Minutes of the City of Lincoln City Council Special Joint Committees' Meeting with the Logan County Board on Wednesday, January 28, 2015.

[February 24, 2015]  LINCOLN - Minutes of the City of Lincoln City Council Special Joint Committees' Meeting with the Logan County Board on Wednesday, January 28, 2015. The meeting opened at 7:04 p.m.

City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll. There were six Aldermen present (Alderman Bauer, Alderman Cooper, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Hom, Alderman Mourning, and Alderman Neitzel), one absent (Alderman Tibbs) and one seat vacant. Also present was Building and Safety Officer Mr. Lebegue. Also present were Mayor Snyder, City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach, City Administrator Mr. Johnson, City Treasurer Mr. Conzo, and Recording Secretary Mrs. Riggs.

County Board members present were: Mr. Andy Anderson, Mr. Rick Aylesworth, Mr. Kevin Bateman, Mr. David Blakenship, Ms. Emily Davenport, Dr. David Hepler, Mr. Patrick O'Neill, Mr. Gene Rohlfs, Mr. Charles Ruben, Mr. Scott Schaffenacher, and Ms. Jan Shumacher.

Also present was the Regional Planning Commissioner Mr. Will D'Andrea and Regional Planning Commission Chairman Mr. Bill Graff,

Everyone said the Pledge of Allegiance.

Alderman Neitzel has been an Alderman on the City Council for sixteen years and would like to have better communication between the City and County. Alderman Hom has been an Alderman on the City Council for more than ten years. Alderman Hoinacki has been on the City Council for about six years and is on the Regional Planning Commission. Alderman Bauer was appointed as an Alderman about a year ago and will be running in the primary and is hoping to open the door for younger people to have a voice and that she is on the Joint Solid Waste Committee. Alderman Cooper was appointed as an Alderman about ten months ago and is running for Alderman of Ward #1 and looking forward to opening the communication lines. Alderman Mourning was appointed about three weeks ago to fill a vacant seat in Ward #3 and looks forward to opening the communication lines.

City Administrator Mr. Johnson has been the City Administrator since December and looks forward to opening a dialog with the County. Mayor Snyder said he is very proud of the City Council and has been in office for almost five years.

Mr. Andy Anderson has been on the board for about four years. Mr. Rick Aylesworth has been on the County Board for the past ten years or so. Mr. Kevin Bateman has been on the County Board for eight years and would like the City and County to work together. Mr. David Blakenship was appointed to the Logan County Board about two years ago. Ms. Emily Davenport was appointed to the Logan County Board about nine months ago. Mr. Patrick O'Neill has been on the Logan County board for fifteen years. Mr. Gene Rohlfs has been on the Logan County Board for four years. Mr. Charles Ruben has been on the Logan County Board for about twelve years.

City Administrator Mr. Johnson talked about the strategic plan that will begin over the next few months. This will recognize what the City needs to accomplish in the next five years. The City has recently hired FGM to assist in looking for a site and what type of site will be needed for the Fire and Police departments. The new street facility will hopefully be started by late fall 2015. Pulaski Street was finished this past fall. Renovations will begin at the Depot. The library parking lot will be redone this year with the assistance of the Farnsworth Group.

Mayor Snyder said the City is going to look at making more spots available at Scully Park by pushing the sidewalk back into the park to allow for angle parking. Fifth Street road is a project that both the City and the County are both looking at. Lincoln is working on a long term plan for the sewer overflow plan. The City would like more information on CEDS and the funding which has expended approximately Sixteen Thousand Dollars ($16,000.00).

Dr. Hepler said he had not prepared anything. He said they were trying to be sensitive to the zoning processes and pre-empt some of the issues.

Mr. Will D'Andrea, Enterprise Zone Administrator. He said the City and County have been involved in the Enterprise Zone for many years. There are new zone, statutes and a different process for the application. There is now a point system that is required in order to be able to be considered for a new Enterprise Zone. There are still ninety-seven (97) Enterprise Zones. In 2015 there will only be thirteen (13) zones handed out. The qualifications are unemployment, employment opportunities, poverty, abandoned coal mine; brownfield; large business closures; vacant structures; tax base improvements; infrastructure improvements; career skill programs; and equalized assessed valuations. The deadline is December 2015. In year 2016 the County and City will receive notice as to whether they will be awarded an Enterprise Zone. It would be preferable for the City and the County to decide together who will make application. The abatement of taxes comes with the Enterprise Zone but if the Zone is no longer the tax abatement is gone.

Mr. Steve McClure said the grain elevators are saving money through the gas tax. Mr. Hamilton said the whole economic development is up to those who are in the enterprise zone. Mr. McClure said the new way the enterprise zone is being handled is actually a better zone. Mr. McClure said the new enterprise zone is better and with the new projects that are being assessed by the new criteria and the new projects have 5 out of 10 of the criteria for our area. Mayor Snyder said he and Dr. Hepler have been talking and feel they should work together to get this moving on the Enterprise Zone.

Mr. Ruben moved to move forward with the Enterprise Zone and Mr. Bateman seconded it. The County Board unanimously approved the motion.
 

Mayor Snyder stated that the City of Lincoln could not vote at a workshop session. Alderman Bauer felt this was a step in the right direction. Mr. Bateman said this is historic.

County Board member Mr. Anderson moved to adjourn the meeting and Alderman Mourning seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.

The City of Lincoln Special Committee Meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Risa Riggs
Recording Secretary

[Taken from the City of Lincoln Website]