March 12th, 2002

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Montgomery County Board Minutes For TUESDAY, March 12th, 2002 – 8:30 AM The following are minutes of a regular meeting of the Montgomery County Board held at 8:30 AM on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 in the County Board Chambers of the Historic Courthouse, Hillsboro, Illinois. The meeting was called to order by County Board Chairman Mike Havera. Roll call was taken, 20 members present, 1 absent. Members Present: Bonnie Branum, Joe Cordani, Ronald Deabenderfer, John Downs, Jamee Dunn, Robert Durbin, Charles Hampton, Mike Havera, Edward Helgen, Keith Horn, David Jackson, Dennis Jagodzinski, Frank Komor, Roger Myers, Dale Ogden, Glenn Painter, Don Petty, William Sielschott, David Webb, Dale White. Member Absent: Nelson Aumann. Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was given. Mileage and Per Diem Approval: Motion by Bob Durbin, second by Dale Ogden to approve the mileage and per diem. All in favor, motion carried. Approval of Minutes of Previous County Board Meeting: Motion by Dave Jackson, second by Keith Horn to approve the Minutes of the Previous Regular County Board Meeting held on Tuesday, February 12th, 2002. All in favor, motion carried. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Circuit Clerk’s Report – Mary Webb was present for questions. 2. County Treasurer’s Report – Ron Jenkins was present for questions. 3. County Clerk and Recorder’s Report – Sandy Leitheiser was present for questions and reported that the County Clerk’s Office will be open until 5:00 PM on that day (Tuesday, March 12th, 2002) for write-in candidates to file for the General Primary Election and on Saturday, March 16th, 2002 from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM for Primary Election absentee voting. 4. Sheriff’s Report – Jim Vazzi was present for questions and reported there are currently 30 prisoners in the County Jail. 5. Health Department Report – Mark Dugger was present for questions. 6. T.B. Department Report – was given. 7. Public Defender’s Report – was given. 8. Probation Office Report – Lyn Lanter was present for questions. 9. 911 Report – was given. APPROVAL OF 9 ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA: Motion by John Downs, second by Roger Myers to approve the 9 office reports on the Consent Agenda. All in favor, motion carried. CEFS Resolution and Intergovernmental Agreement: Linda Mitchell – Program Director for CEFS presented Resolution #02-04 to provide Public Transportation in Montgomery County. Motion by Bill Sielschott, second by Dennis Jagodzinski to approve Resolution #02-04 for Public Transportation. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 3, page 120). Mitchell then presented an Intergovernmental Agreement to authorize Montgomery County to participate with Shelby, Fayette, Clay, Moultrie and Douglas counties for the provision of public transportation services. Motion by Keith Horn, second by Charles Hampton to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 3, pages 121-122). COMMITTEE REPORTS: ROAD AND BRIDGE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Bonnie Branum as follows: 1. Discussion of Items from Safety Meeting: Chairman Branum reported that the Committee approved flashing lights on three trucks and the purchase of dual wheels for the older bat wing. 2. Seasonal Help for Summer: Branum stated that the Committee would be advertising for a seasonal maintainer position for the summer months. Highway Engineer McNeal will send out a letter to some of the Schools for part time workers to provide traffic counting that is required by law to be done this summer. 3. Old Equipment: Chairman Branum reported that some used equipment is being sent to the Agri-Tech auction today, Tuesday, March 12, 2002. FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Bill Sielschott as follows: 1. Coal Rights – Lease Agreements: Chairman Sielschott reported that negotiations are continuing with two coal companies that have submitted lease agreements to explore potential coal sites in Montgomery County. Sielschott stated that issues of the Real Estate Tax liability once any coal is produced need to be resolved before a commitment is made, and commended State’s Attorney Roberts for his assistance. 2. Retiree Insurance Policy: The Finance Committee recommends that the county establish a policy which would offer an Insurance Cash Payment Option Plan for county retirees on a voluntary basis. This policy has been endorsed by IMRF and would reduce the higher insurance liability the county sometimes incurs with retirees’ health conditions. Motion by Bill Sielschott, second by John Downs to establish the Insurance Cash Payment Option Plan for county retirees. Chairman Havera endorsed the policy, which would trade a variable cost for a fixed cost, and could reduce county insurance costs. All in favor, motion carried. 3. Open Meetings Act: Sielschott asked members to review guidelines recently received regarding the Open Meetings Act and explained that the Agenda for County Board Meetings must be sent out to the media and posted no later than 48 hours before the monthly County Board Meeting. Anything not posted on Agenda will have to wait until the next month’s Board Meeting for consideration. 4. Four Elected Officials Salaries: Discussion took place during the Committee meeting to review salaries for the Sheriff, County Clerk, Treasurer and Circuit Clerk. Because of legal requirements, the board must vote on these salary schedules at the April, 2002 meeting, and Sielschott informed members to anticipate the committee’s recommendation at the next meeting. 5. Public Auction of Surplus Property: A Public Auction of Surplus County-owned land to be held on March 27th, 2002 at 4:30 PM in the County Board Room. HWE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Bob Durbin as follows: 1. Election Update: Chairman Durbin reported that County Clerk Leitheiser was at their Committee meeting to give an update about the upcoming General Primary Election, and informed the members about the Election Judge School to be held on Friday, March 8th, 2002. Durbin attended the Election equipment Public Test on March 11th, 2002 and affirmed that all equipment is in order to tabulate ballots. 