Logan County Board to vote on jailhouse x-ray scanner and other matters

 

[March 15, 2022] 

At the Logan County Board Workshop Thursday, March 10, several committees shared updates on action items that will be voted on at Tuesday’s meeting.

One focus of discussion was an x-ray scanner for the Safety Complex.

Logan County Sheriff Mark Landers spoke to the board about using American Restoration Project Act (ARPA) funds for a whole-body scanner. He had previously spoken to the Board’s Safety and Finance Committee about the scanner.

By using a whole-body scanner, Sheriff Landers said it could keep people from bringing contraband into the jail. There have been recent events where people have tried to bring contraband in.

The Tek84 body scanner the Sheriff’s Office is looking at has already been adapted throughout the United States and several Illinois counties. Landers said the company is significantly endorsed by law enforcement at both state and county correctional facilities.

With a thermal scanner, there would be a $20,000 add-on. Thermal scanners were added during covid to allow for temperature screening. In recent months, Landers said temperature screening has not been done.

One question or concern Landers said board member David Hepler brought up was the longevity of the maintenance. For $37,500, five years of maintenance could be added. If they added maintenance but not the $20,000 thermal scanner, Landers said costs for the Tek84 body scanner would be $176,500.

Monday, Landers has someone from the company is coming from Minnesota to look at the footprint of the Safety Complex. He said this company has gone out of their way more than other companies have.

In researching different body scanners, Landers said most have moving parts. That would not be as practical for their needs.

Tazewell County has been using the Tek84 and told Landers they are very happy with the scanner. On the first day the scanner was installed in Tazewell County’s jail, Landers said it revealed a prisoner trying to bring in contraband.

The Tek84 can also be used to scan purses, backpacks, mattresses for contraband. Over the years, Landers has had inmates try to hide contraband in mattresses. Landers said they may even be able to scan books or mail with it.

One question board member Steve Jenness had was whether the technician from Minnesota could do repairs on the scanner if needed.

If the scanner needs to be repaired, Landers said the technician could do it. The scanner must be certified annually through the state. There are no radiation concerns.

Tuesday, Jenness will bring forward a finance committee motion to purchase the Tek84 Whole-Body Scanner using ARPA funds.

Other action items that will be brought forward from the Finance Committee include:

- A resolution for a bank depository designation.

The board must vote annually on this designation for a bank to deposit county funds in.

- A payment of $26,924.03 from the county’s contingency fund.
     
Board member Keenan Leesman said biggest portion of that amount is for a recent email issue the county had related to a security breach. The company Jano helped correct the problem.

- The annual contribution of $2,500 to the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council.     

Board Chairman Emily Davenport has asked GPEDC CEO Chris Setti to give a rundown of what the GPEDC has done to help the county over the last five years.

The board had been giving $5,000 to the GPEDC annually, and last year reduced the amount to $2,500. Jenness said they need to decide whether to keep giving the GPEDC $2,500 or go back to giving $5,000.

- ARPA resolution

The Finance Committee had discussed bringing forward a resolution for ARPA standard loss of revenue, but it failed to get a second.

Because of an April deadline for reporting purposes, the resolution may be brought off the floor Tuesday.

If ARPA funds are distributed as is, Bellwether has told Jenness it would require a lot more oversight. Jenness said they have the option to claim everything as lost revenue. Even if that is done, the funds would still be put in a separate line item and have oversight.

The concern for Leesman is using the term lost revenue. He feels that it looks like the board may be circumventing the intent of ARPA funds. The ARPA funds are $5.5 million, and Leesman said the county did not lose that much in revenue.

In the past two years, Davenport said the county has technically had $3.5 M in lost revenue. She will find out from Bellwether whether ARPA funds could be divided into lost revenue and other funds.

If dividing these funds is possible, Leesman said he would be interested in hearing what Bellwether has to say.

Airport Committee update

Airport and Farm Committee Chairman Jim Wessbecher said the committee approved a bid for installation of new gutters on the middle row of hangars and west row of hangars. The costs for installing the gutters will be $5,495.

Building and Grounds Committee update

Building and Grounds Chairman David Blankenship will bring forward a motion Tuesday to approve Durable Slate Company as the contractor to install copper on the courthouse dome.

The bid amount for installation will be $1,800,254. Blankenship said the company had dropped their original bid by nearly $100,000.

The contract would need be approved by Logan County State’s Attorney Bradley Hauge soon since it is date sensitive.

Insurance has been submitted and will also need to be validated.

If the contract with Durable is approved, Blankenship said the work should begin in few weeks. They hope to be done by October.

At their March meeting, the Building and Grounds Committee voted to purchase eight eight-foot tables and 60-75 chairs at a cost not to exceed $4,500. These tables and chairs will be used in the room of the Orr Building where the board meets and where court is held while the third-floor courtroom is being restored. The table and chairs they have been using were on loan from Crossways Church.

The Committee also approved a proposal from TK Elevator Company for the outside courthouse elevator, which has had problems over the years. Blankenship said they will upgrade the door system at a cost not to exceed $8,000.

Executive and Personnel Committee update

On Tuesday, Chairman Davenport will bring forward a motion to authorize the board's chairman to sign a two-year residential energy aggregation agreement. The agreement would be with the Stone River Group. Adam Schmidt of the Stone River Group told Davenport the county locked in a .051 cent.

This percentage is almost a full penny lower than Ameren. Davenport said Ameren is getting ready to raise their rates again.

Board Vice Chairman Scott Schaffenacker asked whether the amount is for residential or municipal. He said there are now two rates. One is a municipal rate for the county and the other is a rate for unincorporated areas of the county.

Road and Bridge Committee update

Action items brought forward Tuesday by Road and Bridge Committee member Dale Nelson will include:

- A resolution for the Illinois Department of Transportation to use federal funds. These funds would be appropriated for the design of a resurfacing project between New Holland and Middletown. Up to $25,000 in matching tax funds would be appropriated.

- A contract for bituminous materials.

- An appropriation of up to $12,500 to install an additional guardrail on County Highway 20 west of Union.

Davenport asked about a motion to bring forward an attorney for the road use agreements for county projects. She wanted to know if the county could get bids [from other attorneys].

There had been discussion at the Road and Bridge Committee meeting. However, Logan County Highway Engineer Bret Aukamp said he has not received a letter of engagement.

There will be projects soon in Laenna and Aetna Township. Road commissioners from those townships told Aukamp they would like to work with the same attorney the county has worked with on previous road use agreements. He feels it would be in the county’s best interest to use the same attorney they used for recent road use agreements. Aukamp could talk to other attorneys, but he said the county needs to decide soon.

From the county standpoint, Hauge said the attorney they have been using has worked well in the past acting in the county’s best interest. He feels it is better to use the same attorney the townships do for major projects to make everything smoother.

If the Road and Bridge Committee gets a letter of engagement, Schaffenacker said they could vote on whether to send it to the full board.

Transportation Committee update

The board will vote Tuesday, Mar. 15, on agreements that must be renewed annually which include:

- A 2022 motor vehicle lease agreement with Showbus.

- A service agreement for rural public transportation.

- Public transportation through an intergovernmental agreement with Mason County.

- A public transportation ordinance.

The board will vote on these action items at the Regular voting meeting Tuesday, March 15 at 6 p.m. in the Orr Building.

[Angela Reiners]