Thursday, February 04, 2010
 
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County board recognizes student achievements, makes appointments, prepares for new Freedom of Information changes

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[February 04, 2010]  At Tuesday's adjourned session of the Logan County Board, the room was packed with happy faces. Present with many family members observing were Logan County students who earned the prestigious Judge's Choice awards at the Illinois Elementary School Association's speech contest.

The speech contestants came from Mount Pulaski Grade School, Carroll Catholic School, Lincoln Junior High School and Chester-East Lincoln School.

Students recognized were Derek Baunach, Jordan Taylor, Kenyon Jodlowski, Elijah Chapman, Steven Schleich, Brianna Dye, Kieran Foster, Gabrille Brumfield, Rebecca Stein, Alishia DeBord, Angel Reno, Julia Beccue, Samantha McCarty and Matthew Langdon.

The board offered congratulations and commended the students, coaches and their families for their efforts and accomplishments.

Legislative chairman Jan Schumacher read a resolution identifying values gained through the commitment and experiences of speech competition:

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  • Academic extracurricular activities enhance student's educational experience.

  • Speech competition helps students develop organizational skills and improves their ability to communicate orally.

    • Often increases students' self-confidence and allows them an opportunity for creative expression.

    • Students spend hours refining their performances with the assistance of coaches, parents and fellow teammates.

Schumacher is coordinating the recognitions, which are open to all students or teams that go to the state level in whatever activity.

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The board continued with other business:

The following were recommended for appointment and all received unanimous approval with 11 board members present. Rick Aylesworth was absent.

  • Logan County Zoning Board of Appeals

    • Doug Thompson -- reappointment for a new five-year term

  • Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County

    • Peggy Lee -- reappointment for three-year term

    • Gillette Ransom -- reappointment for three-year term

    • Lucille Pech -- reappointment for three-year term

    • Thressia Usherwood -- reappointment for three-year term

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Tourism director Geoff Ladd presented Charles Ott for recognition and praise. Ott has served the Logan County Tourism Bureau for 24 years. Ladd said that Ott has also been serving 30 years as a popular Abraham Lincoln look-alike and is well known nationally and internationally.

Ladd also announced "CENTS," a new promotion by the tourism bureau. Community Events Needing Tourism's Support offers assistance with:

  • Press releases.

  • Community calendar entries on many sites.

  • Planning assistance.

  • Guest speakers.

  • Welcome bags.

  • Tourism statistics.

Ladd encouraged anyone having an event to contact him. "We are here to help you in many ways," he said. He suggests that people submit their information well in advance in order to take full advantage of all that the tourism bureau has to offer.

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Some discussion took place when a Lincoln & Logan County Development Partnership board appointment was to be brought forward. Terry Carlton, county board chairman, had announced during last week's board-of-whole meeting the intention to make an appointment. In error, the recommendation was not on the agenda for the adjourned session.

Will D'Andrea resigned from the partnership. Bill Graff was to be recommended to replace him. There was some question whether the board could vote on his approval as it did not make it onto the agenda.

The board determined to go ahead and vote on it so that Graff might possibly get started. The matter would be looked into, and if need be, voted on again next month. Graff received unanimous verbal consent.

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Buildings and grounds chair John Stewart said that the Department of Corrections would not be building the replacement benches for the courthouse as previously planned. He said he had been contacted and told the prison did not have the equipment needed to do the work. Stewart hopes to find someone else to build the benches.

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The county is preparing to learn more about the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. New modifications and additions to the state statute once again place on municipal and county officials the burden of unfunded mandates that are poorly coordinated for implementation. The same requirements -- such as, any e-mail with board work information shared between two board members is subject to public information requests -- are not being asked of state legislators.

To learn about the new requirements, board members are being asked to attend training offered through the United Counties Council of Illinois.

Officials and county department heads will act as Freedom of Information officers in their area of expertise. These officers will be responsible to go through an online training course to be in compliance and to know how to respond to requests for information from the public.

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Board member Pat O'Neill said that he had been informed by Angela Stoltzenburg, director of Community Action, that more people have been coming in for utility and transportation assistance this year.

[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]

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