 Health
department services in jeopardyWith only weeks
before a new state budget is in place, which is also the start of
the new fiscal year for the Logan County Department of Public
Health, no grants have been scheduled. During Thursday evening's
meeting public health administrator Mark Hilliard told county board
members that there has been no word on 16 grants amounting to
$980,000 for the coming fiscal year that begins July 1.
Most of the services that the local health department provides
are made available through state-allocated grant money. The
department relies on these funds, so it is a big concern. Hilliard
said that the health board has called a special meeting.
The public health board will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the
health department to discuss what to do. More information should be
in hand by the time of the meeting, and Hilliard expects that
decisions will need to be made.
Currently, the state still owes the department $350,000 from this
past year.
Middletown still smoldering
Five Middletown residents briefly addressed the board about
continuing burning and smoke issues in Middletown. The residents
kept comments on their observations and needs brief, asked for more
intervention, and suggested options that might help the continuing
burning and smoke issues in Middletown.
Each said that smoke has been seeping into homes and businesses,
and they are frequently unable to work or play outside. The biggest
problem up to now has been garbage burning.
The issue as a whole is aggressively being addressed by the Logan
County Emergency Management Agency and the Logan County Sheriff's
Department. A meeting was conducted last month with representatives
from those agencies, the state's attorney's office, the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency, Logan County Waste Management
Agency and Terry Carlton, county board chairman. The laws were
reviewed and it was determined to send notices to all Middletown
residents, explaining the Illinois burn laws, which in short allow
only landscape wastes to be burned.
Burn barrels used to burn garbage have been in common use in
Middletown for many years. Emergency management director Dan
Fulscher commented that they are a way of life there and that it
would be difficult to get people to comply with not using them. But
he said, "We want to get the burn barrels out." Even if you are
burning approved materials, the barrels are lined with carcinogenic
substances that are released into the air with use, he said. For
this reason they are illegal in Illinois.
It is illegal in Illinois to burn anything that is not landscape
waste, such as grass clippings or branches. By law, any one caught
burning illegal substances without a permit, or burning building
materials -- particularly asbestos, plastics or drywall -- is
subject to a $1,500 fine.
Residents proposed that it might help if there was a place for
residents to take grass clippings and trimmings from trees and
shrubs. This would not only aid residents who are burning legally
now, but as one resident pointed out, "would also eliminate the
excuse to burn by those that are burning illegally."
Fulscher said: "We have worked diligently to address this problem
and absolutely do not condone illegal burning. We are asking due
diligence if you live in Middletown." He reminded the residents that
notices have been sent out. In addition, EMA and the sheriff's
department have been touring the Middletown to try to stop any
illegal burning.
About landscape waste burning, Fulscher said: "If smoke is going
straight up, it can continue. If it is not, it is put out. Violators
are being given two warnings, and then they will face a fine."
Legislative chairman Jan Schumacher said that a new county burn
ordinance has been prepared and is ready to be brought forward next
month.
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Logan County waterways
Creeks in Logan County are particularly hazardous, and officials
are asking people thinking of water recreation to exercise extreme
caution. "Anything without a motor on it should stay off the
waterways," Fulscher said.
High water levels over recent years have put a lot of trees,
brush and debris in the creeks and created extremely hazardous
conditions.
Authorities are considering more drastic measures in order to
protect public. "If we feel this is going to get out of hand, we'll
shut down the waterways altogether," Fulscher said.
Logan County responders and rescue teams have had 27 calls in 36
months, 12 recoveries and four deaths on our waterways. According to
Fulscher, that's more than they see at Clinton Lake.
Just last week a young lady was rescued from her car that had
gone into floodwater in northern Logan County
Nearly every flood period has resulted in multiple calls for
help, often involving a request for the boat and dive teams; support
assistance is needed from fire, rescue, paramedics, emergency
management and the sheriff's department; and oftentimes mutual aid
is called for from other counties.
Crews have been called out several times this spring to search
for people who have gone missing on creeks. Recently, search crews
spent days on hazardous Salt Creek searching for a missing kayaker.
The man was found under a logjam.
Carlton applauded everyone involved in the rescue efforts.
He also commended everyone involved in recommending and approving
the purchase of the new boat. "Even though it was a tough time to do
it, we can look back now and say we made a wise decision," he said.
The boat cost $12,000 to purchase, and $7,000 was needed for
equipment and a trailer to transport it. "Without it, we could not
have been on the water," he said. "Thanks to everyone for good
insight and a good job."
[By
JAN YOUNGQUIST]
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