In The News
HENRY COUNTY EMPLOYEE RECOGNIZED FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE
Henry County
administration recently implemented the “Budding Spirits” program to
recognize employees that display positive behaviors both in their work at the
courthouse and in the community they serve.
Employees were invited to nominate a deserving fellow employee or supervisor
by writing a brief story highlighting the employee’s efforts. Each
nomination was placed in the Budding Spirits Box and the first recipient’s name
was drawn on July 5.
Deputy
Bruce Mahaffey was the first Budding Spirits recipient and for his efforts he
received a vase of fresh cut flowers to be displayed at his desk.
He was nominated by Sheriff Jim Padilla for the exemplary work he does
each day at the courthouse. “I am
pleased to be the first to receive this recognition especially since I was
nominated by my supervisor,” said Mahaffey.
He admits that he enjoys coming to work each day serving the public at
the front desk and assisting others in the courthouse when there is an
opportunity.
Mahaffey held the Budding Spirits title for two weeks before selecting a new receiver in the courthouse. He had the option of drawing a new name from the nomination box or writing a short note to the next recipient as to why they had been selected. He recently drew Denise Brown’s name who currently serves as the chief deputy of assessments in the county assessor’s office. She too received a vase of fresh flowers for her efforts.
The new recognition program is currently personally funded, rather than supported by using Henry County funds.
Henry County is ready to respond when disaster strikes
Over the past couple of years, Henry County’s first responders have been tested in their ability to respond when the need arises including the flooding in Geneso on May 13, 2010, and the large blazing fire that engulfed the Darling International Inc. warehouse located in Lynn Center last September. Due to the safety and potentially hazardous situation of each incident, local responders had to assist in evacuating some employees and nearby residents at both locations.
According to Joe Swan, Henry County EMA (Emergency Management Agency) Coordinator, local officials including both police and fire department personnel have received extensive training through the National Incident Management System (NIMS) classes. This training along with the use of an Emergency Disaster Plan allows for coordinated efforts to proceed with ease. In the case of Geneseo, Swan feels that Mayor Linda VanDerLeest was well prepared and did a great job in handling the situation and coordinating efforts with others in the community, which included personnel from the local fire and police department as well as the hospital.
Swan serves as the county liaison between the state and local government. He is required to attend extensive training classes through the State of Illinois held annually in Springfield not to mention continuing education classes offered throughout the year at various locations. “Most local jurisdictions are trained and equipped in case of an emergency and follow their own Emergency Disaster Plan,” said Swan. He believes that individuals and their families should also be ready in case of an emergency and recommends annual safety drills in the home as they are a great way to prepare for a potential disaster.
“I like to suggest that individuals familiarize themselves with several very good websites offered by the State of Illinois as they offer excellent information on preparing for natural disasters such as severe weather,” added Swan. Those sites include the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) at www.state.il.us and Ready Illinois at www.readyillinois.gov. Each site offers before, during and after information. “Weather radios are also a good means of staying in touch with changing weather and learning where your local warming center is located in your community,” added Swan.
Jon Creemens, Henry County E-911 Director, agrees that there are certain practices that individuals should be aware of for their safety and the safety of others. He suggests that people use a land-line if possible when calling a dispatch center as this gives more information about the individual making the call including the location of the caller in case the connection is interrupted. “We also advise that people don’t set up their phones on speed dial for 911 as they might accidently call this and it ties up the line for other emergency calls,” said Creemens.
He reports that there are currently three dispatch centers in Henry County including the main center at the Sheriff’s office in the courthouse and the Geneseo and Kewanee Police Departments. Creemens currently oversees the county’s 911 system and has been involved with the 911 program since 1988. In his position, Creemens reports to the Henry County Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB). The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) in Springfield administers the implementation and upgrading of 911 systems by municipalities and counties across the state. They also direct and dictate what the ETSB can and cannot do with the 911 system and funds.
