Lincoln Aldermen to hold special voting session Tuesday

 

[May 26, 2020] 

The Lincoln City Council will meet tonight at 6 p.m. to discuss and vote upon possible changes to traffic flow and other obstacles that might impede the ability of local restaurant owners to open their businesses to outdoor serving and dining at the beginning of Illinois’ Phase three return to normalcy during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to information released by Governor JB Pritzker, this Friday, May 29th, local bars and restaurants may serve ‘dine-in’ patrons in an outdoor setting.

The city of Lincoln has three voting items on the agenda related to this Phase three ruling.

Item ‘A’ offers three options for downtown bars and restaurants.

*Plan ‘A’ will be to permit the use of street side parking for the establishment of dining areas.

*Plan ‘B’ includes changing the traffic flow to one way traffic around the downtown area to enhance safety for those dining outside.

*Plan ‘C’ includes closures of certain streets in town again to accommodate restaurant and bars outdoor businesses.

The council will also look at offering the use of city owned properties for dining.

And finally, aldermen will be asked to approve the recommendation of the city Liquor Commission regarding outside serving of liquor.

Last week Mayor Seth Goodman requested that local restaurant and bar owners weigh in on these options and express to him what they need from the city so that they may return to full service business in Lincoln.

The meeting will be televised on Comcast channel 5 as well as livestreamed on the city website.

[Nila Smith]