 Year-round, on evenings Monday through Thursday, and some day hours,
you can find these community-minded officials spending hours in
weekly meetings. Plus, they will spend considerable additional
time researching on-site as needed, making phone calls, writing
letters and grants, acting as representatives at events, listening
to what their constituents want and need, attending conventions and
government leadership seminars, and much more — all for the purpose
of gathering information to share with their cohorts. They make
policies and decisions all year long, and they try to make the best
possible decisions for the good of the most people.Below is a
summary list of the top issues discussed by the Lincoln City Council
and the Logan County Board during the year 2013.
Several topics for the year proved repetitive; some were complex;
others were costly, such as the Oglesby Avenue bridge, city streets
and sewer plans, a new position in the county's transportation
program, and other new county positions. Whether at City Hall or for
the county, these were difficult decisions that were researched and
discussed aggressively. In some cases, a decision was changed
several times over as new information became available.
On certain nights, sitting in on a city or county meeting would
have proved better entertainment than sitting at home watching the
best TV show of the week. In any of these matters of consequence,
you would have witnessed fresh thinking, alternative ideas,
different perspective, solid leadership, wisdom to search out more
information if needed and best of all, everyone thinking for
themselves.
Lincoln and Logan County leaders continued taking steps to
further economic growth. Four long-range plans have been in process
this year — Lincoln's downtown revitalization, Lincoln's TIF
district, the Logan County CEDS and a countywide Hazards Mitigation
Plan. Each of these plans is in a different phase, and they are
either well underway or completed. Each plan better positions the
community to receive funding for developments that would bring
economic strength in the future.
Steering committee addresses questions on downtown Lincoln
revitalization
(Links to a three-part series giving more details of
the plan can be found at the end of this article.)
Steering committee offers recommendations for 2 downtown projects
City votes to establish a downtown TIF district
Downtown TIF district a step closer for the city of Lincoln
Logan County Board to support 2013 regional CEDS
Discussion opens to implement Logan County CEDS
County Briefs:
CEDS passes, employee health insurance, surplus auction, demolition
request declined
County learns more on regional CEDS participation
New Logan County Hazards Mitigation Plan heads into approval
processes
A new historic district designation that adds strength to the
revitalization plan is in the works for downtown Lincoln also.
Downtown Lincoln redevelopment and revitalization go together with
historic preservation
Locally certified downtown historic district offers greater benefits
New Lincoln Historic District approved for downtown
(Property
owners' approval)
It is not unusual in a community that unsightly, problem
properties are a complaint. Most commonly, these are properties that
have been rental properties that have gotten too run-down and then
been abandoned. The owners typically do not live in the community
and either cannot afford or do not want to deal with the cost of
demolition. The city has found a way to expedite this process, and
now by budget and other means, is taking action on the worst
properties.
City marks 2 properties for fast-track
demolition
House on Decatur Street to be city
fast-track demolition
City considers special use permits for drive-thru businesses and
changes in fines and fees
Battle with Gordon McCann nears a final and
positive end
Signs of growth
Lincoln sees housing expansion
Brinshore breaks ground for Plowfied
Square
Lincoln City Council clears the way for
ALMH subdivision
County: Paulus remembered; new phone
system; raises; dog & cat sale; and electric substation approved
The county's new emergency dispatch service expansion, to work in
conjunction with state agencies, aids both the local economy and
helps the state.
Logan County hosts new resource location
service for emergency managers
EMCOM, Part 1
Tourism picked up a little help too.
3 Logan County groups receive Looking for
Lincoln Heritage Coalition grants
After a considerable number of hours in review processes, the
county approved use of land to mine limestone. Neighboring farmers
concerned about loss of water appealed, putting the matter into the
court's hands.
County eyes conditional use for extraction
and fence regulations
Appeal in legal limbo on rezoning to allow limestone mining
In a chain of steps, tourism
dollars raised in the city of Lincoln moved from county to city
oversight.
City MAY claim taxes that fund county
tourism bureau
City talks tourism
Tourism bureau continues planning for the
future
City debates what to do with tourism bureau
Aldermen asked to review list of tourism
expectations
City approves taking over hotel-motel tax
Tourism bureau directors Churchill, Lee and
Post step aside as work begins to meet Lincoln's expectations
Tourism appoints Leslie Hoefle as interim
director
County board to appoint its last tourism
bureau board tonight
Tourism bureau now under city governance
Tourism bureau is alive and well in Logan
County
Tourism bureau provides update on recent
developments
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Every year, local governments deal with losses in revenues and
increases in expenditures. Increases in expenditures may come
through unfunded state mandates or may result from something such as the
state shifting more financial burden to local governments. These are
often seen in reductions to the departments that get subsidies, such
as the highway department, sheriff, courthouse or other.
