In March the IHPA approved a 60/40 matching grant totaling $16,200, with the local share being $6,480. This money will be used to tuck-point the inside foundation of the elevator and to install electricity for lighting to bring out the architectural features.

Sunday, April 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Atlanta firehouse there will be a spaghetti dinner to support the Hawes elevator. The menu offers spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, drink, and homemade pie and cake, all for a donation. Proceeds will be used to meet the local portion of the matching grant.

The third project expected to be completed this summer is construction of a railroad siding next to the elevator. Bill Thomas, chairman of the J. H. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum board of directors, said the time frame for a wooden boxcar to sit on the siding is less certain. He has contacted several railroad museums and associations but has not yet found an available boxcar.

The J. H. Hawes Grain Elevator, built in 1904 and operated as a commercial enterprise until 1976, is the only fully restored wooden grain elevator in Illinois listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. The museum was dedicated on July 17, 1999. On March 4, 2001, the Illinois state organization of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) also recognized it as a historic site.

The DAR dedicatory plaque describes how the elevator operated: "This restored elevator demonstrates the general handling and storage of grain of that era [early 1900s]. Grain was dumped into a pit and, by a system of belts and pulleys powered by a single cylinder engine, was elevated to storage bins and eventually moved out to rail cars." DAR State Regent Mrs. Robert W. Mitchler dedicated the marker before a crowd of 150.

Thomas said one goal of the museum board is to develop a plan for conducting field trips for elementary and middle school students. Though volunteers have guided many adult groups through the elevator, elementary students are considered a special audience requiring a different approach. Thomas, a former elementary principal and middle school history teacher, said the tours will be "a very active experience" for the students. He hopes to start the school tours in the fall.

Thomas said a long-range goal is to erect or acquire a second building to house agricultural exhibits. According to the museum brochure, grain storage facilities first became important as pioneer farmers produced crops beyond the needs of their families. By the mid-1800s milling and distilling industries created a market for the excess grain, and the railroad built through Atlanta in the 1850s provided a means of transportation. First flat storage warehouses, then bridgelike granaries built over the railway provided facilities to store and transfer the grain.

Responding to the need for new technology, John H. Hawes, a farmer and grain dealer, built his elevator between April and August 1904. He used a gasoline engine to power the vertical bucket conveyor system that raised the grain to the top of the 60-foot elevator and dumped it into vertical storage bins. The brick engine house has been reconstructed with period materials and a 1920 Fairbanks Morse gasoline engine donated by Eminence Grain and Coal Company of rural Atlanta and restored by Deane May of Atlanta.

A period wooden scalehouse, originally used at the CrackerJack Company in Chicago, illustrates the way grain was weighed by the wagonload. The Stanford Grain Company of Stanford donated the scalehouse, and Eugene Craft of Atlanta donated the period scale mechanism.

The elevator’s 97th birthday will be celebrated on Sunday, June 3, from 2 to 4 p.m.

The Atlanta Community Band will provide music, and refreshments will be served. A special highlight for the day will include an authentic re-enactment of the elevator's early days. A team of horses will arrive delivering a grain wagon, to demonstrate the elevator’s operation.

The birthday celebration also opens the summer tour season. The elevator, engine house and scalehouse are open to the public on Sundays during June, July and August from 1 to 3 p.m. Special tours can be scheduled by calling (217) 648-2056 or (217) 648-5077. All tours are free, and donations are accepted.

[Hayden Zimmer sports his new, well-earned T-shirt. It covers the T-shirt he earned last year. As a veteran walker he said he was happy to be there walking on Brenda's team, and that was just after he finished his three miles!]

Centers has been involved with the nationwide fund-raiser since she was diagnosed with MS in 1994.  She used to go to the Springfield walk and then decided Lincoln needed its own walk. Last year Centers organized Lincoln’s first walk, and she’s already planning for next year.  She says each year gets better.  Last year’s walk raised $10,000.  The hope is that this year’s total will be higher.

An inspirational leader, Centers had 30 enthusiastic walkers on her team alone this year.  There were 112 registered participants and some last-minute additions.  Everyone was welcome.  They walked approximately three miles — or two times around the park.  Republican mayoral candidate Beth Davis started the walk.

Teams participating were Mac's Attack, Sunglow Challenge, Scooby Doo's, Penny's Angels II, Sharp Team, LCHS Letterwinners and Wild Stallions.

Team captains were Gene McDonald, Brenda Centers, Harrison Turley, Dawn Gleason, Eleanor Sharp, Brittany Buck and Katie Bottrell.