“I make visits to local elementary schools, 4-H Clubs and other local groups in the county to provide training regarding the use of the 911 system,” stated Creemens. He acknowledges that about 80% of all 911 calls are made from cell phones and, last year alone, the county received 13,000 calls from cell phone users. “I am basically on call 24/7 and I see my role as the person who keeps the system working when someone dials,” added Creemens.
He is in constant contact with the Sheriff’s department and Information Technology Services to ensure that everyone remains updated as the service is a top priority in the county. Maintaining good relationships within the county is important as new practices and systems are always advancing with emergency services.
Sheriff Jim Padilla feels that the county has learned from past situations and has used those experiences to be better prepared for future emergency incidents. “We used the command and control system during the December 2009 hostage incident in Geneseo. Everyone just meshed together during the situation and did what they were assigned to do,” stated Sheriff Padilla. In this case, the command center worked and state, county and local police responded to the circumstance and it was resolved without incident.
Under the command system, when an outsider comes in they know their place in command. This is established under the “mutual aid” request agreement. They get their orders delegated out and everything works well. “Everyone knows their place in the chain of command,” added the Sheriff.
According to Detective Joe Bedford, by having a signed mutual agreement in place with organizations like FEMA and IEMA, Illinois communities may receive immediate response from specialized incident operations teams through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). These teams include the areas of Dive Rescue, Technical Rescue, Hazardous Materials and Fire Investigation. Once the Governor orders a Declaration of Disaster within the State, this system defines a resource response plan to any location deemed a disaster under the guidelines.
“Illinois is very unique in that we are a model in utilizing mutual aid,” said Bedford. He adds that through IEMA the ‘one call does it all’ statement applies when emergency arises as they respond immediately to calls relating to a tornado, earthquake or even a building collapsing. “As an elite model, we also have access to the Special Reaction Team (SRT), which responds to threats of terrorism or areas considered a “hot zone”,” stated Bedford.
Henry County law enforcement staff has also received many hours of training and are able to resolve most incidents within the county without utilizing special teams or assistance from other agencies or areas. All officers within the county are trained for threats concerning a school shooting. “Our officers are able to secure the threat and neutralize the situation immediately,” said Sheriff Padilla.
For more information please contact Jon Creemens at 309.667.2835 or Sheriff Jim Padilla at 309.937.3911 in the Henry County Courthouse Sheriff’s Department. Also, please note that Joe Swan, Henry County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Coordinator, has resigned his position effective July 15, 2011. The position is currently in the interview stage of hiring a new EMA Manager. In the interim, please contact the Henry County Courthouse at 309-937-3400 with any questions.
Creative Recycling Services, Inc. (CRS) and Henry County
recently teamed up to sponsor a “FREE” Ecyclable Program in Henry County.
The electronics recycling event was held on
According to Bob Westfall, Henry County Zoning/Building
Manager, the free event was open to all
Local communities that took advantage of the one-day event included Andover, Annawan, Atkinson, Bishop Hill, Cambridge, Cleveland, Colona, Galva, Geneseo, Hooppole, Kewanee, Lynn Center, Orion, Osco and Woodhull. “We filled two full semi-trailers with all sorts of electronics,” added Westfall.
The Ecyclable Program event was provided by the Henry
County Solid Waste Department and CRS, which is headquartered in
Westfall hopes to be able to provide this service to the county as an annual or semi-annual event. For more information on this event contact Bob Westfall at 309-937-3419. To learn more about CRS visit www.crserecycling.com.
HENRY COUNTY CLERK/RECORDER’S OFFICE IS NOW LIVE
WITH 24-HOUR REMOTE ACCESS TO THE COUNTY’S LAND RECORDS
Henry County Clerk/Recorder, Barb Link, recently held a
seminar at the Henry County Courthouse for anyone interested in remote access
products that would allow real time access to county land records.
About 30 people from around the county accepted the invitation to learn
more about the new software offered by Fidlar Technologies.
Representatives at the meeting included several city clerks, local
attorneys and representatives from lending institutions and title companies.
