Friday, Nov. 15

 

County to consider forgiving
cemetery district loan

[NOV. 15, 2002]  As a "cleanup" measure, Logan County Board members will vote Tuesday on whether to forgive as uncollectible a long-standing $100,000 loan to the Logan County Cemetery District. Other issues awaiting final vote on Tuesday include the 2003 holiday schedule and several equipment purchases and contracts.

Finance Committee chair Rod White explained that in 1988, when the cemetery district was formed, the county board gave it maintenance equipment for $1 and loaned start-up money. Before voters established the cemetery district, the county had maintained cemeteries, and the money was collected for that purpose. The district levies its own taxes but needed money to begin operations. For two years the cemetery district paid 3½ percent interest on the $100,000 loan, but White said no interest has been received since 1991.

The county board has written off the loan in the treasurer’s books, but auditors from Sikich Gardner in Springfield recommend formally forgiving it as well. Jonathan Wright of the state’s attorney’s office is preparing a resolution for the Nov. 19 voting session.

 

Dick Logan, a member of the Finance Committee, is not so ready to dismiss the loan, saying, "I think we need to make them show us that they can’t repay that loan before we forgive it." He said the current cemetery district budget estimates $16,000 in interest on endowments, though with current low interest rates the figure is probably down.

White said the endowment money is for perpetual care, and the cemetery district can use the interest but not the principal. To become part of the district, a cemetery must give up endowment interest but keep the endowment itself.

From the beginning the cemetery district levied the maximum tax. It projects a shortfall for the fiscal year ending Nov. 30. Still, at Friday morning’s Finance Committee meeting, members said they need to know cemetery district fund balances before they can vote on forgiving the loan. White will obtain that information by Tuesday.

Another issue that turned out not to be simple is the 2003 holiday schedule. Chief Circuit Judge John P. Freese submitted a schedule with 13 holidays, including Casimir Pulaski Day. Insurance and Legislative Committee chair Dale Voyles said half his committee prefer dropping the Pulaski holiday and giving Dec. 26 instead. In 2003 Christmas falls on Sunday and the original day off is Friday the 23rd. Three of six committee members prefer to give a four-day Christmas weekend.

To get the issue on the table, Voyles made the motion to accept the Freese schedule but announced that he would vote against it. In the straw vote, 11 board members joined him, leaving Rod White as the sole affirmative. Lloyd Hellman was absent from the meeting. White said he had voted against a similar schedule some years ago but found that too many factors were already in place for it to be feasible to change the schedule. He asked to know the impact on collective bargaining contracts before Tuesday’s vote.

 

In the first of several financial commitments, the board gave tentative approval for the purchase of a hydraulic lift for the highway department. County Highway Superintendent Tom Hickman said the current lift was bought about 1965 and has a bad cylinder. Of three bids received, the Road & Bridge Committee voted to accept the $37,569 bid from Misco Service & Supply. Misco plans to use the existing power unit, which is old but in good shape. The lift has a 35,000-pound capacity, which can be increased to 50,000 pounds with a new power unit.

Hickman also said he is researching digital aerial photography with good enough resolution to allow for parcel mapping as well as for highway department facilities management. Purchase of the equipment may qualify for an Illinois Department of Transportation grant. IDOT is offering 80 percent matching grants of up to $100,000 per county for Geographic Information System initiatives related to highways. To receive the maximum grant, the county would pay $20,000 for a $120,000 project.

The board voted tentatively to commit $13,530 toward buying a truck with snow blade for Logan County Airport and improving the road from the entrance to the parking lot. Both projects are slated for 2004. Total cost is estimated at $210,600, with federal and state governments picking up $197,070 as part of a program called Transportation Improvement Projects. The 2005 TIPS project is to expand the ramp and long-term parking area for $320,000, with the county portion being $16,000.

 

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In other airport news, the board indicated its intention to renew the management contract with Heritage in Flight for one year. Since the contract was inadvertently allowed to lapse, it is being made retroactive to April 27. Heritage in Flight is paid $1 per year to manage the airport.

The Airport/Farm Committee is also drawing up formal agreements with Darrell Paige, who has farmed the airport ground for 15 years and the county farm for 10. Jonathan

Wright is preparing a one-year renewable crop share contract for the farm and a one-year renewable licensing agreement for the airport. In straw votes the board approved both agreements.

The county has negotiated a tentative three-year contract with the Logan County Paramedic Association, whose current contract expires Nov. 30. The county board will vote on the contract on Tuesday. If approved it will then go to the LCPA.

The tentative contract provides for an ambulance mileage increase from $4 to $6 per loaded mile, the figure which Medicare covers. Otherwise, there are to be no rate increases and no subsidy in the first contract year. For the second and third years (2004-5), LCPA can request rate increases or subsidies by Sept. 1, subject to approval by the county board.

The contract requires the paramedic association to replace consumables at its own expense and to pay for parts and repairs up to $500. In the first year the county must set aside $13,500 for repairs over $500. In the second and third years the association can request an increase in the funds provided by the county, again subject to board approval.

 

At the beginning of the board meeting, Logan County Emergency Services Disaster Agency Director Dan Fulscher was recognized for being one of the inaugural class of nine to earn certification as Illinois Professional Emergency Managers. The award, developed by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Illinois Emergency Services Management Association, sets a standard of professionalism to strengthen the emergency management system in the state. The 12 training requirements include 24 hours of course work. In addition, the candidate must command a functional or full-scale exercise and submit a paper for peer review.

ESDA employees Terry Storer and Diane Ruff presented the award. Storer has completed the first level of requirements toward professional emergency manager, termed Professional Development Skills. Ruff is entering the PDS program. Law Enforcement/ESDA Committee chair Doug Dutz said, "It’s very encouraging to see Terry, Diane and Dan seeking all the education they can get."

On an issue that arises annually, the board indicated that on Tuesday it will appoint Lester Thomson as animal control administrator and Sheila Farmer as animal control warden for fiscal year 2003. Jim Griffin, a member of the Animal Control Committee, noted an extended executive session for discussing personnel matters. "I’ve never been in a two-hour executive session," he said, "and I’ll be voting no" on Farmer’s appointment.

In another straw vote the board tentatively approved a petition from Ronald Rohlfs to rezone three acres from agricultural to country homes use. The tract is part of the 18.68 acres Rohlfs owns near Grand Oaks Estates in Chester Township. Zoning officer Bud Miller said that Rohlfs has met legal requirements. The three lots front on a dead-end road used by one farmer. They are next to but not in a flood plain. The Regional Planning Commission previously gave the petition unanimous approval, and the Zoning Board of Appeals voted 3-1 to OK it.

Following Tuesday night’s voting session there will be a reception for the six retiring county board members in the first floor rotunda area of the courthouse.

[Lynn Spellman]


Articles from the past week

Thursday:

  • Looking for Lincoln weekend
    (
    Tourism)

Wednesday:

  • City sales tax hike will be back on the ballot

  • Lincoln College student groups help elderly with leaf raking

Tuesday:

Monday:

  • Veterans honored with tributes and ceremonies

  • A veteran’s personal recollection of WWII

Saturday:

  • Watch who you hire or accept as volunteers
    7 percent of Santa Claus applicants are criminals

  • Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library ceremonial opening

  • Ryan releases Illinois FIRST funds to upgrade Brookfield Zoo

Friday:

  • Sex, drugs and lies

  • Speaker addresses students and community leaders

  • Official city Christmas ornament unveiled
    (Business)

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