Logan County briefs: Law enforcement collective bargaining and uninsured veterans dental assistance plan agreements signed, Economic Development office to move, and other business

[January 16, 2018] 

LINCOLN

On Tuesday, December 19, the Logan County Board held its Regular Board meeting voting on several motions and resolutions and hearing a few committee updates.

Health Department update

Logan County Department of Public Health Administrator Don Cavi said SIU and the Veteran's Assistance Commission signed an agreement for Veteran's Dental Assistance.

The assistance plan is for veterans who do not have insurance to receive an annual preventative oral exam and cleaning with an out-of-pocket cost of only $25. The other $50 of the $75 cost will be supplied by the VAC - $25, and the First Presbyterian Church of Lincoln - $25.

The SIU sliding fee schedule would be used for any additional dental services and will be the patients responsibility.

The plan begins Jan 1, 2018 and in one year will be re-evaluated.

Also starting in January, Dr. Peter Miller will join the SIU clinic and be there a day and a half during the week.

On other health department matters, Cavi said they had borrowed money from the loan the county took out for the health department [when state funds were delayed earlier this year]. He was glad to report they have paid it all back.

Safety Committee (Law Enforcement / EMA/ Coroner / Ambulance) update

Safety Committee Chairman Bob Farmer's motion to approve the collective bargaining agreement MOU (Memorandum of Agreement) between the County of Logan and Logan County Sheriff and Illinois Fraternal Order of Police was unanimously approved.

Executive and Personnel updates and motions

Executive and Personnel Vice Chairman Kevin Bateman's motion to give the Economic Development Partnership 60 days to move out of the office in the John A. Logan Building was unanimously approved. They will have to be out of the office by February 28.
Ruben said he had a meeting with Economic Development and they are comfortable with the two month period for moving out of the building.

Bateman made a motion to approve a $2,000 donation to the Tropics Sign Restoration. Bateman then amended the motion to add $500 to give to the Logan County Genealogical and Historical Society.

Board Chairman Chuck Ruben said the funding is coming from the historic sites funding which they get from the county hotel/motel tax.

Bateman said the county used to donate to the genealogical society all the time and $500 is not too much to ask. He said they do great work there.

The amendment was unanimously approved.

The main motion as amended passed 10-1 with Kevin Bateman, Janet Dahmm, Bob Farmer, David Hepler, Gloria Luster, Gene Rohlfs, Chuck Ruben, Bob Sanders, Scott Schaffenacker and Annette Welch voting yes. Dave Blankenship voted no.

Building and Grounds updates and votes

Building and Grounds Chairman Kevin Bateman made a motion to bring forward SmartWatt as energy consultant with a possible amendment for CTS Group. He then made the amendment to bring forward CTS as the energy consultant group.
The amendment to bring CTS forward as the energy consultant group passed 10-1 with Kevin Bateman, Dave Blankenship, Janet Dahmm, Bob Farmer, Gloria Luster, Gene Rohlfs, Chuck Ruben, Bob Sanders, Scott Schaffenacker and Annette Welch voting yes. David Hepler voted no.

The vote on the main motion as amended was also 10-1 with Hepler's vote being the only no vote.

Both SmartWatt and CTS presented their ideas for energy savings to the board at their October workshop. They each guaranteed energy savings for the county.

The CTS Group has worked with the Chester East-Lincoln School District among others. CTS representative Mark Groves handed out audits showing that facility improvements would pay for themselves in five to eight years.

Board member Dave Blankenship motioned to limit CTS to working with the courthouse only.

Ruben asked Blankenship if there was a reason he was not including the Highway Department since they have some energy needs.

Blankenship said it will give the county an opportunity to become familiar with the service provider before deciding whether to use it for other buildings.

Blankenship's amendment passed 10-1 with Kevin Bateman, Dave Blankenship, Janet Dahmm, Bob Farmer, David Hepler, Gloria Luster, Gene Rohlfs, Chuck Ruben, Bob Sanders and Annette Welch voting yes. Scott Schaffenacker voted no.

Bateman's motion to approve a resolution to close the office of the County Clerk on Primary and General Election Days in 2018 for all services other than elections was unanimously approved.

Finance Committee motions

The board unanimously approved three motions by Finance Committee Chairman David Hepler:

• A motion to approve workers compensation reimbursement adjustment.

• A motion to accept the 2018 Probation Plan.

• A motion for a resolution for the State’s Attorney’s Appellate Prosecutor Program in the amount of $12,000.

Road and Bridge motions

Road and Bridge Chairman Bob Farmer brought forward seven motions. The six motions unanimously approved included:

A motion to approve a resolution to transfer the jurisdiction of two small parcels in Broadwell.

A motion for a resolution to approve the 2018 Motor Fuel Tax Maintenance Program for county highways.

A motion for a resolution to approve Motor Fuel Tax expenditures for payroll related expenses.

A motion to approve a resolution to award the 2018 Motor Fuel Tax contract for Aggregate Materials to the lowest responsible bidders.


A motion for a resolution to approve the County Aid request from Oran Township and to appropriate $20,000 from the County Bridge Fund to place riprap under a bridge.

A motion to approve a resolution to appropriate $20,400 from the County Bridge Fund for engineering design of the County Highway 6 Bridge over Salt Creek near Chestnut.

County Engineer Bret Aukamp said the agreement was approved in June and then sent to IDOT for approval, but it still needed to be approved by the board.

Farmer's motion for a resolution to approve Motor Fuel Tax expenditures for the County Engineer’s salary passed 10-1 with Dave Blankenship, Janet Dahmm, Bob Farmer, David Hepler, Gloria Luster, Gene Rohlfs, Chuck Ruben, Bob Sanders, Scott Schaffenacker and Annette Welch voting yes. Kevin Bateman voted no.

Appointments approved as part of the consent agenda included the re-appointments of Doug Thompson to the Zoning Board of Appeals; and Jim Vipond and Blair Hoerbert to the Logan County Regional Planning Commission.

Eleven board members were present: Kevin Bateman, Dave Blankenship, Janet Dahmm, Bob Farmer, David Hepler, Gloria Luster, Gene Rohlfs, Bob Sanders, Scott Schaffenacker and Annette Welch, with Board Chairman Chuck Ruben presiding. Emily Davenport was absent.

The next Regular Board meeting will be Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at 7 p.m. in the Logan County Courthouse.

[Angela Reiners]