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 The topic of the public hearing will be the property tax levy for
this coming year. The tax levy will apply to the 2016 property taxes
collected in 2017. Following the hearing the council will vote to
approve the recommended levy.
At the Monday night meeting of the council, Todd Mourning said that
in the last week City Administrator Clay Johnson had come up with
another suggestion pertaining to the levy. The city is looking at
reducing its total tax levy by $50,000.
Johnson added that another alternative would be to keep the $50,000,
but designate it for a particular line item, pensions. The city of
Lincoln has unfunded liability in the pension programs for
firefighters and police officers. Lincoln is working toward building
that fund, and has designated a portion of the utility tax collected
annually be placed in the pension funds. In addition, at last year’s
budget meetings, Treasurer Chuck Conzo reviewed how the city could
reach the goal of having the pensions fully funded within the time
limits imposed by the state.
 Adding the $50,000 to the two pension funds would help boost the
council efforts to bring the pensions into compliance with state
laws.
There was no further discussion on this topic.
Tourism vote delayed to Thursday
Before the Monday night meeting began, Steve Parrott, who serves on
the Logan County Tourism Bureau Council as a city appointee passed
out copies of the newly completed by-laws for the bureau.
When the action item came up for a vote as to whether to fund the
bureau for another 12 months, Tracy Welch suggested the council
table the vote to Thursday. He said that with the new by-laws in
hand, he felt it would be good for aldermen to review the document
before taking a vote. He made the motion to table. When the vote was
taken, his motion passed with a vote of 6-1. Todd Mourning voted
‘no’ to the motion and Michelle Bauer was absent for the evening.
Later in the evening, Rick Hoefle asked if the bureau was trying to
move forward with certain goals. Were they working toward their
501C3, and Bureau Charter? And, have they appointed a president,
vice-president, and treasurer?
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Parrott told the council that the bureau has added two new board members,
including Lincoln Alderwoman Kathy Horn who will serve as a voting city
appointee.
The group is preparing to start the search for a new director, and a hiring
committee will be formed.
He added that Gail Apel-Sasse has been unable to attend recent meetings. She is
expected to present at the next meeting, and officers could be established at
that time.
Audit presentation and vote tabled to Thursday
Also on the agenda for Monday evening was a presentation of the audit for the
fiscal year ending April 30, 2016. The presentation was to be given by Lori
Milosevich of Estes, Bridgewater and Ogden. Following the presentation was to be
a vote indicating the council would accept and approve the audit as presented.
Mayor Marty Neitzel, on Monday evening, explained that Milosevich was unable to
attend, and asked that the council table the items until Thursday. Aldermen
agreed with a 7-0 vote.
[Nila Smith]
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