November 10th, 2003

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Montgomery County Board Minutes For MONDAY, November 10th, 2003 – 8:30 AM The following are minutes of a regular meeting of the Montgomery County Board held at 8:30 AM on Monday, November 10th, 2003 in the County Board Chambers of the Historic Courthouse, Hillsboro, Illinois. In the absence of Chairman Mike Havera, the meeting was called to order by Acting County Board Chairman Dennis Jagodzinski. Roll call was taken, 18 members present, 3 absent. Members Present: George Blankenship, Terry Bone, Bonnie Branum, Ronald Deabenderfer, John Downs, Robert Durbin, Dave Heaton, Edward Helgen, Keith Horn, David Jackson, Dennis Jagodzinski, Frank Komor, Roger Myers, Dale Ogden, Glenn Painter, Don Petty, Mike Plunkett, Bill Sielschott. Members Absent: Nelson Aumann, Charles Hampton and County Board Chairman Mike Havera. Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was given. Mileage and Per Diem Approval: Motion by Ogden, second by Horn to approve the mileage and per diem. All in favor, motion carried. Approval of Minutes of Previous County Board Meeting: Motion by Jackson, second by Downs to approve the Minutes of the Previously Recessed County Board Meeting held on Tuesday, October 14th, 2003. All in favor, motion carried. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Circuit Clerk’s Report – submitted. 2. County Treasurer’s Report – Ron Jenkins was present for questions. 3. County Clerk and Recorder’s Report – Sandy Leitheiser was present for questions. 4. Sheriff’s Report – Jim Vazzi was present for questions. 5. Health Department Report – Mark Dugger was present for questions. 6. T.B. Department Report – submitted. 7. Public Defender’s Report – submitted. 8. Probation Office Report – Banee Ulrici was present for questions. 9. 911 Report – Greg Nimmo was present for questions. APPROVAL OF 9 ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA: Motion by Bone, second by Durbin to approve the 9 office reports on the Consent Agenda. All in favor, motion carried. PRESENTATION: Acting County Board Chairman Dennis Jagodzinski introduced county resident Idabel Evans to the board. Ms. Evans presented the County Board with a large framed picture of Abraham Lincoln, which is a reproduction of a rare print that is displayed at the Smithsonian Institution. Acting County Board Chairman Dennis Jagodzinski thanked Ms. Evans for her generous donation to the County, and stated that the picture will be permanently hung in the County Board room, 2nd floor of the Historic Courthouse. COMMITTEE REPORTS: ROAD AND BRIDGE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Bonnie Branum as follows: 1. Fiscal Year 2004 Fuel Bids: Chairman Branum stated that only one fuel bid was received, and that was from M&M Service Company for Regular Unleaded at $1.15 per gallon and #2 Diesel at $1.13 per gallon. Motion by Branum, second by Painter to accept the fuel bid from M&M Service Company for Regular Unleaded Fuel at $1.15 a gallon and #2 Diesel at $1.13 per gallon. All in favor, motion carried. 2. Maintenance Resolution #24-03: Resolution #24-03 was presented to appropriate $660,939.50 for County Motor Fuel Section 04-00000-00-GM. Motion by Branum, second by Downs. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, page 192). 3. Grisham Road Resolution #25-03: A Resolution to Appropriate an Amount of $1,229.88 for Grisham R.D., 50%-50% Project, 992 BC-A. Montgomery County Share = $614.94. Motion by Bone, second by Plunkett. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, pages 193-194). 4. Subpoena for Deposition: County Engineer McNeal reported to the Board that she has been subpoenaed by an attorney for Vandalia Bus Driver Eugene Rogers to bring information relating to the Vandalia School Bus accident to a hearing to be held on November 24th, 2003. McNeal stated that she would keep the board informed in this ongoing matter. FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Bill Sielschott as follows: FY 2004 BUDGET RESOLUTIONS: Read by States Attorney Jim Roberts: 1. Resolution #03 -20A: Resolution adopting Fiscal Year 2004 Financial Appropriation Ordinance totaling the sum of $15,075,670.00. Motion by Sielschott, second by Painter. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, page 195). 2. Resolution #03 -21B: Resolution to pass tax levy for the General Corporate Fund for the current taxable year, in the sum of $635,000.00. Motion by Sielschott, second by Painter. