January 14th, 2003

[e-Mail this Article]     [Print this Article]

Montgomery County Board Minutes For TUESDAY, January 14th, 2003 – 8:30 AM The following are minutes of a regular meeting of the Montgomery County Board held at 8:30 AM on Tuesday, January 14th, 2003 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, 21 members present, 0 absent. Members Present: Nelson Aumann, George Blankenship, Terry Bone, Bonnie Branum, Ronald Deabenderfer, John Downs, Robert Durbin, Charles Hampton, Mike Havera, Edward Helgen, Keith Horn, David Jackson, Dennis Jagodzinski, Frank Komor, Roger Myers, Dale Ogden, Glenn Painter, Don Petty, Mike Plunkett, William Sielschott, David Webb. Members Absent: None Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was given. Mileage and Per Diem Approval: Motion by Nelson Aumann, second by Don Petty to approve the mileage and per diem. All in favor, motion carried. Approval of Minutes of Previous County Board Meeting: Motion by John Downs, second by Roger Myers to approve the Minutes of the Previously Adjourned County Board Meeting held on Tuesday, December 10th, 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 informed the board about a letter to the editor recently published complimenting her office and the County Board for implementing a new computer system for Recording Department customers. 4. Sheriff’s Report – Jim Vazzi was present for questions. 5. Health Department Report – Mark Dugger was present for questions and reminded the Board that the Health Department’s Open House will be held on February 11th, 2003 at 11:30 AM. There will also be a lunch at the K.C. Hall at 12:00 PM for County Office Holders. 6. T.B. Department Report – Kathy Tapley was present for questions. 7. Public Defender’s Report – was given. 8. Probation Office Report – was given. 9. 911 Report – Greg Nimmo was present for questions. APPROVAL OF 9 ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA: Motion by Bonnie Branum, second by Bob Durbin to approve the 9 office reports on the Consent Agenda. All in favor, motion carried. COMMITTEE REPORTS: COORDINATING COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Mike Havera as follows: 1. Parking Situation: Chairman Havera stated that the County has been working toward obtaining property at 133 North Main Street in Hillsboro in order to expand parking around the Courthouse Complex. The Board has made numerous attempts to contact the owner of the Hicks property, which is located on the corner east of the Jail. There has been no response to repeated correspondence from the Board to the owner, so the Board has decided to look at other properties on North Main. The Horn property is located next to the McPhail Law Office and is also for sale. The County has negotiated a price of $45,000. John Downs stated that the size of the lot is 86 x 105 feet. Motion by Ed Helgen, second by Bob Durbin to authorize the Public Buildings Commission to purchase the Horn Property at 133 North Main Street, Hillsboro for $45,000.00. All in favor, motion carried. 2. BPI – Coal Bed Methane Gas: Havera reported that there have been many discussions over the past year with BPI Industries and the Colt Coal Company on Harvesting the Coal Bed Methane gas within the County owned coal rights, referred to the Mines and Minerals Committee for their report. MINES AND MINERALS COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Dave Webb as follows: 1. Coal Bed Methane Gas: Chairman Webb stated that early last year, Montgomery County entered into a Lease Option Agreement with Colt Coal Company to explore parts of the County for possible coal production and the County is considering a Lease Option Agreement with one of two coal companies to extract the Coal Bed Methane gas. Webb gave members an overview of the strengths and weaknesses between the two companies, and stated that BPI’s contract offers better financial advantages to the County. As a result, the Mines and Minerals Committee and Coordinating Committee strongly recommend to the Board to enter into a Lease Option Agreement with BPI Incorporated. Motion by Dave Webb, second by Dennis Jagodzinski to enter into a Lease Option Agreement with BPI Incorporated to extract the Coal Bed Methane Gas. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book #3, pages 264-313). ROAD AND BRIDGE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Bonnie Branum as follows: 1. Resurfacing Project: Chairman Branum reported that the Engineering Agreements for the Barnett and Mt. Olive Resurfacing projects were finalized, with the engineering costs for the Barnett Resurfacing project totaling $23,500 and engineering costs for the Mt. Olive Resurfacing project totaling $79,853.52. Motion by Bonnie Branum, second by Charles Hampton to approve Engineering costs for the Barnett Resurfacing Project at $23,500.00. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book #3, pages 314-317). Motion by Bonnie Branum, second by Terry Bone to approve the Engineering costs for Mt. Olive Resurfacing Project at $79,853.52. