County seats new board member

Department heads and other positions change         

[NOV. 17, 2005]  On Tuesday evening, the Logan County Board filled the seat vacated by Gloria Luster. In keeping with board members being elected by districts, Rick Aylesworth from Mount Pulaski was chosen to replace Luster. Luster was from Mount Pulaski before moving to Lincoln a couple of months ago.

Aylesworth has been a lifelong resident of Logan County. He is married to Debby, and they have four children, ages 9 months to 16.

He has 16 years in plant management with Bo-Jac Seed Company and two years of management experience with the Mount Pulaski Fire Department.

He has set as his board membership objective to use group ideas and input to bring employment and revenue to the county.

Aylesworth said, "I'd like to step into Gloria Luster's shoes. I know they are pretty big shoes to fill, but I'd like to do it."

County highway engineer

The board also accepted Bret A. Aukamp to be the Logan County highway engineer. The approval is pending Aukamp passing the Illinois Department of Transportation county engineer exam.

Aukamp's six-year contract has incremented pay increases, similar to former engineer Tom Hickman's contract. Under the contract Aukamp will start at $64,000 and end at $75,000 during his sixth year.

Animal control

The board approved Maurice Tierney as deputy warden at the Logan County Animal Control.

Tourism

The probationary period for the new Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau director, Geoff Ladd, is up on Dec. 5. Ladd began his duties on Sept. 6 this year. Paul Gleason, the board liaison for tourism, chuckled as he said, "I think we'll be keeping him." Gleason went on to say that Ladd has been very busy and recently upgraded and created new tourist packets. Some of these went out at the recent Lincoln College Parent's Weekend.

Ladd stepped into the job at a peak time in Logan County's tourism season. He's been involved in promoting Railsplitter, Atlanta and Mount Pulaski fall festivals; the Logan County Courthouse Centennial; and other activities. He's also picked up where former director Celeste Rogers left off and is involved with the newest Illinois tourism development, the Route 66 National Scenic Byway. That project, which is both federal-and state-supported, is still in its early stages.

The focus groups that have been meeting to assist the Logan County Regional Planning Commission in the development of the new county comprehensive plan believe that the county has a strong future in tourism. Ladd said he is excited about this.

Ladd reported to the finance committee earlier this month that the tourism bureau would take over its own financial management again. Interim tourism director Ron Shilling had set it up for the county treasurer, Mary Ellen Bruns, to oversee the account and write checks while the bureau was in transition to a new director.

Ladd said they are working to have money left in the 2006 budget.

Tourism receives 4 percent of the county's hotel-motel taxes. Like other agencies that receive county funds, finance chairman Chuck Ruben asked Ladd to supply a list of their expenditures regularly. Ladd said that he would do this along with his monthly report.

ETSB appointment

Randy Conklen was appointed to the Logan County Emergency Telecommunications System Board. He replaces Dave Deters, who has moved to Indiana.

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