The major points of disagreement which required the binding arbitration, according to Detective John Bunner, negotiator for the union, were residency requirements and insurance reimbursement. The previous contract permitted police officers to live in the 732 or 735 telephone exchange area. This time the union asked for, and finally got, permission for officers to live within a 10-mile radius of the city, which Bunner said was about equivalent to living in the 732 or 735 phone area.

Bunner noted that in 1986, the city passed an ordinance requiring all employees to live within the city limits. However, several state court cases have ruled this requirement unconstitutional, he said.

The other stumbling block was the city’s request that union employees pay 5 percent of their health insurance premiums. Bunner said the union did not want to pay any of the cost of their insurance because the city does not share the cost of insurance for an employee’s dependents. The city does offer dependent coverage but at full cost to the employee.

Contract negotiations have been ongoing since May 1 of 1999 and required a mediator to resolve. Negotiating for the city were City Attorney Jonathan Wright, Mayor Joan C. Ritter and Alderman Stephen Mesner, who was head of the finance committee when negotiations began. The union’s negotiators, along with Bunner, were Sgt. Mike Gerits, Officer Chris Carmichael and FOP representative Ted Street.

The new contract also calls for an increase in base wages for its three-year duration, with an increase of 4.2 percent the first year, 4.0 percent the second year and 3.9 percent the third year, retroactive to May 1, 1999, when the old contract expired. The city’s payroll office will now have to calculate the amount of back pay owed to the union members and reimburse them.

Asked how soon they would receive their back pay, City Clerk Juanita Josserand answered, "As soon as we get it figured out." She said the city will compare figures with the Police Department to come up with the proper totals.

Other clauses in the new contract require overtime to be counted as more than 80 hours in a 14-day period rather than 160 hours in 28 days and that officers may undergo random drug testing once per year.

Although the council agreed unanimously to approve the police union contract, Mayor Ritter had to cast a tie vote to break a deadlock on changes in policy for city employees who are non-union employees, in particular when these employees move from union employees to management.

One change in wording was needed because the old policy referred only to work days, while Fire Department employees work 24-hour shifts, not days. Other changes deal with the transfer of accrued time, limiting the carry-over of sick time to six days and vacation time to one year. Alderman Michael Montcalm said he would vote no on the changes because he did not want to "take away benefit time from those who had expectations of receiving it."

Alderman William Melton said he, too, would vote no. "I can’t vote for something I’m arguing against at my own place of employment," he told the council. No votes also came from Aldermen George Mitchell and Benny Huskins.

The board also approved putting up new stop signs along State Street, as recommended by Police Chief Richard Ludolph. State and Eighth will become a four-way stop, and State will become a through street from Eighth to12th streets. At Ninth Street there will be stop signs both ways. At 10th Street there will be a stop sign for westbound traffic, and at Short Eighth, Short 11th and 12th Streets stop signs for eastbound traffic.

The council also approved parking restrictions on some of the recently renovated city streets, because the newly installed curbs and gutters have made the streets narrower. Parking will be prohibited on the west side of Gavin from West Kickapoo to North Street, on the north side of North Street from Gavin to College, on both sides of Jackson from Fifth to Sixth Street, on both sides of State north of the alley between Sixth and Seventh Street and on State from Fifth to Sixth Street, on both sides of Wichita east of the alley to Kankakee, and on the east side of the 500 block of Walnut Street from Fourth to the alley. These restrictions all go into effect as of Dec. 4.

A public hearing on the new liquor ordinance, to which all liquor license holders have been invited, is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m., and a public hearing on the 2000-2001 tax levy is set for Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 6 p.m.

Due to hard work and effective leadership, we were able to obtain a $550,000 state grant and a $1.2 million federal grant to start much-needed sewage projects throughout our community. Before we started the project, we created a "Who, What, When, Where and Why" program. The program brings city department heads together with local utility companies and developers to discuss and outline tasks at hand. This ensures that things are done right the first time with minimal expense to the taxpayer.

