County prepares for future audits and budgets

[April 16, 2013]  When the Logan County Board Finance Committee met on April 9, the discussion for the evening primarily concerned future audits and budget documentation.

Audit and budget preparation

The committee decided to send a notice to multiple financial companies in the central Illinois area to inform them that the county is preparing for their next financial audit. Furthermore, the county would like to hire the same company to help with budgetary paperwork for the next few years.

In previous years, two separate companies were used for these tasks. The committee members agreed that it will be easier to use one company for both tasks, as the company would have access to necessary county financial documents. Otherwise, the county has to work with two separate entities on the same paperwork.

Some committee members expressed a desire to remain with CliftonLarsonAllen, the company that has worked with them in the past. All of the members agreed that this company has done a great job in the past.

Terry Carlton said that while he has no problem with the same auditors, there are still other great firms in the area that may be willing to take the job, and they should at least be given notice of the opportunity.

CliftonLarsonAllen is expected to send representatives to the county board meetings for this month to present the audit for last year.

Grant for Heritage In Flight

Jack Burke, curator of the Heritage In Flight Museum, came to the finance committee to provide an update on grant money received by the museum, which is located at the county airport. It was announced in January that the museum will receive a state grant worth $112,518.

Burke said the money would be used mostly to fix up the primary museum area, a historic Camp Ellis barracks used to display aviation and military artifacts and memorabilia.

A $15,000 portion of the grant money will also be used to make repairs and aesthetic improvements to the large hangar that is rented by the museum. Additional displays are housed in the hangar along with the museum's two aircraft that are rented, mostly for flight training. The county owns the properties and buildings.

Burke explained that this grant will come in the form of reimbursements once the money is spent by the museum. As a result, Burke said the museum will be borrowing money from a bank at 3.5 percent interest. Burke asked the committee if they would consider helping to pay for the $15,000 portion of the costs that would go toward the hangar.

Burke said he has visited state officials several times in person to ensure that the grant money will be coming their way.

Chuck Ruben said that money used in this manner would likely come out of the airport surplus funds, which was confirmed by Gene Rohlfs. It was also suggested by Vicki Dugan that the county could pay for the interest on the loan for this project as a whole. Burke said that would be well-appreciated, and the bank he spoke to is already willing to loan the museum the full total.

The committee voted to approve that the interest will be paid for with airport surplus funds. Burke thanked the committee for their help in this matter, and the committee commended Burke for his efforts.

Committee members present were Chuck Ruben, finance chairman; Bob Farmer, board chairman; and committee chairs Jan Schumacher, Terry Carlton and Rick Aylesworth. Guests included Gene Rohlfs; Vicki Dugan, county treasurer; Mary Kelley, circuit clerk; and Sally Gosda from the health department.

[By DEREK HURLEY]