Wednesday, Feb. 19

 

City finance chair asks for
employee information

[FEB. 19, 2003]  Anticipating the upcoming budget discussions, Alderman Verl Prather, chairman of the finance committee, has asked Lincoln's city department heads to give him a detailed outline of employees in their departments and what their duties are.

The request came at a brief regular board meeting Tuesday night. Prather said he wanted this information, along with the usual requests for operating funds, from the street and alley, fire and police departments.

"We want to know how many per shift, what they do, what the need is," he said. From the police department, for example, he wanted to know how many officers are on patrol, how many are doing community policing and how many are teaching DARE.

"This will help the finance committee get an outline as far as staffing goes," he said.

Although it wasn't mentioned Tuesday night, the city is facing a budget crunch and might have to consider letting some employees go. Both Prather and Alderman Steve Fuhrer, who was last year's finance chairman, have said cutting back on employees would be a last resort to make financial ends meet.

Because of declining tax receipts and historically low interest rates, the city of Lincoln, like most other public bodies, is finding operating revenue decreasing.

It is seeking a 0.5 percent sales tax increase in the April 1 general election, which would bring in an estimated $550,000 per year. The city by law would have to use all of that money for improvements to the infrastructure. A similar proposal was defeated at the November election in 2002.

David Lanterman, newly elected president of Main Street Lincoln, spoke to the council about the organization's projects. These include the Adventure Zone at the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival in August, the Christmas parade, the Scully Park playground, holiday decorating, the Pink Line project to fight breast cancer, the Antiques Roadshow, the Festival of Trees, and the newest project, the Dog Daze of Summer.

 

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Lanterman said the Dog Daze was a big success and will be continued, but at an earlier summer date this year, when the weather might not be so hot for the pets who make up the show. He said he or Main Street director Cindy McLaughlin will attend each council meeting to report on the activities of their organization, and he asked council members to "let us know what information you would like to receive."

Main Street Lincoln is funded by the city, the Logan County Board and private donations.

 

In other business, the city approved an addition to its Policy and Procedure manual regarding the license permit fees for itinerant merchants. Merchants who are selling products in the city for more than 60 days will not be considered itinerant and will not pay the $25 a day fee charged to those in the city less than 60 days.

The council heard from Fire Chief Bucky Washam that firefighter Clint Warnisher has successfully completed his year of probation time.

The council also heard a report from county board member Terry Werth about the Lincoln Well. As soon as weather permits, work will begin to put the historic well into operation, pumping city water that will be safe to drink. The well will be dedicated at the Lincoln Sesquicentennial celebration in August of this year.

[Joan Crabb]


Sahs appointed to county board amid show of support for Hellmans

[FEB. 19, 2003]  By the closest possible margin of 6-5 Bill Sahs was appointed to the Logan County Board Tuesday night. Those who voted in opposition said they did so out of respect for their former colleague Lloyd Hellman and his wish that his wife, Alberta Hellman, succeed him in office.

Board chair Dale Voyles nominated Sahs. Joining him in support were Mitch Brown, Dave Hepler, Dick Logan, Pat O'Neill and Terry Werth. Immediately after the vote, Sahs was sworn into office and took his seat on the board, where he will serve the remainder of Hellman's term representing District 1. Lloyd Hellman, who died Jan. 13, began his ninth year on the board Dec. 1, 2002, and drew a two-year term.

Voyles appointed Sahs to the airport and farm and the road and bridge committees and as liaison to the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce. "I'm excited to be on the board," Sahs said of his appointment. "I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Sahs farms west of Lawndale, just inside the District 1 boundary. He currently sits on the boards of Habitat for Humanity and Growmark of Bloomington and is a member of the Lincoln Rotary Club. In the past he has served as a board member for Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Memorial Health System, East Lincoln Farmers Grain and the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce. He has chaired the Habitat and ALMH boards.

Prior to the vote, Chuck Ruben, the other board member from District 1, announced that he considered Sahs an excellent candidate but would vote "no" because of Hellman's wish that his wife serve out his term. Bob Farmer, Paul Gleason, Gloria Luster and John Stewart also opposed the appointment. Luster explained her vote: "It was out of respect for Mr. Hellman. I felt that she (Alberta Hellman) was qualified and would make a good board member."

