Logan County Board moves on District 6 seat, other business and appointments

[July 22, 2009]  Present and voting on all matters during the Logan County Board's adjourned session for Tuesday evening were Rick Ayleswerth, Bob Farmer, David Hepler, Gloria Luster, Bill Martin, Chuck Ruben, Jan Schumacher, John Stewart and Pat O'Neill. Absent for the evening were Terry Carlton, board chairman, who is vacationing, and Terry Werth, who was ill

At Thursday's board of whole, Carlton recommended Kevin Bateman for approval to the vacant District 6 county board seat.

Last night the board unanimously approved Bateman in a 9-0 vote.

Bateman will be assigned to committees by the chairman and begin his duties after being sworn in by Judge Thomas Harris.

The board voted unanimously to revoke the alternative Individual Municipal Retirement Fund for Elected County Officials. The cost of the enhanced retirement fund, which was accepted following a cost study in 2001, has become too cumbersome.

The retirement fund is financed by property taxes and controlled by a cap under state regulation by the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law. It has been the main concern in recent budgets and made note of by the auditor.

According to Ruben, current participants would be grandfathered in. Six elected officials are participating now.

The board also approved a temporary measure eliminating health insurance for future elected or appointed board members, with present board members grandfathered in until 2012.

The new Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance does not allow for part-time employees, and board members are seen as part time.

Finance chairman Chuck Ruben explained that this would allow the county to comply with the insurance company requirement, while maintaining board policy for current board members.

Board members are currently compensated by per diem payments and offered the health insurance and dental insurances as optional benefits. The dental insurance, which is offered by a different company, is a single premium payment on board members.

To make all board members equal in choice of compensation, any policy changes would need to be made when it would affect all board members at the same time. Ruben said that the year 2012 would be the next full board change. Everything would be evaluated at that time for changes, which would include policy and board size. To make changes before then would create unequal compensation for board members. He also said that without health insurance in the offering, the per diem would likely be raised.

Policy changes would be decided in 2011, before applications for board positions are taken out for the 2012 election, Ruben said.

The motion was approved 7-2 with John Stewart and David Hepler voting no.

The following appointments were approved unanimously last night:

• Cliff Sullivan -- Logan County Cemetery District; Aug 1, 2009-July 31, 2012

• Maxine Lolling -- Logan County Board of Health; Aug. 1, 2009-Nov. 30, 2010

• Jim Shelton -- New Holland Fire Department trustee; effective with May 18 resignation of Nick Tibbs

• Rebecca Drake -- Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County; July 1, 2009- June 30, 2010

• Paul Donath -- Logan County Board of Review; June 1, 2009-May 31, 2011

• Raymond Vonderahe -- Logan County Board of Review; June 1, 2009-May 31, 2011

• Jean Ann Hutchinson -- Logan County Regional Planning Commission; Jan. 1, 2009-Dec. 31, 2012

• Bill Graff -- Logan County Regional Planning Commission; Jan. 1, 2009-Dec. 31, 2012

• Dean Sasse -- Logan County Regional Planning Commission; Jan. 1, 2009-Dec. 31, 2012

Evening committee meetings change to different locations

Night committee meetings will no longer meet at the Logan County Courthouse. Most committees are transferring to the public safety complex, 911 Pekin St.

The planning and zoning committee and the regional planning commission, which have a couple of overlapping members and meet on the same night, will meet at the paramedics' building on Postville Drive.

[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]