The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 3

Pantagraph A -3 Bloomington-Normal, III. May 9, 1979 ISSCS posses by 1 vote; big test ahead those placements, then he'll change his position, Vinson said. "I really think this is a tremendous psychological boost," said George Bogdanovich, a spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, representing ISSCS employees. "We're in a pretty good mood," he said. "But I don't think we have any illusions, either." Bogdanovich said opponents to closing ISSCS have again sought a meeting with Gov.

James Thompson, who in March scratched ISSCS from his budget message to the Legislature. Bogdanovich said he expects a meeting with the governor within two weeks. have support from Gordon Ropp, R-Normal, to replace Dunn's Democratic vote. The Democrats enjoy a one-vote edge in the House. "I think we'll get a solid bloc vote out of Chicago and a lot of downstaters," Bradley said.

"I just hope we don't lose anybody else the Democratic side). We'll just have to wait and see." Sam Vinson, R-Clinton, voted against the amendment again Tuesday. Vinson said last week he's willing to give the new DCFS director, Gregory Coler, a chance to prove he can come up with good placements for ISSCS children by midsummer. If the director can't come up with By Jim Flannery An amendment adding $2.9 million to the state budget to keep Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School open through fiscal 1980 cleared its first hurdle Tuesday by a single vote. The amendment, adding the funding to the Department of Children and Family Services' 1980 budget, passed out of a House Appropriations Committee by a vote of 13-12.

Rep. Gerald Bradley, chief sponsor of the bill, said the amendment could come up on the floor of the House as soon as Thursday or Friday, depending on when the DCFS appropriations bill is presented for its second reading. The timing on bringing the bill before That gave the amendment a 13-11 edge. One of the two Republicans who missed the voting last week cast his vote against the amendment, giving it just a one-vote margin. The other Republican, Virgil Wikoff, -Champaign, representing an area that relies heavily on ISSCS for placements, was absent again Tuesday.

His Democratic colleague from Ur-bana, Rep. Helen Satterthwaite, co-sponsored the amendment in committee with Bradley. Bradley said the committee vote is a "positive sign" the amendment has support in the House. If the amendment is challenged on the House floor, Bradley said, he expects to the full house is in the hands of Rep. Peter Peters, R-Chicago, sponsor of the DCFS appropriations bill and the legislator who first attacked the institution last year as inefficient and costly.

Bradley said the vote Tuesday went about as he expected. Last Friday, the amendment stalled in committee by a 12-12 vote, with two of the committee's 26 members absent when the vote was taken. Twelve Democrats voted for the measure last week. Ten Republicans and two Democrats voted against it. Bradley swung one of those Democrats, LeRoy Van Duyne, D-Joliet, to favor the bill; the other Democrat, John Dunn, Decatur, voted against it again Tuesday.

444444444444444444444444 iVett? election machines Ford punches ahead Ji i By Paul Levin PAXTON A step toward providing Ford County's approximately 9.000 registered voters with punch-card election devices was taken Tuesday when the County Board empowered a committee to receive bids on equipment. The board referred the matter to its County Officers' Committee after County Clerk Robert Thompson Sr. cited a need for lead time to train voters and election judges to use the equipment. "If we can go to the punch card in 1980, it will give us time to go around the county and train judges when consolidation comes," Thompson said. He was referring to the 1978 Election Consolidation Implementation Act.

Under that legislation, virtually all elections and tax votes (excluding those ordered by judges) must occur on three designated days, beginning in 1981. The county will seek bids on rental or purchase of 80 vote recorders, 22 demonstration models and 23 single-row transfer cases. Officials also will accept bids on tabulating equipment and related election supplies. Meanwhile, the board approved a four-month tentative budget of $12,374 as its share toward the joint educational service region with Champaign County. The total for operation Aug.

6 through Nov. 30 represents 15 percent of the region's budget. Its headquarters will be in Rantoul. A contribution of $12,500 toward the Ford County Cooperative Extension's grant, he said. In other action, the board: Approved a $120,475 contract with Lehigh Paving Co.

for improvement of nearly 1.7 miles of Elliott Road, with the federal government providing 75 percent of the funding, and accepted bids of $27,519. $43,058, $27,522, $24,234. $45,419 and $36,986 for respective road projects in Sullivant, Peach Orchard, Button, Dix and Lyman road districts. Accepted bridge-improvement agreements with Peach Orchard, Pella and Brenton road districts. A bridge improvement in Pella Road District, about four miles northeast of Piper City, will cost $60,000.

with the federal government assuming $48,000 and the township $12,000. In Brenton Township, bridge construction four miles southeast of Piper City will total $65,000, with federal aid taking care of $52,000. A bridge in Peach Orchard, about two miles northwest of Melvin, also will cost $65,000. Awarded a contract for road engineering to the Springfield firm of Collins and Rice Inc. Fees are based on 6 percent of construction up to $50,000, 4.65 percent for the next $30,000.

