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 On hand for the meeting were Logan County Board Chairman, Dr.
David Hepler, and Vice chairman, Bob Farmer. Representing other
factions of county government were Logan County Clerk and Recorder
Sally Turner, Logan County Circuit Clerk Mary Kelley, and Logan
County States Attorney Jonathan Wright. Representing the Village of
Elkhart was trustee Peggy Lee. Those on hand from the city of
Lincoln were Mayor Scott Cooper; City Administrator, Clay Johnson;
City Treasurer, Chuck Conzo; and City Clerk, Susan Gehlbach. Also on
hand was Jerry Crabtree of the Township Officials of Illinois and
several members of the Brady staff.
Brady began making mention of the budget impasse that is ongoing in
Springfield. In support of Governor Rauner’s budget, he said that
cuts and budget reform were necessary. He said that those opposing
the budget plan wanted a budget without reform.
Brady said that Illinois has the worst economy in the country, but
also the greatest potential in the country. He said a change was
needed and named one area in particular. He noted that as a
businessman in the real estate field, he pays attention to property
tax rates across the country. He offered as an example a $600,000
home located in Atlanta, Georgia had a property tax assessment of on
$2,400; while in Illinois that same home would be taxed at $16,000.
He said this kind of imbalance was causing families and businesses
to walk away from Illinois.
He offered another example of where reform is needed - in the
state’s Worker’s Compensation programs. He said that voters, in
general, don’t pay attention to this employer expense because it
doesn’t directly affect them, but it is affecting the economy, and
Illinois' ability to attract new business.
The meeting was labeled as a round table, where guests would have an
opportunity to express their concerns and tell Brady what is needed
in Logan County. The first person to speak was Jerry Crabtree with
the Township Officials of Illinois. He addressed the proposal for
consolidation of townships in counties throughout the state. He said
there were 81 counties in Illinois with townships, and those
townships total 1,431. He said that his Association understood the
need to evaluate for potential consolidation, but he was hopeful
that it would be done “within reason.” This particular situation
does not impact Logan County, as local townships are not on the
proposed list of consolidations.
Chairman Hepler said that the county board had voted to support the
Governor’s turnaround plan through a resolution. He said it was not
necessarily a popular decision, but the board had done so because it
has confidence in those representing Logan County, such as Brady,
Representative Tim Butler, and also Governor Rauner.
Hepler also addressed the issue of low carbon emissions standards
that is being discussed on the state level, and the effect it could
have on the Clinton Power Plant, resulting in the loss of jobs.
Brady is pro-nuclear energy and said that keeping nuclear energy in
Illinois was important. He said that nuclear energy is clean and
that “we need to cherish and preserve” that energy source.
Peggy Lee of Elkhart spoke about funding cuts that affect the small
communities such as her own. She said that the Village of Elkhart is
very conservative and responsible and run the town within its
financial means. However, she noted cuts from the state such as in
the Motor Fuel Tax and other tax distributions that are going to
hurt small communities like hers and make it harder to keep things
running.
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Brady said there was a need for a long-term capital projects plan and a need for
finding a way to fund it. He said that would help ease the financial burden on
small communities. He also noted townships have no requirement to pay prevailing
wage on work projects. Prevailing wage is a requirement for city and county
government when contracting. He said that wasn’t right, and there needed to be
concessions for cities and counties.
He also noted that the state requires unnecessary things. For example, he said
that in the upcoming special primary election to be held July 7, each county is
required to print 110 percent of the needed ballots based on registered voters.
He said it was a waste because there was not going to be that kind of voter
turnout for this primary.
Moving back to the consolidation of townships and adding to it the consolidation
of school districts, Brady said those things may be needed, but they should not
be dictated in Springfield.
Brady told the group that their state leaders in Springfield did want and need
to hear from them on issues that affect them. He noted one example, the question
of requiring body cameras on police officers. He said the state representatives
had heard from the communities, and they listened.
Chuck Conzo of the city of Lincoln said that his concern was about the size of
government. He said that smaller units of local government are more effective
and more responsive to its constituents, and he would hope that the state would
not seek to eliminate some of the smaller units.
Brady said he agreed. He noted examples of large government - the State, the
city of Chicago, and even the federal government - and commented that large
government is not working out all that well in those entities.
The meeting had been designated as a one-hour event, but at 32 minutes Brady
began winding down.
He said he had toured the two correctional facilities in Logan County and wanted
to make sure that those facilities are protected and well-funded for the future.
He noted that he was still very interested in finding uses for currently unused
state-owned properties. He told the group that if anyone had ideas of what to do
with the Lincoln Developmental Center property in Lincoln, he would like to hear
from them.
He closed by congratulating the community on the new Lincoln Statue recently
placed on the Logan County Courthouse Lawn, remembering his trip to Lincoln for
the dedication.
[Nila Smith] |
