[MAY 22, 2002]  Three county officeholders will earn $1,500 more next year and sheriff’s deputies will get a 5 percent raise, but county board salaries and benefits will remain frozen for 10 years, following action at the Logan County Board meeting Tuesday night.

The three elected officials will receive $1,500 raises for each of the next four years, with Sheriff Tony Solomon making $48,995 next year and County Clerk Sally Litterly and Treasurer Mary Ellen Bruns each earning $38,000. For Solomon that is a 3.15 percent increase and for Litterly and Bruns a 4.1 percent raise. Salaries of county officials are set at staggered times.

Finance committee member Roger Bock said Logan County salaries are well below the average of eight nearby counties of similar population. In fact, even with the raises, Litterly’s and Bruns’ salaries are 8.75 percent below those in the lowest comparable county, Christian.

Saying, "We should be paying what the industry standard is," Dave Hepler proposed an amendment to put Litterly and Bruns at $42,000 each in fiscal year 2003, then add $1,500 for each of the next three years. The amendment failed 4-9, with Hepler, Tom Cash, Cliff Sullivan and Dale Voyles voting for it. The motion to give the three officials $1,500 raises in each of the four years passed 11-2, with Jim Griffin and Dick Logan opposing.

Salaries and benefits for county board members are set once a decade. Finance chair Rod White said salaries of $35 per meeting, with only one meeting counted per day, are the lowest in 10 counties, but when insurance and retirement benefits are added in, the total rises to somewhere in the bottom quarter. The vote to keep the total package as is was unanimous.

After a brief executive session, the board voted 12-1 with White dissenting to approve a contract with Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 78. The union previously approved the contract. Total salaries of the 17 deputies on the 10-step schedule would rise 5 percent in the first year of the contract, 3.8 percent in the second year and 4.4 percent in the third. That means an extra $26,746 for the county to pay in the first year. The most senior deputy has worked for the county 23 years and the newest five months.

First-year salaries, retroactive to Dec. 1, 2001, range from $25,000 for a beginning deputy to $36,000 for a 30-year veteran. Each step gains $1,000 in each of the next two years. Sergeants are paid $2,500 above the scale.

The contract also provides for full health insurance coverage, criminal defense when the officer is found not guilty, three personal days per year and a 50 percent buyback of unused sick days up to 60 when the deputy retires. Eight of the 17 become eligible to retire within the three-year contract period.

In another matter, the board heard news from the Finance Committee that was more good than bad. Bock reported that for the first five months of fiscal year 2002 revenues from 1 percent and one-fourth percent sales taxes, income tax and interest earned are $120,000 short of budget projections. However, Voyles said that for the same period expenses are even farther under budget — more than $308,000 under the five-month expectation of 42 percent of budgeted expenses.

In an amendment to the county zoning ordinance, the board voted to charge fees of $1,000 for communication towers, equipment, building and fencing, and $500 for attaching a new device to an existing tower. The Zoning Board of Appeals previously approved the measure 5-0. Zoning officer Bud Miller said there were no comments on the fees at the public hearing May 20. Phil Mahler, director of the Regional Planning Commission, said that with the previous fee of $50 per tower the county was guilty of "way, way, way undercharging."

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Another zoning issue, regarding certification of the water supply before issuing a building permit, was returned to the zoning board for clarification.

County board members voted unanimously in favor of entering a six-county resource conservation and development area. Bill Dickerson of Natural Resources Conservation Service said that the program, begun in 1964, has been successful in Illinois, with eight approved areas and one pending, involving a total of 62 counties. Logan would combine with Cass, Christian, Mason, Menard and Sangamon counties to identify types of natural resource concerns and methods of addressing them, including applying for grants.

Dickerson is asking for $200 in startup money from each county. If the resource conservation and development area is approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, he anticipates annual county dues of $250-$275. Three citizens of each county will serve on the board.

In other business, with no dissenting votes, the board

•  Approved an ordinance making it illegal for a minor under 18 to possess tobacco products, except when a parent or legal guardian is present, and for a person to provide tobacco to a minor. Possession by a minor is punishable by fines up to $50 for a first or second offense and $100 for a third or subsequent offense. Fines for providing tobacco to a minor range up to $75 for a first offense and $400 for another. Half of the money from fines goes into a fund to be used for preventing tobacco abuse. Board Chairman Dick Logan said state grants are available for enforcement of such laws.

•  Awarded the bid for repair of a section of road in Sheridan Township to P.H. Broughton for $118,307.63. Township motor fuel funds will pay for the project.

•  Awarded the bid for carpeting the state’s attorney’s office, including removing and disposing of old carpet, to Carpet House for $6,473.89.

•  Awarded the contract for painting the interior of the animal shelter building to Michael Simonson Painting for $3,325.

•  Made five appointments to county boards: Shirley Bartelmay to the cemetery maintenance district, Janet Schultz to the housing authority, Dr. Dean Hauter to the tuberculosis board, and Norma Bathe and Jim Altig to the E-911 board.

•  Approved a property sale for delinquent taxes. Terry Werth abstained.

Despite the presence of city and development officials, the issue of the industrial park proposed by Economic Development Council did not come up at the meeting. However, Logan informed the board that Loren Birnbaum of rural Lincoln, whose property is next to the northeast-side site of the proposed park, south of Kruger elevator, has filed an objection to rezoning the site commercial.

