County Briefs: Sheriff to order 10 new squads
DP director shares plans for next manufacturer job training, historic courthouse repairs, cannabis cultivation center

[February 26, 2015]  LINCOLN - The Logan County Board met for a brief meeting Tuesday night. Citizens of the county crowded into every seat in the courtroom to listen to the county board vote on multiple items on the agenda.

Board members present at the meeting were Chuck Ruben, Gene Rohlfs, Robert Farmer, David Blankenship, Pat O’Neill, Andy Anderson, Emily Davenport, Kevin Bateman, Rick Aylesworth and Scott Schaffenacher. Jan Schumacher and David Hepler were absent.

Under the Law Enforcement Committee, the board members unanimously approved purchase of ten Ford Explorers to be used as squad vehicles for the Sheriff's Department. Payments will be $98,506.85 each year for three years under a lease. After that time, the vehicles will be purchased for $1 dollar.

Also decided was a request to rezone a Country Homes acreage to Agriculture. The lots are owned by Ronald and Sandra Ellis, residents in the Oak Hills Estates subdivision south of Mount Pulaski. The board voted 6 - 4 to deny.

For last week's discussion of the matter see Country Homes Subdivision property owners request land return to Agriculture zoning.  For further details of the decision read Request to rezone Mount Pulaski Subdivision Country Homes parcels to Agriculture denied

Economic development

Bill Thomas, Executive Director of the Logan County Economic Development Partnership came before the board with a series of small announcements. Thomas highlighted three things from a report given to the board members.

• Thomas referred to a manufacturing training program that was created through a joint effort between the EDP and DCEO last year. Thomas said DCEO is interested in running another program this year, and he has been in talks with Eaton to host another program.
   
• Thomas said he is continuing to work with the city of Mount Pulaski on the repair project for the historic courthouse in Mount Pulaski. “When this project is completed, we’re going to have another premier, nationally recognized tourist attraction in this county,” said Thomas. Thomas also said he hoped the board was preparing to sign a letter of support, which the county board approved of later in the meeting.

• Thomas said he has been talking with the representatives of Cresco Labs, which will be building a medical use cannabis cultivation building north of Lincoln. Thomas said the EDP has been working on finding out what kind of construction jobs will be needed for the complex and what kind of jobs will be created by the company. Thomas also said Cresco has agreed to host a public information session on their operation in the near future.

After Thomas’ statements, the board voted unanimously to approve of appointing Ryan Murphy to the Logan County Regional Planning Commission.

[Derek Hurley]