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City of Lincoln
Lincoln Council reviews local food business development, advances
multiple agenda items
[April 16, 2026]
Mayor Tracy Welch called the
meeting to order at 6 p.m. and opened with a moment of silence in
recognition of the anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s
assassination.
The meeting began with a quarterly report from Logan County Tourism
Director Wanda Lee Rohlfs, who outlined how the city’s $30,000
annual contribution is being used. She explained that $5,000
supports a mini-grant program for local events, while the remaining
funds go toward operational costs and marketing efforts.
“I think it’s important to note that this has been a good
collaboration between the City of Lincoln and the Logan County
Tourism Bureau,” Rohlfs said.
Rohlfs also highlighted a $465,000 Route 66 grant and ongoing
tourism projects, including a newly installed windmill expected to
be fully operational by June.
The council then reviewed a wastewater treatment plant project
presented by a representative from Crawford, Murphy & Tilly. The
proposed work order is part of a state-mandated effort to reduce
phosphorus levels in wastewater.
“We are up against a permit requirement to do this project,” said
Shane Remmert from CMT, noting that the improvements are necessary
to meet Environmental Protection Agency standards.
A request for a special use permit
at 311 S. Logan Street also received attention. The property owner
outlined plans for a drive-through concept focused on locally
sourced, pre-made meals.
“The meals will be premade… everything will be locally grown,
locally sourced product,” the owner said.
Council members expressed support for the project, with Alderwoman
Robin McCallen stating, “That’s exactly what we [Lincoln] needed.”
Several administrative items were also discussed, including the
routine review of executive session minutes and a proclamation
recognizing Arbor Day. Officials noted that Lincoln has been named a
Tree City USA community for the 25th consecutive year.
Union contract negotiations made up a significant portion of the
meeting, with three separate agreements presented for approval. The
proposed four-year contracts cover the International Union of
Operating Engineers, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the
International Association of Firefighters.
Alderman Sam Downs described negotiations with the police union as
smooth and efficient.
“It was the quickest, most painless negotiation, union negotiation
I’ve ever witnessed,” Downs said.
Similarly, Alderman Kevin Bateman said discussions with the fire
union were largely straightforward.
“I would call it fairly smooth also,” Bateman said.
Mayor Welch emphasized that all parties worked collaboratively
throughout the process.
“I think that these negotiations have got better over the years,”
Welch said. “Everybody was understanding and negotiated in good
faith.”
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The council also
reviewed an updated building code adoption, which Building and
Zoning Officer Wes Woodhall said took more than a year to
complete.
“It’s a lot of reading,” Woodhall said, describing the process
of reviewing and updating the code.
A revised agreement with Logan County Animal Control was
presented, reflecting an increase in annual cost to $52,000 and
a shift to a month-to-month structure during the first year.
“We wanted to make sure that it was data driven,” Welch said,
explaining how the updated cost was determined.
Financial discussions continued with a proposal to finance a
community pavilion project through a four-year loan at a 4.91%
interest rate. City Treasurer Chuck Conzo recommended the longer
term to reduce immediate strain on city funds.
“I think it would probably be the best idea… to go with the
four-year proposal,” Conzo said.
A large portion of discussion also centered on the allocation of
video gaming tax revenue and its impact on the city’s budget.
Conzo warned that maintaining the current split between funds
could result in a deficit.
“If we continue to do that, you’re going to have a deficit in
the general fund,” Conzo said.
He recommended directing “100%” of gaming tax revenue back into
the general fund to maintain a balanced budget.
Council members weighed the proposal, with some noting increased
expenses tied to staffing and wage adjustments, while others
cautioned against making immediate changes.
“I personally [am] going to vote against this,” Alderman Kevin
Bateman said. “I'm not 100% against it. I'm just 100% against it
right now. I just think that there is a lot of stuff that needs
repaired.”
The discussion also touched on long-term financial planning,
including the importance of maintaining a strong general fund
balance ahead of an upcoming bond rating review.
Following the discussion on video
gaming tax revenue, the council moved into final budget-related
clarifications and questions regarding the proposed fiscal year
2026–2027 plan. City Treasurer Chuck Conzo emphasized the importance
of beginning the fiscal year with a balanced budget, noting that
failing to do so could create additional financial strain later.
“It's trying to pass a balanced budget to start with,” Conzo said.
“If you start out with the deficit, you know then that you have that
much more to make up.”
As the meeting concluded, multiple items were advanced to the
regular council agenda for final approval, including union
contracts, infrastructure projects, and budget-related decisions.
[Sophia Larimore]
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