-
The acquisition of
new vehicles provided by the state for the program. This
resolution is completely new to the county board.
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The annual grant
agreement to receive federal and state grants to fund the
program.
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The resolution that provides the board
with the authority to act on the previously mentioned
agreements.
On an added note, David Hepler, who chairs the county board's
Executive and Economic Development Committee, brought forward the
committee's recommendation to continue receiving grants for the
transportation program on behalf of both Logan and Mason counties.
Andy Anderson said that from a personal standpoint, he wishes to
thank the county board for their support. "This is, to me, one of
the avenues to grow Lincoln and Logan County, through stuff like
this," said Anderson.
The decision to remain as the grantee comes after several months
of discussion on the topic. The reason for the discussions comes
from a stipulation that Logan County will have to find an employee
who will spend a majority of their time monitoring the process of
expenditures. This position is referred to as the PCOM officer, for
project compliance and oversight management.
In addition, there are matters still being decided by state
officials, and not all of the details concerning the position have
been released.
Pamela Meagher, who has been attending seminars and classes on
this position, said she would be willing to take on duties of the
PCOM. However, she also serves the county board as board secretary
and insurance administrator. Meagher suggested that the county move
some of her duties for those positions to other offices within the
county, since being the PCOM will take up a lot of time in the first
year. At previous meetings, the committee discussed the idea of
creating an office manager position to take on some of those extra
duties.
Another topic discussed by the committee prior to the meeting was
the receiving of grants in the future. Should this prove to be too
difficult a venture to continue, the county looked to a similar
organization called Showbus that runs a public transportation
program covering DeWitt, Ford, Iroquois, Kankakee, Livingston,
Macon, and McLean counties.
[to top of second column] |
In speaking with the committee, Laura Dick, the director of
Showbus, said that they have also been experiencing problems in
fulfilling the PCOM requirement and that the legislation was a
surprise for everyone involved.
Dick also mentioned that in reading an updated contract for the
position, she learned that two grantees with "continuous borders"
can share a PCOM. That is not in the original language of the
legislation.
Dick said that should Logan County seek to join them in the
future, they would ensure that Logan County is completely satisfied
-- and that the transportation needs of the elderly, the disabled or
those who have low income would be met -- before anything would be
made official. She said she is happy to see that Logan County has
acquired a rural public transportation system.
Jan Schumacher said that from her understanding, the county was
choosing to stay with Community Action, and she was not sure why
Showbus was being asked to offer information.
Chuck Ruben said any decision to join Showbus would be at least a
year or two away, if at all. Furthermore, Ruben said that Logan
County is just looking at other organizations to see what else is
known about the PCOM position that has to be created.
Hepler said that from his perspective, there needs to be more
communication between the county board and Community Action. Angie
Jenkins, an employee of Community Action, told board members she
would be glad to update them at any time, and that the board members
are welcome to observe their operations in action.
Meagher added: "I don't think I ever saw an interest in this
board, in this program, until the state said we have to have a PCOM.
My impression was that the board was satisfied with them running the
program, and now I think some members have a concern with how the
program is being run, even though nothing has changed."
The whole board is expecting to vote on the issue this month.
[By DEREK HURLEY] |
