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City council moves meeting time to
accommodate tiny homes dedication
[October 09, 2025]
The Lincoln City Council
convened for its regular meeting on October 6, 2025, at City Hall,
where members discussed ordinances, lease agreements, and
appointments before voting to move next week’s meeting to 7 p.m. to
avoid a scheduling conflict with a tiny home event. All members of
the council were present.
Mayor Tracy Welch called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. and noted
there was no public participation. The consent agenda passed
unanimously, including payment of bills, approval of minutes from
the September 9, 15, and 23 meetings, and a request from Donna and
Jan Seloff to close 10th Street between Union and Chestnut from 4 to
8 p.m. on October 31 for Halloween night festivities.
The council next approved an ordinance amending Section 9-10-4 of
the city code to restrict semi-truck traffic on certain streets.
Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue pointed out a missing sign near the
bottle factory on Logan Street and asked if it could be replaced.
“When you take the right, there’s a post there with nothing on it,”
she said. “I think there used to be a sign that said there’s no semi
traffic that goes any further.” City Street Superintendent Walt
Landers confirmed he would review the signage, explaining, “I know
we have signs up on North Logan at Ophir, but I’ll check that area
again.” The motion passed without opposition.
Council members then approved the
construction of a dechlorination addition at the wastewater
treatment plant for a cost not to exceed $437,664, ensuring
compliance with environmental safety requirements. A mayoral
proclamation designating September 17–23 as Constitution Week also
passed unanimously.
The police department’s internal structure saw an update with
approval of an additional Deputy Chief position. Alderman Steve
Parrott clarified the intent of the motion, saying, “There was no
additional police added to the staff. This is just a position that
has not been filled—it’s going to change some of the different
positions there currently.”
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A significant
portion of the meeting centered on a lease agreement between the
City of Lincoln and Lincoln Economic Advancement and
Development, Inc. (LEAD) for office space at 500 Broadway
Street. City Attorney John Hoblit explained revisions to the
lease’s renewal language and proposed adding a 60-day
termination clause to allow flexibility for both parties.
Alderwoman Robin
McClellan supported the idea, noting, “If three months in there’s a
problem, we need a way to deal with it. A 60-day notice on either
side is pretty typical.” The amendment was approved and incorporated
into the final lease document.
The council also approved the mayoral appointments of April Jensen
and Adam Wessbecher to the Historic Preservation Commission, both of
whom received unanimous consent from the council.
In his announcements, Welch reminded members of a ribbon cutting
scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, at 5 p.m. at the Wild Wolf Inn,
located at 1255 Hickox Drive, the former site of the Cha Dai Pet
Motel. He also proposed delaying the next council meeting to 7 p.m.
so members could attend the dedication ceremony for two new tiny
homes organized by the Central Illinois Veterans Commission. “Some
of us would like to be at that event,” Welch said, and the council
voiced unanimous agreement to the time change.
The meeting adjourned at 6:17 p.m. after a motion to enter executive
session under 2(c)5 to discuss the purchase or lease of real
property. No city business followed the closed session
By Sophia Larimore
[Text received from file]
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