2021 Year in Review

City of Lincoln deals with small yet significant issues throughout 2021

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[January 12, 2022]   Throughout the year 2021, the Lincoln City Council addressed and made pretty quick work of a few small, but significant issues.

Early in the year, aldermen discussed and decided to give current liquor license holders a break due to the business lost in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus.

JANUARY 8
• City discusses forgiveness of liquor license fees in wake of pandemic

JANUARY 26
• Lincoln City Council - Aldermen approve discounts in liquor licenses in upcoming year

JANUARY 30, 2021 - TOP PICTURE

At the January 19th meeting of the Lincoln City Council, aldermen approved a zoning variance for a drive-thru service area for a new construction 'quick-serve restaurant" on the city's far west end. According to Lincoln Building and Zoning Officer Wes Woodhall, the new structure will be for a Starbucks. The location is marked on the aerial photo with a vague "X." No timeline was given to construct and open the new business.

Toward the end of January, aldermen approved a zone variance to assist a new business being constructed in Lincoln. Star Bucks was intending to build a new drive-thru coffee house on the city’s west side. To do so the company had to seek permission to have the drive-thru.

Later in the year and another variance for a drive-thru was granted to the First National Bank of Tremont.

In February, aldermen made a significant decision regarding residency for city police officers. The council decided to allow officers who dwell outside of the county to work in Lincoln. Prior to this decision, officers had to reside within 15 miles of Lincoln. The change permitted residency in Tazewell, Mason, McLean, DeWitt, Macon, Sangamon and Menard counties.

FEBRUARY 19
• Lincoln City Council - Lincoln Police officer residency expanded

In March, the city entered into an agreement with the Lincolnland Technical Education Building and Trades (LTEC) program for a land swap in Lincoln. The LTEC program had built two homes on excess property from the construction of the City Services building located on Limit Street on the east side of town. The original plan had been to build a third home in that same area. In March, LTEC Director Matt Puckett asked if the LTEC could trade the Limit Street property for a lot on Ninth Street. The Ninth Street property was a vacant lot that was owned by the city due to the abandonment of a vacant home that burned beyond repair. The city had paid the cost of clearing the fire debris, and claimed ownership of the property.

MARCH 4
• Lincoln City Council - Lincolnland Technical Education Building & Trades to build home on Ninth Street

In 2020, businesses all through the county were shut down due to coronavirus. As some restrictions eased, it was announced that restaurants would be permitted to serve customers in an outdoor setting.

The idea of parklets for outdoor dining was well received by local businesses and customers.

In April of 2021, aldermen were asked to continue permitting outdoor dining parklets in Lincoln and agreed without much ado.

APRIL 7
• City to permit parklets for outdoor dining in downtown area


In May, it was announced that Logan County Animal Control was struggling with staffing issues and was uncertain of its ability to offer a standard annual contract to the city.

Aldermen reviewed a proposal to go to a month-to-month pay plan for services offered by LC Animal Control.

Aldermen discussed the issues on May 27th and approved a change in payment structure at the first voting session in June.

MAY 27
• Lincoln City Council - City hears about struggles of the Logan County Animal Control

Throughout the year, the city was presented with numerous bills to pay for the mandated sewer system upgrades in Lincoln.

The project, according to engineers for Crawford, Murphy and Tilly, moved consistently forward during the year with completion of the project expected in 2022.

[to top of second column]

JULY 7 – TOP PICTURES


These shots taken over the weekend in the 300 block of Union Street in Lincoln demonstrate the magnitude of the work going on to upgrade the Union Street sewer mains.

At the June 29th meeting of the Lincoln City Council, Christy Crites with Crawford Murphy and Tilly said that work on Union is going smoothly and moving along quicker than expected. The construction crew is scheduled to start working on the final tie-ins the week of July 12th, so completion of the street work is not that far away.

She said that the contractors would also be repairing the street surface when all the work is done.

It was also noted that Union Street would be closed this week in the vicinity of Tremont Street and at 19th Street next week.



In July, the council heard about a vermin infested home on Tremont Street, when city Building and Zoning Officer Wes Woodhall sought permission for remediation of the property.
 


There was a second similar situation came to light at the end of the year just a few blocks away from the first home on Tremont. Aldermen approved taking action on second location right after the first of the year, 2022.

JUL 23
• Lincoln aldermen approve remediation process for house on Tremont Street

With the departure of Paul Adams as Chief of Police, there was shifting of rank within the Lincoln Police Department in 2021. In December Officer Shawn Pettit was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

DECEMBER 1 – TOP PICTURE

On Tuesday, November 23rd, Officer Shawn Pettit was officially promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the Lincoln Police Department. After being sworn in to his new position by city attorney John Hoblit, Sergeant Pettit made his way around the room, shaking hands with aldermen and other city officials.

Lincoln residents may have been relieved to hear that the city chose not to increase its share of Logan County Property Tax in the upcoming year. The council heard from Treasurer Chuck Conzo who gave a number of options worth considering. In the end though, he suggested that because the local economy has suffered in the last two years, it would be a nice gesture from the city not to ask for more money.

DECEMBER 18
City of Lincoln to hold steady on 2021 property tax levy


[Nila Smith]

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