On a wall of hope displayed at the registration area participants hung their personal messages of encouragement, thanks or dedication to friends or loved ones with MS.

Local committee members for the walk were Gene and Toni McDonald, Jeanne Handlin, Jim and Nancy Ireland, and Greg Campbell.  

Over 350,000 walkers nationwide, in over 700 sites across the county, participated in this year’s MS Walk 

The Illinois Woman of Achievement award recognizes women who demonstrate excellence in their professional or volunteer work and who dedicate their time and effort to enhance their communities. All Illinois mayors and village presidents were invited to select a woman from their community to receive the award.

"Women's History Month is not just about honoring the great women who came before us, but is a time to recognize the women of today who are making history in their own right," Lt. Gov. Wood said. "With boundless energy and limitless generosity, the recipients of this award have committed themselves to improving our schools, hospitals and families, and I congratulate them on their achievements."

Two ceremonies were held this year to recognize these outstanding women. Alison Rosati of NBC Channel 5 News served as the mistress of ceremonies at the Chicago event, at the Union League Club on March 19. Elizabeth Wooley of WICS Channel 20 served as the mistress of ceremonies at the Springfield event, which was at the State Library on March 21. Lt. Gov. Corinne Wood provided welcoming remarks for both ceremonies.

The award program is sponsored by Walgreens and is a collaborative effort of the lieutenant governor’s office, Illinois Municipal League, League of Women Voters of Illinois and the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence. This is the second year the lieutenant governor has hosted the Woman of Achievement Awards.

In the only contest in Lincoln, Republican candidate Elizabeth "Beth" Davis won hardily over Democratic contender Kenneth S. Gray, with 1,458 votes to Gray’s 130.

Running unopposed for city clerk, Juanita Josserand got 1,357 votes. Les Plotner got 1,332 votes for village treasurer. In Ward 1, Benny L. Huskins Sr. got 280 votes; Ward 2 candidate Verl A. Prather got 269; Ward 3 newcomer David R. Armbrust got 215 votes; Ward 4 Alderman Glenn Shelton got 225 votes; and in Ward 5 Michael T. Montcalm garnered 341 votes.

In the three-way mayoral race in Mount Pulaski, William C. Glaze, former Ward 1 alderman, won with 333 votes. Delmar L. Stewart, a former mayor but not an incumbent, came in second with 240 votes, and Robert W. Letterle came in a distant third with 41 votes.

Marla K. Durst, running unopposed for clerk, got 566 votes, and Dee A. Anderson got 539 votes for treasurer. John W. Poffenbarger was also running unopposed for a four-year term as Ward 1 alderman, garnering 122 votes, and John N. Bates Jr., running unopposed for a two-year term, got 94 votes. James P. Fuhrer won the Ward 2 seat with 212 votes, beating incumbent James R. Jackson, who got 99 votes. In the Ward 3 race, incumbent Rhonda Ann Mattern kept the seat with a total of 70 votes. Challenger Robert L. Bates got 29 votes and Thomas A. Gupton Jr. 48 votes.

Atlanta voters decided the mayoral contest in favor of the incumbent, Republican Bill Martin. Martin got 262 votes to challenger Taplia (Jack) Renfrow’s 208. Republican clerk candidate Kenneth R. Martin got 385 votes, and Republican treasurer candidate Vicki Martin got 387 votes.

In the Ward 2 contest, former county board member Darrell Deverman, Republican candidate, won the seat with 106 votes, while Democratic candidate Ricky S. Lynch got 70 votes. In Ward 1, Republican Fred R. Finchum ran unopposed, gathering 109 votes. Ward 3 incumbent Billie J. Cheek, also unopposed, got 121 votes.

In the Latham mayoral race, independent candidate Jim Altig won with 119 votes to incumbent Gary A. Letterly’s 19 votes. Letterly is a member of the Anti-License Party. Latham clerk Pam Coogan, running unopposed as an independent, got 110 votes. Incumbent trustee Beverly K. Altig got 107 votes, David Woodside got 112 votes, and Staci A. Cheseldine got 89 votes to win the three trustee seats. Steve Coogan polled only 80 votes. All are independent candidates.

In New Holland, independent candidate Jeffrey P. Mammen, running unopposed for mayor, polled 113 votes, and Jennie L. Dean, independent candidate for clerk, polled 97. In the race for three four-year trustee terms, Suzanne Aper led with 112 votes, Judith Funderburg was a close second with 111 votes, and Jennifer Tobias polled 64 votes. They won the three seats. The other candidate, Timothy F. Merriman, got 39 votes.

