Mayor Glen Nelson called the January Lincoln City Council to order at 6:00 PM in City Hall. Following the handling of routine business, the council heard from Benton County Economic Development Director, JoAnn Lane. Ms Lane said she didn’t have any new announcements for the group but did remind them there would be a second meeting of the Focus Group at Foster Hall on Tuesday evening, January 14 at 5:00 PM.
There was no old business on the agenda and no one appeared to address the council so the meeting moved to the Public Works Director’s report. Josh Cole reported that under normal maintenance, he had responded to work orders and worked with the Silver Smith GIS.
Cole and his right hand man, Donnie Bennet had done crack sealing on Osage Street, filled roadsides with gravel, trimmed trees in roadways, serviced all the machinery that included repairing a few leaks on the plow truck. They had cleaned out a clog at the lift station and repaired a water leak at the nursing home. Cole had also done his DNR reports prior to having to plow snow full-time to keep the streets in good condition.
Police Chief Andrew Breshears reported total calls for service the past month was 56. Reports taken were 15 and there were 102 traffic stops. There had been 2 vehicle accidents, and they had issued 40 summons and two warrant arrest and two resisting arrests.
On December 12, 2024, officers conducted a traffic stop on a male who refused to provide identity. Officers orderd the male to exit the vehicle and he refused. Officers went hands on and the male resisted arrest. The male was tased by officers and taken into custody.
On December 23, 2024, Chief Breshears attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Highway 65. The driver fled and was pursued into the county. The driver avoided spikes deployed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Benton County. A little later, Benton County was able to successfully deploy spikes, and the pursuit ended with the driver being taken into custody. A warrant by the state prosecutor was issued with several charges.
The department is working on purchasing new firearms along with fulfilling the PBT Grant. Officers have also been working overtime hours for the traffic grant which will continue throughout the year. During the last month, officers worked a total of 45 hours of overtime. During these hours, officers made 38 traffic stops; out of them two performed SFST's for DWI, and both were found not to be intoxicated.
City Clerk Sabrina Brown had nothing new to report but has been very busy with the new software conversion.
Under new business, there was a first and second reading by title only of Bill #01-13-25(A); an Ordinance to amend the 2024 estimated operating budget to actual adjusted ending balance for all funds within the City of Lincoln, Missouri. It passed to become Ordinance #724.
There was a first and second reading by title only of Bill #01-13-25 (B); an Ordinance establishing salaries and the regular payment thereof for a City Employee. It passed and became ordinance #725
Under City Board Appointments, Mayor Glen Nelson appointed Damien Ferguson to fill the vacated position on the Planning & Zoning. The vacancy was created with the recent passing of Don Kauble who had been on that board. Others on the Planning & Zoning board include: Marlin Hammond, Joel Helland, Tracy Amos and Jack Lietzke.
With no further business the meeting adjourned.
