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City of Lincoln
Aldermen approve additional spending for playground equipment by a
narrow margin, approve tourism funding and other motions
[August 06, 2026]
At the Monday evening meeting
of the Lincoln City Council aldermen were asked to remove from the
table a motion that had been placed there on July 6th. The tabled
item was a motion to approve $10,000 to add to a $25,000 grant
received by the Woods Foundation for playground equipment at Eighth
Street Park.
The item was removed from the table. Alderman Stan Anderson asked
which playground proposal the council was to be looking at. Mayor
Tracy Welch said the grant had been approved by the Wood Foundation
for $25,000 and the additional $10,000 would finish covering the
cost of the two-line child zipline. Alderman Kevin Bateman said he
believed that the two-line would cost more than the designated
$10,000. Bateman said he was prepared to make an amendment to
increase the amount to $20,000. The two-line was going to cost about
$7,000 more than the one line that had been part of the original
tabled agenda item.
There was ensuing discussion with City Treasurer Chuck Conzo, who
was not clear on why the cost needed to be increased. It was
explained that the original motion pertained to a single-line
child’s zip line, but the council decided to go with a two line that
featured additional equipment for toddler size children.
Alderman Stan Anderson asked Conzo if this expenditure had already
been budgeted. Conzo said no it was not. Welch said it wasn’t
included in the budget because the city did not know the grant would
be offered.
Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donohue spoke up saying she had a problem with
the whole proposal. She said that, just as in the case of Elm
Street, city staff had done the work and made a recommendation, but
at the request of Bateman, the entire plan had been changed with no
consideration to what City Administrative Assistant Ashley Metelko
was proposing.
Bateman said that was not entirely correct. He suggested at the
beginning the two-line zipline, but Metelko came back with something
different, and less costly. Mayor Tracy Welch stepped in and said
Metelko had not acted on her own. He personally advised her to
consider the cost and find something more in line with the grant
award. Metelko did just that. Welch said that because this
expenditure was not in the budget, he considered that the city
should be “fiscally responsible” and keep unexpected costs as low as
possible. “I just want to be perfectly clear; she did what she was
asked.”
Alderman Tim Becke commented that he too wanted to be fiscally
responsible and had to ask why the additional money was needed. He
said he agreed with O’Donohue that the cost was escalated but also
understood the reason.
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Welch did a quick
walk-through of the difference in expenditure. He said the piece
of equipment Metelko brought forward cost a total of $34,809,
with the grant covering $25,000 and the city covering the
difference of approximately $10,000 from the original ask. The
revised version of the equipment would cost $41,196. The net
difference between the two pieces brings the city’s total layout
to $16,196. Welch said that the figure was rounded up to $20,000
to allow for contingency spending.
Welch called for the vote
which passed the narrow margin of four to three. Those voting
yes were Bateman, Anderson, Dennis Clemmons, and Steve Parrott.
Those voting no were Becke, Robin McClallen, and O’Donohue.
Alderman Sam Downs was absent for the evening.
IN OTHER MOTIONS
As part of the consent agenda the request by the National
Railsplitting Festival for the closure of the three streets on
the east, west, and north side of Postville Park the last
weekend in August was approved.
The request for the closure of McClean Street from Pulaski to
just past the Lincoln Arts Institute on Saturday, October 10th
by Z-Culture Productions was granted. Welch said he did speak
with Z-Culture and was assured the riot scene would be signs and
loud voices with no projectiles or violence.
Increasing annual funding for the Logan County Tourism Bureau to
the amount of $40,000 was approved. Welch told the council that
the funding agreement includes a stipulation that the Logan
County Board contribute an equal amount, but the board has not
yet provided approval.
Economic Development grants were awarded in the amount of $7,500
each to Sacred Armor, 414 Pulaski Street for roof replacement
and Bob Becherer/303 Management Company for window replacement
at 303 S. Kickapoo Street.
The council approved Crawford, Murphy & Tilly Work Order 19 for
engineering services for the 2026-2027 Resurfacing Program in an
amount not to exceed $93,600.
The next meeting of the Lincoln city council will be a Committee
of the Whole meeting on Tuesday, August 11th, starting at 6 p.m.
[Nila Smith]
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