[JAN. 23, 2006]
Days are closing in on a decision to repair or
tear down a historic bridge in Elkhart. Chunks of concrete falling
have put the county in a position of negligence. "Something needs to
be done," Chuck Ruben said at the county's January meeting of the
road and bridge committee.
A first letter was sent Dec. 9, 2005, to the Elkhart Historical
Society in regard to ownership and responsibility for the bridge. No
response was received.
Another letter was scheduled to be sent to
the historical society and the village of Elkhart if no response had
been received by Jan. 13. This letter would include the demolition
date, set as March 1.
Work continues on the county's new comprehensive plan. Components
of the plan are currently under development through a number of
focus groups. The plan directs future development in the county,
with a strong focus on zoning and land use.
It will include zoning procedures and requirements that
developers can follow. Business, industrial and types of housing
locations are addressed. A greenways plan for future recreation
areas will also be added.
The comprehensive plan is being financed through county and
municipality funds.
The project is sponsored by Logan County Regional Planning
Commission and led by Bill Glaze, chairman.
The county will be purchasing a computer for the geographic
information system. The computer on a pedestal uses a satellite
connection to locate centerlines of county roads. An Illinois
Department of Transportation grant will be used, with the county
matching $5,000 of the $11,000 total.
The state of Illinois has mandated the new maps that are created,
using aerial digital photography. They will be used primarily for
land assessment; however, they will also be useful for economic
development and other purposes.
County engineer Bret Aukamp is leading the Logan County GIS
development. The maps have been created and will soon be sent to
engineer specialists for more detailed processing.
The Lincoln
& Logan County Development Partnership has taken on
the task of raising the funds to develop the comprehensive economic
development strategy. CEDS is the third component that is critical
to Logan County being able to move forward and compete with other
counties in the future. In addition, the county cannot get essential
federal grant funds without it.
A professional service agreement contract was renewed with Joseph
E. Meyer, delinquent tax agent. The auction sale bid will go from
$450 to $600.
Specs are being drawn up for courthouse dome and roof repairs and
renovation. It is hoped to get the work started in early spring. The
amount of $90,000 is budgeted for the work.
The buildings and grounds committee is looking at the possibility
of a grant from the state of Illinois that would help cover the cost
of repairs or a new elevator in the courthouse. Sally Litterly has
made request to the state of Illinois to use funds from the election
fund provided to the county clerk's office.
The committee is evaluating long-distance phone carrier plans.
The city of Lincoln and Logan County are working together to
gather funds for the Fifth Street Road project. They will be working
with Rob Orr, development partnership director, to develop a letter
requesting state of Illinois Opportunity Returns grant funds. An
intergovernmental agreement between the city and county would need
to be drawn up as well.
The insurance and legislative committee received a request from
an unnamed citizen to set some policy on eminent domain. The issue
has come up this year in other parts of the country, where
government has taken possession of private property to hand over to
private entities for development. It has been done in the interest
of economic development for a community.
The committee will discuss this at their next meeting,
tentatively scheduled on Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
