February Logan County Board Briefs

[February 26, 2018] 

LINCOLN

On Tuesday, February 20, the Logan County Board held its regular monthly meeting to vote on several motions and hear a few committee updates.

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

Finance Committee Update

Finance Committee Chairman David Hepler made a motion to reappoint Denise Martinek as Supervisor of Assessments.

Board member Kevin Bateman then motioned to amend and go out for a list of candidates for that position.

Board Chairman Chuck Ruben said he was not sure if they had the time to go out for a list of candidates. Martinek’s term ends March 31 because she was appointed to fulfill the term of the previous Assessor, Rosanne Brosamer, whose term started April 1, 2014 and would have ended March 31, 2018. Ruben said there was some misunderstanding because Martinek’s appointment had started in August.

Hepler said the Department of Revenue considers the position a four-year term that ends on July 31.

Board member Bob Sanders said he thought the board had previously discussed making a list of candidates. He said if they had a list, they would have a list to go to if something happened.

Board member Gloria Luster said she thought getting people on a list is a good business practice even if Martinek is re-appointed.

Ruben said the board has to ask the state to “go out for the test” and then they provide the testing and people apply for it. An assessor can be chosen out of those candidates.

Board member Scott Schaffenacker said the board has time to request a list to cover the county’s bases and feels it would be in the county’s best interest.

Board member Gene Rohlfs asked whether Martinek might be willing to work without a contract until August.

Bateman’s amendment to ask the Department of Revenue to go out for the test for the Supervisor of Assessments for Logan County passed 9-2 with Kevin Bateman, Dave Blankenship, Emily Davenport, David Hepler, Gloria Luster, Gene Rohlfs, Chuck Ruben, Bob Sanders, Scott Schaffenacker and Annette Welch voting yes. Bob Farmer and Chuck Ruben voted no.

Hepler will get in touch with the Department of Revenue and ask them to schedule the test.

One other motion was brought forward from the Finance Committee, but there was no discussion. Hepler motioned to approve a resolution for the Designation of Banks for County Deposits. This passed with 10 yes votes and Ruben abstaining.

Board of Health update

David Hepler’s motion to authorize the Chairman to execute the Health Department labor agreement was unanimously approved.

On Thursday, Logan County Department of Public Health Executive Director Don Cavi said the union had come to an agreement on the contract and needed the board to sign off on it.

Cavi said the SIU School of Medicine had an open house for veterans last Tuesday, which gave veterans a chance to “air out frustrations.” Many vets travel to Springfield to see doctors and would like more continued care in Lincoln.

Cavi said Dr. Miller is now credentialed with Tri-Care, the insurance that covers most of the county veterans.

Dr. Miller is one of the SIU School of Medicine’s physicians that serves at the Lincoln clinic.

Cavi said Logan County has had 47 cases of Influenza A and 52 cases of Influenza B diagnosed this winter. There is also a resistant strain afflicting some people. This Influenza season has caused 47 to be hospitalized and 8 fatalities.

Waste Management Committee Update

Waste Management Chairman Scott Schaffenacker’s motion to approve a resolution for the Consumer Electronics Recycling Act was unanimously approved.

At Thursday’s Board Workshop, Joint Solid Waste Agency Director Mitzi Rohlfs shared information with the board about the new Consumer Electronics Recycling Act. Rohlfs said she filled out an “opt-in” form and the information would satisfy the Environmental Protection Agency, but the Clearinghouse may have a different set of standards. The rollout for the act is on a fast pace. The state is still working on legislation, but the Joint Solid Waste Agency must opt in by March 1 of this year to participate in an electronic waste recycling program.

Seventeen types of electronics devices are still being collected including computers, monitors, televisions, printers, facsimile machines, and scanners; DVD players and recorders; videocassette recorders, Video game consoles; digital converter boxes, cable receivers, and satellite receivers; and electronic keyboards, electronic mice, and portable digital music players that have memory capability and are battery powered.

The Joint Solid Waste Agency will continue to have two different one-day collections as they have been doing previously with one in the spring and another in the fall. Mrs. Rohlfs asked the board to approve the resolution to allow her to submit the application to opt in.

Other votes and motions

Animal Control Committee update

The board unanimously approved Animal Control Chairman Bob Sander’s motion to approve a bid of $20,143.00 for new van purchase. It is an emergency situation. One of the vans was totaled recently when they responded to a call.

Building and Grounds Committee

The board unanimously approved Building and Ground’s Chairman Kevin Bateman’s motion to approve expending an additional $1,712.34 for an engineer to look at the structural integrity of the courthouse dome.

Insurance, Legislative, and Liquor Committee

The board unanimously approved two motions from Insurance, Legislative, and Liquor Committee Chairman Annette Welch.

1. A motion to approve “Employee Navigator” with a one-time set up charge of $400.

Last Thursday, the board heard about the program from Nathan Whiteman, who works for American Central Insurance and is the county’s insurance consultant for dental and health insurance. Whiteman said the “Employee Navigator” would allow employees to do their election of benefits online.

Whiteman said he would cover the $2,000 per year expense for the program, but there is a $400 set-up fee.

2. A motion to spend up to $500 for insurance fees to review the Structural Engineer Report for lightning damage.

Executive and Personnel Committee update

The Board unanimously approved two motions from Executive and Personnel Chairman Emily Davenport

1. A motion to approve a resolution for an Identity Protection Policy.

2. A motion to make a policy that all county vehicle titles be stored in the County Clerk’s Office, with copies sent to the Board Office and Treasurer’s Office.

Road and Bridge Committee update

Bob Farmer’s motion to approve a Collective Bargaining Agreement with Teamsters Local 916 to provide a 3-year contract to the maintenance crew at the Highway Department passed 10-1 with Kevin Bateman voting no.

Farmer’s motion to approve an Engineering Agreement with Cummins Engineering for $9,000 to prepare an application passed 10-1 with Kevin Bateman voting no.

Safety Committee

The board unanimously approved Safety Committee Chairman Bob Farmer’s motion to approve the contract between the County of Logan and the Logan County Paramedic Association.

Transportation

Kevin Bateman’s motion to bring forward the inter-governmental agreement with Mason County noting the change of operator from CAPCIL to SHOWBUS was unanimously approved.

Bateman said the change in the operators is the reason they need to sign a new agreement.

The next Regular Board meeting will be at the Logan County Courthouse at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20, 2018. The time is being moved up an hour due to the primary elections being held that day.

[Angela Reiners]

A link to the guidelines for electronic recycling