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]

[MAY 22, 2002]  What is a greenway development? It’s more than a bicycling and hiking trail. It includes waterway activities where available and attracts tourism. At Monday evening’s city council meeting, Phil Mahler, Logan County Regional Planning Commission director, shared the newest information regarding the development of a recreational trailway through Logan County.

Mahler has received letters of support to pursue this project from Lincoln Mayor Beth Davis, LCHS Superintendent Fred Plese and Marcia Greenslate, director of parks and recreation. The project is still in its early planning stages, but Mahler has been in touch with Scott Schuett, landscape architect for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "LCRPC director Phil Mahler, zoning officer Bud Miller, and with support of our board chairman, Richard Logan, resource areas are being identified to facilitate the project. Moreover, we are anxious to work closely with IDNR so the original concept of a bike trail can evolve into a Greenway Preservation Program. This may include the original bike and fitness trail but also could develop a canoeing route along with boating, fishing, picnicking and other healthy activities."

The creation of a greenway along this section will provide continuity on a north-south corridor connecting McLean and Sangamon counties. The addition of two more counties, Livingston and Macoupin, is needed to complete the greenway corridor from Lake to Monroe counties.

State funding is available in the form of grants up to $20,000. The Department of Agriculture has offered to assist with getting these grants. No financial commitment is required with the grant that is being looked at now, but a certain percentage of matching labor or materials is expected. Mahler sees no problem getting local labor for this, as he’s already had some interest from local businesses with resources to make commitments toward it. The project will take place in stages, with further grants available from one year to the next. "Some dollars can be gotten, if not this year, then next for certain, and planning can begin," he says.

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Completing the Logan County section will make a Chicago to St. Louis greenway. There are three sections for the local trail: entering, around and leaving Lincoln. All run along old Route 66. The first section is south of town, running along the train tracks from Elkhart to Madigan State Park. The second goes around Lincoln following old 66. The third runs from Lincoln to Atlanta beside the train tracks and old 66.

The first to be developed would be the middle section around Lincoln. Mahler believes that getting permission for land use from landowners for the projected trailway should be no problem, as 20 percent of the land is flood plain.

Also up for consideration as part of the greenway is keeping a section of Salt Creek maintained for canoeing. The section currently proposed runs from Rocky Ford to Middletown. It would be encouraged to get an outfitter to run canoes on it.

[Jan Youngquist]

[MAY 21, 2002]  A number of varied and diverse issues were discussed and voted on at Monday evening’s Lincoln City Council meeting. It was noted that Alderman Verl Prather was absent due to illness.

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[Jan Youngquist]

Copy of a report from Les Plotner

4. Your Illinois Municipal League legislative bulletin of May 10, 2002 warns that the State of Illinois is considering reductions in the State Shared Income Tax as a Budget balancing measure. That would cause a $6.75 annual loss per person to Municipalities. Using our latest population count of 15,369 for Lincoln the loss would be $103,275 for the Fiscal Year if enacted. The estimated income tax receipt estimate for FY2002-2003 has already been lowered from $75.60 to $74.10.

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[See comparative summary below on state sales tax distribution.]

• Ten categories used for reporting purposes

• Each category group by tax type

MT - Municipal Tax: This is the 1% municipal share of the 6.25% statewide rate on general merchandise (equivalent to 16% of tax collections) and 100% of the tax collections of the 1% rate on qualifying food, drugs, and medical appliances for taxable sales made within the corporate limits of the municipality. This amount is returned to the municipality where the sale is made.

General Merchandise: Dept. stores, variety stores, miscellaneous general merchandise stores.

Food: Grocery stores, meat/fish markets, fruit/vegetable markets, confectionery stores, dairy product stores, retail bakeries, misc. food stores.

Places: Eating places, drinking places, hotels and motels.

Apparel: Clothing stores, shoe stores, misc. apparel and accessory stores.

Furniture, Household, and Radio: Furniture and floor covering stores, household appliances, radio/TV/electronic stores, computer and hardware stores, repair stores of all kinds.

Lumber, Building and Hardware: Single family construction, residential/non-residential construction, industrial buildings and warehouses, highway/street/bridge/water/sewer line construction, plumbing/heating/air conditioning, masonry, carpentry, concrete work, etc.

Automotive and Filling Stations: New and used car dealers, auto/home supply stores, gasoline service stations, boat dealers, recreational vehicle dealers, motorcycle dealers, vehicle leasing firms, car washes, auto repair shops, etc.

Drugs and Miscellaneous Retail: Drug stores, liquor stores, used merchandise stores, sporting goods, bicycles, book stores, jewelry stores, gift shops, fuel oil dealers, florists, tobacco stores, optical stores, etc.

Agriculture and All Others: Crop sales, nursery products, veterinary services, lawn/garden services, office equipment, taxicab services, and many others.

Manufacturers: Candy products, manufactured ice, millwork, glass containers, concrete blocks, ready-mixed concrete, lawn and garden equipment, burial caskets, and numerous other types of manufacturers.

• For the period, Lincoln received $16,082 less in 2001 than in 2000.
• The largest losses occurred in: Food ($10,446); Furniture and Household ($4,040); and Automotive and Filling Stations ($16,528).
• The largest gains occurred in: General Merchandise ($5,072); Drugs and Misc. Retail ($10,778); and Agriculture and All Others ($5,775).
• Can you explain why Automotive/Filling Stations were down while Drinking and Eating Places were about the same in the two comparative periods?
• Why the gain in Drugs and Misc. Retail while Furniture and Household Sales were down?
• The number of Taxpayers (Retailers) who filed returns during the period were almost the same: 2000 (462) and 2001 (464).

