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Lincoln City Council
New corporal appointed at Lincoln City Council
[August 29, 2025]
All members of the Lincoln City
Council were present for the Committee of the Whole meeting on
Tuesday evening, August 26, 2025, except for Building and Zoning
Officer Wes Woodhall. The session covered grant approvals, financial
items, infrastructure updates, and a recap of the Balloons Over 66
Festival.
The meeting started with the
appointment of Patrick Hoban to the office of Corporal. There was no
public participation.
Mayor Tracy Welch reported that the Economic Development Commission
approved a $6,500 structural improvement grant for a resident at 123
N. Kickapoo Street. The measure was placed on the regular agenda for
council approval next week. Two other routine items were also
advanced without discussion.
Welch introduced a walk-on item, requesting advice and consent to
appoint Hannah Meece to the Historic Preservation Commission. “Out
of seven members we are down to two on the commission and I have
been working with staff to get those seats filled,” Welch said. “I
did have a sit down meet and greet with Hannah today and I think
she’d be a good fit for that.” The council agreed to move the
appointment forward without objection.
City Treasurer Chuck Conzo discussed renewal options for a
certificate of deposit maturing on September 3. “United Community
Bank is willing to renew that for 6 months at 4.1% or 3 months at
that amount, or 3.9% for 9 months, which I would not recommend,”
Conzo said. “I would take the higher interest rate for the shorter
term.” The renewal will be on next week’s agenda.
Streets Superintendent Walt Landers noted that a project from 2009
will be formally closed out to balance Motor Fuel Tax accounts,
requiring no cost to the city. He also reported that bid openings
for another infrastructure project were scheduled for the following
day, with results to be presented at the next meeting. Welch urged
members to review the bid information once received.
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Council members
then discussed the recent Balloons Over 66 Festival. Alderman
Kevin Bateman praised the turnout. “If you weren’t downtown
Saturday night, it was absolutely the largest crowd ever seen in
downtown Lincoln,” he said.
He also highlighted the long hours put in by volunteers. “Most
of our volunteers were no-shows. Peggy and I were downtown from
4 a.m. Friday to past midnight Friday night and 4 a.m. Saturday
to past midnight on Saturday night.”
City Clerk Peggy Bateman described the surprise arrival of a
younger man who pitched in during cleanup. “He did all the heavy
lifting because he was a lot younger. I thank him very much for
that,” she said.
Alderman Bateman added that his help came at a moment when the
core team was completely drained. “It was amazing because those
cables are extremely heavy. We were all exhausted and he showed
up on his own. Those are the kind of volunteers we need.”
Mayor Welch said the festival was well
attended despite wind-related cancellations. He thanked city staff
for their support. “The pattern [Police Chief Joe Meister] put
together for traffic control paid off. It was much better than last
year,” Welch said. He also acknowledged Streets and Alleys for
signage and other departments for their roles in the event.
Welch noted that one balloon pilot drifted as far as Decatur after
running out of fuel but landed safely with no damage. “He’s a
veteran pilot and I’m sure if he had a landing spot he would have
put it down, he just ran out of fuel.” Welch said.
With no further announcements, the council adjourned after a motion
from Alderman Dennis Clemons, seconded by Alderman Steve Parrott.
[Sophia Larimore]
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