Logan County Briefs: Law enforcement vehicles purchased now to save big money; windfarm decommissioning plans go back to committee; pickleball, ice rink, parks, and events get community funds

 

[June 24, 2022] 

At the Logan County Board Regular voting session on Tuesday, June 21, the Logan County Board approved several action items and sent a couple items back to committee.

Finance Committee update

Finance Committee Chairman Steve Jenness brought forward several motions for approval which included allowing the Sheriff to purchase five trucks and two explorers in the amount of $277,310.00 from the Safety Complex Improvements Fund.

Logan County Sheriff Mark Landers spoke at both the Finance Committee meeting and Board Workshop last week to explain why he was asking to purchase the vehicles before the new budget year.

First, government incentives are going away. Landers said right now every government vehicle purchased gets a rebate between $7,500 and $9,500. Without the incentives, purchase costs for each vehicle would increase between $7,000 and $9,000.

If waiting five months to purchase these vehicles, Landers said they could expect to pay between $8,000 and $11,000 more for the vehicles.

After speaking to both the Ford and Dodge dealerships in the county and to Morrow, the dealership that has the state bid for vehicles, Landers found Morrow has 2022 vehicles in stock.

If the county purchases the vehicles now instead of in December, the county will save between $7,000 and $10,000 dollars per vehicle. Landers said if they go with bare bones options, each vehicle will cost around $40,000.

As Landers considered vehicle purchases and reached out to lenders about interest rates, he was told interest rates would be around 4.25 percent on a $270,000 loan. Landers said paying for the vehicles outright would eliminate those interest rates over the next few years.

The nine board members present approved the purchase of the vehicles.

Other Finance motions approved by the board were:

• Adjusting mileage per diem for all county employees to the IRS set limits. Previously, employees had received .50 cents per mile for mileage. The limits now set by the IRS are 62.5 cents.

• $5,000 for any community in Logan County with a park for use of park improvements from the Community Development Fund. The board stipulated that the money must be used for the parks.

• $5,000 for the Grow Me Project at the Logan County Jail with CAPCIL. This program was created last year to help people who are currently incarcerated and could benefit from certain community resources.

In a report at the board’s June finance committee meeting, Sheriff Landers gave an update on the program. He said resources inmates could benefit from include anger management classes, parenting classes and job skills training.
 

The first year, Landers said it was a pilot program. Because it has been successful, he would like to see it continue.

These finance motions were all approved.

The motion to approve the State’s Attorney salary adjustment in the amount of $21,823.71 was again sent back to the committee due to some questions the board has about it.

Planning and Zoning/Economic Development update

Planning and Zoning/Economic Development Chairman David Hepler brought forward a motion to approve the Decommissioning Plan for Top Hat Wind Farm. Hepler then motioned to table it at the request of the developer.

At last week’s board workshop Logan County Zoning Office George Mencken recommended against voting on the decommissioning plan because it was missing some things that need to be in it.

Though changes had been made to the original decommissioning plan, the one Mencken had just received did not have 10, 50 or 100 percent bonds. It is only the second copy he has seen.

Mencken said if he sounded irritated, it is because he was. In previous jobs, he has dealt with contractors like this for decades. When they pull “games” like that, Mencken said they disrespect everyone on the board.

Additionally, Mencken said they had taken out the Agricultural Impact Mitigation Agreement.

At Tuesday’s meeting board member Keenan Leesman asked if the motion would be brought back after modifications are made.

Though some changes had previously been made to the decommissioning plan, Hepler said it would be revised again.

One question board Vice Chairman Scott Schaffenacker asked, was what had the engineer based criteria for the decommissioning plan on. He said we do not know what the county’s consultant, Serena Paige, looked at.

In response, Hepler said he was not sure. Presumably, it was what Westwood sent.

If the decommissioning plan is not in its entire form, board member Annette Welch asked if it should be sent back to the planning and zoning committee.

Since there were some questions to be addressed, board member David Blankenship agreed the decommissioning plan should be sent back.

Hepler then withdrew his motion to table the plan.

A motion made to take the decommissioning plan back to the planning and zoning committee was then approved. Hepler was the sole no vote.

Committee updates

The board also approved the following action items:

Airport and Farm Committee Chairman Jim Wessbecher’s motion for Liability Insurance of Facer Insurance Agency in the amount of $4,102. He said that amount was a slight increase from last year.

Building and Grounds Committee Chairman David Blankenship’s motion for the purchase of concrete, shed, skate racks, portable heaters, pickle ball court and benches for Scully Park Ice Rink not to exceed $75,000 from the Community Development Fund.
 

A pickle ball court is something the committee had discussed earlier this year. Committee member Jim Wessbecher has been helping explore options and talk to various companies who put up pickle ball court.

A 65 x 45 foot concrete pad will go under the court. Wessbecher said they could get rock from the Logan County Highway Department.

Legislative, Insurance and Liquor Committee Chairman Annette Welch’s motion for the 2022-23 paid Liquor License Renewals.

Executive and Personnel Chairman Scott Schaffenacker’s two motions, which included:

An Event/Donation form for LCGHS in the amount of $1,000 from the Community Development Fund.

When it was brought forward, board member Keenan Leesman said he feels the event forms are needed. What Leesman would like to see funded are project driven things that will benefit the community.

For events and festivals, Leesman said he thinks general boundaries need to be set. He feels the villages and townships [where they occur] should work through funding.

There is a template Schaffenacker said has been developed for the donation form. There is no acceptance or denial letter.

Questions Leesman had were, what qualifies and why. He does not think the board should say yes to every request. Leesman would like to see funding be project specific for something like a bike trail since it could benefit the community.

An Event/Donation form for Dock Dogs in the amount of $1,000 from the Community Development Fund was presented.

During public comments Kevin Bateman, one of the event organizers for Pigs and Swigs and Dock Dogs, addressed this request. Bateman asked if there were any questions.

Something Welch said she recalled is that the city gave a donation for the event. She asked if their donation came from American Restoration Project Act funds.

The ARPA money was for established events directly affected by COVID. Bateman said in 2020, the event was cancelled.

With the events at Pigs and Swigs Festival, Bateman said Dock Dogs costs $7,000 by itself. He has tried to get sponsorships and advertising in years past.

This year, Bateman reached out to thirty previous sponsors to help keep the festival going. His request was just for Dock Dogs. Bateman said they are about $1,200 shy of what is needed to cover Dock Dogs.

The city gave $15,000 for the events, but Bateman said that does not cover all the expenses. It is very expensive to put on the events by the time you rent space in a church, pay insurance and other things.
 

A chest had been built up over the previous years Pigs and Swigs was held. Last year, Bateman said they used all the money left in that chest. With the pandemic, they did not want to reach out to hurting businesses to ask for funds to sponsor the event.

In the past, 50 businesses sponsored the event. Now less than 25 businesses sponsor it.

Both donations were approved by the board.

The next regular board meeting will be Tuesday, July 19 at 6:00 p.m. in the Orr Building.

[Angela Reiners]