School Superintendent Robert Verdun Addressed Shelby County Board on School Facility Occupation Tax

Robert Verdun Superintendent of Shelbyville Community Unit Schools addressed the Shelby County Board about the proposed one percent sales tax to be used exclusively for the schools. This tax is much like the Safety Tax which failed twice by Shelby County voters. The tax is a retailers’ occupation tax and service occupation tax.

Verdun explained that the funds derived from this tax would abate property tax.

“If this referendum passes it will ease the burden of property taxes,” said Verdun. “Students will have the opportunity to attend more modern energy efficient school buildings. The school buildings will have additional funding with which they can maintain their buildings.”

County Engineer Allan Spesard gave the board his Highway Engineer’s Report. Spesard asked the board to approve three resolutions. Those resolutions were:

Replace a tank car with a pipe in Rose Township at an estimated cost of $6,500.

Replace a small bridge with a pipe in Pickaway Township at an estimated cost of $4,000.

Replace a bridge in Holland Township at an estimated cost of $420,000 of which 80 percent will be paid by federal dollars and 16 percent by state dollars and the county and township will split the remaining 4 percent.

All three resolutions were approved.

Spesard then advised the board that the bid on a railroad crossing approach located south of the village of Sigel was let.

“The Illinois Commerce Commission has approved 100 percent funding for this approach work project that was bid,” said Spesard. “They are also going to put gates and lights at this crossing.”

Spesard next informed the board that he would like to extend the cold storage building at the Highway Department. He explained the funds for the building were already in his budget. The two bay extension will cost $49,250. This was approved.

Spesard also told the board he held the fall Highway Conference and had approximately 40 attendees.

The next item was a Zoning Report. Zoning Administrator Dennis Harris said he issued 12 permits, 3 for new residences; 2 for residential additions and 7 for accessory buildings.

Harris also asked the board to approve an ordinance providing for the placement of communications towers and antennae. This was approved.

The Shelby County Health Administrator Stephen Melega gave the board an update on House Bill 170 and H1N1. House Bill 170 is the Private Sewage Disposal Act which prohibits the installation of surface discharging septic systems without a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

“These types of systems represent about 80 percent of all the private sewage disposal systems that are put in Shelby County,” Melega told the board.

Melega told the board the Governor (Governor Pat Quinn) vetoed the bill, then on October 30 the Illinois Senate overrode the governor’s veto.

Now that bill is entitled Public Act 96-0801 will go into effect on January 1, 2013. Melega said this act will cost new home builders approximately $1,500 to $2,000 more to put in their septic system. Melega advised a wait and see stance for the board.

Melega told the board his department has given the H1N1 vaccine to most priority groups in the county with the exception the vaccine for children Which his department has not received.

Next Cristy Pullen the new ESDA Coordinator gave the board a report. In essence Pullen told the board she was working to get the county accredited by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

“Accreditation is the number one priority for this year,” said Pullen.

Other items covered in the County Board meeting:

*Probation Officer Heather Wooters asked the board to issue a proclamation making December Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. That was approved.

*Jim Looft was appointed to replace Ken Fry on the Shelby County Airport and Landing Fields Commission.

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