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, page 196). 3. Resolution #03 – 22A: Resolution to pass tax levy for the County Health Department, in the sum of $310,000.00. Motion by Sielschott, second by Ogden. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, page 197). 4. Resolution #03 – 23A: Resolution to pass tax levy for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, in the sum of $380,000.00. Motion by Sielschott, second by Helgen. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, page 198). 5. Resolution #03 – 24A: Resolution to pass tax levy for the Social Security Fund, in the sum of $400,000.00. Motion by Sielschott, second by Branum. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, page 199). 6. Resolution #03 – 25A: Resolution to pass tax levy to pay the costs of Insurance Premiums, in the sum of $445,000.00. Motion by Sielschott, second by Downs. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, page 200). 7. Resolution #03 – 26A: Resolution to pass tax levy for the Tuberculosis Care and Treatment Fund, in the sum of $60,000.00. Motion by Sielschott, second by Blankenship. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, page 201). 8. Resolution #03 – 27A: Resolution to pass tax levy for the County Highway Fund, in the sum of $310,000.00. Motion by Sielschott, second by Bone. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, page 202). 9. Resolution #03 -28: Resolution to pass tax levy for the County Highway Federal Aid Matching Fund, in the sum of $155,000.00. Motion by Sielschott, second by Downs. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, page 203). 10. Resolution #03 -29: Resolution to pass tax levy for the Special Aid to County Bridge Fund, in the sum of $155,000.00. Motion by Sielschott, second by Komor. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, page 204). 11. Resolution #03 -30: Resolution to pass a levy for the County Extension Service, in the sum of $131,000.00. Motion by Sielschott, second by Deabenderfer. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, page 205). 12. Resolution #03 -31: Resolution to set Salaries for the following Department Heads: Supervisor of Assessments - $40,409.00, Probation Officer - $38,395.00, and Assistant Probation Officers - $128,748.00. Motion by Sielschott, second by Downs. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, page 206). 13. Resolution #03-32: Resolution to Authorize State’s Attorney Appellate Prosecutor and to appropriate the sum of money not to exceed $11,000.00. Motion by Sielschott, second by Plunkett. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, pages 207-208). 14. Resolution #03 -33: Resolution to pass levy for Senior Citizen Social Services in the sum of $40,000.00. Motion by Sielschott, second by Plunkett. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, page 209). 15. Resolution #03 -34: Resolution to pass levy for Veterans Assistance in the sum of $62,000.00. Motion by Sielschott, second by Myers. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, page 210). 16. Passing the FY 2004 Budget: Sielschott stated that the FY2004 budget has been on public display in the hallway in front of the County Clerk’s Office in the Historic Courthouse since the October Full Board meeting. Motion by Sielschott, second by Downs to approve the passage of the Fiscal Year 2004 budget as presented at the October Board Meeting that includes all the aforementioned levies and appropriations. All in favor, motion carried. 17. Resolution #03-35 for State Surplus Program: Sielschott reported that the Probation Office is in the processing of purchasing a vehicle from State Surplus. State Surplus requires a Resolution from the County Board for government entities to participate in the State Surplus Program. Motion by Sielschott, second by Durbin to approve the Resolution to allow the Probation Department to purchase supplies through the Federal & State Surplus Program. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, page 211). 18. Probation Office Vehicle Purchase: Sielschott stated that the Finance Committee approved the purchase of a 2004 Ford Taurus LX from Bob Ridings Ford in the amount of $13,995.00 for the Probation Office. This bid was $3,000 lower than the next bid for the same type of vehicle, and the funds will be paid from Probation fee revenues. Motion by Sielschott, second by Downs to accept the bid of $13,995.00 from Bob Ridings Ford for the purchase of a 2004 Ford Taurus LX for the Probation Office. All in favor, motion carried. 