March 13th, 2001

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOARD MINUTES For Tuesday, March 13TH, 2001 -- 8:30 AM The following are minutes of a regular meeting of the Montgomery County Board held at 8:30 AM on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 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, Ed Helgen, Keith Horn, David Jackson, Dennis Jagodzinski, Frank Komor, Roger Myers, Dale Ogden, Glenn Painter, Don Petty, William Sielschott, Dave Webb, Dale White. Members Absent: Nelson Aumann. Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was given. Mileage and per diem Approval: Motion by Durbin, second by Ogden to approve the mileage and per diem. All in favor, motion carried. Approval of Minutes of Previous County Board Meeting: Motion by Downs, second by Myers to approve the Minutes of the Previous Regular County Board Meeting held on Tuesday, January 9th, 2001. All in favor, motion carried. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Circuit Clerk’s Report ---- Circuit Clerk Mary Webb was present for questions. Webb thanked all office holders who assisted with the recent school field trip when students toured the facilities. 2. County Treasurer’s Report ---- Treasurer Ron Jenkins was present for questions. Jenkins announced the upcoming County Trustee Tax Sale on March 28th, 2001. Catalogs are available at the Treasurer’s office which list all properties to be sold. 3. County Clerk and Recorder’s Report ---- County Clerk/Recorder Sandy Leitheiser was present for questions. 4. Sheriff’s Report ---- Sheriff Jim Vazzi was present for questions. 5. Health Department Report ---- Director Mark Dugger was present for questions, and announced that Health Department staff was available to provide a Photo ID for any County Board member who requested one. 6. T.B. Department Report was presented. 7. Public Defender’s Report was presented. 8. Probation Office Report ---- Lyn Lanter was present for questions. 9. 911 Report ---- Greg Nimmo was present for questions. APPROVAL OF 9 ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA : Motion by Branum, second by Petty to approve the 9 Office Reports on the Consent Agenda. All in favor, motion carried. COMMITTEE REPORTS: ROAD AND BRIDGE COMMITTEE REPORT: Chairman Bonnie Branum asked County Highway Engineer Amy McNeal to address the following agreements: 1. Preliminary Engineering Agreement for 559 B-CA, Section 00-10119-00-BR, Montgomery/ Christian County; Nokomis/Greenwood R.D. Motion by Ogden, second by Myers to accept the Engineering Agreement. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 2, page 213.) 2. Preliminary Engineering Agreement for 955 B-CA, Section 01-00121-00-BR, Montgomery County in Bois D’Arc Township (4.6 miles NE of Thomasville) on Black Diamond Trail. Motion by Webb, second by Hampton to accept the Engineering Agreement. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 2, page 219.) Branum reported on the following items: 1. Agreement with Louis Marsch: Branum reported that the committee gave approval to an agreement with Louis Marsch that allows Dave Waggoner to work on the chipper used by the Highway Department. 2. Repair of the Recycling Center Parking Lot and Drainage Problem: Branum stated that the Highway Department will put a ditch in the rear of the Recycling Center and a ditch with a pipe in front of the building to help with the drainage problems when the ground is dry enough to do so. 3. Witt Bridge Letting: Branum reported that the committee gave approval to accept the bid from Yamnitz & Associates for the Witt Bridge. Cordani raised a question regarding the current county Subdivision Ordinance. Havera stated that Highway Engineer McNeal and Don Hamby are scheduled to review it and report to the board of any revisions they feel are needed to bring it up to date. Branum suggested that both the Road & Bridge Committee and the Economic Development Committee jointly finalize the revisions. FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Bill Sielschott as follows: 1. Sheriff’s Department – Lease purchase agreement on vehicles: Chairman Sielschott reported that the committee discussed the advantages and disadvantages of a 3-year lease as compared to a 4-year lease on vehicles for the Sheriff’s department. Victory Lane Ford was the low bidder for the lease agreement at $20,822 per vehicle. The proposed lease is for unlimited mileage and the vehicles may be purchased for the amount of $1.00 at the end of the lease. Also offered was an extended warranty for $1195 per vehicle that would cover the vehicle for 6 years or 100,000 miles and $0 deductible if serviced by Victory Lane Ford. Vazzi reported that average use of police vehicles is approximately 35,000 annual miles per vehicle, and a high record of engine failures necessitate complete engine replacements. Ogden remarked that a lot of repairs could be done for the cost of the extended warranty. Vazzi commented that in his experience, sheriff’s vehicles (which must be Fords because no other company offers police packages on vehicles), are known to have transmission problems and engine failures after high mileage is reached. Current budgeting allows $60,000 for the purchase of 3 used vehicles (50,000 miles) plus $25,000 for maintenance. Havera pointed out that if the budgeted amount is spent for leasing rather than purchasing, it would cover 11 vehicles resulting in a complete fleet for the department rather than leasing only 7 vehicles and retaining some of the older vehicles, and suggested this option which could save taxpayer dollars due to fewer repair costs. Havera also stated that trade in value on these 2001 models would be greater since they would only be 3-4 years old when traded. Cordani voiced agreement in replacing the whole fleet, which would give the Sheriff’s department good reliable equipment without extra expense for maintenance if the extended warranty was purchased. Cordani also questioned whether the vehicles could be ordered and terms of the lease be decided at next month’s meeting. Sielschott responded that terms had to be decided upon at the time of signing the lease, which meant a final motion at today’s meeting. Motion by Sielschott, second by Downs to accept the 3 year lease agreement offered by Ford Motor Company and purchase 11 Sheriff Department vehicles from Victory Lane Ford with the extended warranties for each. All in favor, motion carried. 