Logan County Board August briefs: Zoning officer position on hold while assessing next budget

 

[August 24, 2022] 

At the Logan County Board’s Regular voting meeting on Tuesday, August 16, board members present either in person or virtually were Board Chairman Emily Davenport, Vice Chairman Scott Schaffenacker, Janet Estill, Bob Farmer, David Hepler, Keenan Leesman, Dale Nelson, Bob Sanders and Jim Wessbecher.

Steve Jenness and Annette Welch were absent.

Four action items were approved, and one was referred back to the committee level.

Schaffenacker made a motion to appoint Jim Wessbecher as Building and Grounds Committee Chairman. Wessbecher had been serving as Vice Chairman for the committee.

At the end of June, David Blankenship resigned from the board. He had been Buildings and Grounds Chairman. Since then, Wessbecher had led the committee meetings.

Schaffenacker said Wessbecher has been doing a great job and picked up on what is needed. The board then approved Wessbecher’s appointment as Building and Grounds Committee Chairman.

The board went in executive session at last Thursday’s board workshop to discuss hiring Tom Sowers as Zoning Officer/Regional Planning Director/Assistant Economic Development Director. They planned to bring his name forward for approval at the full Regular board meeting on Tuesday.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Planning and Zoning Committee Chairman David Hepler motioned to approve the appointment of Tom Sowers as Zoning Officer/Regional Planning Director/Assistant Economic Development Director. He then amended the motion to refer it to the Finance Committee for purposes of assessing the budget in September. The amendment was approved.

The zoning officer position had been divided into two part-time positions earlier this year with Beth Davis Kavelman taking the economic development side of the position. She was made full time this summer. Sowers position if approved would also be full time.

Action items unanimously approved included:

• Approval to set the Circuit Clerk’s salary for year 2023 budget to be set at $75,000.

Board Vice Chairman Scott Schaffenacker asked if this would align the Circuit Clerk’s salary with the Treasurer and County Clerk salaries for next year.

Because it would levelize the amounts for these elected officials, Nelson asked the other board members to support this motion as well as approve other motions:

• Add a division on Addictions on the Logan County website Resources page.

• Award a construction contract to Reiners & Westen to place riprap under a bridge on County Highway 14.

• Close County Highway 6 in Beason on September 17th, 2022, from 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. for their Sesquicentennial parade.

• As part of the consent agenda, the board also approved Election Judges for certification and the appointments of Beth Nesler and Gary Davis to Logan County Mental Health Board and Jean Lynn to the Logan County Housing Authority.

Update from Logan County Extension Office

During the public comment section, Logan County Extension Office Director Terri Miller Casey gave an update on programs offered through the extension. Janet Estill and Keenan Leesman serve on the extension’s council and Casey thanked them for their service.

Every year, Casey said she comes to meetings to spread good news. She handed board members copies of the 2021 Extension Impact Award.

One piece of good news Casey shared is that the extension is pretty much back to their pre-covid 4-H numbers. Casey said the Logan County Fair was fantastic.

If the board had a chance to go through the exhibition hall at the fairgrounds and see what kids are doing, Casey said she thought they would be impressed. There is a lot to be proud of in Logan County. Casey feels these kids [in the 4-H program] have a good future.

When seeing the projects these kids are doing, and going out to the livestock barns, Casey said it should make them excited about the future.

The Extension Office continues to provide Ag in the Classroom at area schools [to help students understand the role of agriculture]. Casey said that program is going well. With 4-H Program Coordinator Amy Hyde’s retirement this year, Casey said there is a big hole to fill. Fortunately, Hyde will be coming back to volunteer.
 

Last year, Patty Huffer retired [after 29 years]. Huffer was the extension’s long time 4-H Program Coordinator. Casey said Huffer had just been inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame on Sunday.

The Master Gardeners are doing great. In addition, Casey said their educational programs are going well. The extension was starting to get back into the schools at the end of last year. Casey said they are hoping to get back into the schools this year with no restrictions.

Though Casey said she usually does not ask for anything from the board, this year she said she needed to. The extension has not had an increase in its levy for 10 years. Casey said it has taken its toll even as they tried to keep their belts tight. Fighting the inflation fight may make it hard to keep everything going.

On behalf of the extension’s council, Casey asked the board to consider a five percent PTEL (Property Tax Extension Limitation) increase. Casey said the increase would be $4,539 and would help with inflation. The previously at $90,781, would bring the annual levy amount to $95,300.

The extension has been in Logan County since 1914 and Casey said it is a big part of the county. Casey said is trying to be a good steward to the program and make sure it lasts another 100-plus years. Casey thanked the board for their support for all these years.

Schaffenacker asked if the Logan County Extension Office still oversees Sangamon and Menard Counties. If so, he wanted to know what their increase would be.

Casey said those counties are covered by our extension office. Their PTEL increases would also be five percent. Logan County has the highest 4-H numbers of these counties.

In closing, Casey told the board members to contact her with any questions. Casey said she would love to take board members to see programs so they could see what is going on. She then thanked them for their time.

Agriculture and supporting businesses are primary industries in Logan County. The 4-H programming promotes and prepares youth beginning at age five who might be considering careers in agriculture and related businesses.

[Angela Reiners]