September 13th, 2005

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

Montgomery County Board Minutes For Tuesday, September 13th, 2005 – 8:30 AM The following are minutes of a regular meeting of the Montgomery County Board held at 8:30 AM on Tuesday, September 13th, 2005 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: Nelson Aumann, Mary Bathurst, George Blankenship, Terry Bone, Bonnie Branum, Ronald Deabenderfer, Toby Dean, John Downs, Robert Durbin, Mike Havera, Dave Heaton, Edward Helgen, Dennis Jagodzinski, Frank Komor, Roger Myers, Dale Ogden, Glenn Painter, Don Petty, Mike Plunkett, Bill Sielschott. Members Absent: Keith Horn. Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was given. Mileage and Per Diem Approval: Motion by Painter, 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 Myers, second by Aumann to approve the Minutes of the Previously Adjourned County Board Meeting held on Tuesday, August 9th, 2005. 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 – submitted. 6. T.B. Department Report – Jodi Huber was present for questions. 7. Public Defender’s Report – submitted. 8. Probation Office Report – Banee Ulrici was present for questions. 9. 911 Report – submitted. APPROVAL OF 9 ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA: Motion by Bone, second by Downs to approve the 9 office reports on the Consent Agenda. All in favor, motion carried. COMMITTEE REPORTS: ROAD AND BRIDGE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Bonnie Branum as follows: 1. Final Plat for Subdivision Approval: Branum stated that the committee reviewed and discussed plans for Duff’s Lane Addition in the Litchfield area as presented by Dan Peters. Motion by Branum, second by Helgen to approve the subdivision plat plans for the Duff’s Lane Addition as presented to the Road and Bridge Committee. All in favor, motion carried. 2. Proposed Road & Bridge Committee Meeting Dates for 2006: Branum reported that the committee approved the 2006 Road and Bridge Committee meeting dates and times. The committee will meet on the Wednesday before the Full Board meeting every month at 8:30 AM at the Highway Department. 3. Oil and Chip Update: Branum reported that the county has finished oiling and chipping for the season. FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Bill Sielschott as follows: 1. On Point Telephone Communications Approval: Sielschott reported that the committee discussed the contract agreement for services with On Point LLC, the company proposing to review the county’s telecommunication expenses. According to the contract, On Point would be paid from the savings found from telecommunications expenses, which would be from a twelve month period and from the savings for a twelve month period for any credits or refunds. State’s Attorney Roberts has looked over the contract and has given the committee his approval, and Treasurer Jenkins has checked On Point’s references with favorable results. Motion by Sielschott, second by Aumann to approve the contract agreement with On Point LLC to review the County’s Telecommunication expenses. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 5, page 318-320.) 2. 2006 Budget Review and Possible Changes: Sielschott reviewed the proposed 2006 budget, and stated that revenue increases have been reported due to the sale of the county’s coal rights and increases in county fines and fees collection and sales tax. He stated that the county will need to anticipate expenses for some capital equipment. Some changes to the budget will be added to the expenses categories including the addition of a maintenance truck, EMA truck, Jail console, Recycling Truck (grant should offset purchase expense), and new Voting Equipment and Elections expenses. Another expense increase will be in the Animal Control Budget, with the upcoming passage of the Animal Control Ordinance, which will also change the Recycling Budget. Salary increases are set at 3.5%, except in a couple of cases where job duty has changed. 3. Mana-Link Data entry temporary part-time position: Sielschott stated that the new Mana-Link system that has been installed to make the county’s current tax system and the GIS system link together is in need of some 5,000 changes. The addresses of properties on some tax bills reflect the mailing address of the taxpayer and do not reflect the physical address of the property owned. These changes will require the county to hire a temporary part-time person to input the data and make some 5,000 changes that will take approximately one year at 30 hours a week for a temporary part-time position. The person will need to be accurate in changing live data and knowledgeable about property legal descriptions. The work will proceed until the job is completed and no benefits are available for the part-time position. Motion by Sielschott, second by Plunkett to hire a temporary part-time data entry person for the GIS data entry project for $10.00 per hour for 30 hours per week until the project is completed. All in favor, motion carried. 4. 