Lincoln Council OKs Hiring Cleaning Service

LINCOLN — Aldermen approved the hiring of a cleaning service for the city’s offices at the Jan. 13 City Council meeting.

The resolution to approve a personal services contract with Darlene Cecil for cleaning services was read by Steve Parker, city attorney.

Lincoln Water Depa r t - ment office manager Rhonda Hulse told aldermen three bids were taken and Cecil’s was the lowest at $ 1,450 per month.

“I thought this was a good time to do this,” said Mayor Rob Hulse, pointing to the city having remodeled city hall in the last few years, the water department and a new library being almost ready to open. “We have nice buildings and the staff doesn’t have time to do the cleaning.”

Cecil will be responsible for cleaning the city hall, community building and water department offices once a week and cleaning the library twice a week, said Rhonda Hulse. All cleaning work will be performed outside normal working hours of the city. She would begin the service immediately.

The resolution was passed with a 7-0 vote by the seven aldermen present. Carla Holcroft was absent.

The council voted 7-0 to authorize a contract with Parker and Zega, PLC, to provide legal services to the city.

Steven Parker, who has served as city attorney for Lincoln since 2006, received praise from the mayor.

“I think Steve has done a great job for us,” Hulse said. “We appreciated your service.”

Lincoln has used the services of Parker because it doesn’t have an elected city attorney.

In other business, Aldermen passed a resolution to accept a bid of $24,000 by Barnes Construction for a low-water bridge across a shallow area of Lake Lincoln.

Hulse told aldermen “it’s time” for a new police station in the city.

“We ask our officers to be professionals,” Hulse said.

Information Director Al Videtto said the building has been wired with all the necessary cables and it would just be a matter moving the phones to the other building once the new offices have been completed.

Alderman Bob McDonald said he agreed it was time for better offices for the police department. “I think it’s great.”

The other aldermen agreed, too.

Hulse asked that the 2014 budget be tabled until a special called meeting due to having to change a few figures in the budget. He asked that aldermen keep in mind the importance of passing the budget before Feb. 1, adding the council would need a quorum to pass the budget. Council members nodded their heads in agreement to attend a special called budget meeting.

Rhonda Hulse told the council the city had received a total of $85,300 in grants in 2013.