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Lincoln City Council
Tax levy and massage licenses discussed in Council Committee of the
Whole meeting
[December 11, 2025]
The Lincoln City Council
Committee of the Whole met Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. to discuss engineering
costs for the Community Pavilion, a proposed annexation, the
creation of a “no knock” solicitor list, updates to the massage
establishment ordinance, and several annual tax levy items. The
meeting followed the agenda as published for the evening.
The council opened with a request from Crawford, Murphy & Tilly (CMT)
for an additional $5,000 to cover engineering costs for the
Community Pavilion. Engineer Shane Remmert told the council that
revisions, design growth, and footing complications contributed to
overruns.
“The project ended up being quite a bit larger than what we had
originally scoped,” he said, adding that the pavilion manufacturer
declined to design the footings once raised concrete and a rear
block wall were added. “We still have money left on the project,
but… there would be a shortfall.”
Alderman Kevin Bateman noted that design changes made last year were
driven by the Parks Committee after realizing the original structure
“was going to be so much smaller… it just wouldn’t look right where
it was at.” Retaining walls, grading for accessibility, and
aesthetic improvements were added, which increased CMT’s hours.
Alderwoman Rhonda O’Donoghue
expressed concern that such costs were not discussed earlier,
saying, “In a planning process… that would have been a conversation
we would have had.”
Mayor Welch acknowledged her point but emphasized that “every
project that we’ve ever done, there’s contingency built in for
things like this.” The item will move to the regular agenda.
The council also reviewed a petition from Kent and Julie Cross
seeking to annex their parcel into city limits, an action tied to
the ongoing Keystone project. Attorney Hoblit told the council the
public hearing would occur Dec. 15 and that the vote could take
place the same evening.
Police Chief Joe Meister presented a proposal to add a “no knock
list” to city code, allowing residents to prohibit solicitors from
visiting their homes. He explained that while current stickers help,
they leave room for disputes.
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“Once they’re
served with that list, they have to receive the list to obtain
their license,” he said. “It’d be pretty hard to defeat by a
defense of ‘I didn’t read the list.’”
Aldermen and staff discussed digital sign-ups, verification
methods, and how to handle updates as residents move. The
council agreed more time was needed to refine procedures, with
Meister and Clerk Bateman tasked with returning a clearer
structure.
A lengthy discussion followed on revisions to the city’s massage
establishment ordinance. Hoblit noted that Bloomington’s model
had been used to strengthen language around exemptions and
enforcement. Council members raised concerns about hours of
operation, duplicate background checks, and the treatment of
sole proprietors.
Alderwoman McCallen emphasized the ordinance’s purpose as a
public safety tool: “It’s not just to make money, but so that
they’re kind of registered with the city.”
Chief Meister stressed that state-licensed therapists are not
the issue. “If a business is operating... and provides massage
therapy, they have to be licensed to do so,” he said. “If we
have another instance like we did in January, I can just about
guarantee you that not a single employee... had a state
license.”
The council agreed the ordinance needed further simplification
before moving forward.
Treasurer Conzo presented the city’s proposed 2025 tax levy at
2.9%, matching the Consumer Price Index. He highlighted that
Lincoln’s share of property tax has decreased over time and
noted growing demands on the police and fire pension funds. He
also introduced resolutions abating taxes for existing general
obligation bonds, including the Route 66 Museum renovation
bonds. Conzo reported that, for the first time, TIF increment
fully covered the $2.285 million bond payment for 2025.
The meeting adjourned after placing applicable items on the Dec.
16 regular agenda.
[Sophia Larimore]
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