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Lincoln City Council
Tourism report, permits, and infrastructure updates discussed at
Lincoln City Council meeting
[October 31, 2025]
The Lincoln City Council met for its Committee of the Whole session
at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at City Hall. All members of
the council were present.
The evening began with a quarterly report from Wanda Lee Rolfs of
Logan County Tourism, who shared recent visitor trends and marketing
efforts. Rolfs noted that the bureau has welcomed 434 visitors from
21 different countries since her tenure began.
“The intrigue comes from talking with them, finding out why they’re
here, where they’re from, and why they chose to stop at the tourism
bureau,” she said.
Rolfs discussed efforts to strengthen Lincoln’s presence through
social media, particularly Instagram, and shared that a new video
project showcasing local businesses and attractions is underway. She
also mentioned securing a $32,923 grant for Route 66 promotional
efforts, which includes plans to relight the historic windmill at
The Mill museum.
“Instagram has been known to be a community’s engine that gets it
started, gets it focused, and gets people directed there again,”
Rolfs said.
Following her presentation, the council reviewed several event
permit requests. Aldermen approved a permit for Lincoln Christian
Church’s “Hometown Christmas” on Friday, December 5, from 2 to 8
p.m., closing North McLean Street between Pekin and Delavan streets.
Clerk Bateman explained, “It’s open to everybody. You don’t have to
belong to the church—it’s for anyone to go and enjoy what they do.”
Council members also placed a last-minute permit from Copper and Oak
on the consent agenda for a live outdoor music event on Saturday,
November 1, closing Delavan Street from North Kickapoo to the nearby
alley between noon and 10 p.m.
Treasurer Chuck Conzo proposed renewing a $663,000 certificate of
deposit from the Sewer Operation and Maintenance Fund at a rate of
4.10 percent for six months.
“It’s a very good rate,” Conzo said, noting the city’s original rate
was slightly higher before interest rates began to decline. The
council agreed to place the renewal on the regular agenda.
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City Attorney John Hoblit then introduced a resolution to
approve a new easement adjustment for KPH Holdings’ solar
project, along with the abrogation of an outdated easement from
1910.
“The title company is requesting a resolution that authorizes
the previously passed one and the new one, giving the mayor and
city clerk authority to execute the documents,” Hoblit
explained.
Mayor Welch provided several updates during the announcement
period, including feedback from the “Trick or Treat with the
Mayor” event, which distributed roughly 250 bags of candy at
Latham Park. Welch shared a lighthearted story about a visiting
family from Oklahoma who joined the festivities after stopping
for coffee downtown.
He also expressed frustration about delays with the Fifth Street
project, which was pulled from the November state letting due to
ongoing issues with a railroad agreement.
“It’s not the city—it’s the railroad we’re waiting on,” Welch said,
adding that project costs have risen significantly since its
inception.
Fire Chief Ty Johnson announced a food drive running November 1–24,
encouraging donations of canned and non-perishable goods at City
Hall. Street Superintendent Walt Landers shared that the city’s leaf
collection program will begin the first week of November and
continue every Wednesday through early December, with the landscape
waste facility open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3:50
p.m.
The council entered executive session at 6:22 p.m. to discuss
litigation, with no city business to follow.
[Sophia Larimore]
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