In the race for one two-year trustee vacancy, Frank Reliford polled 84 votes to Guy F. Podbelsek’s 39. All candidates were listed as independents.

Final results for San Jose show that Citizens Party mayoral candidate Duane Worlow polled 159 votes to beat independent Ida M. McWilliams, who got 21 votes. Joy Zimmerman, running unopposed for clerk, got 181 votes. Citizens Party trustee candidates Raymond Satchfield, with 132 votes, Jim Higdon, 118 votes, and Ken Kastner Jr., 134 votes, defeated the three independent candidates, Billy Blackstock, 70 votes, Danny McWilliams, 11 votes, and Larry Andereck, 29 votes.

The referendum to support a tax to fund the police department in San Jose passed by a 100-73 vote.

Elkhart, Broadwell, Emden, Hartsburg and Middletown had no contests for village offices.

In Elkhart, Dayle Eldredge was elected mayor, Gwen Rosenfeld clerk, and Dan Durchholz, Timothy Gleason, Joseph Olson and Charles Matthews trustees.

In Emden, Ivan Rademaker was elected mayor, Frank D. Pieper village clerk, and Joseph Hackett, Crystal Flatley and Key Melton trustees.

In Broadwell, Warren Bradley is village president, Deanna Bradley is clerk, and Paul Muchow, Darrell "Lee" Benner Jr. and William H. "Bill" Kennett are trustees.

Hartsburg mayor is Thomas B. Anderson, and Doris Last is village clerk. Philip R. Langley, Thomas P. Mikelson and Dean Leesman are trustees.

In Middletown, John R. Renfro, Harold S. Stout and Dale K. Nelson were elected trustees. Middletown’s president and clerk were not up for election this year.

The question voters answered was: "Shall Logan County be divided into districts equal in population for the purposes of electing county board members to serve on the Logan County Board commencing in the year 2002?" At present the 13 board members are elected at large, with voters all over the county casting ballots for all members.

The referendum is only advisory, however, and the county board itself will make the final decision.

"This is exactly what the public has been telling me for years, and now the public has spoken," said Rodney White, county board member from New Holland who favors the districtwide option and helped circulate petitions to get the question on the ballot.

Several months ago, the board voted to continue at-large elections, but White says he will ask for that vote to be rescinded. "I asked them to let the public have a chance to speak and they said ‘no’," he said.

Although the turnout in the April 3 election was only a little over 26 percent, White said he thought it was "a very representative vote." "It won in every single precinct," he said.

If the county board votes to change the election method, the new districts will have to be determined by July of this year, he said.

Clifford Sullivan, a county board member from Lincoln who wants to continue the present system, says he believes voters were "misinformed." People were led to believe that every community would have a representative on the board, but that would not happen unless the number of board members is increased, he said.

"We think people will get just as good representation with at-large board members," he said. "People from Lake Fork and Cornland and other communities call me, and I live in Lincoln."

On a recent trip to Springfield, he stopped 55 people and asked them if they could tell him the name of their Sangamon County board member. "None of them knew who their county board member was," he said.

Dick Logan, a board member from Lincoln, said he had voted at the board meeting against staying with at-large elections because he wanted to wait until after the election to see what the voters wanted.

"I’m not really in favor of it, but I don’t object to it either," he said. "Running for election should be easier. If you run at large, you have to cover the whole county."

In Lake Fork Township, three Republicans and one Democratic candidate were elected to trustee posts. Richard L. Seefeldt, with 31 votes, Charlotte Baldwin, with 32, and Franklin Gaisler, 24 votes, all Republicans, won trustee seats, as did Democrat John S. Grathwohl, with 25 votes. Democrats Herbert J. Seitzer and Jennifer K. Proctor got 17 and 11 votes, respectively. Robert H. Davis, Republican, got 35 votes for supervisor; Jean E. Davis, Democrat, got 39 votes for clerk; and Robert W. Westen, Democrat, got 33 votes for highway commissioner.

Contests for all posts were decided in Aetna Township. Republican Alan R. Roos defeated Democrat Pamela S. England 157-50 for supervisor. Republican Kevin Coers defeated Democrat Dale Karrick for clerk, 151-49. Republican John W. "Bill" Howe defeated Democrat Dennis D. Karrick 172-42 for highway commissioner.

