 Public transportation system moves forwardThe Logan County
Board has entered agreements with the Community Action Partnership
of Central Illinois that will result in Logan County's first general
public transportation system.
Last month, Angela Stolzenburg, Community Action director, and
Angie Jenkins, senior project director over nutrition and
transportation, said the agency was prepared to serve as the
operators of the public transit system. The agency has already been
providing transportation for seniors.
Big on the list, but primarily completion of actions discussed
last month, the board agreed to serve as grantee for the new
community public transportation system. The board's role would be to
take responsibility that the $130,251 provided each year would be
used within guidelines. Quarterly reports would be reviewed.
Community Action would serve as the administrator, managing and
operating all aspects of the transit program.
The service would be fee-based, on-call, scheduled transportation
for Logan and Mason County residents.
Federal dollars fund the grant, which is administered through the
Illinois Department of Transportation.
Community Action would provide the matching funds portion, most
of which is already being met by the agency's senior transportation
program. Stolzenburg said the agency already has almost $200,000
banked that would be used toward the program.
The service would help people get to jobs, shopping or medical
services. Another residual benefit, she pointed out, is that once
you have access to this grant, you have access to other money -- as
an example, $300,000 in drug money.
Logan and Mason counties join 92 other Illinois counties
participating in the 5311 grant, leaving only eight counties that do
not have a public transportation system.
Document fees go up
Last month the board approved increasing the fee for marriage and
civil unions from $25 to $50. The increase becomes effective Aug. 1.
Finance chair Chuck Ruben said the change would net about $4,200
a year for the county.
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This month several other fees for documents that are issued by
the county clerk and recorder's office were approved for increases
as well. These increases would become effective with the start of
the county's fiscal year, Dec. 1.
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Vital records
certifications would go from $9 to $15.
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Liberty fee would
go from $10 to $12.
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Redemption fee
would go from $70 to $80.
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Liquor license fee
would go from $10 to $12.
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Recording base fee
would go from $14 to $16.
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Assumed name or dba
would go from $9 to $10.
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Notary stamps for notaries would go
from $5 to $10 if picked up in person, from $10 to $15 if
mailed.
Ruben detailed a few of the impacts for revenue to the county.
There are about 2,000 vital records and amendments to birth, death
or marriage certificates, so the $6 change would yield about $12,000
a year. With about 5,000 recording base fees a year, the $2 change
would provide an additional $10,000 a year.
Contracts
Annual animal control contracts with Logan County communities
were accepted from Lincoln, at $38,367.80; Mount Pulaski, $3,266.32;
Middletown, $1,519.72, Elkhart, $1,265.45; New Holland, $1,265.45; Broadwell,
$759.90; and Latham, $759.90.
For the communities that have not agreed to contracts again,
board chairman Bob Farmer asked the animal control chairman, Kevin
Bateman, to contact them in person before next month.
The board approved extending its contract with the McLean County
Juvenile Detention Center for 300 additional beds at $80 per day.
[By
JAN YOUNGQUIST]
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