Tuesday, Nov. 26

 

Retiring board members

A retrospective on 44 years
of county service

[NOV. 26, 2002]  Six members of the Logan County Board are retiring at the end of November. In looking back over their 44 years of collective service, each notes significant changes and accomplishments.


[Photo by Lynn Spellman]

Rod White of rural New Holland has been the lone Democrat for the last 16 of his 20 years on the board. The only other Democratic board member he knows was Bob Copeland in 1982-86.

Over two decades White has seen the cost of doing county business double while revenue declined. The total budget was about $5 million in 1982 and is now about $10 million. Assessed valuation has remained stable, but a big revenue drop occurred just as he was joining the board. Federal revenue sharing of about $200,000 a year came to an abrupt halt, necessitating big cuts in 1982.

Since then revenue has followed a cyclical pattern, with highs occurring in the mid- to late ’80s and ’90s. White, who has chaired the finance committee for a decade, believes the board has followed a conservative financial philosophy and built up good reserves, enough to outlast two more years of deficit budgets. Compared to other counties, Logan has mid to high reserves and mid to low salaries, he said, so in a continued downturn it would be one of the last counties in the state to be in trouble.

Advancing technology is another change. White remembers the first request for a word processor instead of a typewriter and when dictaphones to record messages replaced the pencil. Now county offices are computer-based with fiber-optic connections.

While computers were being installed, workload increased, but in most departments employment remained stable. White’s conclusion is that computers did not replace any employees but may have kept the need for new workers down.

 

A few areas did grow. White noted that the probation office increased from two to six employees and the court system grew from two to three and sometimes four courts in session. The state’s attorney’s and circuit clerk’s offices have seen small employment increases. On the other hand the highway department has fewer workers than 20 years ago.

With new equipment and some new employees, the county needed more space. White said the board looked for years for more room until the current Dr. John Logan county building became available. "This one really fell into place," he said.

A sign of the times is increasing courthouse security. The metal detector and X-ray machine at the lone remaining entrance are the first examples. "We think we don’t need it," White commented, but news from other places shows that the board must provide security.

In 1982 more board members were charged with specific responsibilities such as insurance. Then a board secretary and insurance coordinator was hired. White thinks in the future the county will need an administrator, consolidating work done by the board secretary, finance committee chair and auditor.

After retiring from the board, White does not expect to take any committee positions but is available as an adviser. "Anything I can do for the best interests of the county I’ll always be available to do," he promised. He and Paul Gleason are inventorying antiques at the courthouse.

 


[Photo by Jan Youngquist]

Doug Dutz of Lincoln considers his work with Emergency Services and Disaster Agency, the sheriff and the coroner to be his most significant contribution in 12 years on the county board. He currently chairs the law enforcement and ESDA committee and has served on the negotiating team for Fraternal Order of Police contracts since 1990. He noted that in 2001 jailers, janitors, cooks and secretaries joined the deputies in the FOP.

During Dutz’s tenure the sheriff’s budget has increased and new cars were purchased. He is pleased with the good working relationship developed with both sheriff and coroner.

ESDA was weak when he was appointed to the committee in 1992, Dutz recalled. Since Dan Fulscher was appointed director in 1993, the agency has increased its budget, upgraded and modernized equipment and improved its effectiveness. Fulscher has earned certification as an Illinois Professional Emergency Manager, and ESDA co-workers Terry Storer and Diane Ruff have begun the educational program toward certification. Dutz also gives Fulscher "overwhelming credit for developing one of the better 911s in the state."

 

Dutz served as county board chair 1997-98 and notes that the county enjoyed its biggest surplus during those two years, though he takes no personal credit for it.

A member of the building and grounds committee, he is pleased with courthouse improvements such as new sidewalks and ramps as well as purchase of the John Logan building. Along with the sidewalks he points to park lighting as "minor but something you have to do."

Dutz has also served on the airport committee. Improvements there include higher income, new hangars and increased occupancy. A golf course feasibility study was done, and though there is no golf course, he said it is still a possibility that would be good for the community.