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book #3, pages 318-323). Branum also reported that County Highway Engineer Amy McNeal has applied for tarp funds for the Barnett project. 2. Road & Bridge Update: Branum reported that the Highway Department has been cleaning ditches, cutting brush and patching roads. FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Bill Sielschott as follows: 1. Conflict Public Defenders: Chairman Sielschott stated that County Public Defender Dave Grigsby has been overloaded with cases due to the growing Methamphetamine problem in the County. The Finance Committee recommended to the board to approve hiring extra Attorneys to help offset the caseload and to have each Conflict Public Defender’s Salary set at $60.00 per hour. Four Attorneys have agreed to the $60.00 an hour Salary set by the Finance Committee in the Conflict Public Defenders’ Contract. Motion by Bill Sielschott, second by John Downs to approve the Conflict Public Defenders’ Contract.. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book #3, pages 324-328). 2. Employee Health Insurance: Sielschott stated that the Committee approved the change in Insurance Administrators from Innovative Benefits Group to Consociate Care Group Insurance in Decatur. Sielschott highly recommended the change to the Board, and more information will be included in the Personnel Committee report. 3. Manatron Contract: Sielschott reported that the Manatron Contract is not ready due to the unavailability of total costs. Treasurer Jenkins is working to finalize these costs with Manatron. Sielschott also reported that the mileage rate for the County would not increase and would stay at the current .36 cents per mile for Fiscal Year 2003. HWE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Bob Durbin as follows: 1. Ohlman Polling Location: Durbin reported that Ohlman village officials were at this month’s HWE Committee meeting to state that the current polling location for Ohlman (the White Settlement Center/Audubon Township Hall) is inconvenient to the voters of Ohlman. The Committee decided that more information was needed and they will discuss this matter further at their February, 2003 committee meeting and Durbin will report their findings to the Board. 2. Primary Election Update: County Clerk Leitheiser reported to the committee that two Primary Elections are required-one in Hillsboro for Mayor and another in Litchfield for the Democratic nominee for Ward III Alderman. As a saving to the county, the County Clerk’s office will be clustering polling locations, and all affected registered voters will receive information about this change from the County Clerk’s office. 3. East Fork #2 Polling Place Change: Durbin reported that he and County Clerk Leitheiser went to Donnellson to find a new Polling location for East Fork #2 Precinct. Durbin recommended to the board that the former Donnellson School should replace the Donnellson Fire Station as the polling place for that precinct. Motion by Bob Durbin, second by Dale Ogden to change East Fork II Precinct polling location from the Donnellson Fire Station to the former Donnellson School. All in favor, motion carried. Durbin then referred members to a list of all Montgomery County polling places and recommended that the board formally approve them. Motion by Bob Durbin, second by Dave Jackson to approve the list of Montgomery County Polling Places. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book #3, page 329). 4. EPA Update: Durbin stated that EPA Inspector Gonet was at the last Committee meeting and gave an update on the open dumping inspections he has made since July 1, 2002, including a report regarding the new flare unit that burns off Methane gas at the Litchfield Landfill. 5. Animal Control: Chairman Durbin reported on the ongoing animal control problem with a homeowner in Irving. Stacy Ballard from the Illinois Department of Agriculture was contacted to help with this problem and reported to the Coordinating Office that she has talked with the homeowner, who will be taking care of the problem. The Animal Control Warden will be contacted if any assistance is needed with animal removal. The owner will incur all costs if the Animal Control Warden is needed. 