|
At Lincoln Daily News, staff and
stringers often note that from the week before Christmas to the
first weekend in February, Logan County appears to go into some form
of hibernation when it comes to social and community events.
While that limits the daily edition on what can be published that is
light and fun and community oriented, it also is a time when the
staff can take somewhat of a breather and a chance to rewind and
reenergize in preparation for the hustle and bustle that they know
will come soon.
However, this is only true of social and community events and
activities. In the Lincoln City Council and Logan County Board,
business goes on as usual. At the beginning of 2025 it appeared that
the two primary governing bodies in our community were more than
willing to help fill the daily editions.
The year began with the two entities facing some big topics and
challenges, some that would be handled quickly and others that would
continue on through the balance of the year before they were finally
resolved.
At the county board, January typically begins with a new board chair
via appointments made at the last meeting of the old year. This year
that appointee, nominated and voted in by the board members, was
Julie Bobell. However, that appointment didn’t stick. Soon after
being appointed to the seat, Bobell announced her resignation from
the county board, leaving the group without an official chairperson
until the later in January.
Board Member Micheal DeRoss took responsibility for the chair
position and would have been content to take the official
appointment for the duration of the year. However, the board debated
and discussed who should fill that role and in the end appointed
board member JR Glenn as the 2025 Logan County Board Chair.
This appointment helped lead to what may have been an historical
first in city and county government. Glenn and Lincoln Mayor Tracy
Welch sat down to coffee one morning at Guest House Coffee and
Pastries and discussed how they could help bridge the gab between
city and county governance, and create a stronger more unified
working relationship between the two.
LDN was invited to sit in on that
coffee and speak with the two leaders about their visions for the
future.
Lincoln and Logan County leadership opens the doors for better
communication and more collaborative efforts
Earlier this week, something unusual was taking place at the Guest
House Coffee & Pastries in Lincoln. Logan County Board Chairman JR
Glenn and Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch were enjoying a beverage and
some frank conversation. The meeting of these two community leaders
was something proposed by Glenn as a starting point for a promise he
had made in December at the Logan County Board meeting when he was
appointed chairperson.
Welch said that he had been happy to hear from Glenn who asked for
the meeting. Welch added that creating a better working relationship
with the county and its board was something he had hoped for during
his tenure as Mayor. He was happy to find a like-minded person in
the chairmanship of the board and looked forward to working through
the challenges and hiccups of the past that had left the two
governing bodies in Lincoln at odds.
***
In other city and county news in January, the city council began
looking at a longevity pay allowance for non-union employees, and
the county board tackled the construction of guidelines for its
Community Benefit Fund.
Lincoln City Council
Aldermen begin exploration of longevity pay for non-union employees
Logan County Board
Finance Committee discusses community benefit fund and per diem
***
Discussion on the topic of longevity pay continued in February in
the Lincoln City Council and the community benefit fund continued to
be a topic for the county board
Lincoln City Council
Aldermen consider implementing a “CPI plus two” plan for wage
increase for non-union employees
Logan County Board
Workshop: CAPCIL application to be voted upon February 18th
Community Benefit Fund guidelines goes back to committee
***
News from the Logan County board for the rest of February and most
of March dominated the daily editions as the board visited a number
of topic’s including the Logan County Jail expansion project.
Logan County Board
Zoning and Economic Development discusses home occupations,
residential solar gardens and battery boxes
Logan County Board Special Regular Meeting
Board hears plans for Logan County Jail Expansion
Decides on a firm to assist with Inflation Reduction Act refund
[to top of second column] |
Logan County Board Finance Committee finds potential funding for
jail remodel without borrowing
Funding for Logan County Jail project takes a sharp right turn
County Board Disagrees on ARPA Funding
Final vote goes to the Jail Expansion Project
In the county, the county broadband
project became entangled in the discussions for funding the jail and
thus at the end of the first quarter, funding for the broadband was
at risk and warranted attention as well.
Finance Committee Discusses New Funding for the Broadband Project
Logan County Board will investigate seeking an extension on
Broadband Grant
In February the board also honored Logan County Clerk and Recorder
Theresa Moore after she received the County Official of the Year
Award from the Illinois Association of County Officials.
Logan County Board Recognizes County Clerk Theresa Moore
In March, the Logan County Board witnessed the swearing in of the
first Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers for Logan
County. The county had agreed to partner with CASA in McLean County
and bring to local governance, the first program that provides legal
guidance and assistance for children within the foster care system
in Logan County.
Judge Wright administers historic swearing in ceremony for Logan
County CASA volunteers
***
Other topics addressed by the Lincoln City Council in the first
three months of the year:
Lincoln City Council
L.E.A.D. introduces Dorsey Hill to Lincoln Aldermen
On Thursday, January 9th, LDN ran an article from the Monday prior
Lincoln City Council meeting, where that Andrea Runge with the
Lincoln Economic Advancement and Development (L.E.A.D.) introduced
Economic Recovery Corps Fellow Dorsey Hill, who has been working in
the five county area of the Greater Peoria Economic Development
Council to assist in developing recovery strategies for communities
following the Covid 19 pandemic.
Lincoln City Council
Council struggles to approve structural work at 129 S. Sangamon
Street
Lincoln aldermen tackle the topic of solar farms and gardens within
city limits
In in regard to our governing bodies, the ended up being a bookend
to the beginning of January as the bi-monthly coffee with the Mayor
in March featured special guest Logan County Board Chair JP Glenn
March Coffee with the Mayor
Guests include County Board Chair JR Glenn, Lincoln Alderpersons
Rhonda O’Donohue and Steve Parrott and Lincoln Police Chief Joe
Meister
***
In other big news in the first quarter of the new year, Andrea Runge
with Lincoln Economic Advancement and Development hosted a special
meeting at Lincoln Memorial Hospital unveiling the new Lincoln Way
marketing plan.
LEAD introduces The Lincoln Way at Strategic Plan reveal
Illinois State Senator Sally turner and Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch
announced that the former LDC campus owned by the state is on the
short list of state abandoned properties that will be demolished at
state expense, with the land being repurposed with input from local
leaders to advance economic growth in the community.
Senator Sally Turner and Mayor Tracy Welch announce proposed plans
for the Lincoln Developmental Center property
Speech
regarding the demolition of Lincoln Developmental Center by Lincoln
Mayor Tracy Welch - Video
Illinois
Senator Sally turner addresses the governor’s announcement of money
for demolition of abandoned state properties, including Lincoln
Developmental Center 0 Video
In other news, Heartland Bank announced that the Woodlawn Road
Branch would be demolished and replaced with a new modern bank
building.
Heartland Bank Announces Plans for New Woodlawn Branch in Lincoln
[Nila Smith] |
