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City of Lincoln
Lincoln Council Hears Financial Warning, Approves Wastewater
Equipment Purchase
[June 18, 2026]
All members of the Lincoln City
Council were present for the regular meeting held June 15 at Lincoln
City Hall. The meeting included approval of wastewater treatment
equipment, appointments to the Diversity and Inclusion Commission
and a discussion of the city's financial position as officials
reviewed monthly and annual reports.
The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included
payment of bills and a request from Lincoln Christian Church to
close McLean Street between Pekin and Delavan streets from 3:30 - 7
p.m. on June 20 for the All Church Picnic.
The evening meeting’s focus lingered on City Treasurer Chuck Conzo's
May financial report. Conzo noted that the city's general fund
balance has declined compared to previous years and suggested
caution as council members prepare for future spending decisions.
“If you look at the subtotal in the general fund, $3,278,353
compared to where we were a year ago, which was $3,720,594, we need
to reverse that trend,” Conzo said.
Conzo explained that while the city remains financially stable, its
reserves are lower than he would like to see. He noted that previous
balances exceeded $4 million and said the city currently has
approximately four months of operating expenses available in
reserve.
“I don't like to see it ever get down below six months, but that's
where we are,” Conzo said. “We're going to need to be careful going
forward in how we spend the money, particularly in the general
fund.”
Alderman Steve Parrott asked what actions the city could take to
improve the situation.
“I think it's just looking at every purchase that we make and every
expenditure that we make and trying to make sure it's something that
we need to do rather than maybe something that would be a good idea
and we'd like to have it, but we could put it off for a while,”
Conzo responded.
Conzo also reviewed several city revenue sources, noting municipal
sales tax revenues remain lower than last year while state income
tax and replacement tax revenues have increased. He additionally
reported that higher fuel taxes have generated additional revenue,
though fuel consumption itself has declined.
The council received annual reports for both the Firemen's Pension
Fund and Police Pension Fund. Conzo reported investment returns have
improved due to stock market performance and increased pension
funding contributions through property taxes.
City Clerk Peggy Bateman reported the city received $320,326.03 in
sewer payments during May, including $10,145.79 from one of the
state correctional facilities.
Council members unanimously approved the purchase of sludge tank
diffuser replacements for the city's wastewater treatment plant at a
cost not to exceed $30,000. The replacement equipment is needed to
maintain proper operation of the treatment process and was
previously discussed during the June 9 Committee of the Whole
meeting.
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The council also
unanimously approved Mayor Tracy Welch's appointments of Kelly
Jo Carter and Elijah Cox to the city's Diversity and Inclusion
Commission.
During announcements, Welch thanked city employees, police
officers, firefighters and public works crews for their response
following severe weather that moved through the community in
recent days.
“A lot of stuff was down on the ground, a lot of trees damaged
vehicles,” Welch said. “Thank you to everybody that played a
role in that and for acting quickly and helping keep the
community safe.”
Alderman Tim Becke echoed those comments, praising the city's
rapid response after a large tree and downed power line blocked
a portion of Eighth Street.
“Within minutes of that storm, police officers came, roped it
off because we had a huge tree come down on Eighth Street,”
Becke said. “Within a few hours the city guys were there with
barricades, and then within 12 hours they were cutting that tree
up. It was just so efficient.”
Council members also discussed another round of severe weather
expected later in the week and encouraged residents to remain
alert.
Additional announcements included
updates on the relocation of the city's covered wagon display to
downtown Lincoln, the upcoming Juneteenth celebration at Latham
Park, Third Friday activities, a fundraiser benefiting St. Jude
Children's Research Hospital, ongoing Route 66 tourism events and
progress on the Fifth Street Road reconstruction project.
Street Superintendent Walt Landers reported that Broadway Street at
Sherman Street would close beginning June 16 to allow utility work
associated with construction of the city's new public safety
facility. Landers also provided an update on storm cleanup efforts
and said crews would continue collecting storm debris placed along
city streets.
The meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
[Sophia Larimore]
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