November County briefs

[December 01, 2017] 

LINCOLN

On Tuesday, November 21, the Logan County Board held its regular monthly meeting to vote on several motions and hear committee updates.

Finance Committee motions and updates

The board approved several motions brought forward from the Finance Committee.

The board approved Finance Committee Chairman David Hepler's motion to accept FY 2017-2018 Budget 11-1 with Kevin Bateman, Dave Blankenship, Janet Dahmm, Emily Davenport, Bob Farmer, David Hepler, Gloria Luster, Gene Rohlfs, Chuck Ruben, Scott Schaffenacker and Annette Welch all voting yes; and Bob Sanders voting no.

Hepler's motion to approve CAPCIL close-out costs of $6,060.00 unanimously approved. Community Action's Executive Director Alison Rumler-Gomez explained the costs at the Finance Committee meeting. They are related to costs applied to grants and other requirements like reporting and auditing.

The board unanimously approved Hepler's motion to approve Tax Anticipation Warrants.

The board unanimously approved several amendments to the budget which included:

A motion to increase the levy for Matching Tax Fund by $15,000 increasing the line item from $224,500 to $239,500.00 was unanimously approved. Board Chairman Ruben said it helps make the county eligible for funds.

A motion to decrease the levy for County Bridge Fund by $15,000 lowers the line item from $185,000 to $170,500 was unanimously approved.

A motion to increase the revenue line item by $4,000,000 for expenses in building construction, repair and maintenance. It was recently learned that the courthouse dome is deteriorating to the place of needing repairs. Ruben said the revenue and expense amendments would only happen if the bond issue passes.

Hepler then made several motions to approve Logan County Tax Levies for Fiscal Year December 1, 2017 to November 30, 2018.

The following are the levies and their amounts: General Fund, $1,558,097; Bonds and Interest Fund (to be abated), $46,294.00; Liability Insurance Fund, $170,000; Health Department Fund, $363,460; IMRF Fund, $503,810; Highway Fund, $439,213; County Bridge Fund, $170,500; Highways - Matching Tax Fund, $239,500; Ambulance Service Fund, $276,220; Senior Citizens Tax Fund, $68,100; Cooperative Extension Fund, $88,630; and Veteran’s Assistance Commission Tax Fund, $140,300.

All votes for the levies were unanimous except for the one for the $45,860.00 Tuberculosis Sanitarium Fund, with Kevin Bateman and Dave Blankenship voting no and all others voting yes.

Transportation Committee motions and updates

The board approved several motions from the Transportation Committee Chairman Kevin Bateman.

- A motion to approve an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement between the Sangamon Mass Transit District and Logan County for vehicle maintenance.

- A motion to approve the Model Reasonable Modification Policy for Transit Systems.

- A motion to approve a resolution authorizing execution and amendment of the Downstate Operating Assistance Grant Agreement.

- A motion to approve a resolution Authorizing Execution and Amendment of Federal 5311 Grant Agreement.

Bateman's motion to contract with SHOWBUS as operator to provide public transportation services to Logan and Mason Counties passed 7-4-1 with
Bateman, Dahmm, Davenport, Farmer, Hepler, Luster and Welch all voting yes. Blankenship, Rohlfs, Sanders and Schaffenacker voting no; and Chuck Ruben abstaining.

CAPCIL will no longer be the pass-through-funded provider for the county as of the end of the year.

SHOW BUS will provide the public transportation services CAPCIL has been providing the past few years.

SHOW BUS Public Transportation has been providing public transportation to several rural central Illinois communities since 1976.
Representatives from SHOW BUS spoke to the board in the fall of 2016 when CAPCIL faced suspending services due to the state budget.

Planning and Zoning Committee update

The board voted to table a motion to approve conditional use of Baker and Sons Sawmill at Chestervale Elevator.

At both Thursday's Board Workshop and Tuesday's Regular Board meetings, there was discussion on the issue with questions and concerns raised. Board members had questions about logs stacked on the current property, monitoring and containment for burning, and possible fire hazards.

Neighbors who live close to the elevator spoke during the public comment segment and expressed concerns about dangers, setbacks, noise, and lack of details about the work. A neighbor who lives to the south of the property said burning will be done 450 feet from the edge of his house and said the operation would be substantially detrimental to property values.

At the Board Workshop, Blinn Bates of Woods and Bates told the board he is representing the Baker's neighbor and has submitted a formal written protest to the application for the conditional use. His client owns property east and west of the elevator and is concerned about the sawmill use, a lack of details, no setback lines, and no guarantees of safety.

At Tuesday's meeting, Mike Fleshman of Woods and Bates said the sawmill is not a conforming use in an agricultural district.

Stephen and Teri Baker applied for the conditional use for the sawmill and the Zoning Board of Appeals voted 5-1 to recommend approval. Bakers said they have been building the sawmill and trying to get it set up and establish what to do with logs. Nothing commercially viable has started around the new operation.

Teri Baker said they are fully insured and plan to put in fire pumps and a fire hydrant. Stephen Baker said he also owns a fire truck that will be on site. They have applied for an EPA burn permit.

Board member Kevin Bateman said he would like more research on conditions.