2006 Estimated Taxes to be Levied: Sielschott reported that the tentative Fiscal Year 2006 Levy will be at .0876%, which is less than was reported last month due to the recent exclusion of Election Costs from the Truth in Taxation requirement. Sielschott also stated that due to Hurricane Katrina, the county’s Property, Liability and Casualty Insurance will most likely increase by 2007, so in anticipation, the county increased the insurance cost by $50,000. Sielschott reported that the proposed budget will be on display for review by the County Clerk’s office for the next twenty days, but there does not look as if there will be any changes. HWE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Bob Durbin as follows: 1. HAVA ADA Voting Equipment Resolution #05-15 Approval: Durbin reported that County Clerk Leitheiser will be applying for a grant for the ADA voting machines that cost approximately $4,950 per unit. The county can apply for $5,000 in grant money, which is available for each machine. The grant deadline is September 30th, 2005 and can be extended to October 31st, 2005 if needed. The grant money can only be used for ADA equipment at this time, but Leitheiser is asking for more polling place needs to be included. Motion by Durbin, second by Bone to approve the HAVA ADA Voting Equipment Resolution. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 5, pages 321-328.) 2. Animal Control Ordinance Discussion with Stacey Ballard: Durbin reported that Stacy Ballard with the Department of Agriculture and Buzie Bertagnolli, Deputy Administrator of Macoupin County Animal Control, attended the committee meeting to answer any questions they had regarding House Bill 315 and the new Illinois Animal Control State Statutes. The committee has been working toward the passage of an Animal Control Ordinance for the past few years. Governor Blagojevich just signed House Bill 315 on August 23rd, 2005, which has imposed spaying and neutering fees and public safety fines on dog and cat owners. The bill puts into effect a $10.00 differential fee for intact dogs and cats, and $25.00, $50.00 and $100.00 public safety fines to go toward a Pet Population Control Fund. The county has the option to begin their own County Animal Population Control Fund and keep the money in the county, so that the county can use that money for spaying and neutering clinics and programs and education and other costs associated with sterilizing, vaccinating and micro-chipping dogs and cats in the county. Ballard told the committee that once the county has adopted an Animal Control Ordinance, then the program could eventually bring in enough revenue to pay for itself. State’s Attorney Jim Roberts has a draft copy of the proposed County Animal Control Ordinance and is reviewing it at this time. The committee will review the Ordinance in a special meeting to be announced at a later date and seek its passage at the October 2005 Full Board meeting. Durbin asked that the HWE Committee members remain after the board meeting to schedule a date and time for the special HWE Committee meeting. 3. Landfill Open House: Durbin reported that there will be an Open House at the Litchfield-Hillsboro Landfill on Thursday, September 15th, 2005 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and encouraged interested members to attend. PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman John Downs as follows: 1. Highway Department Grievance Update: Downs stated that there was a special Road and Bridge Committee meeting to discuss personnel issues at the Highway Department. 2. Request Form to Review Personnel Files Approval: Downs stated that the committee discussed a memo that was sent out to office holders regarding policy of county employees requesting to review their personnel files. BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Glenn Painter as follows: 1. Wheelchair Donation for use at Historic Courthouse: Chairman Painter stated that a wheelchair was donated by Ronald Williams of rural Coffeen to be used at the Historic Courthouse for those who may need assistance in getting to offices throughout the Historic Courthouse. 2. ADA Accessibility Update: Painter reported that the committee discussed efforts being made to correct some ADA concerns at the Historic Courthouse. 3. Emergency Lighting: Painter stated that the committee discussed installing emergency lighting in the Historic Courthouse. Motion by Painter, second by Komor for Lyerla Electric to install emergency lighting in the Historic Courthouse for $5,206.00. All in favor, motion carried. ESDA/AMBULANCE COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Dennis Jagodzinski as follows: 1. Ambulance Call Reports: A summary of monthly operations for August 2005 is as follows: Total calls: 353; Total amount billed: $145,560.00; Total amount collected: $60,901.79. 