Mayor Tracy Welch, Alderman Tony Zurkammer and Street Superintendent Walt Landers enjoy coffee with constituents

 

[April 21, 2023] 

On Saturday, April 15, Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch hosted a Coffee with the Mayor event at Guesthouse Coffee and Pastries in Lincoln. Joining him for the morning was Ward two alderman Tony Zurkammer and city Street Superintendent Walt Landers.

Approximately ten guests were on hand to visit with the three city officials and talk about conditions within the city, both good and bad.

The early part of the event that lasted just over one hour was devoted to talking about the conditions of streets and sidewalks in the city. Talk about owner responsibility versus city responsibility helped clear up some questions by one constituent who had concern about a structure that was on her father’s side of the property line.

Describing what she was talking about, Landers told her that what her father had inherited on his property was a carriage path and perhaps a post. He explained that in some of the original homes in Lincoln there was a hard surface pathway where that carriages would pull in off the street for “parking” when visiting the residence. He said that the pathways were the responsibility of the property owner and not the city. At the same time, he offered to check out the situation and offer help if possible.

Landers said that any homeowner can submit a request for the city to come out and take a look at the problem with a sidewalk. He said the city will come out and determine if the issue is the responsibility of the city or the homeowner, and even if it is the responsibility of the homeowner, the city can offer advise and even sometime help a bit with getting the issue resolved.

Welch spoke about the ap that is available for reporting issues with streets. He said that the street department didn’t have the time or manpower to drive every street in town looking for issues. Therefore if people would download the ap and use their cellphones to report issues they see in their neighborhood, the city street department can come and check it out. Landers said that using the application and following up with an email would be advisable, and that the city will respond to the application with updates to the constituent to let them know what the city is doing to address an issue.

Discussions moved on to the topic of the old St. Clara’s Manor building on Fifth Street that currently belongs to Lincoln College. A group had formed consisting of the Central Illinois Veterans Commission, Salvation Army and other entities and approached the city about helping with the ownership of the building. The group had asked if the city would take ownership of the building from the College, then lease it back to the group to develop into a center for counseling, an office and intake area for Salvation Army and a temporary shelter for veterans.

Welch said the city had decided not to take ownership of the building for a number of reasons. He said first and foremost, the city was not in the business of making money or doing projects ‘for profit.’ In addition, there were concerns about the cash liability that the city would incur as it would have to as the property owner address some of the safety concerns in the building such as the possible presence of asbestos. And the city would be responsible for routine maintenance, roof, furnace, plumbing and such. At the same time, Welch said he wanted to see the group get what they needed through other avenues. He said he knew that they were applying for grants and was hopeful that they would be able to continue moving forward with their plans.

Talking about economic development, Welch said that there were two businesses that were coming into town that will be filling empty buildings in the city. He said that both are cannabis related, one will be the gummy infusion business who founder had visited the city council quite some time ago seeking appropriate approval to move a small infusion kitchen into the city. Welch said that company is going to be setting up in the old Bonanza restaurant and a cannabis dispensary is moving into town, probably in the old Pizza Hut. A third “Craft Grow” business is also moving to Lincoln at a location to be announced.

A question was posed about the city’s TIF (tax increment funding) program and was it still in play as an economic development tool. Welch explained that the TIF load made for the Lincoln Grand Eight Theater was based on a property value assessment of $8,000,000. However, when the building sold about a year ago, it only brought $900,000. He said it is not generating the property tax it was supposed to and therefore, the city is falling short about $35,000 a year on being able to make the bond payment of the TIF loan with revenues from increased taxes.

Welch was asked how long it would be before the TIF revenues would be paying for the debt and actually making money for further TIF investments. Welch said he didn’t know for sure, but his best guess would be another four to five years.

In the meantime, he said the city is investing in downtown businesses through the Economic Development grants for structural improvements. He said the city is utilizing ARPA (American Recovery Plan Act) funding to provided grants to business owners who need to do structural repairs. He noted as an example, Guesthouse owner Ethan Hoinacki had utilized that funding to assist in the revitalization of the second floor of his building, where Sublime Skin is now located. He said the restoration of turned out beautifully and the upstairs was now home to a viable business in the heart of the city.

Welch said he is pleased with the grant program and that it is improving the city. He noted that people tell him they love the downtown Lincoln area, and the goal of the city governance is to make it even better.

Talk turned to the former Oasis building, and a question as to whether the building is still salvageable. Welch said that he believes it is. He said one misconception may be that the building continues to be damaged by the elements. He said that there is a solid roof on the building and drainage to take precipitation off the roof. He said yes the building needs repaired after the fire, but it is not any worse than it was, and he thinks someone could take it and make it something good again.

Fielding a question about the Lincoln College campus Welch said he had recently spoken with members of the college board of trustees that told him there was something in the works. He was told that the college is “in conversation” with a potential buyer and talks have gone further this time around than with any other prospects they have had.

A question was asked about the Burger King that was supposed to have been built next to the Casey’s on Woodlawn Road. He said as far as he knew it is still coming, but apparently on hold for now. There is also going to be a new Taco Bell coming, across the road on Woodlawn at the location of the car was that was torn down recently.

Welch said that one great concern is the vacant Kroger building on Woodlawn. He said the owners have priced themselves out of the market on the rent. Welch said he had spoke with them and had expressed that the owners were not helping themselves or anyone else when they made rent on their buildings so high no one could afford them.

In the good news department, the former Rent One at the corner of Broadway and Kickapoo Streets in downtown Lincoln has sold to local business owner Ethan Hoinacki. Welch said Hoinacki plans to divide the square footage into smaller spaces and will be offering those spaces for rent.

On a new topic, Zurkammer, Landers and Welch all commented on the development of city parks. Melrose Park is finished complete with new playground equipment and is being enjoyed by local children. Allison Park in the Mayfair edition is next on the list, and the materials for the new playground have arrived. It was noted that the park in Mayfair will be a little more complicated because it will offer special equipment for children with physical and mental disabilities.

The original plan had been for coffee with the mayor to last about one hour. As the hour passed and talk began to wind down, the last topic of discussion was about accomplishing goals for the city. Zurkammer said that the city is working toward achieving goals incrementally. There was discussion about the massive strategic plans that have been put before the city council in past years, and how that it was difficult to achieve that kind of ‘pie in the sky’ goals. Zurkammer said that instead of going for the pie in the sky, the city is working toward shorter term goals by dividing them into smaller achievable increments. He cited the parks as one of those smaller achievable increments.

At the end of the morning, Welch thanked all those who had come and said there had been some very good discussions. He reminded guests that the city is accessible, and anyone who needs to speak with the mayor or aldermen are invited to do so at any time.

Several in attendance thanked Welch, Zurkammer, and Landers for the time of easy conversation, and of course, the good coffee.

[Nila Smith]