Logan County Board holds double-header special meetings: Supports Cresco build and Governor's Turnaround Agenda

[May 06, 2015]  LINCOLN - The Logan County Board met for double, special meetings on Tuesday, April 28. A Regular voting session took place at 6 p.m. and was followed by a Workshop for discussions at 7 p.m. The meetings were held at Atlanta's North Greens Golf Course.

The reason behind holding the meetings at the Golf Course would not be stated until the second meeting, but it was for the county to see how the community of Atlanta benefits from the golf course and to hear a proposal that the county consider purchasing the business as a public golf course.

The first meeting was to conduct business to be voted on.

A representative of Cresco, the future medical cannabis production facility that will be built on the outskirts northeast of Lincoln, near Interstate 55.

Logan County Economic Development Partnership director Bill Thomas added that he has been working with Cresco, and they have been good to work with. The production facility will bring approximately 40 quality jobs in a range of skills and incomes. Cresco has agreed to a job fair that would make those positions available to Logan County residents before others that may be interested in employment, Thomas said.
 

The Cresco representative said that the company would be setting up a meeting to provide general information for the public and answer questions about the facility. Emergency response and law enforcement agencies would be invited to attend as well.

The board unanimously expressed full support of the facility.

In another measure to vote, the board approved signing a letter of support for Governor Bruce Rauner's proposed Turnaround Agenda.

The summary page of the "Local Government Empowerment and Reform" portion opens saying: Illinois state law creates a "one size fit all" approach to collective bargaining for local units of governments. This approach creates added costs, which are ultimately passed on to taxpayers.

The summary addresses topics such as putting local control into collective bargaining, health insurance provisions; school staffing and operations; prevailing wage act; workers compensation, including injury resolution; more choice in whether to join a union and pay dues; and it would allow local pension reform.

A link to the full document is provided below this article.

The resolution closes with "Logan County endorses major reforms in state government that will encourage local control, reduce costs on local governments, empower local voters, and increase competiveness in our community.

Support was not unanimous. Pat O'Neill said in advance, "I think most his turnaround plan is to destroy unions. I'm pretty much a union man."

One order of business was a timely matter, to lock-in a natural gas price for county facilities.

Energy companies contract with their largest energy consumers each year. The renewal is asked for in March as the contract runs out at the end of April. The board agreed last December to hire the services of energy contractor Vanguard. That contract began in May with Adam Schmidt as the representative. In December Schmidt told the board that the window of opportunity is often narrow and they would have to be ready to act quickly. He was recommending the county lock-in a year contract now. Board members unanimously approved.

On another matter, a couple of months ago the Logan County Board made public invitation asking for persons interested in serving on Fire and Water District Boards. The list of appointments [see list below] was passed at the Regular meeting on April 21st.

Members of the Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District Board were present at the Special Regular meeting. LRFPD trustee Lynn Haseley explained that their board had several major expenses and big dollar projects in process that took a lot of research and time. They felt it would be best if they could have the person put back in whose position was up for renewal, but was filled by someone else. He requested that Tom Irwin be reappointed.

The County Board agreed 10 - yes, Hepler abstained, to refer that one appointment back to Executive Committee for further consideration.

It was stated that the remaining appointments that passed on April 21st would remain in effect.

The board righted an oversight from earlier this month, and approved a request from the Logan County Alliance to host the first Arts in the Park event be held on July 18th and 19th in Latham Park. This event replaces the Art Fair that began in the 1970's and was held at the end of August.

Eleven board members were present with Jan Schumacher the only absence.

It was announced recently that Schumacher will be moving with her husband Steve to Missouri.

[Jan Youngquist]

See the full 38 page Illinois Turnaround proposal  pdf

The 'Local Government Empowerment and Reform' is the fourth and last portion addressed in the Illinois Turnaround proposal.

Fire and Water District Boards