• For the reporting year (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31) there was a $71,029 drop in sales tax in 2001 compared to 2000.
• The largest losses in 2001 as compared with 2000 were: Automotive/Filling Stations ($65,166); Furniture and Household ($19,360); Agriculture and All Others ($8,351); Manufacturers ($7,038) and Food ($6,328).
• The only gains in 2001 as compared with 2000 were: Drugs and Miscellaneous Retail ($25,560); General Merchandise ($12,115); and Lumber, Building, and Hardware ($3,752).
• In the Drinking and Eating category we lost only $1,480 in sales tax revenues in 2001 as compared to 2000. I guess we have our priorities, don’t we?
• The number of Taxpayers (Retailers) who filed returns for the two years were virtually the same: 628 (in 2000) and 626 (2001). One probably asks why the numbers of Taxpayers is higher for the year than for the Fourth Quarter Comparison. We suspect that the extra vendors for the Logan County Fair and the Arts and Balloon Fest add to the yearly totals.

[MAY 20, 2002]  The board of School District 27, in its meeting last week, continued trying to cut construction costs for the new Central School, with somewhat mixed results.

Cuts are necessary because in February, when bids were opened, the board found costs were almost $800,000 more than estimated for the approximately $6 million project.

Board members learned they can save about $64,000 on food service equipment, but they will not be able to save an estimated $80,000 to $90,000 on the exterior building system by using a combination of brick and a synthetic material instead of all brick.

Architect Dave Leonatti and members of the construction management firm S.M. Wilson had hoped to cut costs by using the synthetic material on 40 percent of the building but found this would not be less expensive.

The board decided to stay with the original design of an all-brick exterior. Board members chose a color from a number of samples brought in by Leonatti, selecting a blend of reddish bricks showing a slight variation in color.

They also chose a seal brown color for the building’s standing seam metal roof.

The choice of brands of high-efficiency boilers is still up in the air, pending more research by the architect and construction management firm, but the board has already decided to use only three boilers instead of the four originally suggested.

A fire department connection on the outside of the building will not be recessed, as originally planned, and a closed-circuit TV system to monitor hallways and entries was entirely eliminated.

Drywall and acoustical ceilings will be rebid. A local firm, Myers Industries, is bidding on bookcases and cabinetry for the classrooms.

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In other business, John Welsh of the Junior High Booster Club asked the board if the club could build a concession stand at the ball diamond.

The stand would be added to the front of the storage shed that is already on the property. Welsh said that because the park district will be using the ball diamond in the summer, this would give the booster club a good opportunity to raise funds. He said volunteers would do most of the work.

Welsh also said he would like to consider adding restrooms to the concession stand if that is feasible.

Board member Marilyn Montgomery asked who would maintain and clean the restroom. Welsh said the booster club would maintain them during the summer.

Welsh said the club was asking the board for $3,500 at most for the concession stand and that another local organization would contribute the other funds needed.

Board president Bruce Carmitchel asked him to give the board more specific numbers on the cost of the project, including costs with or without the restrooms.

[Joan Crabb]

A previous story on cost cuts for the building project ran April 18 in LDN:  "District 27 halts construction, cuts costs on Central School"

[MAY 18, 2002]  BELLEVILLE — St. Clair County Circuit Court Judge Alexis Otis-Lewis issued a preliminary injunction delaying the Ryan administration’s scheduled layoffs of 1,800 employees. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by AFSCME Council 31 which seeks to compel the governor to submit disagreements regarding the layoffs to an independent arbitrator. The union represents the affected employees, most of whom work in the areas of public safety and human services.

"We’ve been saying all along that laying off state employees cannot solve Illinois’ budget crisis," said Henry Bayer, executive director of AFSCME Council 31." The intended layoffs would inflict pain on state employees and deny the citizens of Illinois vital public services."

Previously AFSCME had won a temporary restraining order from Judge Otis-Lewis on March 8 against the Ryan administration’s plan to institute one-day furloughs for state employees. The judge allowed AFSCME to amend the complaint three weeks ago to cover permanent layoffs as well.

On Wednesday Judge Otis-Lewis agreed with AFSCME that allowing the state to proceed with the layoffs as scheduled without going through proper arbitration procedures for resolving the union’s grievance would cause "irreparable harm" to the affected employees.

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"Instead of trying to scapegoat AFSCME, violating collective bargaining agreements and circumventing state law, Governor Ryan should show some leadership and propose real, responsible solutions to the state's fiscal problems," Bayer said.

"We're hopeful that the General Assembly will pass a budget that provides for the continuation of state services and makes the issue of layoffs moot," he added.

[AFSCME Council 31 news release]

[MAY 18, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — The cancellation of Thursday’s scheduled session of the Illinois House did not stop state Rep. Jonathan Wright and his House Republican colleagues from continuing their work to address the state budget crisis. Rep. Wright and his fellow House Republicans conducted six working sessions on the budget Thursday, painstakingly going through the state budget and asking questions of agency directors to identify areas where spending can be cut without impacting services crucial to our families and communities.

"The Democrats who control the House schedule decided to take the day off and go home; that’s their choice. My Republican colleagues and I chose to stay here, roll up our sleeves and go through the agencies’ budgets with the directors to find the money we need to make sure programs that help our families will continue to receive the funding they need," Wright said.

