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In a straw vote the board tentatively
approved rezoning 80 acres of property on the west side from
agriculture to M-1, or limited manufacturing. A vehicle auction
business has signed a purchase agreement for 20 acres of the site.
Gene Burwell, owner of the 80 acres, told the Logan County Regional
Planning Commission that the firm expects to employ six to eight
people. Phil Mahler, director of regional planning, said an unnamed
customer is under contract for another 10 acres of the property,
located in the enterprise zone.
An M-1 district allows for "light
industrial, office and administrative uses having few, if any,
adverse effects on neighborhood properties." Permitted uses include
industry, non-retail commercial, laboratories and offices. The
Zoning Board and Regional Planning Commission have already approved
the rezoning.
Werth praised those involved in
bringing the auction house: "This is what we've been looking for,
for the private sector to bring development" to the county.
In other business, chairman Dale Voyles
said that at its first meeting the board Economic Development
Committee identified three sites at Logan County Airport suitable
for development -- two on Route 10 near the weather station and one
on 1400th Avenue. Other sites were found appropriate for an
aviation-related business and for a restaurant. Damon Smith of
Hanson Professional Services has drawn plans showing the locations.
An expected debate about alcohol on
county property failed to materialize because Lincoln
Sesquicentennial Committee chair Beth Davis withdrew her group's
request for an ordinance amendment that would allow liquor on the
courthouse grounds and at Scully Park during the city's 150th
birthday celebration.
County law forbids sale or consumption
of alcohol on county property. Mayor Davis said the sesquicentennial
committee expects to create city street areas adjacent to the
courthouse square where liquor can be available. A city discussion
and vote, scheduled for June 16, will determine what areas can be
used and how they must be cordoned off.
"We'll work it out," Davis assured,
speaking for the sesquicentennial committee, which chose to withdraw
the motion rather than continue the hassle after county building and
grounds and liquor committees passed the decision to the full board.
"We'll do whatever we have to. We're trying to make it a happy,
positive time."
Davis said at least 50 law enforcement
officers and security will patrol the downtown area on Friday and
Saturday nights Aug. 29-30, when 14 bands will perform on six
stages. Vendors and downtown tavern owners will use wristbands and
special colored cups to identify those over 21.
About a dozen citizens interested in
the liquor issue attended the Logan County Board meeting Thursday
night, and three others besides Davis signed up to address the
board. After Davis' announcement all others declined to speak.
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this article]
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Board member Dick Logan later reported
that the building and grounds committee had approved use of areas on
the first and third floors of the courthouse as well as Latham and
Scully parks for sesquicentennial events as long as there is no
alcohol present. Liquor committee member Terry Werth said he took an
informal poll of 10 residents of District 4 and found nine who
thought it inappropriate to have alcohol on the courthouse grounds;
one did not care.
In other business the board tentatively
accepted a whopping 54 percent increase in the cost of general
liability, commercial and auto insurance. In a straw vote it chose
to renew with Callender & Company, representing St. Paul Insurance,
for approximately $172,000. The premium, which is not yet firm,
includes about $147,000 for general liability, $22,000 for
employment practices and $3,000 for mandated terrorism coverage,
which the state required to be supplied free last year. In 2002-03
the total premium was $109,610.
The board intends to send a letter to
the Illinois Department of Insurance protesting the greater than 30
percent increase. A similar letter was sent last year. Jerry Palmer
is the local agent for Callender & Co.
In other tentative votes the board on
Thursday approved:
--Offering early retirement to one cook
at the safety complex, with an incentive bonus not to exceed $6,500.
Four deputies who are 50 or older and have at least 20 years of
service were recently offered $12,500 as a retirement incentive. Two
accepted the offer and replacements have been hired.
--Requesting financial aid from Gov.
Rod Blagojevich for cleanup after the May 30 tornado, which caused
at least $2.5 million damage. Needed work includes removal of trees
and brush from Deer Creek. ESDA Director Dan Fulscher said the
tornado left 170 tons of debris, not counting trees burned
separately, and that the cost of removal is $31 a ton.
In committee reports the board learned
that:
--Waste Management Coordinator Ken
Schwab is retiring. A committee has been appointed to fill the
position.
--The Animal Control open house has
been rescheduled for June 29 from noon to 3 p.m.
--$1,000 has
been earmarked for a sign on the courthouse lawn explaining the
Civil War monument and the role of the county in that war.
Open
Meetings Act:
After a month's hiatus the Logan County
board indicated support for a resolution requiring that any
organization accepting county funds must hold open meetings. The
organizations must also allow access to minutes and financial
statements. The requirement applies to both public and private
organizations.
The
final vote comes at Tuesday's adjourned session.
[LDN will have further information on
this issue in Monday's edition.]
[Lynn
Spellman]
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