05-20-1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

12. Commission Minutes--May 20, 1996 1473 Mr. Goff referred to his May 16th letter and suggested an alternative motion, which would be to use the proceeds from the sale of State's Attorney investigator vehicles as the local share of the grant rather than using funds offered by the Teamster Union Local #116. He is concerned about accepting funds from an outside entity because, as an elected official, he must use independent discretion when investigating and prosecuting criminal offenses in Cass County. If the local matching dollars were accepted from the Teamster Union, Mrs. Toussaint said the money would go into the County's general fund, not into the State's Attorney budget. Money from the sale of county vehicles would also go directly to the general fund, she said. Mr. Wieland said he does not have a problem with accepting the local matching dollars from the Teamster Union as long as no strings are attached to the money. Mr. Ness said this situation would be similar to the D.A.R.E. program, which receives a number of outside donations, and this has not affected the Sheriff's Department enforcement of State laws. MOTION, passed Mr. Ness moved and Mr. Wieland seconded to amend the State's Attorney budget for the total of $18,450; with $14,000 being paid by the federal government for 1996 and $4,450 being paid by the Teamster Union Local #116 for employment of an Assistant State's Attorney for the exclusive use as a domestic violence prosecutor; the attorney position being contingent upon the grant funds, and any employee being hired should be made aware of the funding contingencies associated with the position. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously. ROAD DEPARTMENT, County Road 20 joint funding Keith Berndt, County Engineer, was present to discuss his memorandum of May 10, 1996, regarding an offer by Can-Am Express trucking company and by Border States Paving, Inc. to fund 50% of the cost of a one-inch overlay on one mile of County Road 20 between Interstate 29 and Can-Am Trucking. The total estimated cost of an overlay is $30,000, and Mr. Berndt supports funding up to 50% of the cost from his department's budget. Also, Mr. Berndt would be comfortable with allowing the one-mile segment to be unposted for spring load restrictions each year with the addition of this overlay to the existing pavement section. Mr. Wieland said he likes the idea because it will preserve the county road segment and benefit businesses in the area. For the amount of real estate taxes these businesses are paying, he said the county will get their money back. He asked if the project will be let on bids, and Mr. Berndt said it will. Mr. Eckert said he is opposed to the idea because he is concerned about granting exceptions and because he would rather see the county's portion of this project spent in other areas of the county where improvements are badly needed. The other commissioners were in agreement with Mr. Wieland to accept any offers to help pay for road projects. MOTION, passed Mr. Ness moved and Mr. Wieland seconded to authorize the County Engineer to contract for a one-inch overlay of County Road 20 from Interstate 29 east one mile, approval being contingent upon Can-Am Express, Inc. and Border States Paving, Inc. funding 50% of the project cost. The overlay is intended to add sufficient structural capacity to the highway to allow year around axle weights of 20,000, 34,000 and 48,000 pounds on single, tandem and triple axles respectively, subject