Rep. Wright participated specifically in the review of the budgets for the Department of Human Services and the State Board of Education. Other hearings reviewed budgets for the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, the state Board of Higher Education, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Public Aid.

Wright noted that House Republicans have already found ways to cut sufficient administrative overhead and unnecessary items from the budgets of the Department of Human Services to restore funding for programs crucial to the most vulnerable members of our community — those with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses.

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"Our goal is to identify $300 million in cuts from these six agencies, and we received a lot of very useful information from the agency directors and their representatives today that will help us do that, " Wright said. "I was also able to speak with Secretary Baker of the Department of Human Services specifically about our community’s continuing concern about the situation at the Lincoln Developmental Center."

Wright added that he and other members did their overtime work Thursday at no cost to taxpayers. They will accept no per-diem pay or other compensation.

[News release]

[MAY 18, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Under legislation approved Tuesday by the Illinois Senate and sent to the governor, Illinois residents who are tired of telemarketing calls will soon have means to lessen the number they receive.

Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, sponsored Senate Bill 1830 to create a statewide restricted call registry for which Illinois residents can sign up, pay a $5 fee and have their name removed from telemarketing lists.

"Telemarketing has simply gotten out of hand," said Bomke. "Constituents have approached me about the large number of calls they receive. Senate Bill 1830 gives them recourse to reduce the number of calls they receive."

According to Bomke, other states have had great success with similar programs.

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In addition to the $5 fee paid by consumers, the program will be funded through the $1,000 fee telemarketers will pay four times each year for the updated lists. If they continue to call numbers on the registry, they will be fined up to $1,000 for the first offense and up to $2,500 for subsequent offenses.

Exempt from the registry requirements are calls for charitable contributions, real estate or insurance agents, established business relationships, polling or advocacy calls, and telecommunications providers.

Senate Bill 1830 now awaits action by the governor. Once signed into law, it will take effect immediately.

[News release]

[MAY 18, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Senate continued action on legislation this week while budget negotiators continued work on the state budget, according to Sen. Claude "Bud" Stone, R-Morton.

Following adjournment of the General Assembly for the week, key negotiators continued to work on the state budget for fiscal year 2003, which begins on July 1. Negotiators met with the Bureau of the Budget to identify what the state can afford within available revenues. For the first time in 47 years the state will receive less than in the previous budget years.

Budget experts estimate the state faces a $1.4 billion deficit — far less than other states are facing following a downturn in the economy and the tragedy of 9-11. Senate Republicans have rejected income and sales tax increases, instead proposing cuts in state bureaucracy while preserving key areas of spending for education and human services.

In other business, Illinois’ top public health official told lawmakers that Illinois is well ahead of many other states in implementing plans to respond to bioterrorism or chemical attacks. Dr. John Lumpkin, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, testified before the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee about the state’s readiness.

Lumpkin contends Illinois is out in front of many other states because it already had a strong network of emergency response programs in place before Sept. 11. More plans have been developed since then as specific needs have been determined.

The following legislative measures are among those approved by both chambers and sent to the governor for approval this week:

Brownfields (SB 1803) — Expands the Brownfields Redevelopment program to help businesses clean up contaminated sites.

School bus (SB 1795) — Allows school bus drivers to use two-radio service while operating a school bus, but not a cell phone.

Restricted call registry (SB 1830) — Creates a statewide database of those who do not wish to receive telemarketing calls.

Energy efficiency (SB 1565) — Creates a low-interest loan program for the purchase and installation of high-efficiency energy equipment or appliances, energy monitoring devices, or clean small-scale energy production devices.

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Active duty (SB 1583) — Provides members of the Illinois National Guard serving on state active duty the same civil protections as personnel on federal active duty.

Cell phones (HB 3938) — Repeals the ban regarding cell phone use on school property and allows local schools to establish policies.

Hate crimes (HB 4371) — Prohibits insurance companies from canceling or refusing to issue policies solely because one or more claims have been made as a result of a hate crime.

Rape (HB 2946) — Increases penalties for sexual assault with a weapon.

Emissions tests (HB 5255) — Allows vehicles from year 1996 and newer to be tested via computer diagnostic exhaust equipment rather the treadmill test.

The Senate also acted on resolutions this week. The following resolutions gained approval by the full Senate:

Auditor general (SJR 76) — Appoints William G. Holland as auditor general for a term commencing on Aug. 1.

High-speed rail (HJR 71) — Urges the president and the Congress to commit to an intercity passenger rail system and to develop a federal high-speed rail policy and program.

The following measures were among those approved by Senate committees this week:

Electronic voting (HB 5647) — Authorizes "touch screen" voting in Illinois.

Tollway (SJR 72) — Calls for a management audit of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

O’Hare (SR 426) — Requires the University of Illinois to conduct an O’Hare International Airport expansion property tax impact study.

Alzheimer’s disease (SJR 65) — Creates the Illinois Legislative Alzheimer's Disease Task Force to help optimize the quality of life for people who suffer from Alzheimer's disease and their families through advocacy, education, support and services.

[News release]

[MAY 17, 2002]  After lengthy discussion the Logan County Board on Thursday night defeated a motion to support the concept of a north-side commerce park and to find a method of financing it. The board also heard a report that Logan County Health Department has voted to cut its support for Logan Mason Mental health in half.

