|
Lincoln City Council
Public pushback leads council to pause proposed massage regulations
[November 20, 2025]
All members of the Lincoln City
Council were present Monday evening as Mayor Tracy Welch called the
regular meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
Public participation focused heavily on the city’s proposed
ordinance establishing new licensing requirements for massage
establishments. Two speakers—Lynnette Bruce and Joyce Liesman—addressed
the council with concerns over how the regulations would impact
licensed massage therapists and property owners.
Bruce, who owns several properties on Fifth Street including a
building with massage and wellness tenants, said she had reviewed
the ordinance multiple times and felt it was “intrusive” for both
landlords and licensed practitioners.
“I personally don’t believe that you are entitled to information
like my lease,” she said, explaining that her building already meets
codes and her tenants are licensed, insured and fingerprinted
through the state. “I think that all the things you’re asking for… I
honestly, personally, don’t have a problem if law enforcement ever
wants to come into the building. I just think it oversteps the
boundaries of everybody that’s sitting here. It offended me, quite
frankly, that you’re just a little bit too nosy.”
She asked the council to table the
ordinance and allow affected professionals to meet with members
individually to work through concerns. Bruce suggested adopting a
“sole proprietorship” category modeled after Bloomington’s
regulations, which she said would offer a balanced alternative. “I
truly believe that we all could live with that,” she said.
Council members asked for clarification about licensing, background
checks and how many therapists currently work in Lincoln. Bruce
estimated three or four local practitioners. She also emphasized
that massage therapists already renew state licensure every two
years and undergo new background checks at that time.
“They’ve already had all of that…That’s all required by the state,”
she said.
Police Chief Joe Meister confirmed the department investigated and
shut down an illegal, unlicensed massage business earlier in the
year.
“The employees providing massage therapy, if you want to call it
that, were not licensed,” he said, noting the closure required a
lengthy court process.
Attorney Hoblit explained the ordinance’s intent: “We’re not going
after licensed people who are licensed. We’re going after people who
open up businesses that are not licensed.”
He said the proposal would give law enforcement authority to inspect
premises without waiting for warrants, allowing problem
establishments to be shut down more quickly. “It does give the
police additional means,” he said, acknowledging the draft was “a
little bit more in depth” than other ordinances.
Joyce Liesman, a massage therapist with 14 years of experience at
Springfield Clinic, also urged the council to slow down the process.
“I do not believe adding a local licensing process to already
licensed massage therapists is the answer,” she said.
Liesman outlined the education and regulatory requirements
therapists must already meet, including 500–700 training hours,
federal and state background checks, continuing education, and
oversight by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional
Regulation.
“We are well regulated by the state of Illinois,” she said.
She cautioned that the ordinance “singles out licensed massage
therapists” while granting exemptions to certain groups—including
home-based practitioners—which she argued could actually make
enforcement more difficult.
“Over-regulating legitimate, licensed massage therapists will not
solve the problem of illicit businesses,” she said.
She reiterated that the earlier illegal operation “would not have
made one minute’s difference” whether Lincoln had its own license
requirement or not, stressing that “human trafficking is a law
enforcement issue.”
Multiple council members expressed agreement that additional
discussion was necessary.
[to top of second column] |
“We need to figure
out how we don’t hurt people that are legitimately trying to do
business but still give us the ability to do what we need to do
to protect the city,” Mayor Welch said.
After extended conversation, the council voted unanimously to
table the ordinance for further review and future discussion.
The council then moved through its
agenda items beginning with approval of the consent agenda, which
included bills and minutes from previous meetings. All items were
approved with unanimous votes. The agenda was confirmed using the
Nov. 17 published meeting agenda.
A significant action item of the night was the approval of a bid
from Johnco Construction for the construction of a new community
pavilion at a cost not to exceed $386,514. The council voted
unanimously in favor following a motion by Alderman Downs and a
second by Alderman Bateman. The pavilion project had been publicly
bid and evaluated earlier in the month.
Treasurer Chuck Conzo presented the October 2025 Treasurer’s Report,
noting improvements in the general fund compared to the previous
year. He highlighted increases in municipal sales tax and state
income tax receipts, while warning that the statewide replacement
tax had dropped substantially. Conzo and several aldermen also
discussed pending legislation that could redirect a large share of
road-related tax revenue to the Chicago region.
“It’s going to reduce the amount of the motor fuel tax, you know
substantially, if that’s signed into law,” Conzo said. Despite this,
Landers noted that the city’s primary resurfacing projects are
funded through the general budget rather than motor fuel tax.
The council also reviewed the City Clerk’s October report, which
included $259,992.68 in sewer receipts, with just over $47,000
received from local correctional facilities.
Aldermen then moved to approve the Campus View Drive sewer
construction project, authorizing the city to spend up to $1,158,000
and allowing the mayor to sign the lowest qualified bid. Alderman
Kevin Bateman noted that while he lives on Campus View Drive, the
affected area is several blocks away and does not impact his
property.
Council members then unanimously approved the 2026 City of Lincoln
holiday schedule and the 2026 meeting schedule, both listed on the
official agenda.
The council also approved the lease-purchase of a 2026 International
dump truck with snow and ice control equipment in the amount of
$230,244.97. Landers confirmed the package covers the truck, bed,
plow, salt spreader and pre-wet system.
A later item prompted discussion
regarding the hiring of a new police officer to fill a known vacancy
due to an upcoming 2026 retirement. Chief Meister explained that the
department wants to avoid gaps in coverage by hiring a trained
officer early enough to complete field training.
“What I want to be prepared for is to have his vacancy filled…So
that we don't have a gap in services” Meister said.
After discussion, the council amended the motion to remove a
specific date and instead authorize hiring to fill the vacancy in
2026. The amendment and final motion both passed with strong
support.
The council also authorized issuance of a city credit card for the
mayor with a limit of $5,000, aligning the mayor’s office with other
departments that already use authorized purchasing cards for
efficiency.
Before adjourning, the mayor shared several announcements, including
information about the upcoming Christmas parade, upcoming judging
needs, and seasonal city activities.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:19 p.m.
[Sophia Larimore]
|