According to Link, there are two new products available for
county users. Representatives from
Fidlar Technologies, Kyle Cogdill and Greg Bachman, provided an in-service on
each product beginning with Laredo, which was designed for users who
consistently search in Henry County.
This remote access product and its innovative technology offer 24-hour access to
the county’s land records and allow the public to obtain information faster and
more efficiently. “As a subscriber
with the county, one may execute a search anytime without having to travel to
the Courthouse,” stated Link. The
Henry County cost breakdown is offered at a monthly rate based on minute usage
and overage of minutes per plan.
Subscriptions range from 0-250 minutes to an unlimited number of minutes.
HENRY COUNTY VETERANS ASSISTANCE COMMISSION HELPS VETERANS IN NEED
Henry County is
currently participating in National County Government Month.
Throughout the month of April efforts will be focused on raising public
awareness and understanding about the roles and responsibilities of county
government. Since this year’s theme
is “Serving Our Veterans, Armed Forces and Their Families,” the office of
Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) of Henry County is in this week’s
spotlight.
April 2011
Henry County
Government has announced plans to participate in the National County Government
Month (NCGM) by raising public awareness and understanding about the roles and
responsibilities of county government.
The 2011 theme is “Serving Our Veterans, Armed Forces and Their
Families.”
More than 1,000 counties participate in NCGM each year by
hosting a variety community outreach events and activities. These include tours
of county facilities, recognition ceremonies for county employees and
volunteers, distribution of information about county programs and services,
sponsoring student essay contests, meetings with business and community leaders,
and adoption of resolutions.
During the month of April, several informative “Fact Sheets”
about some of the important services that the county provides will be
distributed each week through the end of the month.
County Administrator, Colleen Gillespie, wants the citizens of Henry
County to understand the benefits of these types of services. “It’s important
that the people of Henry County realize how important these programs and
services are to the health of this county,” stated Gillespie.
Since 1991, the National Association of Counties (NACo) has
encouraged counties across the country to actively promote county government
programs and services. Formerly National County Government Week, the designation
was expanded to a full month for 2010 to offer more counties additional
opportunities to plan and participate. Counties aren’t expected to hold public
awareness activities throughout the month, but can schedule activities any time
during the month.
Henry
Senior Citizens real estate tax deferral program allows qualified senior citizens to elect to defer all or part of the property taxes and special assessments on their principal residence. The property taxes and special assessments do not become due until after the death of the property owner or when the real estate is sold or no longer qualifies. A lien is placed on the property and interest is assessed at six percent simple interest rate per year. You must fill out an application each year by March 1st for the taxes that will be paid in that year.
This program is through the Illinois Department of Revenue and is not the same as the Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze or Senior Citizen Exception.
Who is eligible?
To qualify for the program you must be 65 years of age or
older by
Have a total household income of no more than $50,000.
Have lived in the property or other qualifying property for at least three years.
Own the property, or share joint ownership with your spouse, or be the sole beneficiary, or you and your spouse be the sole beneficiaries of a land trust.
Have no unpaid property taxes and special assessments on the property.
“2010
- Certified Illinois Assessing Officer (CIAO) designation -
awarded in 1991
- Over 600 hours of continuing education in the assessment
field since 1991
- Held numerous leadership positions within the Illinois
County Assessment Officer’s Association (CAOA) including chairman of Area 1,
and president of the association in 2008-2009.
- Member and current chairman of the Illinois Property
Assessment Institute Board of Directors, a state-wide organization whose
mission is to provide educational courses on property appraisal and
assessment administration to township and county assessment professionals in
Illinois.
Friend and colleague Larry Wilson, Rock Island County Chief
Assessment Officer, best summarized her leadership qualities.
“Role models are people that others imitate, emulate, or look to for guidance.
When I think about what a role model should be, my thought is of Lindi
Kernan.”
LOCAL ARTISTS GATHER FOR UNVEILING OF LEE KIMBALL'S NEW ARTWORK
The Henry County Courthouse
Beautification Art Project has come full circle with the receipt of a $2,000
grant the Courthouse recently received from the Quad City Arts.
