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Airport trees to be trimmed Airport
chairman Bob Farmer said the trees on the flight path to the runway
would be topped at a cost of $3,900. Also, runway access, taxiway
and T-hangar access repaving will take place this summer. A low bid
from Broughton and Sons was accepted for $267,549.
New kennels for animal control
Animal control chairman Kevin Bateman said that the animal
control facility will be receiving its new kennels on April 20.
Preparation for the kennels begins on April 12. The facility will be
closed for viewing animals or adoptions during that time. An open
house will be scheduled when the work is complete.
Mower contractor approved
Flippers Lawn Management of Lincoln came in as next lowest bidder
for mowing this season at $960 per month. A bid lower by $60 was
received from a business in Chandlerville, but the committee
recommended to keep business local, also saying that Flippers had
supplied service the past few years and their work was satisfactory.
Partnership lists priorities
Public Transportation is tentatively scheduled for a meeting of
the whole on May 7, Pat O'Neill said.
Economic development partnership liaison
Bill Martin updated the board on the six top priorities being
performed now by director Joel Smiley:
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Helitech
negotiations will be wrapped up soon.
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First audit
complete by Aug. 1.
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CEDS process may
be completed by April.
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Top 40 site visits
are expected to be completed by March.
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Manufacturing
council will be launched April 21. This is something new that
came out of the site visits at the request of the manufacturers.
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A planning and design firm, Vanderwall
of Madison, Wis., was chosen from four finalitsts to be the
consultant for development of an Economic Development Master
Plan. The process will include community meetings and interviews
and is expected to take five to six months.
More potential for county wind farms
Smiley and Martin continue to meet with various wind farm
businesses that are interested in coming to Logan County. Five major
wind developers have come to visit, Martin said.
Wind project 2 has towers up just over the county line in DeWitt
County. They have now put up a meteorological tower to begin wind
studies here.
Wind project 3 is planning a 45-tower field that would be located
near Mount Pulaski. If this project comes to be, it would be the
largest in Logan County. Martin said that he and Smiley were at the
meeting the company had with property owners and that it went pretty
well, with the site director a local person. They expect to put up
met towers within three to six months.
The county's portion of Rail Splitter Wind Farm, which extends
into Tazewell County, is 29 towers.
There are two to three more companies interested in locating here
that are not as far along, Martin said. One of the big firms that
has been here said it was the first time they'd been invited by an
economic development group. They often are not welcome and usually
first slip in unannounced because "sometimes they get met at the
county line with a ball bat," Martin said.
Smiley plans to attend Windpower 2010 in Houston in May. He
attended the 2009 gathering in Chicago "and that really worked out
well for us," Martin said.
Pat O'Neill, board vice chairman, observed the interest in Logan
County and asked if it was because we are centrally located or
something else.
In response, Martin said that other counties are getting wind
farms, but he recalled that with the first development project, "we
didn't try to hold them up; we treated them fair."
He continued: "Additionally Joel has been going to functions and
invited them in. That's unusual. Now, they are coming here and
getting site visits and being treated nicely."
One benefit that we do have over other places around the country
is the electrical power infrastructure. "They (wind farms) have to
have transmission lines, and we have several crossing the county
that make us an optimal site," Martin said.
Finance chair Chuck Ruben followed the comments made by Martin as
he began his committee report. Ruben said that a check for $244,953
arrived this month from Rail Splitter. This was the final
installment for building permit fees. Rail Splitter has 29 towers in
Logan County, and the proposed farm near Mount Pulaski would have
more than that. "It's starting to pay off," Ruben said.
Change in part-time hours discussed
Looking for ways to help reduce costs, the county is proposing to
change the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund designation from 600
to 1,000 hours per year. This means that departments can hire
part-time employees to work up to 1,000 hours in a year before IMRF
would need to be paid.
Department heads were asked if this would have any negative
effect for them. Those responding thought it would actually be a
benefit. During a committee discussion last month, Bret Aukamp said
he hires summer help, and this change would help his department get
more work done while staying within budget. Several other
departments agreed the effect would be the same for them.
Ruben said that once the change is made to 1,000 hours, it cannot
be brought back down. It was noted that other counties have made the
same move.
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County gets bid on tax-anticipation warrants
Since property taxes do not come in until later in the fiscal
year and constitute a significant amount, the county has prepared to
borrow against that revenue. This is a process that has been used
for several years. This aids the county in paying its bills on time.
The State Bank of Lincoln was awarded the bid for $400,000 in tax
anticipation warrants at 1.827 percent interest.
County concerns for local schools
The county will be closely following the state's proposed budget
changes pertaining to schools. The education systems in Logan
County are already hurting due to the state cuts and getting behind
in payments, with some schools even laying off teachers. This is
something that affects our children's lives, and their future is the
future of Logan County, board chairman Terry Carlton said.
Health care costs to rise again
Jan Schumacher said that the Blue Cross employee health insurance
renewal is going to be substantially higher. The Roger Garrett
Agency is looking into Health Alliance for the county, and there
will be a recommendation next month.
Other business
The county will likely vote to approve an enterprise zone
amendment on Tuesday that would extend the zone to several grain
elevators spread throughout the county.
Also come Tuesday, the board would likely reappoint Roseanne
Brosamer as Logan County supervisor of assessments.
Sally Litterly, county clerk, is recommending that Logan County
join other counties in repealing the Illinois Undervote Act, which
allows that a noise is made when a ballot is not completed . She
said it has been detrimental to the voting process by increasing
lines and that there is a loss of secret ballot, which is irritating
voters.
There is a movement to change the Illinois primary election date
to later than the first Tuesday in February. It's primarily because
weather is often bad, influencing voter turnout.
Schmacher said that she and others would meet with Aaron Schock
in Springfield about the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment
Act, which reduces local control.
The planning and zoning committee began a discussion of how to
address unincorporated area cleanups. The discussion will continue
next month.
The road and bridge committee approved a contractor to begin
painting of steel bridges. Also, the committee is recommending for
board approval that the county spend $21,000 for an engineering
study of the Salt Creek drainage ditch. The ditch runs south of the
high school and is eroding significantly.
Following a short move south, the Railsplitter Covered Wagon will
be rededicated on March 19 at 4:30 p.m. Not only has the wagon with
Abraham Lincoln atop moved to Best Western Lincoln Inn, but there
has also been a scenic byways display added. The rededication will
be followed by a fish and chicken dinner at the American Legion
Hall.
Plans for the annual Community Health Fair are under way. On
March 26 fifth grades will attend. Then on March 27 the fair opens
to the whole community. One feature being encouraged this year is
that everyone can bring their unwanted prescriptions in for
collection.
The personnel and the insurance advisory committees will host an
all-departments meeting on March 23 to discuss insurance options and
help department heads better understand the IMRF change.
A Boy Scout and a couple of Leadership Academy participants were
guests for the evening. Each was present to learn more about our
local government process.
[By
JAN YOUNGQUIST]
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