|
 Early in the year, aldermen discussed and decided
to give current liquor license holders a break due to the business
lost in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus.
JANUARY 8
City discusses forgiveness of liquor license fees in wake of
pandemic
JANUARY 26
Lincoln City Council -
Aldermen approve discounts in liquor licenses in upcoming year
JANUARY 30, 2021 - TOP PICTURE
At the January 19th meeting of the Lincoln City Council, aldermen
approved a zoning variance for a drive-thru service area for a new
construction 'quick-serve restaurant" on the city's far west end.
According to Lincoln Building and Zoning Officer Wes Woodhall, the
new structure will be for a Starbucks. The location is marked on the
aerial photo with a vague "X." No timeline was given to construct
and open the new business.
Toward the end of January, aldermen approved a zone variance to
assist a new business being constructed in Lincoln. Star Bucks was
intending to build a new drive-thru coffee house on the citys west
side. To do so the company had to seek permission to have the
drive-thru.
Later in the year and another variance for a drive-thru was granted
to the First National Bank of Tremont.
In February, aldermen made a significant decision regarding
residency for city police officers. The council decided to allow
officers who dwell outside of the county to work in Lincoln. Prior
to this decision, officers had to reside within 15 miles of Lincoln.
The change permitted residency in Tazewell, Mason, McLean, DeWitt,
Macon, Sangamon and Menard counties.
FEBRUARY 19
Lincoln City Council - Lincoln Police officer residency expanded
In March, the city entered into an agreement with the Lincolnland
Technical Education Building and Trades (LTEC) program for a land
swap in Lincoln. The LTEC program had built two homes on excess
property from the construction of the City Services building located
on Limit Street on the east side of town. The original plan had been
to build a third home in that same area. In March, LTEC Director
Matt Puckett asked if the LTEC could trade the Limit Street property
for a lot on Ninth Street. The Ninth Street property was a vacant
lot that was owned by the city due to the abandonment of a vacant
home that burned beyond repair. The city had paid the cost of
clearing the fire debris, and claimed ownership of the property.
MARCH 4
Lincoln City Council - Lincolnland Technical Education Building &
Trades to build home on Ninth Street
In 2020, businesses all through the county were shut down due to
coronavirus. As some restrictions eased, it was announced that
restaurants would be permitted to serve customers in an outdoor
setting.
The idea of parklets for outdoor dining was well received by local
businesses and customers.
In April of 2021, aldermen were asked to continue permitting outdoor
dining parklets in Lincoln and agreed without much ado.
APRIL 7
City to permit parklets for outdoor dining in downtown area
In May, it was announced that Logan County Animal Control was
struggling with staffing issues and was uncertain of its ability to
offer a standard annual contract to the city.
Aldermen reviewed a proposal to go to a month-to-month pay plan for
services offered by LC Animal Control.
Aldermen discussed the issues on May 27th and approved a change in
payment structure at the first voting session in June.
MAY 27
Lincoln City Council - City hears about struggles of the Logan
County Animal Control
Throughout the year, the city was presented with numerous bills to
pay for the mandated sewer system upgrades in Lincoln.
The project, according to engineers for Crawford, Murphy and Tilly,
moved consistently forward during the year with completion of the
project expected in 2022.
[to top of second column] |
 JULY 7 TOP PICTURES
These shots taken over the weekend in the 300 block of Union Street
in Lincoln demonstrate the magnitude of the work going on to upgrade
the Union Street sewer mains.
At the June 29th meeting of the Lincoln City Council, Christy Crites
with Crawford Murphy and Tilly said that work on Union is going
smoothly and moving along quicker than expected. The construction
crew is scheduled to start working on the final tie-ins the week of
July 12th, so completion of the street work is not that far away.
She said that the contractors would also be repairing the street
surface when all the work is done.
It was also noted that Union Street would be closed this week in the
vicinity of Tremont Street and at 19th Street next week.
In July, the council heard about a vermin infested home on Tremont
Street, when city Building and Zoning Officer Wes Woodhall sought
permission for remediation of the property.
There was a second similar situation came to light at the end of the
year just a few blocks away from the first home on Tremont. Aldermen
approved taking action on second location right after the first of
the year, 2022.
JUL 23
Lincoln aldermen approve remediation process for house on Tremont
Street
With the departure of Paul Adams as Chief of Police, there was
shifting of rank within the Lincoln Police Department in 2021. In
December Officer Shawn Pettit was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
DECEMBER 1 TOP PICTURE
On Tuesday, November 23rd, Officer Shawn Pettit was officially
promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the Lincoln Police Department.
After being sworn in to his new position by city attorney John
Hoblit, Sergeant Pettit made his way around the room, shaking hands
with aldermen and other city officials.
Lincoln residents may have been relieved to hear that the
city chose not to increase its share of Logan County Property Tax in
the upcoming year. The council heard from Treasurer Chuck Conzo who
gave a number of options worth considering. In the end though, he
suggested that because the local economy has suffered in the last
two years, it would be a nice gesture from the city not to ask for
more money.
DECEMBER 18
City of Lincoln to hold steady on 2021 property tax levy
[Nila Smith] |
