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 Present: David Hepler; Andy Anderson; Rick Aylesworth; Kevin
Bateman; David Blankenship; Emily Davenport; Pat O’Neill; Gene
Rohlfs; Chuck Ruben; Scott Schaffenacker; Jan Schumacher Absent: Bob
Farmer
Guests: Jessica Lema; Cassy Good; Will D’Andrea; Bill Graff; Jan
Youngquist; Tom O’Donoghue; Nila Smith; Chuck Conzo; Scott Cooper;
Michelle Bauer; Todd Mourning; Marty Neitzel; Kathy Horn; Jeff
Hoinacki;Susan Gehlbach; Risa Riggs; Clay Johnson; Mayor Keith
Snyder; Andy Hamilton; Steve Mclure
Mr. Hepler called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. New Business:
Board Member Introductions:
Each City Counselor and County Board member introduced themselves
and gave a brief summary of their current assignments, as well as
their hopes for the future.
Clay Johnson and Mayor Snyder gave a brief overview of key issues
the City is currently working on.
 The list included: the City’s Strategic Plan Initiative and survey;
the site selection study for a new police and fire facility;
reconstruction of the train Depot; Lincoln Public Library parking
lot; parking along Kickapoo side of Scully Park; 5th Street Road
Project, and sewer overflows.
Mr. Snyder also clarified the City’s position on funding the CEDS.
The city is not against funding the CEDS program but they want more
information about the potential benefits of CEDS.
Mr. Hepler summarized some recent issues and changes affecting the
County Board. Mr. Hepler talked about some recent zoning issues. Mr.
Hepler reported the County Board is in the process of updating the
zoning ordinances. Mr. Hepler also reported the County split up
Executive/Economic Development Committee into two separate
committees so Executive can be a catch-all for all the committees.
Mr. Hepler wants every high school senior in Logan County to apply
for college.
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Enterprise Zone:
Mr. D’Andrea gave a presentation over Enterprise Zone. Lincoln and
part of Logan County were certified as an Enterprise Zone in 1987.
The certification expires June 30, 2017. Mr. D’Andrea explained in
2012, the State amended the Enterprise Zone Act to establish a new
application process. All zones expiring in or after 2015 will have
to file a new application showing that the area meets specific
criteria. Logan County will need to have its application submitted
by December 31, 2015. Mr. D’Andrea went over the criteria. The state
will award up to 40 Enterprise Zones this year. There were 69
applicants.
The criteria for the application include: Unemployment (up to
50 points); Employment Opportunities (up to 20 points);Poverty
(up to 40 points); Abandoned Coal Mine (up to 30 points); Large
Scale Business Closing (up to 50 points); Vacant Structures (up
to 40 points); Tax Base Improvement Plan (up to 30 points);
Public Infrastructure Improvement Plan (up to 80 points);Career
Skills Programs (up to 40 points); Equalize Assessed Valuation
(up to 40 points). Mr. D’Andrea reported each of the ten
criteria are weighted using a point system, but that in addition
to the points earned by meeting some or all of the ten criteria,
the final decision on awarding the new entire process somewhat
arbitrary.
Mr. Mclure reported his firm is willing to help prepare the new
Zone application at no cost to the City or County because their
income comes from the businesses that will use the Zone. Mr. Mclure
reported just because Logan County is in the Enterprise Zone now
does not mean we are promised to get an Enterprise Zone granted
again.
Mr. Ruben suggested Mr. Hepler, Mr.Snyder, Mr. D’Andrea and
Mr.Mclure work together on the application.
 A motion was made by Mr. Ruben, seconded by Mr. Bateman, to move
forward with Enterprise Zone. Voice vote, motion passed.
A motion was made by Mr. Anderson, seconded by Mr. Mourning, to
adjourn the meeting. Motion passed. Meeting ended at 8:18 pm.
[Copied from Logan County website] |