2. Witt Property: The City of Witt is interested in acquiring a parcel that is available for bid at the upcoming tax sale on March 28th, 2001. The finance committee recommends selling it to them for $227. Motion by Sielschott, second by Cordani to sell the parcel to the City of Witt for $227. All in favor, motion carried. HWE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Bob Durbin as follows: 1. Election Update: County Clerk Leitheiser reports that everything is in order for the April Consolidated Election. Costs will be greater than the November General election as 92 different ballot styles will be needed for various local elections county-wide. Durbin added that the state has proposed to mandate new voting machines, which could detect overvotes and undervotes. Proposed legislation in the State House of Representatives would pay 50% of the costs of these machines, and expect the county to pay the other half. This proposal will be quite costly for Montgomery County, and the committee will be keeping the board informed of its progress. 2. Precincts: Durbin reported that Census information is not available as of yet and that the committee cannot address any redistricting until that information is received. 3. Tire Recycling Update: The Tire Recycling Drive will be held on Friday, April 27th and Saturday, April 28th, 2001 from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Illinois Power Parking Lot in Taylor Springs. All municipalities, townships and media will be notified by Chris Daniels. PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman John Downs as follows: 1. Innovative Benefits Group – Chairman Downs stated that insurance representative Ed Schweig was in attendance at the meeting to answer any questions regarding a partial self-insurance program for County Employees. A preliminary survey projects that up to 30 more employees would be interested in this insurance program should it be initiated, due to better rates and options. Information packets were given to each board member to review by the next board meeting to assist them in making a decision whether or not to provide this insurance for county employees. 2. Employee Manual: The committee has three county personnel manuals that it is reviewing. Work is continuing on the project to consolidate the three manuals into one master version. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Joe Cordani as follows: 1. Bike Trail Update: Cordani, Highway Engineer McNeal, Member Jamee Dunn and Chris Daniels will visit the bike trail today, March 13th, 2001 to assess what materials and manpower is required to finish the Bike Trail project and to determine if any repairs are needed to the trail. 2. Overview of Economic Development Conference: Cordani and Durbin attended the conference on February 13th and 14th, 2001. Ideas discussed included encouraging communities to become wired for “Broad Band” telecommunications to attract businesses that are non-infrastructure based and look to “Value Added” Agriculture, which would mandate that farmers grow only certain products to get a premium price. 3. Economic Development Issues: A list of ideas and prospective projects has been assembled by the committee. These will be prioritized and recommendations added before being brought to the County Board for approval in an outline form. BUILDING AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Glenn Painter as follows: All prior projects have been resolved. The Committee approved all bills for payment. ESDA/AMBULANCE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Dennis Jagodzinski as follows: 1. Review of Applications: Chairman Jagodzinski reported that the ESDA/Ambulance Committee held a special meeting on Saturday, March 3rd, 2001 to review all applications received for the ESDA/Ambulance Director position. Seven candidates were chosen to interview on Saturday, March 10th, 2001. Pending the results of background checks, a final decision will be made and the new ESDA/Ambulance Director announced at the April County Board Meeting. 3. Ambulance Call Report: January, 2001 had 360 ambulance calls and $71,691.80 in bills sent out with $38,355.27 collected. February, 2001 had 333 ambulance calls, $63,581.40 in bills sent out and $51,021.73 collected. 4. Early Weather Warning Antenna: The Early Weather Warning system has now been activated and successfully tested at the CIPS tower. Media notices were sent out to area schools, nursing homes and other groups and businesses that depend upon this early warning system. Jagodzinski thanked ESDA/Ambulance Director Dale Traylor for his 15 years of service to Montgomery County and was pleased to say that Traylor has agreed to stay as long as needed to assist with training his replacement. APPROVAL OF 7 COMMITTEE REPORTS: Motion by Durbin, second by Jagodzinski to approve the committee reports. All in favor, motion carried. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: Given by Chairman Havera as follows: Chairman Havera announced that all Board Members are invited to attend a County Mayor’s Meeting on Thursday, March 15th, 2001 at 9:00 AM at the Hillsboro City Hall. APPOINTMENTS: 1. Montgomery County Housing Authority: Chairman Havera requested a motion to appoint Ms. Joyce Matthews of Nokomis to the Board of Directors of the Montgomery County Housing Authority. Motion by Branum, second by Myers to approve appointment. All in favor, motion carried. 2. Raymond Community Fire Protection District: Chairman Havera requested a motion to appoint Mr. Richard Uhrig of Harvel to the position of Trustee for the Raymond Community Fire Protection District. Motion by Jackson, second by Ogden to approve appointment. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 2, page 225.) 3. Fillmore Community Fire Protection District: Chairman Havera requested a motion to appoint Mr. James L. Billingsley as President and Mr. Alfred Hand as Trustee on the Board of Trustees of the Fillmore Community Fire Protection District. Motion by Branum, second by Durbin to approve appointments. All in favor, motion carried. PAY BILLS: Motion by Sielschott, second by Downs to pay all approved bills. All in favor, motion carried. ADJOURN: Motion by Painter, second by Myers to adjourn until the April 10th, 2001 meeting at 8:30 AM. All in favor, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:30 AM.