Cooperation and leadership have also allowed educational and civic expansion and development. We aided in the Lincoln College's recent expansion by helping secure funding at a lower interest rate. Our partnership with Main Street, local veterans and schools has enabled us to celebrate Flag Day in a community-oriented way. We invested time and resources in the District 27 Volunteer Reader and Prairie Partner program by helping students and gardens grow through reading with Lincoln's children.

Working and developing partnerships with our local Congressman LaHood, Senator Madigan, Representative Turner, Logan County Board members, Main Street, the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce and government agencies such as IDOT, DCCA and the IEPA has been essential in helping several new business owners get started in our community. We welcome the Central Illinois Carpenters Health and Welfare Trust Fund Facility, Mustard Moon, Precision Products, Staples, Stage, Walgreen's, Jim Moody's Excavating and Hauling, The Movie Gallery, Sheley's Truck Wash, T N T Trucking, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Joe's Pizzeria, Curves, Sun Loans and Integrity Data.

Building these partnerships has also helped many existing businesses expand and grow. These businesses include Medicap Pharmacy, APAC, Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home, Wal-Mart, Christian Village, Maple Ridge Care Centre, Prairie Years, Willamette Industries, Family Custom Cleaners, Pizza Hut, Lincoln IGA, Midwest Records Storage, Albert Brothers Services, Taco Bell, D&D Sewage, Illico and Treu Body Works.

I am especially proud that we have been able to reduce corporate taxes as infrastructure has expanded.

In working together we have been able to do a number of great things for our community. We have been able to obtain grants to pay for much-needed mobile data units and bulletproof jackets for our law enforcement officers, and we received a $32,000 grant for our Fire Department to use for hazardous waste equipment. We have assisted the Healthy Communities Partnership by representation and providing funding for the Alcohol, Tobacco, Drug, and Violence Prevention programs.

Progressive leadership and teamwork can make anything possible. In any business, organization or government entity, building partnerships and working with people is essential for achieving our goals and aspirations as we strive to make our community better. There are many more accomplishments that we can list here; our progress keeps growing each and every day.

[Mayor Joan C. Ritter]

More than 190 tickets at $50 each were sold to attendees who feasted on beef tenderloin and holiday red velvet cake prepared by Guzzardo's Catering.

[Melody Shew of MKS Jewelers presents a DeBeer's bracelet to winner Barb Moore.]

Early in the evening, ladies were tempted by a DeBeer's "Past-Present-Future" diamond bangle bracelet donated by MKS Jewelers, Ltd.  For $5, a key could be purchased that may or may not open a magical box containing seven more keys for the bracelet box.  Finalists tried their luck again at the end of the evening.  Barbara Moore of Springfield was the lucky winner. Master of ceremonies Terry Bell kept the evening rolling and kidded
attendees about letting loose of their wallets before the bidding began.

And when the bidding began under the guidance of Mount Pulaski auctioneer Mike Maske, it began in earnest, with winning bids totaling more than $5,000.

Winners of live auction items included:

• 7½-foot tree "Santa Claus is Coming to Town!" sponsored by Roger Webster
  Construction, was purchased by Ed Curtis for $500.
• 7½-foot tree "All that Glitters is Gold," sponsored by Abraham Lincoln
  Memorial Hospital, was purchased by Dr. Dennis Carroll for $475.
• 4½-foot tree "Victorian Jewel," sponsored by Graue Pharmacy, was purchased by
  Valecia Crisafulli for $400.
• 4½-foot tree "Let the Good Times Roll," sponsored by Graue Inc., was purchased
  by Terry Brown of State Bank of Lincoln for $350.
• 4½-foot tree "Santa's Workshop," sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Woody Hester, was purchased by Chris Graue for $300.

• A "Berry Merry Christmas" wreath, sponsored by the Logan County Farm Bureau Women's Committee, was purchased for $300 by Dr. Dennis Carroll.
• The "Last Rose of Summer" wreath, sponsored by the Ulrich family in memory of Dr. Edward Ulrich, was purchased for $350 by Nancy Gehlbach.
• The State Bank of Lincoln purchased the swag "Mystique" for $250. The swag was also sponsored by the State Bank of Lincoln.
• Larry Crisafulli purchased the swag "Southern Christmas," sponsored by Evelyn Madigan, for $425.

