 Various comments were expressed, but the majority of the board was
not in favor of pursuing an attorney's services just yet.
Board member Andy Anderson said there was still a chance the
county board could work something out with the city.
Other board members questioned the amount being considered as a
retainer -- up to $400,000 -- and whether it was necessary to put an
amount on something that remains to be formalized. The figure was
chosen based on how much funding the county stands to lose in
various taxes if the annexation would occur.
Pat O'Neill believed there should be a recount of the census to
find out if the city has more residents than was reported.
However, Chuck Ruben, Terry Carlton and other board members
agreed a recount was not the county's responsibility and would serve
no purpose to solve the immediate situation.
The city of Lincoln's proposal to annex two prisons, Logan
Correctional Center and Lincoln Correctional Center, would not only
add nearly 3,000 to the city population, but would also carry
liability and responsibilities for infrastructure.
The shift in tax funds would most particularly affect the
county's finances.
A roll call vote for an amended resolution to reduce the
retaining fee from $400,000 to $20,000 failed with a 6-6 vote. A
similar vote for the original resolution met with the same vote
count and also failed. No further action took place, and the subject
was put aside for this month.
Ruben's committee also recommended a 2 percent salary increase
for nonunion county employees. Discussion of additional amounts over
the 2 percent to fully cover employee health insurance costs
(employees now pay $23 per month and the county pays $415) led
to two additional motions. A flat 3 percent salary increase that
erases the question of insurance costs and other variables won in a
final vote of 11-1, with O'Neill opposed.
The board unanimously approved the delivery of a letter to Gov.
Pat Quinn that would oppose the closing of Logan Correctional
Center.
John Black from AFSCME Local 2073 presented the board with
information on union efforts to demonstrate support for the
employees, with over 140 families living in several Logan County
communities, mostly Lincoln, who would be affected if the local
prison would close. The group plans to be in the LCHS homecoming
parade, order T-shirts and post informational fliers. Proceeds from
the T-shirt sales would be used to organize a community event as a
way of thanking the town and surrounding area for support.
Insurance and legislative committee chairman Jan Schumacher
introduced an ordinance for Community Action to provide public
transportation in Logan County. In a related move, Schumacher also
presented a resolution authorizing an application by the local
agency to apply for public transportation financial assistance. Both
items passed unanimously. The ordinance, LO 10-11 109, will be
available for public review for 30 days.
Rick Aylesworth, law enforcement committee chairman, moved to
approve renewal of a three-year FOP contract for deputies. Only 15
months remain of the three-year contract period, retroactive to Dec
1, 2010.
Terry Carlton said that because the contract did not include an
allowance for health insurance copay, he would not vote for it. The
motion passed 9-2 with Carlton and O'Neill opposed and Anderson
abstaining.
[to top of second column] |
While the deputies' contract has been settled, the sheriff's
department has two other support staff divisions with ongoing
contract negotiations that are equally past due.
Later in the meeting the board went into executive session under
the subjects of personnel, possible litigation and property sale
issues.
Will D'Andrea, Logan County zoning officer, demonstrated the
scope of the county's recently implemented geographic information
system. D'Andrea explained some of the system's multiple
capabilities, which can show boundaries such as parcels, taxing
districts, voting districts or precincts, TIF, and recently updated
enterprise zone territories. Flood plain maps were recently updated.
The GIS already offers a lot of information that is available to
the general public, of interest to business developers and to many
others. It is also an increasingly great tool with special uses to
many local agencies and municipalities.
D'Andrea has been working with local agencies, departments and
communities to show them Logan County's GIS can be used to help
track detailed property-related information. Recently he worked with
Don Cavi, director of environmental health at the health department.
Through GIS the director can now select any country home property
and see detailed information on that septic system.
“The power of GIS is the tables,” D'Andrea said. It can store and
relate all kinds of information at a click.
D'Andrea also reviewed some of the zoning issues that were
discovered during the mapping process, such as properties that were
improperly zoned or not recorded when rezoned. Recently, parcels
were identified that are within municipality boundaries but not
included in that taxing body. Some other zoning issues have been
discovered during property purchases, construction or other changes.
As zoning officer, GIS and enterprise zone coordinator,
D'Andrea's work in all areas has gone into the GIS, resulting in
more reliable and usable information for Logan County's future.
During ceremonial matters, the board honored the Logan County
Fair Association and by resolution recognized the Logan County
Fair's 75th anniversary.
In other business, a thank-you note for the county board's
support was received from Chris Graue, representing the organizing
committee for the recent Up in Smoke on the Square event during the
balloon festival.
[LDN]
 |
