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Council approves fire-department staffing change, energy upgrades and economic grants
Summary
The Lincoln City Council on March 3 approved a consent agenda and a series of motions including an ordinance to add a deputy fire chief position, purchases covered by an Ameren grant, a small business façade grant, landscape-waste grinding, and a six-month certificate-of-deposit renewal.
The Lincoln City Council voted on a package of administrative and procurement items at its March 3 meeting, approving an ordinance to add a deputy fire chief position and several purchases and grants.
The council approved the consent agenda, which included payment of bills and minutes from January and February meetings. The council then passed an ordinance to add a deputy fire chief position to the Lincoln Fire Department and reduce the number of assistant fire chiefs from four to three. The council also approved purchase and installation of LED fixtures for City Hall, the Hamilton Street garage and the wastewater treatment facility using an Ameren Illinois grant at a cost not to exceed $16,180; an economic development grant to Big Shot Properties LLC for a commercial garage door at 118 Commercial Drive not to exceed $7,385, contingent on receipt of a second bid; a contract with Henson Services for grinding landscape waste and disposal at a cost not to exceed $18,900; and renewal of a six-month certificate of deposit at a rate of 4.35 percent.
Mayor/Presiding officer (unnamed) called for roll calls on each item; all recorded votes on the listed items were recorded as affirmative. During discussion of the fire-department ordinance the presiding officer said staff were continuing a code review and that additional code changes would be brought to the council later. On the LED fixtures item an alderman noted that A and D Electric hires the contractor and that Ameren’s grant program typically assigns a contractor who then uses a local installer.
The economic development grant was approved contingent upon receipt of a second bid as required by the motion. The CD renewal and the landscape-waste grinding contract were presented and approved with no amendments.
Votes at a glance • Consent agenda (payment of bills; minutes for 01/06/2025, 01/20/2025, 01/28/2025 committee of the whole, and 02/03/2025): Motion by Alderman O'Donoghue; second Alderman Sanders; outcome: approved (recorded roll-call yes votes). • Ordinance adding a deputy fire chief and reducing assistant chiefs from four to three: Motion by Alderman Sanders; second by Alderman Parrott (Alderman Downs also recorded as second during discussion); outcome: approved (recorded roll-call yes votes). • LED light fixtures (Ameren Illinois grant), cost not to exceed $16,180: Motion by Alderman McClellan; second Alderman Parrott; outcome: approved. • Economic development grant to Big Shot Properties LLC, up to $7,385, contingent on second bid: Motion by Alderman Rolfes; second Alderman Sanders; outcome: approved (contingent on second bid). • Henson Services proposal for grinding landscape waste, cost not to exceed $18,900: Motion by Alderman Parrott; second Alderman O'Donoghue; outcome: approved. • Renewal of a six-month certificate of deposit at 4.35%: Motion by Alderman O'Donoghue; second Alderman Sanders; outcome: approved.
The council chair said additional code revisions related to the fire-department ordinance will come back to the council after the city attorney and fire chief complete their review. No motions failed or were tabled during the meeting.
Ending: The meeting moved from formal business to announcements after the votes, with council members noting an upcoming vacancy and other operational items.
