Thursday, May 03, 2012
 
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COUNTY BRIEFS:
Funding for major criminal cases, vote on holiday schedules, T-hangar and more

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[May 03, 2012]  During its April adjourned session, the Logan County Board had several lengthy discussions and approved several measures in votes by 11 board members.

Members present were Andy Anderson, Rick Aylesworth, Kevin Bateman, Terry Carlton, Bob Farmer, David Hepler, Bill Martin, Pat O'Neill, Gene Rohlfs, Chuck Ruben and Jan Schumacher. Andrew Meister was absent for the evening.

Money for state's attorney budget and major cases

In matters of standard business, $12,000 was approved for the state's attorney's appellate prosecutor budget.

A new budget category was created for major criminal cases. The board unanimously approved transferring $150,000 from the public defender's budget to the line item. It would be accessible to both the public defender and state's attorney's offices.

Budget discussions included planning for the trials related to murders of five members of the Gee family. Separate trials of Christopher and Jason Harris will be quite costly to the county. Christopher's trial has been set to begin April 29, 2013, a year from now, with the expectation that Jason's will begin by midyear 2013.

With the state's abolishment of capital punishment and the disbanding of the capital litigation fund that was used to support trials of large cases, the county has been preparing for what promises to be an exorbitant cost.

Nationwide will not be included in employee plan

Discussion began at the board of whole on whether to allow a second company to offer a deferred compensation investment plan for county employees. A request was made by Nationwide, a company that had provided service previously.

While offering more options was seen as more favorable for employees, the board ultimately agreed that the county is not set up to process more options, that it would be too complicated to track and that it could be a detriment to the employees as well.

Requiring a majority vote, the motion that Nationwide be added to county employee options failed 7-4, with Farmer, Anderson, Hepler, Martin voting in favor and Schumacher, Aylesworth, Bateman, Carlton, O'Neill, Rohlfs and Ruben voting against.

Holiday schedules stir debate

Also stirring up considerable discussion was the proposal on the annual holiday schedule. Each April a list of county holidays is voted on, and normally this passes with not much attention.

On days designated as holidays, the courthouse and other county facilities are closed, and employees other than those employed in public safety or necessary services are given the day off.
O'Neill suggested that the county offer either Presidents Day or Abraham Lincoln's Birthday as a holiday, but not both.

Board members agreed on one thing during the discussion -- which spanned both the board of whole and reconvened sessions -- that the county should stay in line with the state's holidays, which include Abraham Lincoln's Birthday.

Kevin Bateman proposed eliminating Presidents Day and giving employees Christmas Eve off. However, it was pointed out that the courts can and may conduct business on that day. The courts and courthouse have supporting staff, and other offices would need to be open, which would mean losing a day off for some employees.

Terry Carlton said there has been some discussion at the state level to add Good Friday, and if that would happen, the county might consider that day.

When it came to a vote, it was agreed to keep the same holiday schedule as previously. There were nine voting in favor, with O'Neill and Bateman voting no. (See holiday schedules at right.)

Bid for airport T-hangar approved

After a vote was delayed one month, the board unanimously accepted a bid to build a five-place nested T-hangar for the Logan County Airport. Andy Meister was absent.

The delay was created when one bidder was allowed by the consulting engineer to submit a bid that did not meet specs. This resulted in a less-desirable hangar proposal coming in as the low bid. With state and federal funds involved, the county was required to accept the lowest bid

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Tarter Construction Services, of Bloomington, was willing to provide the desired structure, a 51-foot Erect-A-Tube building, and won at the lowest bid of $236,948.

With a concrete pad already in place, construction is expected to begin soon and be completed quickly.

Earlier in the month, the airport committee agreed to allow Holzwarth Flying Service to build a concrete containment pad for a liquid fertilizer tank. The business built a similar pad last year when Holzwarth installed a 10,000-gallon jet fuel tank, which reduced daily fuel truck deliveries.

Public transportation system continues to move forward

In other matters, formalities to set up a public transportation system continue.

The dual Logan and Mason County-sponsored program is expected to launch later this year. It will offer community and regional transportation by 24-hour advance appointment and by schedule, using a fleet of small vehicles, including wheelchair-accessible minivans.

It is federally funded program, with the Community Action Agency providing actual administrative duties.

A public transportation program enhances quality of life in a community, and as such, also serves as another incentive tool for economic development.

[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]

Past related articles

2012 holiday schedule for county offices

  • Monday, Jan. 2 -- New Year's Day

  • Monday, Jan. 16 -- Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday

  • Monday, Feb. 13 -- Lincoln's Birthday

  • Monday, Feb. 20 -- Presidents Day

  • Monday, May 28 -- Memorial Day

  • Wednesday, July 4 -- Independence Day

  • Monday, Sept. 3 -- Labor Day

  • Monday, Oct. 8 -- Columbus Day

  • Monday, Nov. 12 -- Veterans Day

  • Thursday, Nov. 22 -- Thanksgiving Day

  • Friday, Nov. 23 -- day following Thanksgiving Day

  • Tuesday, Dec. 25 -- Christmas Day

2013 holiday schedule for county offices:

  • Tuesday, Jan. 1 -- New Year's Day

  • Monday, Jan. 21 -- Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday

  • Tuesday, Feb. 12 -- Lincoln's Birthday

  • Monday, Feb. 18 -- Presidents Day

  • Monday, May 27 -- Memorial Day

  • Thursday, July 4 -- Independence Day

  • Monday, Sept. 2 -- Labor Day

  • Monday, Oct. 14 -- Columbus Day

  • Monday, Nov. 11 -- Veterans Day

  • Thursday, Nov. 28 -- Thanksgiving Day

  • Friday, Nov. 29 -- day following Thanksgiving Day

  • Wednesday, Dec. 25 -- Christmas Day

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