Logan County Board August briefs:
Non-union employee salary increases to go in next budget, Joint Solid Waste discussion goes back to committee, and other matters

 

[August 24, 2018] 

LINCOLN 

On Tuesday, August 21, the Logan County Board held its Regular Board meeting voting on several motions and resolutions and hearing brief committee updates.

Finance Committee update:

• A motion for a three percent increase for the non-union employees for FY 18-19. This will just put the increases in the budget.

Vice Chairman Emily Davenport asked what last year’s increases were.

Board Chairman Chuck Ruben said it was two percent.

Finance Chairman David Hepler said the CPI is currently at 2.1.

Scott Schaffenacker said he would be voting no since they had frozen the salaries of several elected officials for their whole term.

The motion passed with 8 yeses and 1 no.

Kevin Bateman, Emily Davenport, Janet Estill, David Hepler, Gloria Luster, Chuck Ruben, Bob Sanders. Annette Welch voted yes.

Scott Schaffenacker voted no.

Dave Blankenship, Bob Farmer and Gene Rohlfs were absent.

• A motion to transfer $7,396.54 from the General Fund to the Sheriff’s Drug Fund.

Chief Deputy Mark Landers said the Cannabis/Narcotics Fund was going to the wrong fund previously. They have created a checking account that fines will go into. It is not part of the Sheriff’s budget.

All nine board members present approved the motion for the transfer of funds.

• Motions to take the loan ordinance for the Health Department off display and to adopt it were also unanimously approved by the nine board members present.

• Hepler referred a motion to recommend that the county no longer support the Joint Solid Waste fees for unincorporated areas after current fiscal year back to the Finance Committee.

Schaffenacker asked what Hepler wants to discuss with the committee.

Hepler said it would allow those concerned about the issue to express themselves.

Other votes, motions and updates

Executive and Personnel Committee update

The nine board members present unanimously approved Executive and Personnel Committee Chairman Emily Davenport’s motions to approve a resolution for the Vehicle Purchase Policy, to approve a Personnel Resolution and handbook changes, and to approve 2018 Federal Grant Management Policies.

There was some brief discussion on Davenport’s motion to advertise and interview for an Airport Manager position.

Schaffenacker asked about the job description for the position.

Ruben proposed setting up a committee to draw up a job description and what they need to maintain.

Ruben said he wanted Kevin Bateman, Dave Blankenship, Emily Davenport, and Bob Sanders to be on the committee, which would meet after the Executive and Personnel Committee meeting.

Luster asked about a salary for the position and whether it would be part-time or full-time.

Ruben said the committee should bring forward a salary range and the job would be part time. The manager would report to the Airport committed.

Davenport’s motion to advertise and interview for Airport Manager position passed 8-1 with Schaffenacker voting no.

The motion to appoint a committee to draw up the job description also passed 8-1 with Schaffenacker voting no.

Waste Management

At Thursday’s Board Workshop, Atlanta resident Melanie Blankenship asked the board that they carefully consider the waste management issue. Blankenship said she really appreciates that service and has for the last thirteen or fourteen years. She said waste management is a program mandated by the state of Illinois in the solid waste planning and recycling act.

Blankenship said she would like to see the program stay though she knows it is a difficult situation since Mount Pulaski, Elkhart and Lincoln have pulled out. She is concerned about what the options are as a small community and said the Atlanta City Council has not discussed their options.

Board member Dave Blankenship asked Jonathan Wright what the penalties were for not having a program.

Wright said communities withdrawing still have a statutory obligation to show recycling and a decrease in recyclables. He said he would check out the penalties.

Schaffenacker, who chairs the Waste Management Committee, said he is checking into it and any penalties would come through the EPA. He has not researched monetary penalties.

Wright said the county would still have a recording responsibility. The county is the “umbrella agency” whether there is a joint recycling program or not. He said the county still has to get the statistics of what communities that pull out are reducing and recycling as far as certain landfill products.

Logan County Board Administrative Assistant Amy Kuhlman said Mitzi Rohlfs has signed her up for the sites Rohlfs previously reported to.

Schaffenacker said he would work with personnel to see that is added to Kuhlman’s job description.

Building and Grounds Committee update

The board unanimously approved Building and Grounds Chairman Kevin Bateman’s motion to approve the invoice from Restoric in the amount of $2,205 from another line item. He said the invoice was for the Engineering Study.

They also approved a motion for the Frontier Maintenance Agreement in the amount of $4,106.48

Airport/Farm Committee update

Airport and Farm Committee Chairman Gene Rohlfs’ motion to renew the Albion Radio Communications, Inc., contract for maintenance of the NDB transmitting and monitoring equipment at a cost of $2,040 was unanimously approved by the ten board members present. Blankenship and Farmer were absent.

Transportation Committee update

The board approved Transportation Committee Chairman Kevin Bateman’s motion to approve the purchase of Service Agreement with Showbus to run the Transportation Program in Logan County.

Bateman said Showbus has done great since they started running the program.

Schaffenacker asked if the board was still just the pass-through operators and not funding it.

Ruben said yes, they are just pass-through operators.

Road and Bridge Committee update

The board approved Road and Bridge Committee member Scott Schaffenacker’s motion for a Resolution to appropriate funding as a local match to construct a new bridge on Primm Road over Deer Creek.

Logan County Highway Engineer Bret Aukamp said earlier issues with the roads near the Hilltopper project have been resolved, though they are dealing with new ones every day.

Insurance/Legislative/Liquor Committee update

The board approved Insurance, Legislative and Liquor Committee Chairman Annette Welch’s motion to approve a resolution for a Predictable Fee Schedule for the Office of the Logan County Recorder.

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The next Regular Board meeting will be Tuesday, September 18 at 7 p.m. in the Logan County Courthouse.

[Angela Reiners]