After tabling the motion, the board voted to send the issue back to the Planning and Zoning Committee

Insurance, Legislative, and Liquor Committee updates

The Board unanimously approved five motions from Insurance, Legislative and Liquor Chairman Annette Welch.

- A motion to approve liquor license for the Korn Krib. Welsh said the Korn Krib is being re-opened by new owners and they will need a new liquor license to continue serving alcohol at the establishment.

- A motion to approve the CIRMA proposal of Insurance (Renewal). Ruben said it is not necessary to go out for bids.

- A motion to sign termination letters with prior policies being replaced December 1, 2017.

- A motion to assign Nathan Whiteman as Agent of Record on Logan County’s AFLAC Account.

- A Motion to reassign Nathan Whiteman, American Central Insurance Services, as Agent of Record on Logan County’s Blue Cross Blue Shield and MetLife policies.

Safety Committee update

The board approved Safety Committee Chairman Bob Farmer's motion to approve a truck bid for the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) in the amount of $14,479.

Board member Dave Blankenship said he would like to see the rotation of buying new vehicles go from three years to five years.

Bateman asked about the model and years EMA has been buying and wondered if they could use the vehicles longer.

EMA Director Dan Fulscher said the vehicles usually need to be replaced within three years. The vehicles are used frequently and have about 70,000 miles on them. Fulscher said keeping the vehicles longer could be more costly due to maintenance needed.

Building and Grounds Motions

Bateman motioned to bring SmartWatt forward as the Performance Contractor, and then amended the motion to be sent back to committee. He said there is not a consensus on using SmartWatt, so the committee will discuss it further and bring it back at a later time.

Last month, the board heard from several energy performance contractors who were bidding on the work.

Bateman motioned to place a nativity scene on the courthouse lawn for the Christmas season. It was removed from the Consent Agenda for discussion.

Before they voted, Bateman said he had a fear the county is opening themselves up by allowing a nativity scene because they would have to come up with a reason to approve or deny requests from other groups. He asked whether they wanted to go down that path.

Board member Emily Davenport said the State Capitol Building has a nativity scene and a menorah and anything else that might be requested.

Julie Zanoza, who made the request, is the chairman of the Nativity Scene Committee in Springfield. Springfield has had a nativity scene at the Capitol building for the past ten years. Zanoza said putting up the nativity scene is both legal and constitutional. The nativity scene will not cost the county anything because it will be donated and Zanoza said she does not foresee anything happening during the month it will be up.

Zanoza said she understood the concerns, but the Illinois ACLU supports their right to express their faith in the public square. She asked the board to accept the proposal.

The motion to put up a nativity scene on the Logan County Courthouse lawn was then unanimously approved.

Road and Bridge

Road and Bridge Committee Chairman Bob Farmer's motion to extend the current Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Teamsters on a day-to-day basis until a new agreement can be negotiated was unanimously approved.

Animal Control

The board unanimously approved the reappointment of Jane Whiteman as Animal Control Warden and Dwayne Foley as Assistant Animal Control Warden.

Community Action

At Thursday's Board Workshop, Stephanie Savery from Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois updated the board on the Strengthening Working Families Initiative, which the board contributed funding to. The board's contribution is being used to help provide transportation to classes, daycare services, uniforms for new jobs, textbooks, classroom resources, and application fees.

Savery said thirty-three families have been served through the program and four of those families served were over 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Savery said 21 percent of participants are working on a GED, 15 percent have obtained a GED, certification, or degree; 12 percent are working on certifications, 12 percent are pursuing post-secondary programs, 33 percent have obtained employment, and nine percent of students have increased their current employment.

Three educational scholarships have also been provided for program participants.

Savery said the services they provide to families have helped them attain a more self-sufficient lifestyle, restore their dignity, and changed their lives.

She thanked the board for their help in contributing towards the program. Without the investment from the Logan County Board, a majority of the students would not have been able to participate in the program.

Veteran Assistance Commission

On Tuesday, Joe Schaler of the Veteran's Assistance Commission updated the board on what is going on in the commission, which was approved by a levy in March 2016. The organization was "built from scratch."

Schaler said VAC Superintendent Dan Benedict, who was hired in the summer of 2016, has put in many hours and is now a Certified Services Representative. In the last three months, Benedict has filed claims that will bring $262,000 into the county for veterans in the next twelve months. Schaler said that is tax-free money coming back into the county.

Schaler said the VAC has signed agreements with CAPCIL for transportation, the Rec Center for discounts to veterans, and the VA Vet Center to come to the area twice a month so veterans do not have to travel to Peoria.

Schaler said on May 24th he met with Don Cavi and representatives from the SIU Center for Family Medicine about setting up the clinic at the Logan County Department of Public Health. There is not good dental coverage for veterans and they continue to work on a dental assistance program. Schaler is hoping they can get TriCare covered.

Schaler said they have worked hard to put it together to serve veterans and will continue to do their very best. He asked the county to have their back and take care of its veterans.

All 12 board members were present: Kevin Bateman, Dave Blankenship, Janet Dahmm, Emily Davenport, Bob Farmer, David Hepler, Gloria Luster, Gene Rohlfs, Bob Sanders, Scott Schaffenacker and Annette Welch, with Board Chairman Chuck Ruben presiding.

The next Regular Logan County Board meeting will be Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 7 p.m. in the Logan County Courthouse.

[Angela Reiners]