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Logan County Board to consider
courthouse dome repair costs and new laws
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 [November 18, 2019]
A continued concern for the Logan County Board is how to move
forward in restoring the Logan County Courthouse. The courthouse
roof and dome have been a growing issue for two years. The stained
glass in the dome was first disassembled and put into storage.
Later, the roof began leaking causing safety concerns for the third
floor courtroom. Problems continue to be unveiled. A restoration
specialist was called in, Bill Walter, who has assisted in seeking
financing and helped set bid specs for the work to restore for the
historic structure. Consideration and costs for a new building are
also being examined.
At Thursday's Board Workshop, Buildings and Grounds Chairman David
Blankenship said that he hoped to have three to five bids for the
Logan County Courthouse dome interior repairs available for the
board's review at the Regular Board meeting. The bids are due in on
Tuesday and the board meets Tuesday evening.
Blankenship requested a budget amendment that is expected to be
approved on Tuesday. There would be $6,307 taken out of the
Sheriff's budget from deputy salary line item. The money would be
for mitigation work of the Logan County Courthouse roof and a boiler
repair.
Moving on, Logan County Board Chairman Emily Davenport said that it
was the last day of the state veto session. Davenport works in the
state capitol building and said legislators had a busy day passing
laws and were still there when she left to arrive at the Logan
County Courthouse for the board meeting that began at 6 p.m.
There were a number of pending bills of interest to the county,
including various marijuana measures and sports gambling. Sheriff
Landers said that new law passed that allows zero tolerance for
marijuana use by law enforcement.
Sheriff Landers also reported that two union collective bargaining
contracts are close to being ratified and the Telecommunicators
contract is expected to be completed just after those.
Regarding the video cameras being looked at for the courthouse,
Landers said Chief Probation Officer Kim Turner had provided an
onsite demonstration of the courtroom video camera system. The
camera systems are on a mobile stand and are "impressive." He was
pleased to report that the costs may come in at an estimated $5,000,
a lot less than the original $30,000 per courtroom, and could be
installed by the end of the month. "If it works and is acceptable to
the courts, then that's what we're going to go with," Landers said.
The cameras would increase safety, save on costs and add efficiency.
Prisoners would remain at the jail for appearances before judges in
the courthouse, thereby saving on staffing costs and time of
transporting prisoners to the courthouse.
County approved for Closed-Circuit Video
Appearances for detainees at the Logan County Jail
Airport and Farm Chairman David Blankenship put forth a request to
the board that Hanson Engineers be engaged to create a storm water
pollution plan at $6,000.
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The plan is a required measure to make sure there is not toxic water runoff from
the Logan County Airport and the drainage system is in compliance. There have
been some ditch improvements made to drainage around the airport with some
tweaking still to be done. New tiles were added to the east to improve drainage
from the area.
Executive Chairman Chuck Ruben recommended sending letters of support to
Illinois legislators to extend the Mount Pulaski Tax Increment Financing
District No. 1 from 23 years to 35 years.
Finance Chairman Ruben reported that Treasurer Penny Thomas said that all of the
Logan County Tax Anticipation Warrants (TAW) for the year had been paid off.
This is a loan against expected revenues. The TAWs are utilized to help the
county pay its bills at the end of the fiscal year due to a large portion of the
county revenues being in the form of property taxes, which come in late in each
fiscal year.
Robinson Construction will continue to supply snow removal at county buildings.
A two-year contract was struck last year. For safety reasons, Sheriff Mark
Landers put in a request to expand locations to include the ramps at the
courthouse, which are utilized during prisoner transport.
Board members present were Dave Blankenship, Emily Davenport, Janet Estill, Bob
Farmer, Cameron Halpin, David Hepler, Steve Jenness, Chuck Ruben, Scott
Schaffenacker and Annette Welch. Bob Sanders and Jim Wessbecher were absent.
Guest present was Jared Brown of the Logan County Farm Bureau.
Chairman Davenport reminded the board that the Lincoln Christmas Parade will
take place on Thursday, December 5th at 6 p.m.
The voting session of the Logan County Board takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 19th
at 6 p.m. at the Logan County Courthouse.
[Jan Youngquist]
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