Logan County Briefs: Energy savings for property owners, SIU plans to put offices in health department continue

[July 26, 2016]  LINCOLN - On Tuesday, July 19, 2016, the Logan County Board held their Regular monthly meeting to vote on several motions and resolutions. They also heard updates from Board Chairman David Hepler and board members Miles Craig and Pat O'Neill.

Chairman's report

Board Chairman David Hepler said Invenergy is held a landowner open house at the Oasis Wednesday, July 20, and will have a more public open houses soon. They have worked with the Economic Development Partnership, as well as the Farm Bureau.

Hepler said Invernergy just signed a lease and will open an office in Lincoln at the old Beecherer's Jewelry Store location downtown on Broadway St.

On another matter, Hepler said he talked to Joe Schaler and the computer is connected in the Veteran's Assistance Commission office. Hepler said the VAC is interviewing three people for superintendent. They plan to have the office open and operating in early August.

Other updates

Miles Craig said the Board of Health will meet on Monday, July 25. Craig said Don Cavi contacted him and said one of the doctors is moving to Colorado, and Health Educator and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Emily Hauter, resigned to focus on her nursing degree. The Health Department has posted for Hauter's job and will be interviewing shortly.

Craig said the SIU plans for taking over certain offices are moving forward.

Craig said also that the Health Department has had good progress at working with the State's Attorney to resolve some nuisance issues.

On Community Action, Pat O'Neill said the agency has updated the bylaws for the Foster Grandparent Program and what is involved in being a Foster Grandparent. He said there is a list of people who want to be Foster Grandparents.

Board votes on motions from the Finance Committee

Finance Chairman Chuck Ruben's motion to authorize Chairman David Hepler to sign the electric aggregation bill when bids are out was unanimously approved by a voice vote. The previous authorization had expired while waiting for bids to get to the right level.

Ruben's motion for approval to pay the Virtual Server bill from the Major Criminal Cases fund was unanimously approved.

Bateman asked how the board found the money to pay for the bill.

Ruben said the payment was approved in January and half of the bill was already paid by County Clerk and Recorder Sally Turner out of her budget.

The board also approved a letter of engagement for the transportation grant audit.

Board member Kevin Bateman's motion to allow CAPCIL to make changes to the deviated fixed route, making it an operational decision instead of a strategic decision with communication to the Transportation Committee was unanimously approved.

Road and Bridge motions

Board member Bob Farmer brought forth five motions from the Road and Bridge Committee. The board unanimously passed all Farmer's motions which included:

A resolution approving a Bituminous Contract to Illinois Road Contractors for $53,997.95.

An engineering agreement with Fehr Graham and Associates in the amount of $54,107.00.

A resolution to appropriate $10,000 from County Bridge Fund to Eminence Road District

A resolution to appropriate $15,000 from County Bridge Fund to Sheridan and Prairie Creek Road Districts.

A resolution to appropriate $15,000 from County Bridge Fund to East Lincoln Road District.

Board members present were Rick Aylesworth, Kevin Bateman, Dave Blankenship, Miles Craig, Emily Davenport, Chairman David Hepler, Vice Chairman Bob Farmer, Pat O’Neill, Gene Rohlfs, Chuck Ruben, Scott Schaffenacker. Adam Schmidt was absent.

The next Logan County Board meeting will be Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. in the Logan County Courthouse.

[Angela Reiners]