The four trustee seats were won by Republicans Mary E. Hamilton, 166 votes, and Mark Carlin, 140 votes, and Democrats Linda L. Rentmeister, 155 votes, and Dale Maxheimer Sr., 111 votes. Republicans Edwin Dahmm and Jacob D. Johnson got 110 and 75 votes, respectively.

In Oran Township, Dan White, unopposed, got 93 votes for supervisor; Emil Walker, also unopposed, got 86 votes for clerk; and Jerry Overbey got 89 votes for highway commissioner. All are Democrats.

In the trustee races, eight candidates were running for four seats. Three Republicans and one Democrat were elected: Randy Wolf, 50 votes, Ed Voyles, 68 votes, Harold Drake, 63 votes, Republicans; and Dave Lock, 43 votes, Democrat. Republican Connie Snyder got 38 votes, and Democrats tallied as follows: John Roche 21, Tom Ramlow 16 and Jack Welch 36.

L. Randall Geddert, Republican candidate for supervisor, ran unopposed and garnered 438 votes. Atlanta had no candidate who filed for clerk. Democrat T. R. (Junior) Renfrow ran unopposed for highway commissioner and received 416 votes.

In the trustee races, seven candidates filed. Winners were Republicans Rodney Leesman, 370 votes, Ronald Kindred, 361 votes, and F. Alex Hoblit, 271 votes, along with Democrat Leo J. Mayberry, 251 votes. Republican Robert Johnson got 242 votes, and Democrats Everett Renfrow and Mary Powell got 152 and 203 votes, respectively.

Republican Diane S. Blaum, running unopposed for township supervisor in Mount Pulaski, got 717 votes, and Republican Shirley R. Schaal, running unopposed for clerk, got 690 votes. Independent candidate Leslie "Foxie" Hild defeated Republican Dale E. McCain for highway commissioner, 413-369. Republican trustees Carl E. Oglesby, with 614 votes, Ronald R. Leesman, 610 votes, and Kent Brooker, 665 votes, along with Democrat Scott A. Faith, 663 votes, were unopposed for the four seats.

Chester Township voters chose three Republicans and one Democrat to fill the four trustee seats. Republicans Eugene Hassebrock got 72 votes, David Klockenga 66 votes and Harold Strampp 79 votes. Democrat David Gleason got 79 votes and Republican Gregory Bradley trailed with 41 votes. Lowell "Bud" Petty, Republican, was re-elected township supervisor, with 93 votes; Republican Laura L. Slayton was elected clerk, with 101 votes, and Democrat Homer S. Sheley was elected highway commissioner, with 95 votes.

In Orvil Township, voters chose Scott Behrends, Republican, over Richard Reiners, Democrat, for highway commissioner, 181-120. William Boerma, Democrat, ran unopposed for supervisor and received 263 votes. Roberta Rademaker ran unopposed for clerk, receiving 268 votes. Two Democrats and two Republicans were elected to the four trustee seats: William Rademaker and Bruce Struebing, both Democrats, got 194 and 174 votes, respectively, and Republicans Dale Eeten and Luther Leesman got 220 and 190 votes. Democrats Ivan Rademaker and Clarence Duane Melton trailed with 172 and 86 votes.

Voters in Prairie Creek Township chose four trustees from a field of five candidates. Winners were Republicans William Zimmer, 79 votes, Lisa Wrage, 65 votes, and Blair Hoerbert, 88 votes, along with Democrat Keith Rummell, 80 votes. Republican David Parr trailed with 43 votes. Township clerk Julie Cross, Republican, who ran unopposed, was elected with 90 votes, and highway commissioner Kevin R. Ubbenga, Republican, also unopposed, got 87 votes. No candidate filed for township supervisor.

There were no contests in Broadwell, Corwin, East Lincoln, Elkhart, Eminence, Hurlbut, Laenna, Sheridan and West Lincoln townships.

In Chester-East Lincoln School District 61, five candidates ran for the four four-year terms. Winners were Jim Meyrick, 280 votes; Jennifer Dalrymple, 250 votes; Aaron Leesman, 292 votes; and Bob Buse, 278. Gladys Elkins trailed with 208 votes. No candidate filed to fill the unexpired two-year term.

Mount Pulaski Community Unit District 23 also had five candidates to fill four seats. Winners were Deron Powell, 997 votes; John V. Olson, 1,021 votes; Julie A. Milner, 913 votes; and Raymond R. Smith, 748 votes. Trailing was Cheryl D. Roberts with 659 votes.

Heartland Community College District 540 elected three trustees from a field of five: Larry L. Littell, 7,950 votes; Robert L. Tuttle, 11,293 votes; and Harry Dunham, 9,141 votes. Trailing were Charles Sila, with 7,412 votes, and V. L. "Budd" Fairfield, 7,043 votes.

