 Several guests were present as well: David Pistorius of First
Midstate, soon-to-be Logan County State's Attorney Jonathan Wright
and Mark Hilliard, administrator for the Logan County Department of
Public Health
Early in the meeting, the board unanimously agreed to the
issuance of $600,000 in taxable general obligation bonds for the
year 2013. This is the current estimated amount that would be needed
to cover major criminal cases -- the Gee family murder trials that
are scheduled to begin and could end in 2013.
Pistorius explained to the board that the initial petition was
approved for $1 million. The full amount would be available to the
county for up to three years. The county would still be able to go
back and take out another $400,000, if needed later.
Finance chairman Chuck Ruben said that the annual payments would
range between $42,000 to $48,000 and would carry a 4.542 percent
interest rate over the life of the bonds.
The board then unanimously approved the 2013 budget and levies
that had been on display for 30 days.
The board also approved annual renewal of property, liability,
casualty and workers’ comp insurance at $220,611 with CIRMA, which
Jan Schumacher said is a 1 percent increase.
In the field of economic development, it was with some excitement
that Bill Martin announced: "We received the official word from
Washington, D.C., on Monday that Logan County is now part of the
Central Illinois Economic Development District."
This was a long-awaited call -- four years waiting since Logan
County submitted its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for
approval. Logan County took the advice of then-congressman Ray
LaHood and, working with the Peoria-area economic development to
gain a regional strength, piggybacked the Logan County CEDS with the
central Illinois group.
CEDS aids in federal loan and grant processes and approval for
development and infrastructure projects.
In other matters, Sally Litterly, county clerk and recorder,
reported that hotel-motel tax collected in October and going to
tourism at 4 percent came to $16,730 and for Main Street Lincoln at
1 percent, $4,183.
Several road and bridge matters were brought before the board. A
contract for construction with the Mount Pulaski Road District, a
bridge inspection agreement with Thomas Hammel and Richard Boblitt
at $130 per bridge, and a high-speed rail local roads engineering
review were all unanimously approved.
Gene Rohlfs said that the floor for the new T-hangar at the
airport had been poured that day.
A motion to discontinue the cleaning contract with Mrs. Dahmm for
the John Logan Building was voted to send back to committee.
The board unanimously agreed to accept an engagement letter
contracting CliftonLarsenAllen to do the county's annual audit.
Ruben said it would be at the same cost, an hourly rate that is
determined by how much time it takes working with the county
departments.
On a public health and food matter, during this month's executive
and economic development committee meeting, Terry Carlton raised a
concern over the shutdown of food being served free at a public
event during Lincoln's homecoming in September.
The food in question at the fall event was chili that had been
prepared in homes, not prepared in an approved kitchen or under food
handler guidelines that include storage and temperature regulation.
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During discussion it was noted that the food was being given
away, not sold. This could affect any number of events, including
church potlucks, business customer and staff appreciation, and other
social activities and mixers serving food.
The committee agreed that this should be looked at a little
closer. Carlton suggested that it would be important to define:
"What is a public food service event?"
David Hepler, county board liaison to the Board of Health, said
that he and Carlton had met on Monday with the county's public
health administrator, Mark Hilliard, and the department's director
of nursing.
While Hilliard was present on Thursday, and Carlton was asked if
he had anything to say, he responded: "I have nothing at this time.
I'm good."
This was Bob Farmer's last meeting as chairman of the board this
term. At the meeting's close he said: "I want to thank everybody.
It's been a pleasure, it really has. And I'd like to thank David
Hepler for being vice chairman. He's done a wonderful job."
[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]
Past related articles on bond issue
and funding major criminal trial
___
What is CEDS and what went into the
Logan County CEDS?
CEDS is defined by the Economic
Development Council for Central Illinois as "the result of a local
planning process designed to guide the economic growth of an area."
"A CEDS process will help create
jobs, foster more stable and diversified economies and improve
living conditions. It provides a mechanism for coordinating the
efforts of individuals, organizations, local governments and private
industry concerned with economic development. In order for projects
to qualify for Economic Development Administration assistance under
its public works, economic adjustment and most planning programs,
the project must be consistent with the goals and objectives set out
in the CEDS."
Logan County Regional Planning
Commission FAQ sheet
(Explains interrelatedness of the
comprehensive plan, GIS, CEDS and Greenways Plan)
Past articles related to
CEDS
Related websites
To read the
current CEDS document for the Economic Development Council for
Central Illinois,
click here
(PDF).
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