Logan County Board briefs: Tax credit for home buyers; Winter Wonderland to return; wind tower lighting

 

[September 29, 2020] 

At the Regular Logan County Board meeting on Tuesday, September 15, the board voted on several motions and resolutions.

Board members present were David Blankenship, Emily Davenport, Janet Estill, Bob Farmer, Cameron Halpin, David Hepler, Steve Jenness, Bob Sanders, Scott Schaffenacker, Annette Welch and Jim Wessbecher.

Finance Committee update

The board approved Finance Committee Chairman David Hepler’s motion for a resolution authorizing an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement between Logan County and Normal, in McLean County, in connection with a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program and a Loan Finance Program.

David Rasch of Monarch Mortgage shared details of the Illinois Assist MCC program at the Finance Committee meeting Tuesday, August 11.

Rasch said this program offers first time homebuyers a federal income tax credit of up to $2,000 when they purchase their first home.

When a homebuyer purchases a home and takes advantage of the program, Rasch said, they receive that credit against their federal income tax for the life of the mortgage.

The tax credit makes homeownership more affordable, though Rasch said it does not relax credit standards or provide down payment assistance.

Through realtor, mortgage companies and commercial banks, Rasch said the program promotes homeownership. Homebuyers benefit from mortgage interest reduction.

The credit depends on the mortgage amount. The tax credit is 25 percent of their paid mortgage interest.

The home buyer would have to purchase a home approaching $190,000 at today’s rates to receive a $2,000 credit, but Rasch said there is a sliding scale.

Income limits drive the homeowner’s ability to purchase and get the tax credit. Rasch said a family of one or two must have a household income at or below $81,000 a year to qualify.

For a household of three or more, the income limit is $93,000. The purchase price limit to qualify is up to $283,000.

The program has worked with a variety of lenders throughout the state. Lenders may offer the MCC to borrowers who are eligible.

In the past five years in McLean County, Rasch said 711 residents have taken advantage of the program totaling more than $87 million in home loans.

The town of Normal facilitates all the interaction for the program with regard to the Governor’s Office.

The program will not cost the county anything. The resolution simply allows the county to enter in cooperation with the town of Normal and the other counties and cities who participate. Rasch said Macon County recently passed the ordinance.

The motion passed 10-1 with Schaffenacker abstaining from the vote.

Building and Grounds Committee update

The board unanimously approved the following motions from Building and Grounds Committee Chairman David Blankenship:

- To expense up to $6,000 from the line item for sidewalk and curb maintenance for the purchase of chemical, salt spreader and miscellaneous equipment for the county maintenance plow truck.
- The Winter Wonderland is being planned to take place on the courthouse lawn with the space and placement to be determined in order to coordinate with the planned dome construction.

At the September Building and Grounds Committee meeting, Kathy Williams said the 40 trees last year sold out quickly and some asked why they were only on one side of the square.

Williams asked the committee to allow placement of 64 Christmas trees all around the perimeter of the courthouse this year. That way people could drive around and see them from all sides.

With dome restoration starting soon, Blankenship said they need to ensure that process is not being impeded. He said they may need to limit the trees to three sides.

Construction Technical Committee (Building and Grounds Subcommittee)

Blankenship brought forward the following two motions connected to the Construction Technical Committee:

- To approve a recommendation from the Construction Technical Committee to approve the Logan County Courthouse Restoration Basis of Design. He amended it to include inspection and correction of basement efflorescence.

The efflorescence is the white chalky powder that shows up on concrete or brick walls. Walter said the efflorescence in the basement is a result of water leaking in concrete under perimeter sidewalk concrete of the building. When salt used in wintertime gets wet, it leaks in through cracks and leaks into basement.

Jenness asked for more explanation of the Basis of Design.

Blankenship said the Basis of Design provides written communication between the county, project manager Bill Walter of MRTS, and CTS of what direction they should go and their initial launching orders. It is subject to amendment anytime. He said this document does not have the specifications, which will come later.

Walter said the Basis of Design creates a document that allows the county, MRTS and CTS to understand what is needed on the courthouse and the options available to meet those needs. The basis of design is part of the preliminary design phase of the renovation.

- To approve a recommendation from the Construction Technical Committee to approve the courthouse asbestos inspection budget in the amount of $7,600. Blankenship said they may have to do retesting later.

Planning and Zoning Committee update

The board approved a motion by Planning and Zoning Committee Chairman David Hepler for a resolution for two Wind Farm Ordinance Amendments. These amendments are related to applicant, owner and operator costs and lighting systems, and will be added to the zoning ordinance Appendix E on Wind Energy Conversion Systems.

These ordinances were considered at a public hearing last January, but the board sent them back to the committee for further amendment. Logan County Zoning Officer Will D’Andrea said that was done after a request by a developer to have a chance to propose some changes to the language about costs and who covers them.

The amended language says:

All reasonable and documented costs incurred by the county relating to the review of the Siting Approval Application shall be paid by the applicant, owner or operator.

Costs incurred under this provision shall include, but not be limited to the cost of notification, experts, hearing officer(s) or facilitator(s), and/or attorneys that may be used at any stage of the project, including the application review, hearing process, consideration of the application by the county (including County Board or Zoning Board of Appeals), permitting, operations phase and/or decommissioning phase.

In addition, costs of any appeal or litigation resulting from any project, application, action, permit, or work undertaken or performed by the county shall be paid by the applicant, owner or operator, including, but not limited to the cost of experts and attorney’s fees.

Costs will not be subject to reimbursement if such appeal or litigation is the result of an action, omission or negligence caused by Logan County or its representatives. Costs incurred by the county will be documented.

The section on lighting already had several guidelines for lighting which said WECS (Wind Energy Conversion System) projects shall utilize minimal lighting. No tower lighting, other than normal security lighting, shall be permitted except as may be required by the FAA. Lighting for the towers shall be constructed only in accordance with the minimum requirements and standards allowed through the FAA or other regulatory authority in an effort to minimize the visual impact of the structures.

The proposed language to be added says the project shall utilize aircraft detection lighting systems as approved by the FAA, unless the FAA does not recommend or approve this technology for a proposed project.

D’Andrea said the lighting system is like a large motion sensor and will only turn the red lights on if aircraft are detected in the range set by the FAA. If there are no aircraft detected, then there should be no flashing red lights on top of the towers.

D’Andrea said this only applies to new windfarms. Hilltopper and Whitney Hill were both approved without this technology, however, they have agreed to install and retrofit both projects with this new technology.

Sugar Creek was also approved before the language was added and is not required to install this technology. That wind farm is under construction, but they have not offered to upgrade and incorporate this technology. Those wind turbines are closer in proximity to the Logan County Airport, which is non-towered airport. Aircraft can be flown without air traffic control communications at the discretion of the pilot.

Road and Bridge Committee update

The board unanimously approved Road and Bridge Committee Chairman Bob Farmer’s motion to award a contract to Stark Excavating in the amount of $42,215 to repair two bridges in Lake Fork and Mount Pulaski Townships

Executive and Personnel Committee update

The board unanimously approved a motion from Executive and Personnel Chairman Scott Schaffenacker to close county offices for Christmas Eve.

The next Regular Board meeting will be Tuesday, October 20 at 6 p.m. on the second floor of the Orr Building at 628 Broadway, Lincoln.

[Angela Reiners]