2. Director Holmes Report as presented by Chairman Dennis Jagodzinski: Jagodzinski stated that last month when there was a power outage problem in the area, a family from Hillsboro needed electricity for medical reasons and was in need of a generator. Director Holmes was called by 911 to see if EMA could help. Holmes took the EMA generator to the house and left it with the family for a couple of days to make sure they would have power. Holmes consulted with State’s Attorney Roberts to see if there would be any liability to the county and Roberts reported to Holmes that there were none. Holmes will begin logging when the generator has been loaned out and used for future similar needs. Jagodzinski reported that EMA Director Holmes was called for assistance of Firefighters in the gulf region. Seven of Montgomery County’s Firefighters were sent to the gulf in order to help in the relief efforts: Matt Hoffman of Nokomis, Dave Beal of Hillsboro, Gary Gile of Coffeen, Russ Ringhausen of Coffeen, Vern DeWitt of Coffeen, Kenny Lohman of Hillsboro and Chad Smith of Taylor Springs. Jagodzinski stated that reports are showing that it is not a good situation down there at all, but that the county is doing what it can to support these efforts. Greg Nimmo and Diana Holmes have opened the County’s Emergency Operations Center, and EMA will be coordinating county resources to deploy to the Gulf Region if needed. Director Holmes may be going to the coast sometime during the last part of September. Jagodzinski will be talking with the Personnel Committee regarding the county policy regarding employees being deployed to disaster areas. There was a telecommunications problem on August 16th, 2005, when the whole county was without some cellular services and all of Consolidated Communications systems. There will also be a meeting on September 20th, 2005 to discuss the situation and to better serve the county if this should ever be a problem again. 3. Approval of the County’s 5 Ambulance Service Levies: a. Resolution #05-16 for Litchfield Ambulance Service: Motion by Jagodzinski, second by Helgen to approve the Litchfield Ambulance Service Area Levy in the Amount of $120,000 for 2006. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 5, page 329). b. Resolution #05-17 for Hillsboro Ambulance Service: Motion by Jagodzinski, second by Downs to approve the Hillsboro Ambulance Service Area Levy in the Amount of $150,000 for 2006. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 5, page 330). c. Resolution #05-18 for Nokomis/Witt Ambulance Service: Motion by Jagodzinski, second by Durbin to approve the Nokomis/Witt Ambulance Service Area Levy in the Amount of $78,000 for 2006. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 5, page 331). d. Resolution #05-19 for Raymond/Harvel Ambulance Service: Motion by Jagodzinski, second by Dean to approve the Raymond/Harvel Ambulance Service Area Levy in the Amount of $33,360 for 2006. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 5, page 332). e. Resolution #05-20 for Farmersville/Waggoner Ambulance Service: Motion by Jagodzinski, second by Heaton to approve the Farmersville/Waggoner Ambulance Service Area Levy in the Amount of $58,000 for 2006. All in favor, motion carried. (See Resolution Book 5, page 333). ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT: Given by Chairman Mike Plunkett as follows: 4. Bike Trail Update: Chairman Plunkett reported that the bike trail is in need of re-oiling and will be closed for a few days in the next two weeks for that purpose. 5. Raymond/Kerr McGee Update: Plunkett reported that a soil sample was taken and tested at the Raymond/Kerr McGee site and high levels of contamination were found. Based on their findings, the Engineer feels that the site could get cleaned up with a grant that would require little or no matching in kind funds from Raymond and/or the county. APPROVAL OF 7 COMMITTEE REPORTS: Motion by Sielschott, second by Downs to approve the 7 committee reports. All in favor, motion carried. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: Given by Chairman Mike Havera as follows: ANNOUNCEMENTS: Havera was asked by Supervisor of Assessments Officer Julie Kiefer to thank board members for their kindness, flowers, thoughts and prayers in the passing of her son, Charlie Kiefer. Havera reported that there will be a Lincoln Presidential Library Museum tour hosted by U.C.C.I. on Friday, October 21st, 2005 for six members wishing to attend, and stated this would not be a paid meeting. Any member seeking to sign up should contact Chris Daniels so that she may register them. Havera reported that there will be a Montgomery County Regional Growth and Development Corporation ground breaking ceremony for Freedom Place II in Litchfield on Monday, September 26th, 2005 at 3:30 PM for anyone wanting to attend. SCHEDULE CHANGES: None at this time. APPOINTMENTS: Motion by Myers, second by Painter to approve the re-appointment of Carl Bruntjen to Union Drainage District #1, Township of Pitman and Zanesville for a term that will expire on September 4th, 2007. All in favor, motion carried. Motion by Painter, second by Heaton to approve the re-appointment of Terry Goby to Union Drainage District #1, Township of Pitman and Zanesville for a term that will expire on September 2nd, 2008. All in favor, motion carried. PAY BILLS: Motion by Blankenship, second by Aumann to pay all approved bills. All in favor, motion carried. For itemized listing of bills paid, refer to Accounts Payable Book for FY 2005. RECESS: Until the Regular Monthly Meeting on Tuesday, October 11th, 2005 at 8:30 AM. Motion by Petty, second by Bathurst to recess the Full Board Meeting. All in favor, motion carried. Meeting recessed at 9:20 AM.