Opening discussion began in reference to the commerce park proposal. Finance committee member Dale Voyles said the original motion was conceptual only, offering support for the "idea and substance" of the commerce park proposal as presented by the Economic Development Council without committing to any financing option. Calling this a signal to the city and saying, "It would be premature to send a signal without finding out how you’re going to pay for it," finance committee chair Rod White amended the motion to ask the county board to find a method of financing the proposal.

White’s amendment passed, with Roger Bock, Doug Dutz, Paul Gleason, Jim Griffin, Lloyd Hellman, Dave Hepler, Cliff Sullivan and White voting for it and Gloria Luster abstaining. The amended motion then failed, with Tom Cash, Dick Logan, Luster, Voyles and Terry Werth voting in favor. No one abstained.

Discussion of the issue was vigorous and involved several of the visitors at the meeting, including Lincoln Mayor Beth Davis, former city council finance chair Steve Fuhrer and Mark Smith, director of the Logan County Economic Development Council. The city has been requested to supply a portion of the funding for the proposed park, which would be located near Kruger elevator on the northeast side of Lincoln.

Hepler said he has been presented no concrete evidence that the north side is where industries want to locate. Griffin then named three other options for commercial parks: 40 acres offered by Curt Burwell on the west side, acreage near Cracker Barrel that is zoned industrial and the already existing Lincoln Industrial Park on Fifth Street Road. He said he does not oppose an industrial park but thinks it should be located where sewer, water and roads are in place.

"I personally support all the options described," Voyles answered. "Not to do so would be short-sighted." But he emphasized, "No other proposal has been brought before (the county board)." He urged his colleagues to look to the future and provide for growth. "From a county standpoint, financially it’s possible."

White said he believes the $950,000 initially asked for would not be the end of the financial commitment. He distributed information gathered after the recent meeting of city, county and township officials on how to finance the proposed commerce park. It concludes that if alternate revenue bonds were used, the county would have to set aside $100,000-$120,000 per year from the general fund for repayment. "This is the only proposal that has asked for money," he countered Voyles.

Gleason said the public is concerned about the cost and asking whether there is a less expensive alternative.

Prior to the motion, Bob Neal of Edward Jones Investments and Phil Dehner of A.G. Edwards and Sons gave presentations on their companies’ resources for putting together a municipal bond issue. Both emphasized that they would sell first to individual local investors.

Since general obligation bonds require a public referendum and alternate revenue bonds may entail one if the public calls for it, the go-ahead might have to wait until the November election. Both Neal and Dehner said that putting together a bond issue takes four to six weeks, and they would begin as soon as employed regardless of the timing of the referendum, risking losing their work in case of a no vote.

Fuhrer emphasized that both Neal and Dehner were willing to put together a bond offering without upfront dollars. He gave the other option of raising the sales tax one-half percent, saying some communities have financed development in that way. Like Voyles, Fuhrer said, "I want to see it all grow." He acknowledged that no plan would be completely agreeable but said the proposal is the result of two years’ effort by the Economic Development Council and should be accepted. Nevertheless, the board voted 8-5 against supporting the commerce park proposal.

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In other business, health committee chair Dave Hepler reported that the Logan County Health Department board voted to halve funding for Logan Mason Mental Health, from $65,000 to $32,500 per year. He said the cut brings Logan County support in line with the per capita support of Mason County. The comparative figures, using the 2000 census, are $1.13 per person in Mason, currently $2.09 in Logan and $1.05 per person for the next fiscal year in Logan. Hepler said the reduced figure is also in line with mental health support in Morgan County, another member of Mental Health Centers of Central Illinois.

The Health Department administrator, Lloyd Evans, said department income has been declining since 1997 because of changes in Medicare funding for the home health program and because of tax caps. He said the Medicare loss averages over $550,000 per year for the last four years and that tax caps have been responsible for a $250,000 decline in five years. Because of lost income the department has been making significant cuts, and the Logan Mason Mental Health cut is part of that process.

Evans said total budgeted expenses for the Logan share of 11 programs at Logan Mason Mental Health for fiscal year 2002 amount to $919,059. The bulk of the money comes from the Department of Health and Human Services, with other funding from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

In another matter Hepler made and then withdrew a motion to amend the county zoning ordinance section on applications for permits to build outside a city. His motion would have deleted a provision that the county engineer "shall certify in writing that an adequate and safe supply of water will be provided." According to county engineer Tom Hickman, the provision has never been followed and opens the county to liability. The motion substituted a statement stipulating health department approval of the applicant’s water supply plan and compliance with the Illinois Water Well Construction.

Some board members wanted simply to delete the present provision. Others wanted to revise the wording of the new clause. A public hearing regarding the zoning change is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Monday, May 20, in Room 15 of the courthouse. Whatever comes out of that meeting will be the subject of a county board vote on Tuesday. Therefore, Hepler withdrew his motion.

Another zoning change, to add fees of $1,000 for communication towers, equipment, building and fencing and $500 for co-location, was quickly approved in a straw vote. Co-location means attaching something else such as a satellite dish on an existing tower. This change will also be discussed at the public hearing on May 20.

In other business

•  In a straw vote the board indicated that on Tuesday it will approve a tobacco products ordinance.

•  The issue of board pay was removed from the table. This action frees the finance committee to discuss changing salaries of board members.

•  Evans presented a 2001 Logan County Health Department Partnership Award to the state’s attorney’s office for assisting in the work of the department. Another award was given to Lincoln Christian College.

•  At the close of the meeting the board went into executive session to consider the Fraternal Order of Police contract for sheriff’s deputies.

