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 Members of the Regional Planning Commission present were Chairman
Bill Graff, Vice Chairman Blair Hoerbert, Fred Finchum, Marty
Neitzel, Ryan Murphy, Jeff Hoinacki, Dave Schonauer, Bob Farmer and
Scott Schaffenacker. Zoning Officer Will D'Andrea and County Highway
Engineer Bret Aukamp were also present.
In previous months, the commission filled out a survey which ranked
growth and development as their number one goal. They also ranked
six objectives under the goal with plans to work towards fulfilling
the top two objectives and policies that fit in with these
objectives. D'Andrea shared the results of the survey.
Objective one is "A healthy economy that provides varied employment
opportunities, expanded retail, and a broad local tax base." The top
ranked policy under this objective is "to provide the necessary
infrastructure to support desirable economic development projects."
Objective two is "A sustained rate of growth that will support
continued economic growth and an expanding range of amenities for
all income levels and age groups." The top ranked policy under this
objective is to "identify and promote the development of community
amenities which best serve the needs and interests and current and
future residents."
 Zoning officer Will D'Andrea said he wanted to discuss what has been
done, who has it been done by, what goals have been reached, what
needs to be done, and what stakeholders need to be involved.
Lincoln Mayor Marty Neitzel said state budget problems have made it
hard to have a healthy economy. She said with any projects, money is
needed. Neitzel said there are some good projects already going on
with a new McDonalds coming soon and the new Casey's well under way.
Neitzel also said "The quality of life for seniors in Lincoln is
tremendous." She said with Oasis' new walking path and all they
offer to assist seniors, plus Christian homes and Copper Creek,
Lincoln provides well for seniors.
Graff said he considers Logan County almost a destination retirement
community with all it offers for seniors.
D'Andrea asked how to capitalize on that and whether to be more
proactive in capitalizing on what to offer.
Graff said he believes Illinois will eventually increase taxes to
help fix its problems. He said infrastructure programs are often
voted in with tax increases, so counties can reap some benefits from
the increase.
Graff said whoever has shovel ready projects in place is more likely
to get needed funding. He said it is good to have a specific plan of
what they want done and what is ready to go.
Aukamp said an increase may happen at some point and agreed that tax
increases often bring new projects.
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Neitzel said the city has looked into an Eleventh Street project and
the Farnsworth Group has information about it. If they could get
funding, that project would be ready to go.
Schonauer said the area near Sysco seems "ripe for development."
Atlanta Mayor Fred Finchum said a sewer line and water line
installed in the late 90s will help with Atlanta's expansion out by
the interstate. He said they expect to "start turning dirt" in
February or March 2017.
Aukamp said some projects take a while to "come to fruition," but when it
happens having plans and utilities available makes it easier to get done.
Graff said he would like to have a public infrastructure wish list to present
what they want to the right people who could help make it happen. He said it
might include public projects such as intersections, roads, stoplights, bridges,
or culverts.
Aukamp said when money becomes available, a rubric [with certain criteria] is
developed to evaluate projects. Counties may have to compete to get funds, so
they need to put together a package to present to those who will decide who gets
the funds. It is very competitive, with counties going through several rounds as
the list is narrowed down.
Aukamp said getting organized by developing the lists will be helpful.
Graff said what is on the list may get rearranged due to changing priorities,
but having the list will make it more likely to get some of the projects done.
He said he would like the commission to get a plan together and work on it.
D'Andrea said it might be good for the commission members from various towns to
present the ideas to their city councils to see what they think about them. It
might trigger some other discussions and actions in these communities.
Neitzel said the Regional Planning Commission should make the towns aware of
wants and needs to keep moving forward.
Finchum said as they move forward, towns and townships need to make sure they
are not doing something to "torpedo each other" or "step on each other's toes."
He said it would be good to share information to know if projects might impact
other communities.
Graff said if three entities all want the same thing done, it carries a lot of
weight with people. The plans and projects could possibly be unified.
The next Regional Planning Commission meeting will be Wednesday, August 3, 2016
at 7:30.
[Angela Reiners]
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