 

"This has been a trying experience for all the board members, including me," Voyles said after Sahs was sworn in. Thanking the board for their thoughtful concern, he said they would go forward to serve the county together.

In another appointment, Ray Vonderahe of Lincoln was unanimously approved for the Logan County Board of Review. On Jan. 22 Dan Candlish resigned his seat on the review board, citing health problems. Vonderahe, who along with Doug Dutz and Ron Ross has just completed an audit of the sheriff's department, was sworn in by County Clerk Sally Litterly.

The board unanimously approved four amendments to the animal control ordinance:

1. Raising animal license fees from $6 to $10 for one year and from $10 to $15 for three years. Veterinarians will dispense the tags and receive $2 apiece for doing so.

2. Increasing the time before euthanizing an animal from seven to up to 15 working days.

3. Imposing a $20 fine for a first leash violation.

 

 

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4. Raising the fine for animal abuse from $50 to $200. The animal control administrator and warden will determine when abuse has occurred.

After the four unanimous votes, committee chair Pat O'Neill declared, "The animal shelter that we used to know is no longer in existence." He introduced Animal Control Warden Vickie Loafman and announced that the facility is now fully staffed.

In other business the board:

--Approved $9,438.12 for a one-year lease on security cameras for the jail. The 9-1-1 board may assume some of this cost. Finance chair Chuck Ruben said purchase of the equipment will be considered after the year's lease is up.

--Approved $2,800 for a maintenance contract for the courthouse X-ray machine. This figure includes some contingency money for parts.

--Approved the yearly expenditure for oil and culverts from motor fuel tax funds. Funds for other road materials were OK'd earlier.

--Learned that County Engineer Tom Hickman has applied to Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., for $19 million to improve Fifth Street Road from the Lincoln city limits to the New Holland-Middletown blacktop. Design of the westernmost five miles of the project has recently been completed.

--Learned from Workforce Investment chair Paul Gleason that Region 20, which includes Logan, Sangamon, Menard, Cass and Christian counties, exceeded all applicable goals in 2001. Workforce Investment served 8,151 people in 2002, up from 5,125 in 2001, through programs geared to youth, adults and dislocated workers.

--Received tourism brochures from Thressia Usherwood, executive director of Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County. She said 5,000 people have returned magazine coupons requesting information on the county.

Finance chair Chuck Ruben reported that money generated by the half percent increase in the hotel-motel tax enacted in November will go to a newly named line item, Special Use Projects. Money budgeted for the J.H. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum in Atlanta comes from this line item. In addition, the committee approved transfer of $1,500 from Special Use Projects to the Historic Sites Fund.

According to Paul Gleason, tourism committee chair, the $1,500 will go to the county's two historic sites, the Postville and Mount Pulaski courthouses. Both are without a site director since the retirement of Richard Schachtsiek at the end of December. Funding for the sites was cut from the 2003 county budget. Gleason said Postville Courthouse needs money to participate in Lincoln's sesquicentennial in August.

[Lynn Spellman]


Articles from the past week

Tuesday:

  • Park district begins demolition for construction project

Monday:

  • Alexander ties record  (Sports)

  • Heavy, like the day, a piece of World Trade Center girder on display at Lincoln College Museum

  • Original Lincoln letter, signed photo given to Illinois State Historical Library

Saturday:

  • Winter storm warning

  • Campbell appointed vice president of advancement at Lincoln College

  • Governor puts pinch on spending at state universities

Friday:

  • Mayfield asks for county board support; Voyles picks Sahs for board seat

  • Paramedics enjoy spacious new home
    (Business)

  • Significant winter storm to affect parts of central Illinois tonight

Thursday:

Wednesday:

  • Central Illinois braces for potential ice storm

  • Sewer delinquents cause red ink for city

  • Montcalm resigns from city council

  • 'No' means 'no'
    Senators support law proposal  (Law & Courts)

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