• David Sniff paid $375 for a holiday needlepoint work of art entitled "Victorian Christmas" that was created by his wife, Claire Sniff, owner of Claire's Needleworks & Framing.

Three special gift packages, courtesy of several local businesses, also prompted some competitive bidding. Dale Bassi was outbid by Nancy Schaub at $825 for a holiday getaway package to the Chicago Hyatt Hotel.  Pam Johnson paid $300 for the Holiday Home Extravaganza, that included four hours of housecleaning and unlimited carpet cleaning. Mark Graue purchased a holiday makeover package, courtesy of Blades Hair Salon and The Tannery, for $200.

[There were a number of items that could be bid on in a silent auction.]

Additional trees, wreaths and swags were sold at a silent auction that continued throughout the evening. A public raffle tree, "Twas the Night Before Christmas," featured an electric train traveling around the middle of the tree.

Wendy Bell, director of Main Street Lincoln, said she was very happy with this year's Festival of Trees. "We are pleased because the event is only 6 years old and is still in its infancy and always growing. Plus, it really is a gift to the community because everyone can come enjoy the beauty of the trees, wreaths and swags for free."

Proceeds will be split between Main Street Lincoln and the Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation.

At the First United Methodist Church you will find holiday cookies by the pound, and crafts. All proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity.

At St. John United Church of Christ and the First Presbyterian Church you will find unique, well-priced, handmade items that make great gifts. Made by artisans in third-world countries, their sale here will help less fortunate peoples that otherwise are unemployed or underemployed.

The Ten Thousand Villages items range from cheerfully enameled wooden tops, lovely jewel-tone bead jewelry, carvings, toys, wood puzzles, ornaments, marble and soapstone sculptures and such, decorative cloths; an unending array of quality and diverse décor and gift items. Often ethnic flavor is seen in the craft, making it something completely unique. The products come from far away and often not thought of countries such as Ecuador, Bangladesh, Peru, Sri Lanka, Thailand, West Bank, Mexico, Kenya, India and many, many more places that do not have the standard of living that we are blessed with and enjoy.

Alternative Market, like Ten Thousand Villages, sells "global handicrafts" made in underdeveloped third-world countries. It was begun by a woman in the First Presbyterian Church in Normal who wanted to do something about economic justice issues. "It is now an ecumenical ministry," explains the Rev. Paul Gilmore, working through many churches.

A highlight of the event was the unveiling of the life-size Lincoln bust donated to the society by former owners of the North Chicago Street, property, Sandra Sue and Earl Dale Williams of Lincoln. The Williams family owned Lincoln Antiques, which operated at that site from 1979 to 1995. Lincoln impersonator Charles Ott and Diane Coop, representing the Williams family, unveiled the bust.

[At Friday's open house, Charles Ott, Lincoln impersonator, and Diane Coop unveil a life-size bust of Abraham Lincoln that is a gift to the Logan County Genealogical and Historical Society.]

 The Williams family acquired the bust in the 1980s from the Lincoln Wax Museum in Springfield, which had in turn purchased it from the Lincoln Carriage Museum of Petersburg. Documents at the Carriage Museum say the bust was purchased somewhere in the eastern part of the country in the 1950s, but give no record of where it was made or the person or company that made it. It is believed to have been made between 1890 and 1910.

The Chicago Street building was constructed in 1895, the original location of Basket Grocery. After being vacated by Lincoln Antiques, it became an upholstery shop but had been vacant for about a year before the society purchased it. Cash donations, donations of materials, and help in moving and remodeling the interior helped the society make the move to its new quarters.

The society keeps books, newspapers, cemetery records and other research materials pertaining to Logan County and is happy to receive donations of materials that have historic or genealogical interest. They are also looking for volunteers to help with staffing, answering telephone inquiries and doing research.