3.9 percent on the next $70,000 and $150,000 at 3.36 percent. Named Russell Kirkham, Piper City, and Edwin Sauer, rural Gibson City, to the Board of Review. Received an order from the 11th Judicial Circuit that calls on the county to make available to the handicapped court facilities and personnel. 1979-1980 budget also was received for consideration. The request, up only $26 from 1978-79, is expected to be acted upon next month.

Earlier, the board learned the county's nursing home operated with a surplus of $3,761 for April and an overall balance for the fiscal year of $1,336. Revenues for April totaled $53,261, against expenditures of $49,500, said Richard Weber, the facility's administrator. Stan Feller of the Paxton accounting firm of Graham and Feller recommended that Weber be authorized to pay routine expenses before submitting reimbursement vouchers at committee meetings. Such a practice would spare the county clerk and treasurer of more paperwork while allowing the county to save money by prompt payment of bills, he said. The board also approved his firm's audit of county books, which it received last month.

Board member Bernard Erwin later reminded the board the county's first payment for a federally aided soil survey will be $11,776 and will be due Sept. 30. By October 1980, Erwin said, the county's share will be $32,000, less expenses for locally hired workers and office space. The survey, approved by the board in October 1977. is expected to be completed by 1984.

Erwin said he was told Ford County and Jasper County. will be surveyed within a week by satellite. The project is part of a $30,000 federal i 5 i ft- 7i 1 It 1 vllrjf i Board working for free Tuesday was a fine day to be outside Calhoun St. waited for a bus to take him to Miller Park Lake and hungry fish. (Pantagraph photo by Chris Covatta) rQrTGCt CfQV fishing, or even just waiting for a bus to go fishing.

Chester Hatton, 72, of 1509 N. declared federal disaster areas last week because of flooding in March and April. That means governmental bodies and private concerns may recover damage costs through grants or low-interest loans. Flooding in the county March 3 and April 11 caused an estimated $373,000 damage, including $200,000 in public damage and $173,000 to private property. In addition to the meeting for officials at 10 a.m.

Thursday at the Salvation Army in Decatur, citizens can learn about flood aid from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the same location. In other action, the board: Approved a cooperative agreement with the city of Clinton on housing stray dogs and keeping part of a redemption fee for its services. Gave Helen Curl, county clerk, authority to appoint people to determine the residences of registered voters for whom the clerk's office has no locations within townships.

She has authority to spend $1,500 to determine the exact residences of some of the voters. Made the following appointments: Jack Price, chairman of Board of Review; I. Jackson Blue. DeWitt County Housing Authority; Eugene Houser, Farmer City Fire Protection District; Harold Wineberg, Clinton Sanitary District trustee. It also accepted the resignation of Helen Pollock, administrator of the DeWitt County Nursing Home since 1966, that was submitted earlier to the Nursing Home Committee.

Her resignation is effective May 24, but her last working day will be today, because of three weeks' vacation. The board appointed Pat Estes, director of nurses, acting administrator until a new administrator is hired. It gave the Nursing Home Committee the authority to seek candidates for the position. The board also learned from Marilyn Strain, head of the county's Emergency Services and Disaster Agency, that the Army Corps of Engineers has surveyed the northwest and western part of the county for shelters in case of an emergency. So far, it has found 11 fallout shelters and 98 crisis relocation centers, which she said would be used if large population centers had to be vacated.

"The men are doing a very thorough job finding places I didn't even know were there," she said. The survey is to be completed by the middle of the month, she said. She reminded board members there would be an informational meeting Thursday in Decatur for officials to learn about what kind of aid will be available for those affected by floods. DeWitt County was among 10 counties By Sharon Gilfand CLINTON In the face of a cash flow problem, the DeWitt County Board Tuesday voted to suspend getting paid until more money is available. The board also gave the Finance Committee the authority to issue tax anticipation warrants, if needed, so the county can pay its bills.

Tax bills are normally sent in May and the county begins to collect money in June, but this year there will be a delay. Vic Toepke, supervisor of assessments, said after the meeting there were a number of reasons for the delay. There are half a dozen school districts in DeWitt County that overlap into surrounding counties, he said. Toepke said the county "has been on target with information for determining tax rates." But problems have arisen in surrounding counties determining tax rates. That means DeWitt County is waiting for information before it can determine its equalized assessed valuation to set the tax rate.

Resignations also were a significant part of the meeting, which lasted a little more than an hour. The board accepted the resignation of Orus Smith, a board member from Farmer City, who said he did not have enough time to devote to the board because of his business. Police force abolished The village's police chief Charles Gary Baugh, 28, was the only full-time policeman. He was paid about $15,300 a year, Hodel said. The village employed five part-time policemen.