Dutz has been appointed to the committee to audit the sheriff’s department. In addition, he said he and other retiring board members will be available, if asked, to help acquaint new board members with committee operations and responsibilities.

 

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[Photo by Jan Youngquist]

For Clifford "Sonny" Sullivan of Lincoln, the most memorable moments in six years on the county board have come from his service on the animal control committee. He was a member of the committee for two years before chairing it for four. "I’m an animal lover," he said in explaining his initial appointment.

"I always try to see the people’s needs when they call," Sullivan noted. Often he finds that more than anything else they want a listener. If he does not know the answer to their question, he finds out and returns the call. Sullivan plans to continue working for animal control as a volunteer. "I really love it out there," he explained.

He said the most significant change during his tenure is development of the animal control website so animals can be adopted instead of euthanized. As an example he recalled that two families from Barrington phoned on the same day to say they had seen animals on the site that they wanted to adopt. Fortunately, they chose different animals and both were still available. The two families came the next day to adopt their pets.

Sullivan said he thinks the county board has accomplished much during his tenure. As an example he pointed to installation of fiber-optic connections in county offices so officials can have information at their fingertips. He praised Circuit Clerk Carla Bender for always looking for something better for county citizens, County Clerk Sally Litterly for working to make everyone’s vote count and Treasurer Mary Bruns for seeking out the best interest rates. He said he is proud to have served the county.

 


[Photo by Lynn Spellman]

Roger Bock of rural Elkhart said that accomplishments during his three years on the board include the purchase and remodeling of the John Logan building and the paramedics’ transition from the hospital to independent status. The employees were retained, and the paramedics developed their own management under a board of directors. Their service is good and they are self-supporting or nearly so.

The most contentious issue during Bock’s board service was rezoning the former interurban railroad ground for the Elkhart mine. On one side were those seeking economic development and high-paying jobs. Opposing them were people who consider an above-ground belt unsightly and some with environmental concerns. The initial contract for the land said it could be used for "coal transportation" but did not specify what type.

 

For the past two years Bock has chaired the airport and farm committee. At Logan County Airport he has seen improvements to drainage and the sod runway. City water is now available, and a credit card fuel pump has been installed. With federal and state support, the next few years will see an extended runway, a new truck with snow blade, a reconstructed entrance road, expanded ramp and a pipe through the drainage ditch.

Bock said the airport is often a businessperson’s first view of Lincoln, and it should be a clean, well-lit facility. He is pleased to have played a part in making this doorway to the community more user-friendly and welcoming.

In the past two months Bock has been appointed to two committees. The Logan County Board of Health is familiar territory because he has served on the health department negotiating committee. The Resource Conservation District is a new entity with representatives from six counties. Bock expressed thanks to the people of Logan County for his opportunity to serve them.

 


[Photo by Lynn Spellman]

Jim Griffin of Lincoln cited two important changes that have taken place during the two years he has served on the county board. First is the reduction in property size necessary for a country home from five acres to one. He said he thinks the board basically made it possible for a citizen of average means to move out in the country and build a house there.

Second is increased use of the bidding process. "We pretty much bid out everything" except the insurance contract during the past year, he affirmed. The insurance policy for county employees will be put up for bids in 2003.

Griffin said he is frustrated by the deficit budgets of the past three years. When he came on the board in December 2000, the current fund balance was $4.265 million. Now it is $2.546 million, a decrease of $1.719 million. "That’s a lot of money," he said. "That bothers me. You can’t run a business that way."

 


[Photo by Lynn Spellman]

Tom Cash of Latham said he had wanted a slot on the county board since Bud Behrends died in 1994. At that time he petitioned for the appointment and was asked, "Where is Latham?" He strongly supports the change to district representation so that all parts of the county are represented on the board. He has served for one year.

On Tuesday night board chair Dick Logan appointed Cash to the planning and zoning committee. He is pleased with that post and thinks it is one where he can contribute. Cash was first appointed to planning and zoning in March 1995.

[Lynn Spellman]

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