This being the first regular city
council meeting of the beginning of my sixth year as your mayor, I
wish to address the citizens of this great city with events which
have occurred during this past fiscal year.
I love this city, have enjoyed being
your mayor, and very much look forward to another great year
beginning today. We have a conscientious city council, dedicated
elected officials and department heads, and I am very excited about
working this year with all of you to enhance our community and bring
in more economic development.
There is no doubt, this administration
has experienced difficult financial times along with the rest of the
state and nation since 9/11, but I am very happy to say our own
city's economy is turning in a more positive direction and our
city's coffers are increasing. This is due to the diligent attention
paid to our city's budget by the city treasurer, city clerk,
aldermen and department heads.
Many new businesses have opened in
Lincoln, as well as others have expanded within the past year, and
these enhancements bode well for a positive change in our economy.
For those business owners who have been doing business in our city
these many years, we thank you for keeping your faith with our city
and continuing to make Lincoln your home. Thank you.
Economic development has been booming
these past three years, to the credit of our Logan County Economic
Development Partnership working collectively with the Logan County
Board, Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce and the Lincoln City
Council. Many new jobs have and will be generated in the very near
future from these collaborative efforts via the new Robert's Sysco
Corp., the new expansions at the Eaton Corp., new developments
occurring at Lincoln Estates (the former Lincoln Developmental
Center), new businesses joining our community, Rusty's Bar and
Grill, new homes being built, Weyerhaeuser, St. Gobain, Lincoln
College, Lincoln Christian College, Heartland Community College,
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital and many other businesses choosing
to retain and/or expand their existing businesses in our city.
During my first term as mayor, I
established the following commissions, which have been very
successful, and ask any citizens who wish to get involved in our
city's government in this capacity to contact me at City Hall via a
written request. These commissions are the Mayor's Commission on
Disabilities, Minorities, Seniors, Veterans and Youth; the Lincoln
Historic Homes and Buildings Commission; Lincoln Beautification
Commission; Lincoln's Heritage Days Community Celebration Committee;
the city's Ethics Commission. I have created a city of Lincoln
Employees/Management Commission, comprised of two representatives
each from the city fire, police and street departments, and city
clerk's office, but is pending approval by the various unions and
the aldermen. Hopefully, we will have this commission in effect by
June 1, 2006.
I wish to thank the citizens of
Lincoln for allowing us to serve you. We live in a wonderful city
and can make it even greater with all our efforts. If you have any
suggestions for improving or making our community a better place to
live, please forward your suggestions and comments to me in writing
to City Hall, along with your name and telephone number, and we'll
seriously take your comments under advisement.
At this time, I am calling on the
individual department heads to give their oral annual reports to the
citizens of this community. [Article]
Thank you again for choosing to live
and work in Lincoln, Ill.
Mayor Elizabeth A. Davis
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Committee assignments for the city of Lincoln remain mostly the
same as last year. All chairmen are the same.
Standing committees
Finance and Policy and Procedures Committee (one alderman from
each ward): Prather, chair; Crane, vice chair; Busby; Anderson;
Whittaker
Fire and Water and ESDA Committee: Crane, chair; Whittaker, vice
chair; Horn; Busby; Tibbs
Grounds, Buildings and Local Improvements Committee: Tibbs,
chair; Busby, vice chair; Whittaker; Huskins; Horn