19. Copier Purchase for Circuit Clerk’s Office: Sielschott stated that the copier in the Circuit Clerk’s Office is not working properly and needs replaced. Motion by Sielschott, second by Jackson to approve the purchase of a copier for the Circuit Clerk’s Office from Tom Day Business Machines in the amount of $9,321.00, which will be paid from the court fund. All in favor, motion carried. 20. Meeting Time Change: Sielschott stated that the Finance Committee has changed their meeting times from 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM for the upcoming year, but the meetings will still be held on Mondays before the Full Board Meeting. 21. Nokomis Sportsman’s Club: Sielschott stated that Trustee Dennis Ballinger acquired mobile home property (Parcel #ID 01-000-633-05) located on a leased lot at the Nokomis Sportsman’s Club which has since been moved. Motion by Sielschott, second by Durbin to approve payment of $150.00 to Trustee Ballinger to surrender the tax sale certificate of purchase, since the mobile home is no longer on the lot. All in favor, motion carried. 22. Public Safety Sales Tax: Sielschott distributed an information sheet that explained the necessity for County Board approval of a Public Safety Sales Tax question to be placed on the March 16, 2004 General Primary Election ballot. The approval will be brought up for vote at the December 9th, 2003 Full Board meeting, and Sielschott stated that the Finance Committee feels this Public Safety Sales Tax is necessary because of the increasing expenses and decreasing revenues in the General Fund. Because taxpayers do not want their property taxes to go up, Sielschott suggested a public safety sales tax of one half of a cent (.50) on qualified merchandise throughout Montgomery County would be a more fair method. Public safety services performed for the county will also benefit if the sales tax is approved, and the County Board pledges to reduce the corporate levy by $200,000, which would reduce from $635,000 to $435,000 for the next five years. Sielschott stated that if the safety tax does not pass the County Board will be forced to find other revenue sources or expense reductions by drastically cutting county personnel. Sielschott asked members if they had any questions about this proposal, and there was none. HWE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Bob Durbin as follows: 1. Voting System Change: Durbin reported that County Clerk Leitheiser received a letter from the State Board of Elections stating that they will extend the waiver for the new voting systems changes for counties in Illinois. Unless other arrangements are made by the County Clerk and the County Board, voting system changes in Montgomery County will take place on or after January, 2006 instead of 2004. 2. Cemetery Cleanup: Durbin stated that Community Service workers from the Probation Office have been out in full force cleaning up abandoned cemeteries. Blooming Grove Cemetery in Butler Grove Township, Pleasant View Cemetery in Witt Township, McCord Cemetery in Irving Township, and Cherry Grove Cemetery in Butler Grove Township have been cleaned up and work is progressing by Community Service workers to provide more cemetery clean-up services throughout the County. 3. Recycling Center Baler: Durbin stated that the new Excel Baler for the Recycling Center is in good running condition. 4. Veterinarian Expense: Durbin stated that Veterinarian Ben Brohammer has requested a raise in his fees for services performed for Montgomery County Animal Control. Motion by Durbin, second by Horn to pay Montgomery County Veterinarian Ben Brohammer an amount not to exceed $15,000 for a one-year contract to take effect January 1st, 2004 through December 31st, 2004 for Animal Control services. All in favor, motion carried. 5. Rabies Tag Fee Increase: Durbin stated that because of the increase of Veterinarian Ben Brohammer’s fees, the County will need to offset some of the cost by raising the Rabies Tag Fee. Durbin reported that a survey of other counties’ rabies tag fees has been done and most of these counties had much higher fees than Montgomery County. Motion by Durbin, second by Helgen to raise the Rabies Tag Fee from the current $2.00 to $6.00 a tag, effective December 1st, 2003, because of the increase of the county veterinarian’s fees. All in favor, motion carried. PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman John Downs as follows: 1. 2004 Holiday Schedule: Motion by Downs, second by Painter to accept the 2004 Holiday Schedule as presented by the Personnel Committee. