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City of Lincoln
Tie vote fails to separate pride festival road closure at Lincoln
City Council meeting
[March 05, 2026]
The Lincoln City Council held
its regular meeting March 2, 2026, at City Hall, with Mayor Pro Tem
Kevin Bateman presiding in the absence of Mayor Tracy Welch.
Discussion early in the meeting centered on a request from Logan
County Pride to close several downtown streets for its upcoming
festival.
Bateman opened the meeting by calling the council to order and
moving through roll call, the Pledge of Allegiance and public
participation, which saw no speakers. The council then moved to the
consent agenda, which included payment of bills, approval of minutes
from the Feb. 17 regular meeting and a request from Logan County
Pride to close Pulaski Street from Kickapoo Street to McLean Street
and McLean Street from Pulaski Street to the Lincoln Art Institute
on Saturday, June 6 for the Logan County Pride Festival.
Before the vote, Alderman Tim Becke asked if the Pride road closure
request could be voted on separately.
Bateman explained that the council could vote on removing an item
from the consent agenda, prompting Becke to make a motion to
separate the Pride road closure request from the other items.
The council voted on the motion to separate the item, which resulted
in a 3–3 tie. Without the mayor present to break the tie, the motion
failed and the Pride road closure remained part of the consent
agenda.
After the vote, several council members commented before the final
vote on the consent agenda.
Alderman Steve Parrott said he would vote against the consent agenda
because of the Pride road closure request.
“I’ll be voting no, since we’re not going to be able to separate
these out,” Parrott said. “I don’t believe item C represents a
Republican platform or conservative Christian values.”
Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue questioned whether the council’s role
was limited to representing only certain viewpoints.
“So do we only represent
Republicans and Christians in the city of Lincoln? Just asking,”
O’Donoghue said.
Alderman Sam Downs said he intended to support the request because
council members represent all residents of their wards.
“I’ll be voting yes, because I represent everyone who lives in my
ward, and there’s a diverse background of a multitude of different
people of different races, sexual identity, and I represent
everybody,” Downs said.
Alderman Stan Anderson noted the vote was specifically about the
street closure rather than support for the event.
“The motion is for a road closure, not saying that we’re supporting
anyone.” Anderson said.
Bateman echoed that point.
“It’s a vote on a road closure,” Bateman said. “You can choose to
attend or not to attend.”
Becke said his opposition was based on both personal beliefs and
concerns about the impact on the community.
“I don’t believe it’s good for the community, in that personal
preference and my Christian belief,” Becke said. “I’m looking to the
benefit of my ward, and I just don’t think that has worked in the
past.”
Discussion also turned to how the item was placed on the consent
agenda. City Clerk Peggy Bateman explained that consent agenda items
are typically approved together unless someone requests otherwise
beforehand.
“When this was put on the agenda, the mayor said the consent agenda,
and everybody agreed to put it on the consent agenda,” she said. “If
you don’t want something on the consent agenda, then at that time
you need to say you want it on the regular agenda.”
City Attorney John Hoblit suggested that the council handle road
closures consistently moving forward.
“Typically, the road closures have found their way on the consent
agenda,” Hoblit said. “Either put all the road closures on the
consent agenda or put none of the road closures on the consent
agenda.”
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The council then
voted on the consent agenda as a whole. The motion passed with
one dissenting vote from Parrott.
Later in the meeting, the council
approved the purchase and installation of an on-demand hot water
system for the Lincoln Police Department from Dean Leith Plumbing
and Heating for an amount not to exceed $10,500. During discussion,
officials reviewed options for renting or purchasing a water
softener system to accompany the equipment.
City Treasurer Chuck Conzo also presented the city’s annual
treasurer’s report for fiscal year 2024-2025.
“This is reported in a little
different way,” Conzo said. “The audit you saw last week is done on
an accrual basis. This, as it states here, is done on a cash basis.”
The council later approved the city’s annual audit for fiscal year
2024-2025 as well as an economic development grant of up to $7,500
to Megan Beard, doing business as Lincoln’s Loft at 427 Pulaski
Street, to assist with replacement of the building’s lower roof.
During announcements, Alderman Steve Parrott raised concerns about
issues at the city dog park, including pet waste and damaged toys
being left in the area.
“There’s always dog messes left in the dog park, and toys that get
ripped up,” Parrott said. “Is there something that we can do? Can we
put a camera up over there or something?”
City Street and Alley Superintendent Walt Landers said the city is
considering lighting and cameras for the area.
“We are looking at putting some lighting up, and I think the intent
is to put some cameras up also,” Landers said.
Downs added that while there may be occasional issues, he believes
the dog park generally works well for the community.
“I think generally people clean up after their dogs,” Downs said. “I
think Lincoln has a lot of good dog owners.”
Bateman also noted the success of the John Welsh Memorial basketball
tournament held over the weekend, which brought 177 teams to
Lincoln.
“There was 177 basketball teams registered to play in that two-day
tournament,” Bateman said. “Utilizing nearly every single gym in
this town.”
After completing announcements, the council voted to adjourn the
meeting.
Following the meeting, Mayor Tracy Welch commented on the discussion
in a post under the City of Lincoln’s official Facebook video of the
meeting. Welch said he was unable to attend due to a death in the
family but stated that road closures have historically appeared on
the consent agenda.
The comment under the post stated the
following.
“I apologize for not being present tonight. I had to travel to
Indiana today for a death in the family.
Had I been present here is what I would have said regarding two
things. First, the consent agenda has included things such as road
closures for as long as I can remember. Tonight’s consent agenda was
no different.
Second, it’s my opinion that if you pay taxes in this town you have
the right to request a road closure like everybody else. We
routinely allow road closures for third Fridays, Nashville nights,
car shows, fundraiser events, Halloween events, parades and much
more. Tonight’s request should have been no different if you look at
it objectively. I will say that had I been present I would have
broke the tie by voting against removing the item from the consent
agenda so that it could be singled out. I represent every
constituent in Lincoln, even those with different views and
perspectives.”
[Sophia Larimore]
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