The Shelby County Board approved a fiscal year (FY) budget for 2009-2010 which shows the budget at $9,964,026 and revenues at $9,836,320. That budget reflects a deficit of $127,706. The budget was passed by a vote of 12 yes and 5 no.

Board member Robert “Rob” Amling pointed out that the deficit was misleading. The board’s accountant, Robin Yockey with the accounting firm of Mose, Yockey, Brown and Kull advised the board they had to figure in the employees health insurance deductible as if that money was already spent. However, the chances of all 80 employees using their $2,000 deductible that the county agreed to pay is very slim. In fact it was pointed out that only twelve percent of the employees used their deductible in FY 2008-2009. Consequently if one takes out the 80 employees times $2,000 which is $160,000, the budget is actually approximately $32,000 in the black. Amling also pointed out that the Budget Committee (of which he is a member) had conservatively estimated the amount of income and sales tax the county will receive from the state.

Obviously that argument did not cut ease the minds of 5 board members who voted against the budget.

“I think that the least the county board can do is pass a positive budget, by that I mean one that balances or has a little excess left over,” said board member Roger Pauley of Tower Hill.

Other items covered at the board meeting held Wednesday morning were:

*Approval of an agreement addressing emergency housing for court offices. This agreement was presented by State’s Attorney Allan Lolie.

“The Illinois Administrative Office of the Court has mandated that we have a plan for relocating the court system if we had to shut the courthouse for any reason,” Lolie told the board.

Lolie went on to say the court, the judge’s chamber, the state’s attorney’s office, public defender and circuit clerk’s office would be the entities affected in this agreement.

“We came up with an agreement with Shelby County Community Services for relocation,” continued Lolie.

*Heard a presentation by Michael Cavanaugh, Deputy Director of the West Central Development Council. Cavanaugh told the board his organization writes grants for governments such as the county or the city. The county has sent county board members to meeting with this organization and was a dues paying member until about four years ago. Now the county has not paid their dues for about four years which is $4,452 a year. The board took this matter under consideration.

*County Highway Engineer Alan Spesard gave the board his Highway Department report. Spesard asked the board to approve four petitions. Those petitions were:

Replace a bridge in Ash Grove Township with a pipe culvert at a cost of $17,000.

Replace a culvert in Herrick/Cold Springs Townships at a cost of $1,500.

Repair a bridge in Holland Township at a cost of $19,000.

Replace a pipe culvert in Cold Springs Township at a cost of $1,800.

All petitions were approved.

* Approved the hiring of a new director of ESDA (Emergency Services Disaster Agency. That agency was headed by Gary Bryant who resigned. The new ESDA Director will be Christy Pullen.

*Heard zoning report by Zoning Administrator Dennis Harris. Harris said he had issued 16 building permits for the county.

*Board Chairman and Liquor Commissioner Paul Brooks asked the board to approve various liquor licenses in the county. Those licenses were for the following establishments:

Angus Links, Windsor; Angler Bait Shop, Shelbyville; Oak Terrace, Pana; Leprechaun Landing, Windsor; and Vahling Vineyards, Stewardson.

Brooks also asked the board to approve the following appointments:

Bob Swiney as Public Defender; Robin Yockey as County Auditor; and Tim Bennett to the Windsor Fire Protection District.