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 4, page 212). 2. County Insurance Program: Downs reported that Patrick O’Hara, Attorney for Litigation for Cavanaugh & O’Hara in Springfield, Illinois, addressed the committee regarding the County Health Insurance Program. The Personnel Committee gave O’Hara permission to proceed with checking into possible refunds from IBG, and Downs stated he had received word that O’Hara contacted IBG and is waiting for a response. 3. F.O.P. Negotiations: Downs stated that the Fraternal Order of Police Union Contract has been opened and the Committee has scheduled two union negotiation meetings for Friday, November 14th, 2003 and Friday, November 21st, 2003. Both meetings will be held at 3:00 PM in the PBC meeting room of the Courthouse Complex. 4. Meeting Time Change for 2004: Downs stated that the Personnel Committee will change the times its meetings are held from 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM on the last Thursday of each month, beginning in January 2004. BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Glenn Painter as follows: 1. Office Space Issue: Painter stated the Building and Grounds Committee is currently working on office space issues in the Historic Courthouse. ESDA/AMBULANCE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Member Ron Deabenderfer as follows: 1. Ambulance Call Report: Deabenderfer stated that no Ambulance Call Reports are available for this meeting, but will be given at next month’s meeting. 2. Director Holmes Report: Deabenderfer reported that Director Holmes informed the committee that the new credit card payment system is working well, and that the Department of Justice survey that Holmes has been working on is now complete. Deabenderfer stated that sixteen people are enrolled in the Hazardous Material classes to be held soon, and Montgomery County will be hosting an IEMA Training Class in January, 2004. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Mike Plunkett as follows: 1. Enterprise Zone: Plunkett stated that Coordinator Daniels went to the Enterprise Zone conference held recently in Mt. Vernon, and learned of new State Regulation changes affecting the Montgomery County Enterprise Zone. Some of the changes anticipated include changing the county sales tax certificate, applying for a 10 year extension to extend the life of the Montgomery County Enterprise Zone, and adding the City of Coffeen to the Enterprise Zone. 2. City Wide Clean-up Program: The Committee reviewed the City Wide Clean-up Program, which will need to be reviewed and presented at the next full board meeting in December. 3. Zoning: Plunkett stated that Economic Development representative Pat Curry will be at next month’s Economic Development meeting to talk about zoning needs throughout the county. APPROVAL OF 7 COMMITTEE REPORTS: Motion by Myers, second by Downs to approve the 7 committee reports. All in favor, motion carried. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: Given by Acting County Board Chairman Dennis Jagodzinski as follows: ANNOUNCEMENTS: Jagodzinski announced that the County Employee Christmas party will be held on Saturday, December 13th, 2003 in the Taylor Springs Community Building starting at 5:00 PM and invitations to county employees will be going out soon. APPOINTMENTS: Motion by Myers, second by Plunkett to approve the re-appointment of Roy Hertel to the Emergency Telephone System Board for a four-year term to begin December 1st, 2003 and expire on November 30th, 2007. All in favor, motion carried. Motion by Blankenship, second by Heaton to approve appointment of Tom Kearns to the vacant position on the Emergency Telephone System Board for a four-year term to begin December 1st, 2003 and expire on November 30th, 2007. All in favor, motion carried. Motion by Ogden, second by Jackson to approve the re-appointment of Greg Weitekamp as a Commissioner of the Pitman-Zanesville #2, County Zone #33 Drainage District for a 3-year term that will begin December 2nd, 2003 and expire December 1st, 2006. All in favor, motion carried. PAY BILLS: Motion by Durbin, second by Downs to pay all approved bills. All in favor, motion carried. For an itemized listing of bills paid, refer to Accounts Payable Book for FY 2003. ADJOURN: Until the Regular Monthly Meeting on Tuesday, December 9th, 2003 at 8:30 AM. Motion by Painter, second by Myers to adjourn the Full Board Meeting. All in favor, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:35 AM.