 Members present were Andy Anderson, Rick Aylesworth, Kevin Bateman,
Terry Carlton, Bob Farmer, David Hepler, Bill Martin, Pat O'Neill,
Gene Rohlfs, Chuck Ruben and Jan Schumacher. Andrew Meister was
absent for the evening.Money for state's attorney budget and
major cases
In matters of standard business, $12,000 was approved for the
state's attorney's appellate prosecutor budget.
A new budget category was created for major criminal cases. The
board unanimously approved transferring $150,000 from the public
defender's budget to the line item. It would be accessible to both
the public defender and state's attorney's offices.
Budget discussions included planning for the trials related to
murders of five members of the Gee family. Separate trials of
Christopher and Jason Harris will be quite costly to the county.
Christopher's trial has been set to begin April 29, 2013, a year
from now, with the expectation that Jason's will begin by midyear
2013.
With the state's abolishment of capital punishment and the
disbanding of the capital litigation fund that was used to support
trials of large cases, the county has been preparing for what
promises to be an exorbitant cost.
Nationwide will not be included in employee plan
Discussion began at the board of whole on whether to allow a second
company to offer a deferred compensation investment plan for county
employees. A request was made by Nationwide, a company that had
provided service previously.
While offering more options was seen as more favorable for
employees, the board ultimately agreed that the county is not set up
to process more options, that it would be too complicated to track
and that it could be a detriment to the employees as well.
Requiring a majority vote, the motion that Nationwide be added to
county employee options failed 7-4, with Farmer, Anderson, Hepler,
Martin voting in favor and Schumacher, Aylesworth, Bateman, Carlton,
O'Neill, Rohlfs and Ruben voting against.
Holiday schedules stir debate
Also stirring up considerable discussion was the proposal on the
annual holiday schedule. Each April a list of county holidays is
voted on, and normally this passes with not much attention.
On days designated as holidays, the courthouse and other county
facilities are closed, and employees other than those employed in
public safety or necessary services are given the day off.
O'Neill suggested that the county offer either Presidents Day or
Abraham Lincoln's Birthday as a holiday, but not both.
Board members agreed on one thing during the discussion -- which
spanned both the board of whole and reconvened sessions -- that the
county should stay in line with the state's holidays, which include
Abraham Lincoln's Birthday.
Kevin Bateman proposed eliminating Presidents Day and giving
employees Christmas Eve off. However, it was pointed out that the
courts can and may conduct business on that day. The courts and
courthouse have supporting staff, and other offices would need to be
open, which would mean losing a day off for some employees.
Terry Carlton said there has been some discussion at the state level
to add Good Friday, and if that would happen, the county might
consider that day.
When it came to a vote, it was agreed to keep the same holiday
schedule as previously. There were nine voting in favor, with
O'Neill and Bateman voting no. (See holiday schedules at
right.)
Bid for airport T-hangar approved
After a vote was delayed one month, the board unanimously accepted a
bid to build a five-place nested T-hangar for the Logan County
Airport. Andy Meister was absent.
The delay was created when one bidder was allowed by the consulting
engineer to submit a bid that did not meet specs. This resulted in a
less-desirable hangar proposal coming in as the low bid. With state
and federal funds involved, the county was required to accept the
lowest bid
[to top of second column] |
Tarter Construction Services, of Bloomington, was willing to provide
the desired structure, a 51-foot Erect-A-Tube building, and won at
the lowest bid of $236,948.
With a concrete pad already in place, construction is expected to
begin soon and be completed quickly.
Earlier in the month, the airport committee agreed to allow
Holzwarth Flying Service to build a concrete containment pad for a
liquid fertilizer tank. The business built a similar pad last year
when Holzwarth installed a 10,000-gallon jet fuel tank, which
reduced daily fuel truck deliveries.
Public transportation system continues to move forward
In other matters, formalities to set up a public transportation
system continue.
The dual Logan and Mason County-sponsored program is expected to
launch later this year. It will offer community and regional
transportation by 24-hour advance appointment and by schedule, using
a fleet of small vehicles, including wheelchair-accessible minivans.
It is federally funded program, with the Community Action Agency
providing actual administrative duties.
A public transportation program enhances quality of life in a
community, and as such, also serves as another incentive tool for
economic development.
[By
JAN YOUNGQUIST]
Past related
articles
2012 holiday
schedule for county offices
-
Monday, Jan. 2 -- New
Year's Day
-
Monday, Jan. 16 --
Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
-
Monday, Feb. 13 --
Lincoln's Birthday
-
Monday, Feb. 20 --
Presidents Day
-
Monday, May 28 --
Memorial Day
-
Wednesday, July 4 --
Independence Day
-
Monday, Sept. 3 --
Labor Day
-
Monday, Oct. 8 --
Columbus Day
-
Monday, Nov. 12 --
Veterans Day
-
Thursday, Nov. 22 --
Thanksgiving Day
-
Friday, Nov. 23 --
day following Thanksgiving Day
-
Tuesday, Dec. 25 -- Christmas Day
2013 holiday schedule for county
offices:
-
Tuesday, Jan. 1 --
New Year's Day
-
Monday, Jan. 21 --
Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
-
Tuesday, Feb. 12 --
Lincoln's Birthday
-
Monday, Feb. 18 --
Presidents Day
-
Monday, May 27 --
Memorial Day
-
Thursday, July 4 --
Independence Day
-
Monday, Sept. 2 --
Labor Day
-
Monday, Oct. 14 --
Columbus Day
-
Monday, Nov. 11 --
Veterans Day
-
Thursday, Nov. 28 --
Thanksgiving Day
-
Friday, Nov. 29 --
day following Thanksgiving Day
-
Wednesday, Dec. 25
-- Christmas Day
 |
