July Logan County Briefs

 

[July 20, 2019] 

LINCOLN 

The Logan County Board held its Regular meeting on Tuesday, July 16 to vote on several motions and to hear committee updates.

Building and Grounds Committee update

At Thursday’s Board Workshop, Bill Walter of Mason Restoration and Technology Services said he is working on extracting core samples for concrete analysis. Walter has been surprised to see the various materials used in the flooring.

So far, Walter said any issues he sees are superficial and he has not found any major problems.

Walter recently took Senator Bill Brady on a tour of the Logan County Courthouse and showed him some of the areas of concern. He said Senator Brady asked good pointed questions and was intrigued by the level of interest by the county. Senator Brady asked Walter about data and cost estimates and Walter hopes to get the information to Brady sometime this week and “strike while the iron is hot.”

Safety/Law Enforcement/EMA Committee update

The board voted to send Sander’s motion to compensate the sheriff $20,000 for the EMA director’s salary back to the Safety/Law Enforcement/EMA Committee for more discussion.

The restructuring of EMA and 911 Dispatch this spring has added to Sheriff Mark Landers workload. Landers told the Finance Committee combining these entities has saved the county significant money, but there are sixteen new employees and a safety supervisor may be needed.

Executive and Personnel Committee update

The board unanimously approved Executive and Personnel Chairman Scott Schaffenacker’s motion to authorize the Chairman to sign the Electric Aggregation Agreement. The agreement is for three years at 4.6 cents per kilowatt hour.

Schaffenacker also brought forward a motion approve a $500 donation to Genealogical Society.

On Thursday, Logan County Genealogical and Historical Society President Diane Osborn talked to the board. The society is at 114 N Chicago Street in Lincoln and assists people with genealogical research and has many artifacts and photos from around the county. They recently received some records from the old Lincoln Sand and Gravel Company. The society has had visitors come from over 16 states and 1,100 people come through their doors this last year.

Most of the Society funding comes from the $15 membership fees from the 90 members. Osborn said the Logan County Board has contributed $500 in past years and last year. They had a balanced budget. There is little maintenance, but usually they dip into funds, and this year the building had termite removal.

Before the vote Tuesday, Hepler said this group could help gain some of the support needed to finance the courthouse restoration.

Schaffenacker’s motion to approve a $500 donation to Genealogical Society failed with a tie vote of 5-5.

Farmer, Estill, Ruben, Sanders and Schaffenacker voted no.

Blankenship, Davenport, Hepler, Jenness and Wessbecher voted yes.

Animal Control Committee update

The board unanimously approved Animal Control Chairman Steve Jenness’s motion to approve lowering Mount Pulaski’s Animal Control contract to $2,400 per year

Insurance/Legislative/Liquor Committee update

The board unanimously approved Liquor Licenses for both Korn Krib, and Aper Management doing business as Roadhouse.

Road and Bridge Committee update

The board unanimously approved five motions brought forward by Road and Bridge. Chairman Bob Farmer including:

• Appropriate $20,000 from County Bridge Fund for the local match on a bridge rehab project near Broadwell.

• Appropriate $9,500 from the Matching Tax Fund for the local match on a guard rail replacement project.

• Appropriate $25,000 from the County Bridge Fund for a culvert project in Broadwell Township.

• Appropriate $35,000 from the County Bridge Fund for a culvert project in Corwin Township.

• Award a contract to Ishmael Construction for $48,954 to replace a culvert in Corwin Township.

Logan County Highway Engineer Bret Aukamp said improvements being made near Broadwell have to do with the high-speed rail coming in.

Thursday, Aukamp said some roads are closed near the HillTopper Wind Farm project as roadwork is being done and culverts are being replaced.

Primm Road is still being worked on and a road north of Atlanta is being repaired.

The next Regular Board meeting will be held in the Logan County Courthouse on Tuesday, August 20.

[Angela Reiners]