Lincoln City Hall closed to public effective today until further notice
Lincoln aldermen discuss other pandemic related issues
City administrator offering assistance with new DCEO small business grant program

[December 16, 2020]   Effective today, the Lincoln City Hall building will be closed to the public in response to the coronavirus pandemic that appears to be overtaking the community.

At the Monday night meeting of the council, City Clerk Peggy Bateman said that those who need access to the clerk’s office for payments do have other options. Paying bills online is preferred right now.

However, if a customer is unable to pay online or needs to make the payment in person for some other reason, they may do so by calling the clerk’s office. The phone number for the clerk’s office is 217-735-2815. A member of the clerk staff will meet the customer at the door, but under no circumstances will the customer be allowed inside the building.

She said the same would be true for those who are filing their pre-election petitions. Therefore, any would-be candidate who needs to submit paperwork to the clerk’s office should also call the office and a staff person will take the paperwork from the person at the door.

Acting Mayor Tracy Welch said that he had screened a number of calls from concerned citizens wondering why he and/or the city council have not “shut down” the city. Welch said that such an action is not within the jurisdiction of the council.

He said that the Logan County Department of Public Health has the authority to take that action.

Welch said that he has talked to a number of people about the situation the city finds itself in right now with numbers raising at a rapid pace. He said he had taken in the advice and opinions of people all the way from the Illinois Liquor Commission, to the State’s Attorney, and local business owners.

He understands the situation the citizens of the city and the county are in and is greatly concerned.

He advised that there are weekly meetings with the Logan County Department of Public Health that include himself and Alderman Ron Keller. He said such a meeting is to be held today, Tuesday, Nov. 17, and he is confident that if any decisions are made the health department will announce it.

Welch said he wanted constituents to know that the city governance is not ignoring the problems, and he knows that the situation we are in right now is not good.

He also said that he had spoken with Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital Administrator Dolan Dalpoas and he is concerned about the health and wellbeing of staff and patients, and is also about the availability of beds for those who are ill.

Welch said he knew with the holiday season coming up, it was going to be tough for families to avoid their annual get-togethers, but he urged everyone to act responsibly. He asked that large events be postponed and that when gathering together all CDC recommended precautions be followed.

In light of the number of cases that are popping up in the city, aldermen also voted Monday night to do away with the Tuesday night Committee of the Whole meetings until further notice. This will help to reduce the amount of time aldermen spend in the city hall building and in close proximity to one another.

The next meeting of the Lincoln City Council will be held on Monday, December 7th, 2020 and will be a modified format combining the C.O.W. and the regular voting session.

On a more positive note. Welch and City Administrator Beth Kavelman said that the city is now spearheading a project for small business grants through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Kavelman has information about the grant and grant applications and urges Lincoln business owners to contact her about eligibility. Kavelman’s phone number is 217-732-2122.

[Nila Smith]