2. CRC Program: Bob Durbin stated that residents from the Continuing Recovery Center in Irving have been long time volunteers at the Recycling Center, and for their continued efforts the Committee gave approval to donate $100.00 to the CRC Program. Framework for the drop-off site at the CRC building is in place, and will be completed in the next two weeks, weather permitting. CRC residents plan to maintain the Irving drop-off site. 3. Recycling Update: Coordinator Daniels attended a special committee meeting in Litchfield that discussed curbside recycling for that area. Chairman Durbin reported that out of Region 5’s 17 counties, Montgomery County ranks 6th for recycling efforts, and stated that he hopes these numbers will keep improving. 4. UCCI Meeting: Durbin announced if anyone was interested in going to the UCCI meeting in Springfield to please let Coordinator Daniels know as soon as possible. PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman John Downs as follows: 1. Employee Personnel Manual: Chairman Downs reported that the committee had made some revisions to the Employee Personnel Manual and reviewed all manual changes with members. Within the review, Downs stated that annual employee evaluations should be implemented by all county offices, and the committee plans to provide an evaluation form to be used by all departments. Motion by John Downs, second by Dave Jackson to approve the revised Employee Personnel Manual. All in favor, motion carried. BUILDING AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Glenn Painter as follows: 1. Maintenance Truck: Chairman Painter reported that the Maintenance Truck received some recent repairs. 2. Dishwasher at Jail: The committee approved the purchase of a new dishwasher at the jail because repairs on the present one are not cost-effective. 3. Leak on Front Porch –Rubber Roof: A leak on the front porch of the Historic Courthouse will be evaluated by Young’s Roofing Company. 4. Vacuum Cleaner: The 12 year old vacuum cleaner used at the Historic Courthouse was replaced because replacement parts are not cost-effective. 5. Postage Machines: The committee initiated a request for two new postage machines with electronic meter heads so that postage can be filled via the telephone. Laws have changed that will not allow meters to be filled at the post office after March 31st, 2002. ESDA/AMBULANCE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Dennis Jagodzinski as follows: 1. Ambulance Call Report: A summary of monthly operations for February 2002 is as follows: Total calls: 376; Total amount billed: $72,202.50; Total amount collected: $30,769.35. 2. Director Larry Adams Report: Chairman Jagodzinski reported that Director Adams has been to meetings and training sessions in the past month and worked with Network Administrator Purcell to install new ambulance billing computers. The computerized weather system equipment is in full operation at the ESDA/Ambulance office, and updates are received every three minutes, which will greatly assist 911 and Emergency personnel. 3. Medicare: No problems at this time. 4. County Flood Plain Policy: Chairman Jagodzinski reported that there are some issues with two homes that may be in Flood Plain areas. 5. County Buildings Security: Additional security for both buildings is still under consideration. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Member Ron Deabenderfer as follows: 1. Website Update: County Website representative Richard Slepicka attended the committee meeting and reported that the Sheriff’s page on the website is now complete and the Health Department, the Probation Department and the Highway Department pages are currently under construction. The Tourism page will be updated as events are scheduled, and Slepicka will work with Clerk Leitheiser and Network Administrator Purcell to have Primary Election results available on the County Website as returns come in on Election night. 2. Bike Trail – Gazebo: Deabenderfer reported that some local residents would like to erect a gazebo at the Waggoner depot entrance to the Bike Trail. The committee stated that they would like more information about potential insurance liability to the county and maintenance of the gazebo. Member Webb contributed that his understanding from the group was that these issues could be easily resolved, and the committee will discuss this further at next month’s meeting. 3. Enterprise Zone: The committee plans to review information that Coordinator Daniels is working on concerning the expansion of the County Enterprise Zone to include the CIPS area in Coffeen. APPROVAL OF 7 COMMITTEE REPORTS: Motion by Bob Durbin, second by Frank Komor to approve the 7 committee reports. All in favor, motion carried. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Chairman Havera congratulated the Montgomery County Water Company on their DCCA Grant Award in the amount of $400,000.00 for Phase II of the county Rural Water Development Project. SCHEDULE CHANGES: ESDA/Ambulance Chairman Jagodzinski announced that the monthly meeting of ESDA/Ambulance committee scheduled for April 2nd, 2002 is rescheduled for Monday, April 8th, 2002 due to a UCCI Meeting in Springfield on April 2nd. The meeting’s time (2:30 PM) and location (ESDA/Ambulance office) remain unchanged. APPOINTMENTS: Attorney Gerald Patrick Huber requested the re-appointment of Raymond A. Held as a Trustee of the Raymond Fire Protection District for a three-year term starting the first day of May, 2002. Motion by Charles Hampton, second by Ed Helgen to appoint Raymond A. Held as a Trustee of the Raymond Fire Protection District. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 3, pages 123-127). PAY BILLS: Motion by John Downs, second by Roger Myers to pay all approved bills. All in favor, motion carried. For an itemized listing of bills paid, refer to Accounts Payable Book for FY 2002. ADJOURN: Until the April 9th, 2002 meeting at 8:30 AM. Motion by Glenn Painter, second by Bill Sielschott to adjourn the Full County Board Meeting. All in favor, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:25 AM.