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After the board's
economic development committee met Tuesday night (see
related story in LDN), a new resolution was put before the board to approve $25,000
for the chamber's Economic Development Council. Half of this would
be given immediately, while the rest would be distributed on a
quarterly basis.
A previous motion to
give this money to the board's committee instead was withdrawn at
Thursday's board meeting. The chamber of commerce agreed to hold its
meetings in public due to its receiving public funds, which freed
the board to give them the money as originally planned.
The new resolution
passed 10-2. Paul Gleason and John Stewart voted "nay."
John Stewart was not
satisfied that the money should be thus released until the EDC had
actually had a public meeting. Chairman Dale Voyles expressed his
confidence that the EDC would do as they promised concerning this.
David Hepler pointed out that the EDC provided its minutes from 1999
to the present as a show of good faith in opening their meetings to
public scrutiny. Paul Gleason voted "nay" because he felt that all
the money should be given immediately as originally intended. He
said all other funds given out on a similar basis are not given
piecemeal.
In related issues,
the board voted 7-4 (William Sahs voting "present) to approve
placement of a referendum on the March primary ballot next year to
fund the EDC directly at an upper limit rate of .04 per $100. A
similar referendum was previously defeated. Chairman Voyles believes
a better effort needs to be made to educate the voters on the need
for this funding. Terry Werth asserted his belief that there is a
need for such a body and for the EDC to be better funded to create
opportunities for business in Logan County.
After the meeting,
Paul Gleason, who voted "nay" on the resolution, said he believed
the voters' previous rejection of the referendum should be treated
more seriously. He felt that to keep bringing it up may show a lack
of respect for the will and intelligence of the voters. Chairman
Voyles also appointed himself and David Hepler to attend future EDC
meetings as representatives from the board.
About half a dozen
residents surrounding the property that the Rev. S. M. Davis
petitioned to be rezoned appeared to speak to the board concerning
the matter. Most spoke of their concerns that the proposed lot size
of three acres was too small for a proper septic system to ensure
there would be no chance of pollution of the local water. Twenty-two
names of residents in the Middleton area were listed on a petition
to the zoning board to deny the requested change in zoning.
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Dwayne Howell,
son-in-law of the Rev. Davis, who would be building his home on the
property, stated that he was just trying to abide by the current
ordinances as written. He assured those present that contractors had
assured him the septic system would be adequate to assure water
quality in the area.
The board voted 9-3
to deny the request to rezone. Only Chairman Voyles, David Hepler
and Terry Werth voted to approve the request. It was pointed out
that a house could still be built on a five-acre lot without any
need to petition for rezoning.
Charles Rubin moved
that a house being purchased by the board for $1 be donated to
Habitat for Humanity for use in low- to middle-income housing.
William Sahs stated that minimal work needs to be done on the house
for it to be habitable. The resolution was passed unanimously.
A resolution was
unanimously passed to approve a bid by Anderson Electric of
Springfield for $18,500 to effect repairs to the courthouse wiring.
This is needed because an electrical feed in the courthouse basement
overheated and required emergency repair. The work approved to be
done would prevent a reoccurrence of this by bringing the courthouse
up to national electric code standards.
Also approved without
dissent were amendments to the current zoning ordinances, $4,700 for
piling repair in Sheridan Township and a three-year bid totaling
$83,000 from PTW & Co. of Springfield to audit the board's budget.
This last action was done to comply with new federal standards.
Tony Campbell,
vice-president of Cornbelt Energy, was present to announce he is
leaving the company and to introduce Dave Hawkinson, who is taking
his place. He said plans for the Elkhart coal power plant are moving
ahead. They are working to finalize funding. Construction
must begin before July 17 next year due to the expiration time on their permit from
the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. [See LDN
story from July 17, 2002, and
http://fossil.energy.gov/coal_power/
lebs/index.shtml.]
Dan Fulscher spoke
for the Emergency Telephone System board concerning placing the 911
system under their control. He has consulted with Lincoln Police
Chief Rich Montcalm and Logan County Sheriff Steve Nichols, and they
are in agreement that this would be beneficial. They are looking into the feasibility for doing this -- studying
salaries and union contract issues. He believes it would make the
system more efficient and free officers for patrol work.
Sheriff Nichols stated it could save money down the road while
improving services.
It was reported to the board that Mark
Hilliard had been hired as new administrator of the Logan County Health
Department, at a salary of $66,500. Hilliard will assume the
position effective immediately, due to the
resignation of the previous director.
[Keith Wilkerson] |