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]

[MAY 17, 2002]  Last night, much of America sat glued to their televisions as Dr. John Carter and nurse Abby Lockhart dealt with one of America’s worst fears: the reoccurrence of smallpox.

The show featured two small children who had just returned from Africa. They had a fever and a rash that looked like chickenpox gone haywire. Dr. Carter remembered having seen this rash recently in a poster with information from the Center for Disease Control. Using this poster, he identified the rash as a possible case of smallpox.

So how true was this television show? Well, in the first place, it is a television show. It is fiction. There has not been a single reported case of smallpox in the world since 1978.

But what if something like this did happen? In that regard, this show was rather true-to-life. The CDC has in place an outbreak response plan which is constantly being updated.

The first response action is to identify the disease. Training materials, including the poster seen on the show which differentiates between smallpox and chickenpox (click here to see that poster), have been sent to health-care providers across the country. Logan County Department of Health, specifically, has posters for every health-care office in the county and is currently distributing them.

If a possible outbreak should be identified, just as the nurse on "E.R." did, the health official would then contact the local health department, who would contact the state health department, the FBI and local law enforcement. The state health department contacts the CDC.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has a rapid response team in place everywhere in the state which responds in much the same way as the first responders of the CDC on the show. They would come in and enforce a lockdown of the entire area and quarantine infected individuals. The virus is mainly spread by face-to-face contact with an infected person, but it can be spread through the air, which is why the ventilation system in the emergency room was shut down.

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The show left the audience hanging. Was it smallpox? What else could it be?

Well, there are many diseases which come from similar viruses, known as orthopoxviruses, including monkeypox, cowpox and vaccinia, which is used in the vaccine for smallpox (variola). Testing is required to determine which orthopoxvirus is being dealt with in the specific case.

So let’s look at what would happen. Once a virus has been positively identified as smallpox, vaccination begins. The United States currently has 15 million doses of the vaccine, and more are being grown. However, because of the risks associated with the vaccination, there would not be a mass vaccination of the entire country or even the entire city unless it became apparent that the disease is widespread. Instead, a small circle of people around the infected individual(s) would be vaccinated to provide a buffer between the virus and the uninfected population. This would include family members, health-care providers and anyone who had come into contact with the person since he or she became infectious. The vaccine can be effective in preventing or limiting the extent of the disease even if it is administered after initial contact has occurred.

Though there is no cure, victims of the disease are quarantined and treated with intravenous fluids, pain medication and antibiotics to fight off secondary infections. The patients are quarantined until they are no longer infectious (until the scabs fall off the pustules).

Contrary to popular belief, smallpox is not automatically fatal. In fact, historically speaking, it had a 30 percent mortality rate. With today’s modern medical knowledge, given proper medical attention, the disease can be survived.

So maybe it will be a while before we know just what is happening on "E.R.," but we can know that the United States has people in place to respond to a real-life emergency situation.

For more information on smallpox, see http://www.bt.cdc.gov/.

For the CDC’s response to this E.R. episode, see http://www.cdc.gov/nip/smallpox/ERshow.htm.

[Gina Sennett]

[MAY 17, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — Gov. George Ryan declared the entire state of Illinois a disaster area as a result of flooding that is occurring now and may occur in the future. Forecasts indicate that more rain is predicted in Illinois as early as tomorrow. Excessive rains are already saturating watersheds throughout the state resulting in the flooding of homes, businesses, local roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure.

During the course of the last month, up to10 inches of rain has fallen in some areas and currently the hardest-hit areas are along the Sangamon and Illinois rivers. As of Wednesday, flood fights were occurring at Horseshoe Lake in Alexander County, on the western approach of the Hardin Bridge in Calhoun County, in Beardstown and Chandlerville in Cass County, at the Bluffdale and Hillview levees in Greene County, the Nutwood levee in Jersey County, Petersburg in Menard County, Meredosia in Morgan County, Valley City in Pike County, Frederick and Browning in Schuyler County, Bloomfield in Scott County, and Dawson and Riverton in Sangamon County.

"A series of severe storms producing extraordinary amounts of rainfall are contributing to the flooding and flash flooding across the state," Gov. Ryan said. "This disaster declaration provides the necessary state assets to effectively respond to flooding that is occurring and additional flooding that may occur with the rainfall that is projected over the next week. We are hopeful that this series of storms will end soon."

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The Illinois Emergency Management Agency, or IEMA, is coordinating the state’s response. Assistance is being provided by the Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois Commerce Commission, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Department of Central Management Services, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the American Red Cross.

This declaration also makes it possible for IEMA to coordinate state assistance and resources wherever necessary, and to conduct damage assessments to determine if additional federal assistance is needed

[Illinois Government News Network
press release]

[MAY 16, 2002]  Re-enactment of a Civil War encampment, a national-grade band, speakers with national reputation...  Plans for Lincoln’s 150th birthday celebration Aug. 21-31, 2003, are varied, exciting — and expensive.

The Rev. Glenn Shelton, black history subcommittee chair for the Sesquicentennial Committee, set the tone for Wednesday’s meeting when he questioned how much money he has available. He wants to hire a prominent speaker as well as put on a display of materials on local black history.

In rapid succession other subcommittee chairs unveiled creative plans with a price tag. Underground Railroad chair Nancy Rollings Saul wants a Chicago quilt researcher to speak in conjunction with the opening of a quilt show in the courthouse rotunda.