6. Amend Committee Minutes: Roger Myers of the HWE Committee noted that the HWE Committee minutes show that he and Don Petty were absent at the meeting, when they were there, and asked that the HWE Committee minutes be amended to reflect that they had attended the meeting. County Board Chairman Mike Havera stated that the HWE Committee minutes would be corrected. PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman John Downs as follows: 1. Employee Health Insurance: Chairman Downs reported that the committee has been talking with another insurance provider, Consociate Care Group of Decatur, Illinois. He emphasized that no benefit changes would occur, but the savings to the county would be substantial, nearly $90,000 per year. Downs stated that Innovative Benefits Group has done a good job in getting the county started with a self-insurance plan, and that he hopes that Consociate Care Group will continue this same service. Steve Spinner of Consociate Care Group was in attendance at the board meeting and stated that they have been signing up local providers to be placed on the Providers List. Motion by John Downs, second by Glenn Painter to change Health Care Administrators from Innovative Benefits Group to Consociate Care Group effective February 1, 2003. All in favor, motion carried. BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Glenn Painter as follows: 2. Cleaning Bids: Chairman Painter reported that bids for cleaning services at the Courthouse Complex and the Jail have been received and were opened at the Buildings and Grounds meeting. The committee had decided to delay awarding the contract until next month’s meeting, and stated that Paula Johnson was the lowest bidder. 3. Four Wheeler Ordinance: Chairman Havera commented that at the last Mayor’s meeting many mayors brought up concerns relating to four wheelers abusing city/village streets, and requested that the County Board consider implementing a Four Wheeler Ordinance. State’s Attorney Roberts has been researching the matter, and is reviewing a similar ordinance in place in Madison County. He will be reporting his findings to the County Board at a future meeting. ESDA/AMBULANCE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Dennis Jagodzinski as follows: 1. Ambulance Call Report: Chairman Jagodzinski stated that due to illness, no Ambulance Call Reports were available, and there would be two Ambulance Call Reports given at next month’s Full Board Meeting. Jagodzinski thanked Cathy Ulrici and Maurica Sparks for all their help keeping the ESDA office going during the change in ESDA Directors. 2. Director Position: Jagodzinski stated that the committee met to interview seven applicants for the ESDA Director Position. The committee selected Diana Holmes, who started December 30, 2002 and was in attendance at the meeting. Jagodzinski introduced Director Holmes to the County Board. 3. Fillmore Fire Department: Jagodzinski reported on the December 16, 2002 fire at the Fillmore Fire Department and thanked 911 Coordinator Greg Nimmo and Montgomery County ESTB Vice-Chairman Joe Gasparich for their help in assisting that Department to recover from the accident. Jagodzinski also stated that the response from the County and the State has been overwhelming. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Mike Plunkett as follows: 1. Web Site: Chairman Mike Plunkett stated that the committee reviewed Richard Slepicka’s proposal to maintain the County Web Site, and the cost of the maintenance would run no more than $1,600.00 a year, based on 80 hours of work. Motion by Mike Plunkett, second by Roger Myers to approve paying Richard Slepicka a sum not to exceed $1,600.00 to maintain the County Web Site for the upcoming year. All in favor, motion carried. Plunkett stated that any board member, office holder or supervisor who needed his or her picture taken for the County Web Site should stay after the board meeting. 2. West Central Development Council Resolution #03-01: Plunkett reported that he had received a Resolution request from West Central Development Deputy Director Mike Cavanaugh asking the County Board’s support for the application of the West Central Development Council for Economic Development comprehensive planning activities. Motion by Mike Plunkett, second by Glenn Painter to approve West Central Development Council’s Resolution #03-01. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book #3, page 330.) APPROVAL OF 9 COMMITTEE REPORTS: Motion by Aumann, second by Helgen to approve the 9 committee reports. All in favor, motion carried. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: Given by Chairman Mike Havera as follows: ANNOUNCEMENTS: Havera stated that immediately following the February 2003 Board meeting at 9:30 AM a representative from Explorer Pipeline Company would be here to provide information about their pipeline located in the Panhandle area of the County. He also stated that the Montgomery County Water Company will have their Closing date for the Phase II Rural Water Project on Tuesday, January 21st, 2003 at 10:30 AM in the County Board Room of the Historic Courthouse. PAY BILLS: Motion by Sielschott, second by Myers to pay all approved bills. All in favor, motion carried. For itemized listing of bills paid, refer to Accounts Payable Book for FY 2003. ADJOURN: Until the Regular Monthly Meeting on Tuesday, February 11th, 2003 at 8:30 AM. Motion by Painter, second by Branum to adjourn the Full Board Meeting. All in favor, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:30 AM.