There were no contests in Lincoln Elementary School District 27, West Lincoln-Broadwell District 92, Lincoln Community High School District 404, New Holland-Middletown Elementary District 88 or Hartsburg-Emden Community Unit District 21.

Health Department Administrator Lloyd Evans presented the awards at a recent meeting of the Lincoln City Council. The awards, which have been given for the past four years, also help commemorate Public Health Week, which this year is April 2 through 8.

Evans commended Mayor Ritter for her participation in many health-based programs, including her co-chairmanship of the Healthy Communities Partnership (HCP), a Logan County umbrella organization that coordinates the work of a number of community service agencies, as well as her membership on the Chamber of Commerce Health Care Committee and the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Task Force (ATOD).

"She not only attends but contributes in the meetings, and she follows up on everything she says she will do," Evans said. "She also allows others on her staff to participate in the work of health care organizations."

Chiefs Ebelherr and Ludolph follow her example and also allow their staff members to participate in community projects, Evans added. He thanked Ebelherr for his and his staff’s participation on the Safe Schools Task Force and the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and for helping the Health Department get its safety system working in its new quarters. The Police Department, Evans said, participated in the Safe Schools, LEPC, ATOD, and the Domestic Abuse and Violence Task Force and also helped the Health Department compile statistics to apply for grants for prevention programs.

He commended the police and fire departments for their efforts in prevention programs. "The only thing harder than preparing for a disaster is explaining why you didn’t," he said.

Although the awards were given to individuals, the entire city council shares the honor, he said. "The council and the city of Lincoln have a philosophy of supporting local organizations. In most communities, the fire department fights fires, the police department gives tickets, and the mayor cuts ribbons and signs things. Lincoln is exceptional. People here have gone beyond their local duties."

He used the example of a city built at the top of the cliff. "Most cities would see their duty as providing ambulances for people who fall off the cliff. Public health departments see their duty as building fences to keep people from falling off in the first place. But the people in this city help build the fences, and not all cities do that."

He said that even at the state level Lincoln and Logan County are acknowledged as being ahead of many other communities in having organizations work together to improve public health and raise public awareness of health issues.

"To find an organization like Healthy Communities Partnership is rare," he said. "We are often told at state meetings that we’re ahead of the curve.

"There are countless examples of community cooperation that people don’t realize, because our local organizations — Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital and the rest of the medical community, the Public Aid staff, and the Chamber of Commerce, for example — work so well together."

Along with the Goodwill Awards, the Health Department also gives a Partnership Award, which this year will go to the Lincoln Park District. "We work so well together that we almost overlook them," Evans said.

In previous years, Goodwill Awards went to Police Officer Rich Montcalm; Kristi Simpson of Logan-Mason Mental Health; Woody Hester, CEO of ALMH; Dayle Eldredge, chairman of HCP; Alan Markwood of the Chestnut Health System, for helping with an ongoing ATOD grant; Mary Amberger, formerly of Logan-Mason Mental Health; Carolyn Webster, former member of the Board of Health and of the Logan County Board; and former local radio station WVAX.

Partnership Awards in previous years went to the local Emergency Services and Disaster Agency, the Department of Human Services, the Lincoln-Logan Chamber of Commerce’s Health Care Committee, and Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

"We started giving these awards to show these people that we do appreciate them and that they are doing something out of the ordinary," Evans said.

Spokesman for the group, Daniel Bess, cited problems with raw sewage on the grounds, potholes in the roads, uncollected garbage, weeds more than 6-feet high in the summer and no snow removal in the winter. He claimed the landlord has ignored the residents’ complaints and that conditions have been bad for the past five years.

He also said the mobile home park is now operating without a license, a charge which was confirmed Tuesday morning by a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Public Health.

All residents but one are refusing to pay rent because of lack of maintenance, Bess said, and the landlord has sent eviction notices to some residents. Residents showed members of the press pictures of the mobile home park, including uncut weeds and heaps of garbage.

Les Last, building code inspector, told the Lincoln Daily News that last year there was open sewage on the ground, and the city paid a private company about $300 to open up a blocked sewer. He also confirmed that weeds were uncut and garbage uncollected. He said the city has picked up garbage and put a dumpster on the property, at a cost of $700 to $800.

"It’s been a problem ever since I’ve been here, and it’s gradually gotten worse and worse," Last said.

