Former sheriff sworn-in as county board member

Jeff Hamilton, left, takes the oath of office from Livingston Co. Clerk Kristy Masching Thursday.

The Livingston County Board has a new member.

Jeff Hamilton was appointed to fill a vacancy in the county’s District 1 following the resignation of Jim Blackard. The appointment of the former sheriff to the board seat was officially approved at Thursday’s county board meeting in Pontiac.

Chairman Jim Carley made the motion to approve Hamilton and Livingston County Clerk and Recorder Kristy Masching did the swearing in.

Also during Thursday’s meeting, the board referred a zoning case back to the Zoning Board of Appeals for further consideration. This case with Illinois Cement Company pertains to a special use to operate a mineral extraction site on an 80-acre tract of property in an Agricultural District in unincorporated Chenoa at the corner of county roads 1000 North and 1700 East.

Ag and Zoning Committee Chair Mike Haag would like more details considered such as property value and a well monitoring plan.

“This will give them a chance to re-look at a few things and then hopefully give us a little more clarification moving forward on our vote,” noted Haag.

County Board member Rebekah Fehr would like to send it back to the ZBA to see what they come up with and the economic benefit of it.

“According to our comprehensive plan, we are able to assess some fees to any of our natural resources that are leaving the county, so I really think this needs to be looked at for this particular case,” said Fehr. “There’s going to be anywhere from about $57 to $63 million worth of natural resources leaving this county that our county would not be benefitting from.”

In another matter, an architectural agreement was approved for the Livingston County Highway Department’s office and south garage reroof with Design Mavens Architecture.

The department would like to roof over the existing metal roof of the approximately 4,650 square foot office building and 13,350 square foot garage building with a new standing seam metal roof.

Sale of surplus property was authorized. This includes several Ford Explorer vehicles, a Dodge Ram and Dodge Grand Caravan. The county also authorized a real estate sale from a sealed bid auction for property at 118 W. Hack St. in Cullom.

A professional services proposal was approved for Hewn Architectural Studio for the Livingston County utility building design phase for a new pre-engineered metal building accommodating the county’s super duty buses, light duty buses and mini vans.

Three-year extensions were approved for solar farms at Long Point and Ancona.

The Sheriff’s semi-annual report was approved along with a liquor license amendment for Shinestar LLC DBA Quick Shop 3.

Public Health Administrator Erin Fogarty gave a summary on the Sun Meals program.

“We served over 600 households,” Fogarty explained. “We did this over a nine-week time frame. All of the meals were distributed on Mondays.”

During the peak weeks, they served 1,000 to 1,200 kids and observed program growth each week. They served a geographical area the size of New Jersey with the Sun Meals program.

The Livingston County Health Department’s Amy Necheles previewed an upcoming tire recycling program which starts September 10 and runs for about two weeks with collection by appointment only.

“Last year, we were very successful,” said Necheles.

This collection is for Livingston County residents only and tires must be whole with no agricultural tires. For more, call the department at 815-844-7174.

The new First Assistant State’s Attorney, Thomas O’Connor, was introduced to the board.

County board members also approved the agenda, minutes and consent agenda which included the approval of bills.