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Lincoln City Council
Council talks road repairs, grocery tax, and quiet zone safety
[July 18, 2025]
The Lincoln City Council met
Tuesday evening, July 15, 2025, for a Committee of the Whole session
to review infrastructure updates, proposed tax ordinances, and
upcoming city projects. All council members were present, and there
was no public participation.
Scott McCoy, Director of Tourism, presented a proposed logo for the
Office of Tourism, created by a local artist. The design, intended
to brand Lincoln’s tourism efforts, sparked a lengthy discussion
among council members regarding artistic style and historical
representation.
McCoy also introduced a donation agreement for a Route 66 model
train exhibit, gifted by John and Darlene Ruh. The exhibit will be
housed in the city’s Broadway Street property, contingent upon the
city’s acquisition of the building. The nonprofit Illinois Landmarks
organization has offered to disassemble and transport the exhibit at
no cost to the city.
Much of the meeting focused on city
maintenance, with Street and Alley Superintendent Walt Landers
presenting the 2025 oil and chip contract. Estimated at $343,000,
the project will address streets primarily in areas that have not
recently received resurfacing. Landers noted that Ward 3 was not
included in this cycle due to recent mill and overlay work completed
downtown.
Alderman Kevin Bateman reiterated long-standing concerns with the
oil and chip method, calling it a temporary fix. “It doesn’t fix a
single thing on the street. It’s just a new layer of lipstick on the
pig,” he said. Landers explained that oil and chip remains a
cost-effective surface treatment, particularly when full
reconstruction isn't feasible.
Landers also gave updates on several major road projects. Milling
and asphalt resurfacing will begin around the Walmart area and move
toward downtown streets like Eighth, Union, and Third in the coming
weeks. The Tremont Street project remains in its planning phase due
to coordination with homeowners and design work. Fifth Street Road
also continues to face delays related to IDOT and railroad
coordination, pushing potential construction into next year.
City Attorney John Hoblit introduced an ordinance to retain the
city’s existing 1% grocery tax. Under a change in Illinois law,
municipalities must opt in to continue receiving the revenue
beginning January 1, 2026. Treasurer Chuck Conzo emphasized the
financial impact, warning that the city could lose approximately
$530,000 annually if the tax is allowed to expire.
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Bateman supported
retaining the tax, stating, “This is a tax we’re already
paying.” Alderman Dennis Clemons opposed the measure, arguing
the city should give taxpayers a break. Most other council
members expressed support for keeping the existing rate. The
ordinance will appear on the regular agenda for future action.
The council also discussed updating
the city’s compensation study contract, now under the new firm MGT
Impact Solutions. The revised contract, totaling $11,470, includes a
full benefits analysis and is expected to take approximately 12
weeks.
In addition, the council placed the following items on the upcoming
regular meeting agenda:
● A $6,984.52 MNR reconciliation with Veolia.
● A $55,100 capital expense to replace variable frequency drives at
the wastewater plant.
● The 2025–26 city appropriation ordinance.
Mayor Tracy Welch also revisited the idea of a train quiet zone at
the request of local residents. Several council members, including
Alderman David Sanders and Treasurer Conzo, voiced concerns about
safety risks, liability, and long-term costs associated with
maintaining federally compliant crossings. “It’s a bad idea,” said
Sanders. “People walk from bar to bar across those tracks all the
time.”
The council expressed no interest in pursuing the quiet zone further
at this time.
For full coverage of the proposed tourism logo and the donation
agreement for the Route 66 model train exhibit, please click this
link
here.
[Sophia Larimore]
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