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Lincoln City Council
Council Discusses Solar Progress, Approves Code Changes and
Infrastructure Funding
[July 11, 2025]
On Monday evening, July 7, 2025
the regular meeting for Lincoln city council included updates on the
Limit Street solar array, approval of budget and code amendments,
and discussion of public app accessibility and community aesthetics.
Seven of the eight aldermen were present for the voting meeting.
Alderpersons on hand for the meeting included Stan Anderson, Kevin
Bateman, Dennis Clemons, Sam Downs, Robin McClellan. Rhonda
O’Donaghue, and David Sanders. Alderman Steve Parrott was absent for
the evening, as was Building and Zoning Officer Wes Woodhall.
Tony Grillo, representing the solar
array project at 515 Limit Street, addressed the council during
public participation. He apologized for the site’s unfinished
appearance and explained that Ameren has yet to complete their
connection, which is delaying final fencing and landscaping efforts.
“Quite frankly, at this point, it's going to be fall before we're
actually doing any landscaping,” he said. Grillo outlined plans for
a vegetative buffer with flowering trees and evergreens, as well as
a 24-inch pollinator mix seeded through Pheasants Forever. “I mainly
wanted to kind of be here, apologize, and just let you know that
I'll make sure I do better the rest of this year,” he said.
The council approved the consent agenda, including past meeting
minutes and a street closure request for a Ford Mustang show on July
19.
Several ordinances followed, including:
● An amendment to the appropriation ordinance for FY 2024–2025.
● A new section (2-2) added to the city code, establishing the
Ethics Commission.
● Removal of a previously tabled code of conduct ordinance (6c),
which was deemed redundant now that the ethics section includes
conduct guidelines and enforcement.
City Attorney John Hoblit explained that the finalized section
“includes that code of conduct and the enforcement provisions
thereafter,” and Alderwoman McClellan had sourced the initial model
code from another Illinois municipality. Alderman Downs expressed
approval of the revisions, saying, “Those are really good changes. I
really like this version.”
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The council also
approved:
● A property purchase not to exceed $150,000.
● An extension of lease options with Keystone Power Holdings.
● Sewer pump repairs totaling $19,383.76.
● A $20,000 amendment for general sewer engineering services.
● An increase in sidewalk reimbursement from $2 to $6 per square
foot.
● Installation of 18 LED fixtures at the wastewater treatment
facility through the Ameren grant program.
During announcements, Alderman Bateman suggested adding a direct
link and QR code to the city website to simplify access to the
GoLink app. “I probably get four or five phone calls a month...
it would be so much easier if I could just say, go to the city
website,” he said. Mayor Welch agreed to have the site updated.
Alderman Anderson praised the newly installed Lincoln letters
and donut sculpture downtown, highlighting their popularity on
social media. “There were some real nice pictures,” he said,
with credit given to the Logan County Tourism Bureau for
securing the installation grant.
Alderman Downs announced a public
event with guest speaker Will Westmoreland at the Logan County
Fairgrounds on July 13.
The meeting concluded with a motion to enter Executive Session for
discussion of real property, with no city business to follow.
[Sophia Larimore]
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