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[Photo by Lynn Spellman]
Rod White
of rural New Holland has been the lone Democrat for the last 16 of
his 20 years on the board. The only other Democratic board member he
knows was Bob Copeland in 1982-86.
Over two decades White has seen the
cost of doing county business double while revenue declined. The
total budget was about $5 million in 1982 and is now about $10
million. Assessed valuation has remained stable, but a big revenue
drop occurred just as he was joining the board. Federal revenue
sharing of about $200,000 a year came to an abrupt halt,
necessitating big cuts in 1982.
Since then revenue has followed a
cyclical pattern, with highs occurring in the mid- to late ’80s and
’90s. White, who has chaired the finance committee for a decade,
believes the board has followed a conservative financial philosophy
and built up good reserves, enough to outlast two more years of
deficit budgets. Compared to other counties, Logan has mid to high
reserves and mid to low salaries, he said, so in a continued
downturn it would be one of the last counties in the state to be in
trouble.
Advancing technology is another change.
White remembers the first request for a word processor instead of a
typewriter and when dictaphones to record messages replaced the
pencil. Now county offices are computer-based with fiber-optic
connections.
While computers were being installed,
workload increased, but in most departments employment remained
stable. White’s conclusion is that computers did not replace any
employees but may have kept the need for new workers down.
A few areas did grow. White noted that
the probation office increased from two to six employees and the
court system grew from two to three and sometimes four courts in
session. The state’s attorney’s and circuit clerk’s offices have
seen small employment increases. On the other hand the highway
department has fewer workers than 20 years ago.
With new equipment and some new
employees, the county needed more space. White said the board looked
for years for more room until the current Dr. John Logan county
building became available. "This one really fell into place," he
said.
A sign of the times is increasing
courthouse security. The metal detector and X-ray machine at the
lone remaining entrance are the first examples. "We think we don’t
need it," White commented, but news from other places shows that the
board must provide security.
In 1982 more board members were charged
with specific responsibilities such as insurance. Then a board
secretary and insurance coordinator was hired. White thinks in the
future the county will need an administrator, consolidating work
done by the board secretary, finance committee chair and auditor.
After retiring from the board, White
does not expect to take any committee positions but is available as
an adviser. "Anything I can do for the best interests of the county
I’ll always be available to do," he promised. He and Paul Gleason
are inventorying antiques at the courthouse.
[Photo by Jan Youngquist]
Doug Dutz
of Lincoln considers his work with Emergency Services and Disaster
Agency, the sheriff and the coroner to be his most significant
contribution in 12 years on the county board. He currently chairs
the law enforcement and ESDA committee and has served on the
negotiating team for Fraternal Order of Police contracts since 1990.
He noted that in 2001 jailers, janitors, cooks and secretaries
joined the deputies in the FOP.
During Dutz’s tenure the sheriff’s
budget has increased and new cars were purchased. He is pleased with
the good working relationship developed with both sheriff and
coroner.
ESDA was weak when he was appointed to
the committee in 1992, Dutz recalled. Since Dan Fulscher was
appointed director in 1993, the agency has increased its budget,
upgraded and modernized equipment and improved its effectiveness.
Fulscher has earned certification as an Illinois Professional
Emergency Manager, and ESDA co-workers Terry Storer and Diane Ruff
have begun the educational program toward certification. Dutz also
gives Fulscher "overwhelming credit for developing one of the better
911s in the state."
Dutz served as county board chair
1997-98 and notes that the county enjoyed its biggest surplus during
those two years, though he takes no personal credit for it.
A member of the building and grounds
committee, he is pleased with courthouse improvements such as new
sidewalks and ramps as well as purchase of the John Logan building.
Along with the sidewalks he points to park lighting as "minor but
something you have to do."
Dutz has also served on the airport
committee. Improvements there include higher income, new hangars and
increased occupancy. A golf course feasibility study was done, and
though there is no golf course, he said it is still a possibility
that would be good for the community.
Dutz has been appointed to the
committee to audit the sheriff’s department. In addition, he said he
and other retiring board members will be available, if asked, to
help acquaint new board members with committee operations and
responsibilities.