Ron Keller, head of the Lincoln College cluster, plans a re-enactment of the town’s christening, done as authentically as possible with local volunteers, but he would also like to bring in re-enactors for a Civil War encampment or small battle. In addition, the LC Layman Gallery will feature an Underground Railroad exhibit Aug. 16-Sept. 6, 2003.

The Rev. Wallace Reifsteck and Shelton persuaded the committee to move the nondenominational church service on the closing Sunday, Aug. 31, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. so local clergy can participate. They also hope to find a preacher with a national reputation.

The Sesquicentennial Committee purse currently holds $2,094, according to finance and fund-raising chair Paul Short, with $1,000 anticipated from the city this fiscal year, and $50,000 in 2002-3. Contributions, advertising revenue, souvenir sales and possibly a grant are expected to swell the purse. Subcommittee chairs were asked to estimate short- and long-term expenses by the June 19 meeting in order to get an overview of budget needs.

A few activities are already moving out of the planning stage. For example, souvenir chair Sharon Awe said some mementos, such as T-shirts, will be available for purchase this summer.

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On June 1 Saul will give a program at The Oasis senior center on the use of quilts by the Underground Railroad. Sew Many Friends will then offer quilting lessons for those interested in bringing some of the quilt patterns to life.

Invitations to Lincoln’s 150th birthday party have been sent to President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Correspondence chair Lori Bottrell has also invited 22 high-school bands, all from U.S. cities and towns with Lincoln in their names. In addition, she has prepared a form for tracking photos and home movies from the ’50s brought to Mayor Beth Davis’ office for duplication in a video. Davis chairs the Sesquicentennial Committee. Movies of the 1953 centennial parade are especially sought.

Chairs of 22 subcommittees make up the Sesquicentennial Committee. Other subcommittees are locating stages and sound equipment, planning a parade and queen contest, coordinating food offerings and researching period music. In addition, Lincoln Community Theatre officers are looking for an Abraham Lincoln-related play. If they don’t find an appropriate play, they will create one, Keller said.

Downtown events chair Wendy Bell presented a master plan for the 11-day sesquicentennial extravaganza. It includes days saluting senior citizens, government, the military, business and industry, agriculture, Postville "where it all began," Lincoln heritage and homecoming. Traditionally separate events such as the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival and 1860s craft show are incorporated as well. A two-day special Amtrak run to and from Lincoln is scheduled for Aug. 26-27. The plans are big and so is the enthusiasm of the committee.

[Lynn Shearer Spellman]

[MAY 16, 2002]  The age-old problem of the school bully, this time told from the point of view of the victim, was on the agenda at the District 27 school board Wednesday evening.

Chris Cabit, formerly a student at Lincoln Junior High School, told the board about the way five boys made his life a nightmare both in and out of school. He said he would be glad when the present junior high building is taken down, because it has so many bad memories for him.

He also gave his hearers insight into at least one reason school violence might happen.

Recalling an incident where he was caught in the alley behind the IGA grocery store by boys with BB guns who shot at him and at another victim, he said he believed if the bullies had had a real gun they would have used it.

A few minutes later, he conceded that at least once he might have used a gun himself.

"I wanted to shoot him," he said, of one of those making his life miserable. "If I hadn’t had a caring family and a religious background, things would have been different."

Chris said when he reported incidents of being picked on to junior high Principal Curt Nettles, "The principal would not believe me unless a teacher saw it happen."

He also told of an incident in which band members did not allow him to play with the group and shoved him out of the room.

"I was embarrassed," he said. "And the principal said he did not see it."

He said the band director apologized for the incident and made some of the boys apologize, but others continued to pick on him. He also said parents of some of the boys came to his house to see if he was all right after the band incident.

He reported a third incident that occurred in the school office, where he had gone to say he was sick. He said he heard Nettles say, "What’s Chris doing here, tattling again?"

"No kid should be picked on," he told the board. "It can be stopped by a caring staff.

"Life in high school is much better for me, but memories of junior high will always haunt me. I hope you will think over what I have said and don’t blame the victim."

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Chris’s father, Jim Cabit, also briefly addressed the board.

"My wife and I went to get help. The staff said they couldn’t help Chris. We didn’t know where to turn.

"If no one sees it, does that mean it didn’t happen?"

Board President Bruce Carmitchel thanked the Cabits for coming to address the board. "We appreciate your pointing this out to us. The board will have to decide what course to take, if any. We share your concern."

Nettles, who attended the meeting and was invited to address the board after the Cabits spoke, said he has always talked to students when bullying is reported. He said he had repeatedly talked to Chris and his parents.

"No one is more aware than myself and my teachers of the meanness and bullying that does go on. We do everything to combat it," he said.

"I’ve never told a student I wouldn’t believe him without an adult witness. I might just ask, ‘Did an adult see what happened?’ I haven’t slighted anyone nor do I think the teachers did."

He also said he remembered telling some students very sternly that they were going to be in trouble if they continued the bullying. "Those students who didn’t respond were severely punished," he said.

Superintendent Robert Kidd pointed out that the district does take a firm stand against bullying and that two students were recently suspended for hitting another student.

Board member Marilyn Montgomery said she has known Chris and his family for many years. "I think he’s making us aware that bullying is a matter we need to look at a little more closely. I think this is closure for Chris. Now he has the opportunity to move on with his life."

