Monday, June 14, 2010
 
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County briefs: Health and safety concerns top issues

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[June 14, 2010]  Three topics of public health and safety were addressed during this month's Logan County Board meeting as a board of whole. All three matters have past, current and future ramifications for county residents.

HardwareHealth department services in jeopardy

With only weeks before a new state budget is in place, which is also the start of the new fiscal year for the Logan County Department of Public Health, no grants have been scheduled. During Thursday evening's meeting public health administrator Mark Hilliard told county board members that there has been no word on 16 grants amounting to $980,000 for the coming fiscal year that begins July 1.

Most of the services that the local health department provides are made available through state-allocated grant money. The department relies on these funds, so it is a big concern. Hilliard said that the health board has called a special meeting.

The public health board will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the health department to discuss what to do. More information should be in hand by the time of the meeting, and Hilliard expects that decisions will need to be made.

Exterminator

Currently, the state still owes the department $350,000 from this past year.

Middletown still smoldering

Five Middletown residents briefly addressed the board about continuing burning and smoke issues in Middletown. The residents kept comments on their observations and needs brief, asked for more intervention, and suggested options that might help the continuing burning and smoke issues in Middletown.

Each said that smoke has been seeping into homes and businesses, and they are frequently unable to work or play outside. The biggest problem up to now has been garbage burning.

The issue as a whole is aggressively being addressed by the Logan County Emergency Management Agency and the Logan County Sheriff's Department. A meeting was conducted last month with representatives from those agencies, the state's attorney's office, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Logan County Waste Management Agency and Terry Carlton, county board chairman. The laws were reviewed and it was determined to send notices to all Middletown residents, explaining the Illinois burn laws, which in short allow only landscape wastes to be burned.

Burn barrels used to burn garbage have been in common use in Middletown for many years. Emergency management director Dan Fulscher commented that they are a way of life there and that it would be difficult to get people to comply with not using them. But he said, "We want to get the burn barrels out." Even if you are burning approved materials, the barrels are lined with carcinogenic substances that are released into the air with use, he said. For this reason they are illegal in Illinois.

It is illegal in Illinois to burn anything that is not landscape waste, such as grass clippings or branches. By law, any one caught burning illegal substances without a permit, or burning building materials -- particularly asbestos, plastics or drywall -- is subject to a $1,500 fine.

Residents proposed that it might help if there was a place for residents to take grass clippings and trimmings from trees and shrubs. This would not only aid residents who are burning legally now, but as one resident pointed out, "would also eliminate the excuse to burn by those that are burning illegally."

Fulscher said: "We have worked diligently to address this problem and absolutely do not condone illegal burning. We are asking due diligence if you live in Middletown." He reminded the residents that notices have been sent out. In addition, EMA and the sheriff's department have been touring the Middletown to try to stop any illegal burning.

About landscape waste burning, Fulscher said: "If smoke is going straight up, it can continue. If it is not, it is put out. Violators are being given two warnings, and then they will face a fine."

Legislative chairman Jan Schumacher said that a new county burn ordinance has been prepared and is ready to be brought forward next month.

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Logan County waterways

Creeks in Logan County are particularly hazardous, and officials are asking people thinking of water recreation to exercise extreme caution. "Anything without a motor on it should stay off the waterways," Fulscher said.

High water levels over recent years have put a lot of trees, brush and debris in the creeks and created extremely hazardous conditions.

Authorities are considering more drastic measures in order to protect public. "If we feel this is going to get out of hand, we'll shut down the waterways altogether," Fulscher said.

Logan County responders and rescue teams have had 27 calls in 36 months, 12 recoveries and four deaths on our waterways. According to Fulscher, that's more than they see at Clinton Lake.

Just last week a young lady was rescued from her car that had gone into floodwater in northern Logan County

Nearly every flood period has resulted in multiple calls for help, often involving a request for the boat and dive teams; support assistance is needed from fire, rescue, paramedics, emergency management and the sheriff's department; and oftentimes mutual aid is called for from other counties.

Library

Crews have been called out several times this spring to search for people who have gone missing on creeks. Recently, search crews spent days on hazardous Salt Creek searching for a missing kayaker. The man was found under a logjam.

Carlton applauded everyone involved in the rescue efforts.

He also commended everyone involved in recommending and approving the purchase of the new boat. "Even though it was a tough time to do it, we can look back now and say we made a wise decision," he said.

The boat cost $12,000 to purchase, and $7,000 was needed for equipment and a trailer to transport it. "Without it, we could not have been on the water," he said. "Thanks to everyone for good insight and a good job."

[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]

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