A neighborhood railroad crossing has been selected by the Illinois
Commerce Commission for an upgrade. The Kankakee Street crossing
near Lincoln College, between Logan and Ottawa streets, will receive
a new crossing surface, and lights and gates will be installed.
The city's portion of the project would be $22,028, or 10 percent of
the $220,280 cost; 85 percent of the cost is covered by a crossing
fund; and the Illinois Central Railroad Company would cover the
remaining 5 percent.
* * *
Fire Chief James Davis and Chris Harding
The Lincoln Fire Department has a new fire inspector. The
position was created when James Davis became chief. Davis has named
Chris Harding to the position. Harding has been with the department
as a firefighter since 1999. As an inspector he will inspect new and
existing structures, as well as participate in fire prevention
education in schools and high-rises. He adds his new duties to his
daily work, Davis said.
* * *
Alderman Jonie Tibbs was pleased to announce that a neighborhood
park will receive some playground equipment. She has been trying for
the last year to find equipment for the Ray White Park that is
located at Monroe and Madison streets. They really use the park,
Tibbs said.
Marcia Greenslate at the Lincoln Park District offered her
assistance, and some equipment will be coming soon.
* * *
The council approved the annual appropriation.
* * *
A bid of $258,367 for the Zion lift station was accepted from
Petersburg Plumbing and Heating. The next closest bid was at
$298,000. Lincolnwood lift station is next.
* * *
Wastewater treatment manager Dave Kitzmiller said that he and
city engineer Mark Mathon have been in discussions with the
Department of Corrections. The city could move their south plant out
to combine with the prison's lift station.
The equipment would be located just outside prison fences.
Doing this would require an intergovernmental agreement, sorting
out how to exchange costs and bill them and installing a new line.
A benefit the city would see is that it has been found that the
south plant is on a flood plain that requires elevating the station
on a 17-foot concrete platform.
Aldermen agreed to move forward in pursuit to combine the plants.
Mayor Beth Davis recognized Melanie Riggs and Susan Gehlbach, city
clerk and deputy clerk respectively, for their dedicated work with
proclamation of Municipal Clerk's Week, which is celebrated April
30-May 6.
Alderman Wanda Lee Rohlfs said the streets department planted
four new trees on Arbor Day. That week the city planted 17 trees in
all.
Petitions tabled
A motion to table the petition by the Elks to have their crippled
children's fundraiser downtown on Sept. 16 was made by Rohlfs and
seconded by Tibbs.
The event date is in conflict with Railsplitter activities in
Lincoln.
Agreeing to table the petition were Marty Neitzel, Rohlfs, Benny
Huskins, Tibbs and Derrick Crane; against were Buzz Busby,
Whittaker, Prather, Anderson and Horn. The mayor broke the 5-6 tie,
voting to table the matter.
* * *
The council continued to table two petitions from the Lincoln
Speedway to serve alcohol at special events other than regular
Saturday evening races.
Petitions denied
A request for reimbursement of a curb repair at 1018 N. Jefferson
St. was turned down. Building inspector Les Last was asked last week
if the petitioner, Gary Tripplett, had filed a petition for the work
before doing it himself.
Last said that Tripplett had come in and was told that he would
need to file the petition. Tripplett rejected the petition then. He
did not want to wait; he wanted it done right away, Last said.
Tracy Jackson, streets superintendent, said that the materials
Tripplett used, believed to be mostly sand mix, may not hold up. It
is important that anyone wanting to do work themselves have the
materials approved first, Jackson said.
A request for a stoplight at the corner of Keokuk and North
Ottawa streets, at Lincoln College, was denied. The council
discussed the matter last week. This is an intersection of a state
highway and a city street.
City engineer Mark Mathon said last week that he had already been
in contact with the state. He said that a study of the traffic at
the intersection would need to be done. The study costs would likely
be split 50-50 between city and state. The actual construction cost
would most likely fall to the city.