[Joan Crabb]

[MAY 13, 2002]  Motorists are urged to please use extreme caution traveling the next several days. Statewide numerous roads are closed due to flooding. Not only are creeks and rivers out of their banks, but also water accumulates at underpasses, and flooded farm fields often create raging torrents in low-lying road areas.

Business 55 at Riverside Park near Sherman is closed due to high water. Peoria Road in Springfield is flooded. The levee at the Route 29 bridge is close to failing.

Logan County roads closed

•  950th Avenue from Elkhart blacktop going north

•  1400th north and 750th east (Rocky Ford)

•  County Highway 24 at 2200 Street (north of New Holland)

Road closures listed by the Illinois Department of Transportation,
Division of Highways

Numerous roads are closed because of flooding in these areas of the state: west central (Quincy, Macomb, Beardstown; Morgan County), central (Springfield, Lincoln; Sangamon and Logan counties), east central (Cumberland, Effingham, Clark counties), and the Cook-Will-Kankakee area.

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Illinois 105 between 17th and Cantrall Street in Decatur closed in the northbound lane due to high water

Illinois 127 south of Jonesboro at Mill Creek closed due to flooding.

Illinois 101 1 mile east Brooklyn closed due to high water

Illinois 130 north of Richland/Jasper County line closed due to high water

Illinois 33 at west edge of Robinson closed due to high water

Illinois 1 north of Allendale closed due to high water

U.S. 51 south of Vandalia closed due to high water

For further updates, check  http://www.dot.state.il.us/road/closures.txt.

[LDN]

Military addresses sought

It is a time like no other. Since Sept. 11 we are a changed nation. Individually, our daily sensitivity toward whom and what we have in our lives has been heightened. We are more conscious and appreciative, first about those we love and see everyday. Next, we have a newfound appreciation for those who risk their lives every day as rescue workers and protectors of life and property in our communities. We also now think more about our military men and women who are committed to serve and protect our country. Many are away engaged in battle, some are in waiting to go, all are ready to lay their lives on the line in defense of our freedom.

Lincoln Daily News is seeking the names and addresses, including e-mail addresses, of friends and relatives who are serving in the armed forces. They need not be from here in Logan County. If you know someone serving, please send the information to ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com. A complete list will be made available and kept updated through the site so we might all hold them in our thoughts, prayers and well wishes.

[Click here for names available now.]

Name of person in military:

Branch of service:

Current location of service:

Postal address:

E-mail address:

Relationship to LDN reader sending information (optional):

[LDN]

It’s on the radio, TV, in all the media. You hear it in the office, on the street and maybe at home — threats of terrorism. America is on high alert. Here in central Illinois, away from any supposed practical target areas, perhaps we feel a little less threatened, but we are still concerned. So how concerned should we be, and how prepared are we for the types of situations that could occur?

Whether the threat is domestic or foreign, violent, biological or chemical, our public health and rescue agencies have been preparing to respond to the situations. Lincoln Daily News has been at meetings where all the agencies gather together as the Logan County Emergency Planning Committee to strategize for just such a time. Our reports have not even provided every detail that every agency has reported; i.e., a number of representatives from differing agencies such as the health and fire departments, CILCO and ESDA went to a bioterrorism and hazmat (hazardous materials) seminar this past August.

Here are some of the articles that LDN has posted pre- and post-Tuesday, Sept. 11. Hopefully you will see in them that WE ARE WELL PREPARED. At least as much as any area can be. Every agency has been planning, training, submitting for grants to buy equipment long before Sept. 11. We can be thankful for all of the dedicated, insightful leaders we have in this community.

[to top of second column in this section]

• LEPC hears plans for annual exercise

• U.S. under terrorist attack
  How is Logan County affected?

• The day after ‘Attack on America’
  Area leaders respond to national tragedy

• ESDA and LEPC conduct successful hazardous materials exercise at water treatment plant 

• Logan County ready for action if terrorist event occurs - Part 1

• Logan County ready for action if terrorist event occurs – Part 2

• Clinton nuclear power plant safety measures in place

• Logan County agencies meet to discuss protocol for suspicious mail

As promised, the United States led an attack on Afghanistan. The attack began Sunday, Oct. 7. American and British military forces made 30 hits on air defenses, military airfields and terrorist training camps, destroying aircraft and radar systems. The strike was made targeting only terrorists.

More than 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East have pledged their cooperation and support the U.S. initiative.

Online news links

Other countries

Afghanistan

http://www.afghandaily.com/ 

http://www.myafghan.com/  

http://www.afghan-web.com/aop/ 

China

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/

http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/

Germany

http://www.faz.com/

India

http://www.dailypioneer.com/ 

http://www.hindustantimes.com/ 

http://www.timesofindia.com/ 

Israel

http://www.jpost.com/ 

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/ 

England

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/ 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/ 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

Pakistan

http://www.dawn.com/

http://frontierpost.com.pk/ 

Russia

http://english.pravda.ru/

http://www.sptimesrussia.com/ 

Saudi Arabia

http://www.arabnews.com/ 

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United States

Illinois

http://www.suntimes.com/index/ 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/ 

http://www.pantagraph.com/ 

http://www.qconline.com/ 

http://www.pjstar.com/

http://www.sj-r.com/ 

http://www.herald-review.com/

http://www.southernillinoisan.com/ 

New York

http://www.nypost.com/

http://www.nytimes.com/

Stars and Stripes
(serving the U.S. military community)

http://www.estripes.com/ 

Washington, D.C.

Announcements

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