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City of Lincoln
Lincoln City Council approves updated Animal Control contract
[February 06, 2026]
All members were present for
the Regular City Council meeting held Feb. 2, 2026. The meeting
focused on the approval of several agenda items, including a giant
penny sculpture, a tentative speedway racing schedule for later this
year, and an updated agreement for animal control services.
The meeting moved swiftly through its agenda; first approving
Lincoln Speedway’s tentative 2026 racing schedule and then approving
an economic development grant to Kevin and Alysa Schnepf d/b/a
Sacred Armour LLC in an amount not to exceed $7,500.
Following those approvals, Mayor Tracy Welch addressed a procedural
concern regarding meeting recordings, reminding council members to
speak clearly into their microphones.
“She had a little bit of trouble transcribing last week’s meeting
minutes, so just a reminder,” Welch said.
The council then approved a $13,059.93 transfer from Work Order #3
to Work Order #7 for engineering services related to resurfacing
plans from Crawford, Murphy & Tilley.
Attention then shifted to proposed additions at the Museum of Route
66, beginning with the approval of the design, purchase and
installation of a Museum of Route 66 sign at a cost not to exceed
$25,500. Alderman Kevin Bateman raised questions about whether bids
would be solicited from sign manufacturers.
“I like the design…That’s not what concerns me,” Bateman said. “It’s
the construction of the sign, the fact that it’s painted and
there’ll be maintenance on it. I thought maybe we should reach out
to a couple sign manufacturers.”
Bateman noted that several local companies could potentially
complete the work, referencing the Tropics sign as an example of a
structure that has held up through harsh conditions. “I think I want
to do it right the first time,” he said.
City of Lincoln Tourism Director
Scott McCoy said he agreed and noted that he was already reaching
out to sign companies and construction firms to ensure the project
is “safe, sound, and secure.”
The council approved the sign proposal, as well as the design,
purchase and installation of a giant penny sculpture at the Museum
of Route 66 at a cost not to exceed $25,000. There was no discussion
on the penny sculpture.
The council also approved an
agreement for animal control services between the City of Lincoln
and Logan County at an annual cost not to exceed $48,000. Police
Chief Joe Meister explained at the Jan. 27 city council meeting that
the revised agreement increases the city’s monthly payment from
$3,500 to $4,000 in exchange for expanded service expectations.
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Meister said the
most significant change to the contract is the requirement that
Logan County Animal Control be available to respond to calls 24
hours a day, seven days a week, including nights, weekends and
holidays. Under the previous agreement, after-hours responses
were based on availability, which Meister had said did not
adequately meet the city’s needs during overnight or holiday
incidents.
The updated agreement also revises language related to enforcement
responsibilities, specifying that animal control must respond to
dogs and cats running at large, bite cases, abandonment situations
and injured animals at any time. Meister said the increased payment
reflects the additional workload associated with that expanded
availability.
In addition, language was clarified to
allow cases generated by animal control to be prosecuted by the
appropriate authority. Meister explained that while criminal cases
may still be handled by the Logan County State’s Attorney, ordinance
violations could be prosecuted by the Lincoln City Attorney,
depending on the circumstances.
Council members also discussed the possibility of requesting
periodic reporting related to call response data and animal
registration activity within the city to help monitor the
effectiveness of the agreement. Any additional amendments would
require further review and approval by the Logan County Board.
During announcements, City Clerk Peggy Bateman reported strong
first-day participation in the city’s annual sewer billing program.
Bateman said 110 residents paid their yearly sewer bill on the first
day it became available, totaling $70,866 collected in a single day.
She noted that residents who pay the annual fee effectively save the
equivalent of one month of sewer charges.
After completing agenda items and announcements, the council
adjourned the meeting following a unanimous vote.
[Sophia Larimore]
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