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An adjourned meeting was scheduled for
7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, in the courthouse boardroom to discuss the
2003 budget proposal prepared by the Finance Committee. The fiscal
year begins Dec. 1. Committee chair Rod White said the proposed
budget contains a deficit between $150,000 and $200,000 and includes
some shifted funds and "a very small tax increase" within the tax
cap of 1.6 percent. He will present a synopsis of the adjustments
Tuesday night.
In the first zoning question the board
tentatively approved a conditional use permit enabling Leslie and
Karen Hoagland to operate their motor coach restoration business
from their home on 1200th Street in rural Lincoln. The Hoaglands’
petition was previously approved by the Regional Planning Commission
and the Zoning Board of Appeals. In addition, the issue was aired at
a public hearing on Oct. 8. At each meeting those present
recommended or stipulated that the conditional use should be
restricted to the Hoagland family, with the property reverting to
agricultural zoning when members of the immediate family are no
longer operating the restoration business.
A motor coach restoration business is
classified as a junkyard in the county ordinance. At both the zoning
board meeting and the public hearing, adjoining landowners Gerald
Gehlbach and Phil Ruch said they do not object to the Hoaglands’
business but are concerned how the property might be used in the
future if the conditional use as a junkyard remains in place.
The county board voted 10-2 in favor of
granting the petition, with the stipulation that the variance
applies only to the Hoaglands. Like all decisions taken in Thursday
board-of-the-whole meetings, this one was tentative, with the
binding vote coming at the subsequent Tuesday night’s voting
session. Clifford Sullivan and Dale Voyles opposed the measure, and
Dick Logan abstained. Voyles said he also voted against the petition
at the planning commission.
In the second zoning matter, the board
gave tentative approval to a subdivision plat submitted by Brad
Luckhart of Lincoln. The planning commission has approved several
variances for Luckhart’s property. Excluding those, County Engineer
Tom Hickman said Luckhart and his engineer have corrected all
deficiencies. For Tuesday night’s vote Hickman will certify that
Luckhart has complied with provisions of the subdivision ordinance.
Luckhart has done multiple soil borings
on each lot to determine soil type and drainage and will drill a
test well. A state hydrologist has confirmed that sufficient water
is available on the property. In addition, Luckhart’s engineer has
certified that drainage problems either never existed or have been
taken care of. Under questioning by board member Rod White, Hickman
said as far as he knows the ordinance does not specify whether the
engineer or subdivision owner is responsible in the event of a
drainage problem.
All 13 board members voted in favor of
approving the subdivision plat. Following final approval Tuesday,
Luckhart will be able to sell lots, but building permits cannot be
issued until the property has electricity.
In another tentative vote, the board
approved a resolution to form a safety committee and establish a
safety program. Insurance Committee chair Dale Voyles said the
Illinois Risk Fund is "strongly suggesting" that a safety committee
be in place by February 2003. It is likely that without a safety
plan worker’s compensation insurance rates would rise. The county is
modeling its program on a general provision safety plan supplied by
John Farmer of Illinois Risk Fund.
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Health Department administrator Lloyd
Evans said flu and pneumonia shots are available on a walk-in basis
at the Logan County Health Department and from the county van. Hours
are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday at the Health Department
and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the van. Each shot costs $16. Unlike in
previous years, the full shipment of vaccine has been received and
is available to the public.
Evans said the county has experienced
no human cases of West Nile, but several horses have contracted the
disease. He described West Nile as a form of encephalitis and said
the Health Department is planning an aggressive education program.
Evans cited four ways to fight the disease: (1) Eliminate breeding
grounds; (2) use larvacide in standing water; (3) spray for adult
mosquitoes, which he said is not very effective; and (4) take
personal responsibility by wearing appropriate clothing, using
insect repellent or staying inside.
Evans said freezing kills mosquitoes,
but some can overwinter if they find a protected location. In the
past, high incidence of encephalitis has not continued from year to
year, he said.
Animal Control Committee chair Clifford
Sullivan reported that the committee voted to treat animal control
warden Sheila Farmer as a department head and raise her salary
$1,000. Board members Doug Dutz and Jim Griffin questioned the move,
saying that animal control administrator Lester Thomson is the
department head. Griffin indicated that he would vote against the
raise. Logan asked Sullivan to submit the proposal to the Finance
Committee.
In other business the board learned
that
• Logan County
Railsplitter Association has volunteered to place rail corner fences
on each corner of the courthouse square.
• Recently installed water
hydrants at Logan County Airport are being replaced by Twin City
Builders because they were not the ones specified in the bid.
• Fuel sales at the
airport have "doubled if not tripled" since self-operated pumps were
installed. With no labor costs, Airport Committee chair Roger Bock
said the county made $1,550 on airport fuel sales in August.
• Community leaders from
Canton visited Lincoln on June 18 and compiled their impressions of
the city. At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the Restaurant at the
Depot, they will give a Community Swap Report on what they saw.
• The recent Emergency
Services Disaster Agency exercise went well and was instructive.
Board chair Dick Logan said that although there was a good turnout
he would like to see greater participation next year. Evans said
Logan County ranks "head and shoulders above most counties,
regardless of size" in disaster preparedness.
• Workforce Investment
provided unemployment insurance claims counselors and a job fair for
the more than 500 people affected by the Lincoln Developmental
Center closing.
•
Several county departments found
bargains at the LDC sale.
[Lynn
Shearer Spellman]
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