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 At last week’s voting session, one motion was made regarding
establishing snow routes in the city of Lincoln. After much
discussion, the motion was withdrawn, and the item was tabled for
further research and discussion.
Before the motion was made, the floor was open for Street
Superintendent Walt Landers to field any questions the council might
have about the selection of streets in the snow route. Michelle
Bauer said that she thought the primary question was how and why
those particular streets had been chosen, and why had Pulaski Street
not been chosen.
The streets included were Lincoln Avenue from College to Union, Park
Place from Union to Elm, Southgate from North Kickapoo to Bond, and
Wyatt Avenue in its entirety.
Bauer noted that, with the exception of Wyatt Avenue, the streets
chosen were not necessarily high traffic streets.
 Landers answered that Lincoln Avenue and Park Place had been chosen
because they are too narrow for the snow plows to go through when
cars are parked street side. He said that if cars were removed from
the street, the city plows would be able to get through and clear
the road, probably in one pass. He said that Wyatt had been selected
because it is the main road going to the high school.
Landers said that last year, his crews had cleared the city streets
in 8 hours, so the parking ban on the three streets is not something
that would last for days. The cars could return to their traditional
parking spaces as soon as the road was cleared.
He added that Pulaski Street had been discussed for this year, but
there were issues that would make a parking ban on that street more
complicated. Landers said that, as suggested by Steve Parrott at a
prior workshop session, the snow route was a “pilot” program. It had
been decided that the city should use the three streets named this
year and see how well it works out. If it goes well, then the city
could add Pulaski Street next year.
Mayor Marty Neitzel asked if Landers would order cars towed if they
did not honor the snow route parking ban. Landers said the first
occurrence would warrant a ticket.
Police Chief Paul Adams reminded the council that issuing tickets
and/or towing vehicles would have to be a separate decision from the
council. If the council wishes to issue tickets and/or tow vehicles,
an ordinance will have to drafted and passed for city law
enforcement.
Jonie Tibbs had at the workshop session said she wanted to hold off
on putting it on a voting agenda at this time. This week she said
she still wanted to wait, and suggested that it be tabled until
after another workshop.
She went on to say that in the week that had passed, she had driven
through the alleys of Pulaski Street and felt that almost everyone
on that street would have alternative parking for snow route days.
She said there is one child who needs assistance into the school bus
on Pulaski Street. She felt that having that street cleared of snow
would make it easier for the student as well as the bus staff.
 Neitzel said her only objection to tabling this vote was that “This
is Illinois, we could have snow next week.” She went on to remind
the council that the snow removal plan is not a concrete document;
it can be changed at any time the council deems necessary.
Landers also commented that while a category two (two inches of
snow) is not a big storm that would cause issues for parked
vehicles, a larger storm could be a different story. He noted that
if a storm is three to four inches, and the city has to plow around
the cars, those cars will ultimately “be buried” by the snow plows.
He commented that in his opinion, the owners should want their
vehicles out of the way, so that does not happen.
Tibbs said that in addition to worrying about the streets, there
were the alleys to be considered. The city does plow the alleys as
well, so the council should be looking at the whole picture.
City Administrator Clay Johnson said the original snow plan had put
alleys at the bottom of the list of streets to be addressed.
However, it ended up that it was more efficient to do the alleys at
the same time the streets were done.
Bauer asked if there would be advance warning that the snow routes
would be implemented for a predicted snowfall. She noted that if so,
homeowners should have sufficient time to get their cars off the
street and into the alley before the snow fell. Landers said that
was a correct statement, vehicle owners should have plenty of time
to move their cars, if they are paying attention. Bauer also noted
then that the city should do a good job of publishing early
announcements via the city website, newspapers, and radio. Johnson
said that for a new project such as this, it would also be advisable
to send out letters to the residents on the affected streets and
that a map showing the snow route could also be included.
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Tibbs asked if the city had, or wanted, a list of people with disabilities that
needed their streets cleared sooner rather than later. Landers said absolutely,
the city needs to know. He said right now there are a few, but he would
encourage anyone and everyone with a “medically sensitive situation” to contact
the street department and advise them of such.
Parrott said that looking at the whole plan, he felt that the people of the city
of Lincoln would want to see Pulaski Street included in the immediate snow route
plan. Landers said that Pulaski is a priority street in the snow removal plan,
and with or without cars parked on the street it gets plowed early in the
process.
Bauer then asked if everyone agreed that Pulaski should be added to the snow
routes now. She then made a motion to approve the snow route plan with the
addition of Pulaski Street from Hamilton to Ladue.
In the process of making the motion, a couple of obstacles arose. Should the
snow route remove parking from one or both sides of the street, and if only one
side, which side? The group concluded that more information was needed before
that decision could be made. Johnson suggested that Bauer rescind her motion,
which she did.
Tibbs then made a motion that the item on the agenda be tabled until complete
information could be gathered. Bauer seconded that motion and the six members
present voted unanimously to approve the motion. Those voting included Mayor
Neitzel, Bauer, Jeff Hoinacki, Kathy Horn, Parrott, and Tibbs. Todd Mourning was
absent for the evening.
Johnson clears up misconception and mistake
On Monday night, the council also approved by unanimous vote an amendment to the
contract with Hanson and Associations for design work for the Fifth Street Road
project. The dollar figure approved was $91,067.20.
Before the motion and vote, Johnson explained that the dollar figure had been
reported as approximately $78,000. He said the $78,000 was the amount for Hanson
and Associates, but there were additional dollars included in the motion for
sub-contractors Hanson will use in making the changes to the Fifth Street Road
plan.
He said he also wanted to clear up some confusion on the number of lanes that
will make up the city’s portion of Fifth Street Road. He said there would not be
four lanes there would be three. He said there would be one lane going east, one
going west, and a center turn lane.
The council passed the motion for $91,067.20 unanimously.
At the point of the vote for the design engineering for the Jefferson Street
bridge, Johnson said that he had misspoken about this matter at the workshop
session. He said the work was not going to be done on the Jefferson Street
Bridge, but rather on the State Street Bridge. He said he had identical quotes
for the design work for both bridges and had referred to the wrong bridge. He
said the agenda item had been amended to reflect State Street instead of
Jefferson, and that the cost of the design work was the same.
The council also approved this motion by unanimous vote.
[Nila Smith]
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