Clark Co. jail may be delayed a bit longer

The current effort to design a new Clark County Jail - one that the county can afford, and afford to operate, may be delayed a bit longer.

At the May meeting of the Clark County Board, Clark County State’s Attorney Dennis Simonton raised several concerns about the work underway by the architectural firm Schenkel Shultz as well as a bill submitted by the SkillmanCorporation for $126,327.

Simonton recvommended that the board execute a new contract with Schenkel Shultz, including performance standards, and an accruate estimate of operating costs for the new facility once placed in operation.

The board was meeting with a bare quorum of only four members, including vice chairman Ted Perillo, Gary Macke, Dale Murphy and Leroy Ingrum. However the board concurred with Simonton and the four board members voted to seek a new architectural contract.

In other business, the board was informed by Treasurer Sheri Higginbotham that $11 million in tax bills had been mailed out with the first payments due next month. However she expects to borrow $50,000 out of credit line from Old National Bank to pay current bills.

The Board reappointed Stephen Shawler to the West Union Fire District for a 3-year term through May 1, 2008. Dick Poorman was reappointed to the Marshall Fire District for a term to run May 1, 2008.

Don Snyder John Collier and Rex Bonesteel were reappointed to the Union-York Water District for a 5-year term to run through June 1, 2010.

John Douglas and Bob Janssen were reappointed to the Board of Review for terms to begin June 1, 2005 and run through June 1, 2007.

Clark County’s website was discussed and how it works with GIS. Steve Turpin, Supervisor of Assessments and Webmaster Don Patterson will investigate the compatability. Patterson has been retained by the board to continue serving as webmaster at an annual fee of $3,950.

Turpin brought up issues in regards to the ordinance that was adopted at the April meeting concerning construction in flood plains in Clark County. Turpin did not believe the ordinance could be administered or enforced because of the Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA). Turpin also reported that valuations would go down again in 2005 primarily because of the decrease in farm ground calculated by the Illinois Department of Revenue.

The Board adopted a resolution Establishing a Uniform Real Estate Transfer Tax.

Charlie Thomas of Western Southern Financial Group of Vincennes, IN addressed the board about benefits to employees that would be totally employee funded. This would offer the availability of different kinds of life insurance. Thomas stated he would send a packet to County Clerk Bill Downey to give to employees and see if there is an interest.

Since the Clark County Highway and Clark County Board meetings have been combined to the same day to reduce mileage and meeting payments, the board approved bids for road projects in Parker and Martinsville townships. A resolution in regards to a Truck Access Route Program (TARP) agreement with the state also was adopted.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.