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 Nine Board members were present for the evening - Andy Anderson,
Kevin Bateman, Dave Blankenship, Emily Davenport, Chuck Ruben, and
Gene Rohlfs, Scott Schaffenacker, Pat O'Neill and David Hepler. Rick
Aylesworth and Bob Farmer were absent for the evening.
County to sue state for payment
The board unanimously agreed to join suit against the state of
Illinois over the State’s Attorney and various other state funded
salary reimbursements.
State's Attorney Jonathan Wright said St. Clair County successfully
filed a suit against the comptroller to get reimbursement for
salaries and said several other counties will possibly be filing,
too.
Events
The board voted also unanimously to allow the Logan County Alliance
use of Latham Park for a community event 'Arts in the Park' that is
to be held from July 22 to 24, 2016. The sale and consumption of
alcohol would also be permitted at the event.
The Farmer’s Market that meets in Scully Park request for a new
season was also unanimously approved. The market would be open every
Wednesday and Saturday starting May 4th thru October 29, 2016.
On financial matters, the board approved spending up to $15,000 to
share expenses on the Logan County Dispatch software updates for the
911 phone system.
Zoning Ordinance progresses
The Zoning Ordinance motion originally said it would be placed on
display for 30 days. Wright told the board they needed to amend the
wording for the motion as fewer than 30 days would transpire before
the next month's voting session.
Bateman motioned that before placing the ordinance on display, the
Sunset Clause needs to say "A Conditional Use permit shall expire
five years from the date of approval by the County Board unless
substantial evidence of use is filed with the Zoning Officer." After
5 years, the application process would begin again. Bateman said
they were taking out that section about a written request for two
one-year extensions after a three year period to the permit.
O'Neill said he would like to add a one-year extension after five
years, but his motion failed.
Though there was continued discussion between board members and Doug
and Laurie Muck on some of the wording in amendment concerning
progress and lengths of time, any additional amendments will be made
after the ordinance has come off display.
The board voted to place the Zoning Ordinance with amendments to
Conditional Use and Sunset Clause on display until next month's
board meeting, which is February 16, 2016.
At next month's meeting, the ordinance may be voted on or sent back
to committee for further amendment.
Other updates
Emily Hauter from the Logan County Department of Public Health said
the Board of Health has voted to provide primary care at the Health
Department through doctors from SIU School of Medicine starting in
late 2016 or early 2017. The Board of Health will discuss plans
further in February.
Hauter said the Health Department will have a professional
roundtable in February to discuss the local heroin problem. The
Department is hoping they will be able to provide Narcan to help
reverse the effects of overdoses of heroin.
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Appointments
The board voted 7-2 to appoint Miles Craig to the District Two vacancy with Andy
Anderson, Kevin Bateman, Dave Blankenship, Emily Davenport, Chuck Ruben, Pat
O'Neill, and Dave Hepler voting yes, and Gene Rohlfs and Scott Schaffenacker
voting no.
Craig is a Lincoln Police officer. He is taking the seat previously held by Jan
Schumacher for seven years.
Chairman Hepler said Craig, Janet Dahmm, and Casey Hoag, who are on the primary
ballot for the District Two, were all good candidates. Last Thursday, the Board
interviewed all the candidates for the position. Hepler said he did not have a
strong feeling of consensus for any one person, but there was little negative he
heard about any of the three, which he found "very affirming." Hepler said he
wants to avoid influence on the electoral process with the primary coming up in
March.
Regional Planning Commission
The board unanimously approved Ryan Murphy and Becky Werth to the Regional
Planning Commission.
Animal Control
The board voted unanimously to re-appoint Jane Whiteman as Assistant Animal
Control Warden. However, the motion to re-appoint Julie Parker as Animal Control
Administrator and Warden failed 6-1-2 with Anderson, Bateman, Blankenship,
Davenport, Ruben, and Rohlfs all voting no; Schaffenacker abstained; O'Neill and
Hepler voted yes.
Board Chairman David Hepler asked State's Attorney Jonathan Wright about what to
do about the Animal Control administrator's role.
Wright said the board could make a motion to appoint an Interim Administrator,
but the ordinance says the current administrator may continue in the role until
a successor is chosen.
Bateman asked whether the board could appoint Jane Whiteman as Interim Warden
until next month's meeting.
Hepler and Wright both said that appointment is not on the upcoming agenda.
Hepler said they will address it in committee and see if there is a provision
for the Warden to continue until a successor is named. The position will need to
be posted.
At 8:30, the board went into Executive Session to discuss the Animal Control
Warden position.
On Wednesday it was announced that there will be a special board meeting this
Friday. The board will convene at 6 p.m. at the Logan County Safety Complex,
Blue Room located at 911 Pekin St., Lincoln, for the purposes of appointing an
Animal Control Warden and Assistant Animal Control Warden.
The Board Workshop has been moved from Thursday, February 11, to Wednesday,
February 10.
The next Regular Board meeting will be Tuesday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m.
[Angela Reiners] |