Baugh was charged April 26 by Peoria police with threatening a Peoria man and woman with a gun. Baugh has denied the charges. Hodel said "I don't think so" when asked if the abolition of the force had anything to do with the aggravated assault charge against Baugh. The village will contract with sheriff's police for $6.50 an hour, said Gerald Hodel, chairman of the board's police committee. (See related story, B-6) Wehrli said the sheriff will have a policeman live in Roanoke and it will be up to Woodford County Sheriff Jim Durst what the officer does.

He said the contract was for paying the policeman on an hourly rate for 45 hours a week. Extra coverage will be supplied if deemed necessary, he said. The contract took affect Monday night. ROANOKE In a move to cut costs, the Roanoke Village Board abolished the town's police force Monday night and set up police services through the Woodford County Sheriff's Department, Mayor Elmer Wehrli said. Wehrli said the board, which unanimously agreed to disband the village's Police Department, had "talked about it on and off for several years." He said he could not estimate "off hand" what the savings to the village would be.

"It depends on how much help we hire," he said. Woodford may quit Livingston CETA poet Another spokesman for the Soil Con servation Service said the agency is attempting to educate farmers about terraces and waterways as solutions to the erosion problem. In other business, the board: Heard Superintendent of Highways Robert Cherveny report that the county spent about $204,000 in county highway maintenance during the winter. Costs included snow removal, equipment repair and rental, utilities and capital improvements. Authorized the Building Committee to purchase a 1.550-square-foot building on Court Street if the committee reaches agreement with the owner.

The county already owns half of the building, which is just west of the county jail. Half of the building once housed the firehouse and the other half the post office. The Sheriff's Department uses the half of the building for storage. County officials feel extra space might be needed in the future. tenance and utility costs prohibited keeping the home open, Mrs.

Garber said. The home formerly handled neglected and dependent children. These children are now turned over to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. In other business, Ken Cunningham, chairman of the Soil Conservation Service Board, reported 73 percent of Woodford County land needs some soil conservation treatment. He said nearly half of county crop land is subject to severe soil erosion, which is responsible for an estimated 10 tons to 15 tons of soil loss per acre annually.

As the soil erodes, the average yield of corn can be expected to decrease 5 to 15 bushels per acre, he said. Studies show soil loss in Woodford County to be about 1.2 million tons a year, he said. He said the erosion causes clogged drainage ditches and also degrades the water quality. By Bob Holliday EUREKA-Woodford County may withdraw from a Comprehensive Employment and Training Act program it operates with Livingston County. "We feel that maybe they (Illinois Farmers Union) are taking too much off the top for administration," said Henry Tanton, County Board chairman.

Illinois Farmers Union administers the CETA program for the two counties. The union is located in Pontiac. Tanton said Woodford County may ask the Tri-County Regional Planning Agency to administer the CETA program for Woodford County. The board gave Tanton authority to do whatever he feels necessary with the program, which provides about $286,000 yearly in grants to Woodford County. The federal program pays the salaries of workers, who had been unemployed, while they learn a skill on the job.

Tanton said he was not satisfied with the explanation of administrative costs offered by representatives of the farmers union during a recent meeting. Woodford County officials also were displeased, Tanton said, with an attempt by the union to move the lone CETA representative in Woodford County to Livingston County. At the time of the proposed switch, Livingston County already had all but one of the CETA representatives. Tanton said the union decided against the switch after he and other Woodford County officials complained. Woodford County joined Livingston County in the CETA venture about two years ago in hopes the joint effort would result in better administration of the program, Tanton said.

"We're not sure we have that (better administration) now," Tanton said. Before the joint agreement, the CETA program was administered by various agencies in the county. Don Muirhead, regional director of the CETA program for the Illinois Farmers Union, said Woodford County's objec tions are based on "misunderstandings." He said he would try to resolve the differences with Tanton. He said Tanton's opinion that the union, a private, nonprofit agency, was taking too much to administer the union was incorrect. Muirhead said the union, which was recommended by a regional manpower committee to administer the two-county CETA program, was not making any money ori the program.

He said the union was involved to make sure rural areas get a fair share of CETA funding. Complaints that too many of the CETA representatives are stationed in Pontiac are also unjust, Muirhead said. He said more employees need to be stationed there than in Eureka because Pontiac is the administrative center of the program. Livingston County also receives about twice as much CETA funding as Woodford County, he said. Muirhead was critical of Woodford County officials for criticizing the farmers' group without him being at the meeting to defend the group.

"I wish they had invited me to the meeting," he said. In other business, the board authorized the hiring of a third employee in the county's probation office for the rest of the fiscal year. CETA will pay the employee's salary. Barbara Garber, director of court services, told the board she and another probation worker were over worked. She said she and her colleague were handling more than three times the number of cases recommended by the state.

In a related development, the board agreed to close the Woodford County Children's Home. Mrs. Garber said the home has not been used since December 1978. County officials will consult with the state's attorney to determine how soon house parents who live at the home in rural Metamora should move out. The operators' salaries, plus main 1.