[to top of second column in
this article]
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[Photo by Jan Youngquist]
For Clifford "Sonny" Sullivan of
Lincoln, the most memorable moments in six years on the county board
have come from his service on the animal control committee. He was a
member of the committee for two years before chairing it for four.
"I’m an animal lover," he said in explaining his initial
appointment.
"I always try to see the people’s needs
when they call," Sullivan noted. Often he finds that more than
anything else they want a listener. If he does not know the answer
to their question, he finds out and returns the call. Sullivan plans
to continue working for animal control as a volunteer. "I really
love it out there," he explained.
He said the most significant change
during his tenure is development of the
animal control
website so animals can be adopted instead of euthanized. As an
example he recalled that two families from Barrington phoned on the
same day to say they had seen animals on the site that they wanted
to adopt. Fortunately, they chose different animals and both were
still available. The two families came the next day to adopt their
pets.
Sullivan said he thinks the county
board has accomplished much during his tenure. As an example he
pointed to installation of fiber-optic connections in county offices
so officials can have information at their fingertips. He praised
Circuit Clerk Carla Bender for always looking for something better
for county citizens, County Clerk Sally Litterly for working to make
everyone’s vote count and Treasurer Mary Bruns for seeking out the
best interest rates. He said he is proud to have served the county.
[Photo by Lynn Spellman]
Roger Bock
of rural Elkhart said that
accomplishments during his three years on the board include the
purchase and remodeling of the John Logan building and the
paramedics’ transition from the hospital to independent status. The
employees were retained, and the paramedics developed their own
management under a board of directors. Their service is good and
they are self-supporting or nearly so.
The most contentious issue during
Bock’s board service was rezoning the former interurban railroad
ground for the Elkhart mine. On one side were those seeking economic
development and high-paying jobs. Opposing them were people who
consider an above-ground belt unsightly and some with environmental
concerns. The initial contract for the land said it could be used
for "coal transportation" but did not specify what type.
For the past two years Bock has chaired
the airport and farm committee. At Logan County Airport he has seen
improvements to drainage and the sod runway. City water is now
available, and a credit card fuel pump has been installed. With
federal and state support, the next few years will see an extended
runway, a new truck with snow blade, a reconstructed entrance road,
expanded ramp and a pipe through the drainage ditch.
Bock said the airport is often a
businessperson’s first view of Lincoln, and it should be a clean,
well-lit facility. He is pleased to have played a part in making
this doorway to the community more user-friendly and welcoming.
In the past two months Bock has been
appointed to two committees. The Logan County Board of Health is
familiar territory because he has served on the health department
negotiating committee. The Resource Conservation District is a new
entity with representatives from six counties. Bock expressed thanks
to the people of Logan County for his opportunity to serve them.
[Photo by Lynn Spellman]
Jim Griffin
of Lincoln cited two important changes that have taken place during
the two years he has served on the county board. First is the
reduction in property size necessary for a country home from five
acres to one. He said he thinks the board basically made it possible
for a citizen of average means to move out in the country and build
a house there.
Second is increased use of the bidding
process. "We pretty much bid out everything" except the insurance
contract during the past year, he affirmed. The insurance policy for
county employees will be put up for bids in 2003.
Griffin said he is frustrated by the
deficit budgets of the past three years. When he came on the board
in December 2000, the current fund balance was $4.265 million. Now
it is $2.546 million, a decrease of $1.719 million. "That’s a lot of
money," he said. "That bothers me. You can’t run a business that
way."
[Photo by Lynn Spellman]
Tom Cash
of Latham said he had wanted a slot on the county board since Bud
Behrends died in 1994. At that time he petitioned for the
appointment and was asked, "Where is Latham?" He strongly supports
the change to district representation so that all parts of the
county are represented on the board. He has served for one year.
On Tuesday
night board chair Dick Logan appointed Cash to the planning and
zoning committee. He is pleased with that post and thinks it is one
where he can contribute. Cash was first appointed to planning and
zoning in March 1995.
[Lynn
Spellman]
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