Lincoln City Council approves street resurfacing, appointments and contracts; several routine permits passed

The Lincoln City Council on March 17 approved a batch of routine business and several formal actions, including authorization for street resurfacing projects, a city real-estate bid authorization and a professional-services contract.

The council voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda, which included payment of bills, minutes from previous meetings, the Lincoln Speedway tentative 2025 racing schedule and multiple temporary street closures requested by the Lincoln Rail Splitter Antique Auto Club for spring and summer events. Alderman Sanders moved approval and Alderman Downs seconded; the roll call showed all members voting yes.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: Approved. Motion by Alderman Sanders; second Alderman Downs. The consent package included (a) payment of bills; (b) approval of meeting minutes from Feb. 11 and related committee-of-the-whole minutes; (c) tentative 2025 Lincoln Speedway racing schedule; and (d) street-closure permits for the Lincoln Rail Splitter Antique Auto Club on specified dates and blocks (details in consent record). Roll call: all voting members recorded “Yes.”

- Ordinance to solicit bids for real estate at 544 Fourth Street: Approved. Motion by Alderman O'Donoghue; second Alderman Bateman. Roll call: all voting members recorded “Yes.”

- Ordinance amending Lincoln City Code sections 4-12-3, 4-12-5 and 4-12-6: Approved. Motion by Alderman Bateman; second Alderman O'Donoghue. Roll call: all voting members recorded “Yes.” (The transcript records the ordinance and the vote but does not specify the substantive changes to those code sections.)

- Street resurfacing contract, not to exceed $487,000: Approved. Motion by Alderman Sanders; second Alderman McClellan. Roll call: all voting members recorded “Yes.”

- Advising consent to mayoral appointment of Martie Neitzel to the Economic Development Commission: Approved. Motion by Alderman Sanders; second Alderman O'Donoghue. Roll call: all voting members recorded “Yes.”

- Approval of information-technology services contract with Eric Nado, amount not to exceed $69,300: Approved. Motion by Alderman Downs; second Alderman O'Donoghue. During discussion one council member said she would abstain, citing uncertainty about next-year revenue and a desire to have the budget before finalizing expenditures. The roll call reflected one abstention and the remaining votes in favor; the contract passed.

The meeting concluded with a motion to enter executive session under 2C3 to consider the selection of a person to fill a public office. The council scheduled the executive session for 6:15 p.m. and indicated there would be no further city business afterward.

Why this matters: The street resurfacing authorization and the $69,300 IT contract commit city resources and direct short-term work; the appointment fills a position on a municipal advisory body. The bid authorization for 544 Fourth Street starts a disposition process for city property; the record does not specify a timeline or intended sale/repurpose.

What the record does not show: The ordinance amending code sections 4-12-3, 4-12-5 and 4-12-6 was passed but the transcript does not include the ordinance text or a staff summary of the changes. The consent agenda lists multiple permits and schedule approvals but the meeting discussion did not include substantive debate on those requests.

Quotes from the meeting

“I will be abstaining from voting on this — we do not have a projected revenue for next year and I just heard some downward trends, so I would prefer to have our budget in hand as we look at the expenditures for next year,” said Mrs. Roff during the IT contract discussion.

Ending: Council members set the executive-session discussion on a municipal appointment and indicated no further public business would follow.