 Airport and farm -- Bob Farmer said the committee would be
accepting bids to lease the county's farm ground.The committee
approved a request by Civil Air Patrol Capt. David West to have CAP
information classes in the administration building at the airport.
Buildings and grounds -- Board chairman Terry Carlton said
that two companies had submitted estimates for alternative energy
contracts for county facilities. There was a difference of
approximately $17,000 per year between the two-year contracts
offered by Ameren and Midwest. At the time of discussion, the
current rate with Ameren was at 5.6 cents per kilowatt hour. If the
current rate could be secured, it would equate to over $40,000
savings. Last year the county paid over 10 cents per hour for
electricity.
It was tentatively approved to purchase new stainless steel
kennels for animal control. Buildings and grounds will assist with
$30,000 of the cost. The remaining $10,000 would be supplied by the
animal control fund.
Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce -- Jan Schumacher
announced that the chamber had a ribbon-cut at the new Best Western,
the former Lincoln Inn located to the north behind the bowling
alley. "What a fabulous facility," she said. "I was just blown away.
It is so well done, four Jacuzzi suites that are just awesome, and a
small meeting room," she said.
It was also announced that the Abraham Lincoln and covered wagon
tourist display would be relocating there, she said. The new
location for the wagon will be more visible on Route 66 and much
better for people to stop and have their picture taken with it.
Community Action -- Pat O'Neill said that the Community
Action community is mourning the loss of a longtime active board
member, the Rev. Napoleon Bonaparte. (Obituary)
O'Neill said that public transportation meetings continue and are
getting near an important decision time. The next meeting was
scheduled for Aug. 17.
Economic development -- Lincoln & Logan County Development
Partnership director Joel Smiley provided the following updates for
the board:
-
Helitech -- A
company that has been looking to build has moved closer to
choosing a site in Logan County.
-
R.P. Lumber -- The
company locating at the old Kroger's store is expected to open
in mid-September
-
Peebles -- Peebles
has converted back to the former name of Goody's and is expected
to open on Aug. 20.
-
Wind businesses --
One of the major wind developers is actively looking at a
possible small site development in southern Logan County. Two
other wind companies have expressed definite interest in the
county, with Smiley and board member Bill Martin providing a
three-hour tour to one, and another scheduled to come and visit.
-
Activity is still
building for the business incubator.
-
There will be a public meeting
Wednesday to discuss the economic impact of the proposed prison
worker layoffs. Many speakers will be there. The town hall
meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus.
[to top of second column] |
Finance -- All the budget sheets are in and a special meeting of
the finance committee has been called for Aug. 31 to review the
first draft of the budget for the next fiscal year.
This month the committee reviewed the standard auditor's
management letter. Each of the recommended points, which were common
accounting changes and procedures, was discussed for follow-up with
various officials or for the board to work on.
It was tentatively approved to increase county assessor Rosanne
Brosamer's salary by $1,200, bringing it to $40,700. Brosamer's
position is a two-year appointment with annual review. The salary
increase is the same as other county officials, which is kept at
CPI.
General Assembly -- Carlton said that six board members
toured the two local correctional center grounds and facilities
recently. They spoke with wardens and corrections representatives
while there. He has a meeting set up with Sen. Larry Bomke and Rep.
Rich Brauer when he and board member Jan Schumacher will discuss
this issue and other issues of significance for Logan County.
The board tentatively agreed to send a letter to Gov. Pat Quinn
and state legislators, stating opposition to the proposed layoffs at
the two correctional centers in Lincoln.
Law enforcement and EMA -- Congressman Aaron Schock will be
spending the afternoon and evening in Lincoln on Aug. 21. He will
arrive in the early afternoon for a press conference at the public
safety complex.
Schock has taken the position previously occupied by Ray LaHood,
who is now the U.S. transportation director. While LaHood
represented Logan County he brought several rounds of funds that
provided major improvements at the safety complex for emergency
services.
Emergency Management Agency director Dan Fulscher recalled that
the first two federal grants that LaHood secured for Logan County
were for the start of the upgrades to the emergency operations
center. The next was for the integration of the computer-aided
dispatch system. The CAD tied all the departments together -- the
Lincoln Police Department, the sheriff's department, the jail and
the 911 dispatch center. Everyone benefited, he said.
Funds are still needed that would tie the sheriff's department in
with the emergency operations center, he added.
Waste management -- Waste management is looking at what to do
about finding a new contractor for recycling materials, after being
notified last month that the former vendor will no longer provide
service.
Carlton welcomed new District 6 representative Kevin Bateman to
the board.
Two board members, David Hepler and John Stewart, were not in
attendance at this meeting but were expected for the adjourned
voting session.
[By
JAN YOUNGQUIST]
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