One of the county's most debated issues this year was related to
the new public transportation program. The state passed a
requirement for a full-time oversight position. Funding was not
offered at first, but this changed later to mostly funded.
State adds oversight requirement to public
transportation program
Board mulls Logan County's public
transportation over PCOM officer requirement
Logan County to continue rural public
transportation service
County continues to sort out public
transportation oversight position
Governments also see the same
economy-related increases as private citizens when it comes to
paying for energy, fuel or insurance costs.
Health insurance to cost county $32,000
more, even with switch to Blue Cross
This year the county had to borrow money for an uncommon costly
matter, a large court case. With the state doing away with capital
punishment, so went the state's resource of the capital litigation
fund that commonly was made available for such situations.
The case is now over to a successful conclusion.
Jury swift:
HARRIS GUILTY
5 Gee family murders, attempted murder, home invasion and armed
robbery
Madigan and Wright comment on Harris
convictions
Much to the credit of the sheriff's department under Steve Nichols
and the state's attorney's office under Jonathan Wright, who by
working together were able to avert one of the two trials by doing
extensive additional research, costs came up less than the
anticipated. Yet, it still could take the county the next 20 years
to pay for all the related costs, which came to around $800,000.
Logan County Board praises Sheriff Nichols
and his office
Logan County Board congratulates Jonathan Wright
In City Hall chambers, hours were spent
determining how to cover mounting fire and police pension funds — a
statewide challenge to municipalities — and still keep the city on
track and growing.
Council heats up over kilowatts and therms
Utility tax discussions — Part 4
Mayor provides deciding vote; utility tax
passes
Considerable time was also spent in city
chambers on how to manage aging infrastructure: streets, bridges,
sewers and storm drainage. It was a year of tough decisions, but
decided they were, and with consideration for future councils.
City approves start of ambitious street
project plans
Work continues on Pulaski Street project — album
Losses of revenues are often related to the
economy and are seen in decreased sales, property, income and other
tax returns. Everyone feels the pinch now and again, even the mail
and school systems.
Mount Pulaski post office will remain
open, but ...
Logan County to join McLean education
region; health department to make cuts; bike trails plan ready for
approval
But, with an eye to the unknown future and the
expectation that things could get tighter, local communities and the
county continued stretching to cut costs and to create more
revenues. The Lincoln City Council and Logan County Board each passed
balanced budgets.
County sets budget for display
Logan County Board prepared to set next
fiscal year budget and other financial matters
Transitions
City Briefs:
City administrator hired; revenue and sewer collections up; police
radios to be purchased; promotion in fire department
Carmitchel appointed to Lincoln City Council
Bruce Carmitchel to
finish Ward 4 Alderman Buzz Busby's term
New candidate for
Lincoln Ward 1
Sale of donated
property, appointment to joint review, new alderman highlight Monday
night voting session
Wilmert tenders resignation as Ward 1
alderman
Mayor Keith Snyder: Looking back, looking
forward
Part 3: What lies ahead?
Improving quality of life
City hears annual update on Lincoln FC
Soccer Complex
Community Night at Postville Park brings
in crowds and rain clouds
Council to vote on making city parks
smoke-free
City of Lincoln
dedicates 1st smoke-free park
Bicycle trail plans top discussions by
county planning commission
County updates on priorities survey and
bike trail plan
Into the future
Our leaders not only consider today, but also strongly looked at
what would be handed to future councils or boards with their action
or inaction. They are looking to the needs of the citizenship in the
next generation for five, 10, 25 years and more from now.
Logan County trailway effort continues;
public invited to planning meeting
High-speed rail public meeting in Lincoln
on Tuesday
If someone tries to tell you that there is nothing going on
anywhere and no one is doing anything about it, you can tell them
that's not how it is in Lincoln and Logan County. There has been
housing development, and a lot of planning has been completed and ready to
put into action that would bring more building and renovations,
business expansions, and infrastructure into Lincoln and throughout
Logan County. Your leaders are putting in the time and doing their
homework for your future, your kids and your kids' kids.
And, if TV is boring you, you ought to consider stopping in at a
city or county meeting sometime. It gets interesting pretty often,
and they are discussing the use of your tax dollars and the future
of where you live.
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