiring, brand new officers must attend and pass a 12-week Police Academy. The training includes firearms, criminal law, traffic law, first aid, emergency vehicle operation, baton and pepper spray use, and unarmed personal combat training. Cadets must pass all tests including a state-mandated exam upon completion of the academy.

Upon return to the department from the academy, probationary officers begin a field training program that lasts nine months. Probationary officers must learn local laws and local procedures and policies. Probationary officers are evaluated daily, weekly, monthly, and at the end of field training. Probationary officers may be dismissed at any time for failure to meet standards.

Upon the successful completion of the first year, officers are then sworn and certified in as full-time police officers. It still takes several years of experience, however, to make a well-rounded police officer.

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Street and alley department: Superintendent Tracy Jackson

Topic: Driveway approaches

Question: Will the City fix my driveway by the curb?

Answer: The only part of a driveway that the City is responsible for is the City's sidewalk that runs through (or across) the drive. The actual drive and approach from the street (or curb) to the sidewalk is the property owner's responsibility.

If you want to install, enlarge, or modify your driveway approach in any way, you must obtain a permit from the Building and Safety Office located at City Hall. There is no charge for the permit.

[By NILA SMITH with text from files received]