He said the trailer park is part of the Paul Levy estate and is being purchased contract for deed by Joe Garcia, who lives in Indiana. Lincoln residents are in charge of managing the property, Last said.

Tom Schafer, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Public Health, told the Lincoln Daily News that the department has denied the Shady Grove Mobile Park a license to operate as of Nov. 28, 2000.

"They are now operating a mobile home park without a license," he said. "That is a violation of state law and has been referred to the Logan County state’s attorney’s office."

He said the Department of Public Health has been trying to work with the mobile home park since last April of last year. Between April and November, the department had been trying to get the owners to make corrections. He said a certified letter was sent to the owners Nov. 3 but was returned unclaimed. Another letter was sent later in the month.

The license was denied because of health hazards, which included sewage on the ground, uncollected garbage, old tires, abandoned automobiles and mobile homes, grass and weeds uncut, addresses not on homes, and roads that were not maintained in passable condition, Schafer said.

"We have taken every effort to work with them and have the health hazards removed. But the owners show an unwillingness to make the corrections, so we had no choice but to deny the license."

Notices of the license denial were sent to the Logan County state’s attorney’s office on March 1 and again on March 27. "The state’s attorney can now take whatever action he sees as appropriate," Schafer said.

Mitchell has said previously that he could not vote for the ordinance because of the lack of off-street parking requirements. The ordinance committee originally suggested each bed and breakfast have one off-street parking space for each sleeping room but later decided the requirement was too restrictive.

"If we are going to allow bed and breakfasts not to adhere to the off-street parking requirements, we should waive the rules for all other similar places that offer overnight accommodations," Mitchell said. These could be hotels, motels, clubs, lodging and boarding houses, or any other establishments that provide sleeping accommodations and are required by the city code to have off-street parking.

"We can’t do for one and not for everyone," Mitchell said.

Stone did not comment on his reason for voting no.

The council also passed an ordinance making bed-and-breakfast establishments a permitted use in an R-2 (residential) district. Mitchell and Stone also voted against this ordinance.

The new ordinance allows bed and breakfasts to have no more than five guest rooms, and no more than two persons may sleep in one room. Breakfast may be served to guests only. Strict rules are in place for food handling, as well as strict fire regulations, which include interconnected smoke alarms. A floor plan of all bed and breakfasts must be on file with the fire department.

The police committee, which met before the regular council meeting, heard a presentation from Chief Richard Ludolph, Sgt. Tom Rowland and Officer Paul Adams about the status of the application for the COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) grant. Contrary to what the council was told previously, the police department cannot go in with any other agency, such as the sheriff’s department or the state’s attorney’s office, to apply for the grant. "It is a very restrictive grant," Ludolph said.

The grant would provide computer technology that would give officers in patrol cars the ability to interface with computers in police headquarters and allow them to stay on the streets while making reports. "It would enable us to integrate the mobile computers with the office’s record management system," Ludolph said.

At present, when an officer wants to file a report or citation or to get certain information, he must come into the safety complex. Officers in patrol cars can use their laptops to get information from LEADS (Law Enforcement Administration Data System) and send messages from car to car, but they cannot enter any information into the office computer system.

With the new system, officers would be able to write reports in the patrol cars while still being available in the community, send the reports to the safety complex, have them approved by supervisors, and also access any information the department has about a specific individual.

"For example, we could do this while sitting in a car in the Kroger parking lot along Woodlawn Road, where we would still be available to people in the community," Rowland explained.

The proposed new system would free up 9,676 hours per year, the equivalent of putting 5.3 new officers on the streets, Adams told the committee. The federal grant would pay 75 percent of the cost, $67,602, while the city would pay 25 percent, $22,534, plus a $3,615 annual maintenance fee, he said.

The police committee approved the grant application, which must be filed by April 6.

The sidewalks, forestry and lighting committee also met before the regular council meeting to revisit the perennial problem of leaf removal. The committee voted to put a line item for $12,000 into the budget for the coming fiscal year for the possible purchase of leaf disposal equipment, perhaps another leaf vacuum and a container box. Street Superintendent Donnie Osborne said the leaf vacuums do a good job but require three men to run. He also told the committee the city should not look to volunteer help, such as workers from correctional centers, to supply the extra manpower. The committee made no decision on any equipment purchases or any policy changes in the leaf disposal ordinance.

In other business, the council approved the purchase by the fire department of a new rescue-pumper from Pierce at a cost of $255,095, with a possible $5,600 price reduction based on pre-pay options and a guaranteed trade-in on two old vehicles. The new vehicle should be available in six to eight months.