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 Though several of the committees had no updates at this time,
reports from the Executive and Finance Committees prompted both
discussion and questions from various board members.
Also present were the Logan County’s Clerk and Recorder, Sally
Turner; State’s Attorney Johnathan Wright, and Treasurer Vickie
Dugan would wished to address the board on the first draft 2016
county budget.
To begin the meeting, representing the Executive Committee, Jan
Schumacher shared a letter from Community Action explaining that
directly related to the state not yet approving the annual grant for
the Public Transportation Program, Community Action will suspend
participation as of September 8. The intergovernmental agreement
with the agency already requires a 30-day cease business action.
Schumacher wants to talk to Community Action about the matter, which
might include a request for a 30-day notice when reinstating
service. The matter was viewed as a temporary issue related to the
state’s not having a budget. Stopping the transportation program
could have serious impact for some residents such as those needing
assistance getting to medical appointments.
 In Finance Chairman Chuck Ruben’s stead, Committeeman Rick
Aylesworth provided the update on the current work on the budget. He
noted that the Finance Committee did a line-by-line review of the
budget. He mentioned that the committee has discussed plans for the
potential $800,000 wind farm revenues that could come with Sugar
Creek or Relight/Meridien if either of those would go up this year.
These revenues would go to areas such as the county’s General Fund,
IMRF, Highway Fund, and to pay off the Sysco loan.
Logan County Clerk and Recorder Sally Turner asked about the
approach to some of the cuts in her office's budget and stated "It
would have been better if the committee had come to us and said
“”You need to cut $10,000 out of your budget” and “You pull it out
where you want to, but you need to cut $10,000.”" Turner noted that
the needs are not always the same from year to year, and speaking on
behalf of other department heads as well, asked that the committee
"Trust our judgment to allow us to cut in the areas where we think
is the best to be cut, not necessarily because of what we used in
the past two years."
For her office, Turner is asking for the board to consider a couple
of changes as they draft the budget in areas such as the election
deputies and amount for election judges.
Bateman stated that he appreciated Turner staying within the
confines of the budget. He asked if some of the other county
employees would also be willing, if each of them "chose where the
money is cut from." Bateman received a strong affirmative from the
department heads present that also included Logan County Engineer,
Bret Aukamp, who oversees county roads and bridges.
Board member Andy Anderson asked if the others could see how the
committee comes up with cuts. Turner clarified how for her
department, one reason for wanting more discretion comes from
changes in election months in odd years. All of the departments had
examples of how one year will differ from another in expenses, and
even in revenues, such as grant funding.
Bateman felt that the board and their employees need to work
together and Turner concurred.
 State’s Attorney Jonathan Wright wanted to know if the committee has
looked at his expenditures so far this year - noting possible cuts
in his postage and supplies budget, though there may be more
expenditures. He feels they should track the current year as well
because there could be "swings and expenditures" not contemplated in
the cuts.
Anderson said he would like to look at the last four or five year's
budgets to get a better idea of expenditures in certain areas.
Bateman noted that the board predicts revenues not knowing certain
factors. Anderson reminded the others that it is not too late for
the board to have more discussion about the cuts since they are
still working on the budget.
County Engineer, Bret Aukamp, noted that he is surviving with the
budget he has, but also noted that issues such as having less motor
fuel tax makes it a struggle, though they can survive. He noted that
years of cuts and holding back are showing in roadways.
Another area Bateman suggested the board consider adding to the
budget is a minimum 2% increase for non-union employees. O'Neill
said he is frustrated by pay raises and asked, "How do we justify
paying more wages with money we do not have [from diminishing
revenues and increasing operational expenses].”
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Bateman said, "They deserve it'."
And though O'Neill asserted, "Everybody deserves a raise," he continued to argue
that the money needs to be there.
Board member Scott Schaffenacker believes that these raises are "a drop in the
bucket."
Board member Emily Davenport inquired and learned that last year’s raises were
three percent. She made a motion to amend non-union employee raises to three
percent that was seconded by Bateman.
The discussion will continue at next week's board meeting.
Other updates
For the Emergency Management Agency, Director Dan Fulscher shared that the
Emergency Operations Center will hold a Functional Tabletop Exercise on October
15, which will be a drill for those responding to a disaster.
Providing an update from the Road and Bridge Committee, David Blankenship
mentioned some upcoming road repairs in Mount Pulaski and Aukamp said there
would be bridge work at 100th Street, south of Lake Fork. Of the $214,000
project, the state would cover 90 percent of the cost, the county 10 percent.
On another matter, Schumacher also mentioned the possibility of the members the
board using tablets at meetings. The costs would range from $75 to $200 a
tablet. The use of the devices would save costs in copier use, paper and ink at
meetings; as well as create more efficiency for administrative processes, and
for board members in their review of materials and signing-off bills.
Schumacher said those who would like a tablet, as well as those who prefer to
stick with paper, need to let the board’s administrative assistant, Pam Meagher,
know (by next Friday).
Board member Kevin Bateman, who strongly favored the tablet use said, “Since not
everyone holds office forever,” he suggested ordering 12 (one for each board
seat) even if there are some board members that would prefer to stick with
paper. The board would have spares and they could possibly get a discount by
ordering in bulk.
Meagher said she would do as she is told to do.
Farmer asked for clarification of when the members could use the tablets since
he would want to read some of it at home. Bateman also thought that it would be
advantageous to be able to take the tablets home.
Pat O'Neill noted that he prefers to have meeting minutes on paper since
keyboard use is difficult for him to download what others send him. Bateman said
O'Neill would still be able to get meeting minutes on paper.
Schumacher asked about having Excel on the tablets, and Meagher assured her that
a free Excel program could be downloaded to the tablets.
Bateman also suggested the tablets have a USB port so board members could use
thumb drives to download documents they want to share.
In the Chairman's Report, David Hepler said that it had been brought to his
attention that there could be a program for the county to assist in costs of
burying qualifying veterans of war. He asked that on Tuesday the board consider
Michelle Barr and Jason Coble to serve on the Burial Assistance Commission. More
details will be forth coming on who might qualify for up to $900.
[Angela Reiners]
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