Support for Arts Dollar$: Community Access to the Arts is provided by
grants from the Illinois Arts Council, the Doris and Victor Day Foundation, the
John Deere Foundation & the Mary Iva Gittens Knouse Charitable Trust.
Local Henry
County artist, Lee Kimball from Orion, was commissioned to do a painting that
signified Henry County. Kimball was
one of the first artists approached by committee member Betty Murphy about three
years ago. At that time, he agreed
to donate a painting for the Courthouse.
He now has two paintings hanging side by side and both represent a
beautiful rural landscape in Henry County.
“I feel a
personal connection to Henry County and there is something in me that drew me to
Henry County landscapes. I have done
so many paintings in Henry County spanning over 15 years,” stated Kimball.
The scene in his most recent painting is fairly typical of a Henry County
landscape. “We as artists have that
appreciation and we as artists have that opportunity to share that with people
and there will be a good number of people that will enjoy the artwork.”
Many of the
other artists present for the evening expressed their appreciation for being
included in the Beautification Art Project and felt it was a privilege to have
their artwork displayed for others to view in such a historical landmark
building. Those in attendance
included Shirley Burnett, Joan Di Iulio, Kristine Love, Roger Luft, Joyce
Mattan, Brian Murphy, Lenora Pritchard, and Pauline Swanson.
“As artists we like to try other mediums, but we usually go back to our
original medium we started with. It
makes you appreciate the work that other artists do,” said Pauline Swanson.
She is a member of the Geneseo Art League.
Many of the artists present represented the league at the unveiling.
Beautification committee member, Jim King, spoke at length about the overall
beauty of the Courthouse and the history that the walls contain within the
structure. He along with Betty
Murphy and Jan May have been instrumental in the success of the project.
The three committee members hope that the project will continue to expand
throughout the Courthouse for others to enjoy for many years to come.
Ms. May has
purchased all the nameplates that sit below the artist’s works.
According to May, the artwork that hangs on the walls inside the public
entrance is a true reflection of Henry County.
“Betty and Jim have done a wonderful job of filling the empty Courthouse
walls,” stated May.
Murphy
believes the artwork provides a visual history for future visitors to enjoy.
“My goal for the next year will be to pursue additional artists working
in different media. I would like to
find sources of money to work my way down the line,” stated Murphy.
She plans to continue to locate Henry County artists willing to donate,
but also trying to reciprocate to those who have jumped started the project.
“It is
important that people patronize and support the Geneseo Art League Gallery and
others like it so that we may assist in keeping the galleries in business.
We need to make sure our artists have a home for their work,” added
Murphy. So far, a total of 20
artists have donated their work to the Henry County Courthouse Beautification
Art project.
Another
gallery where you will find several pieces of art by these same local artists is
the VagnHall Galleri in Bishop Hill.
Currently, Roger Luft, George Olson, Brian Murphy, Jeffrey Goard and Lee Kimball
have art on display. Goard is the
curator of the gallery and Bishop Hill potter.
They are all contributing artists to the beautification project at the
Courthouse.
Mr. Tom Nicholson,
former chairman of the board, also spoke about the success and importance of the
project. His late mother, Berniece
Nicholson, has two paintings hanging in the Courthouse.
He has supported the program since its inception and believes the artwork
will continue to be appreciated.
Ms. Murphy and Mr.
King also received words of praise from Tim Wells, newly elected chairman of the
board. He expressed his support of
the committee and is looking forward to working with Murphy and the other
committee members.
Henry County has been the inspiration for many of our neighboring artists. They represent the areas of Bishop Hill, Galva, Geneseo, Kewanee, Orion and Woodhull. For more information, please call the Deputy County Administrator's office at 309.937.3400.
ARTIST ROGER LUFT AIMS AT CREATING MEMORIES WITH DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
As trees lose their leaves and winter returns to the Midwest, so goes the color in our flower gardens and roadway countryside’s. For many artists this might seem like a dormant period for them also, but that’s not so for one Galva artist. Photographer Roger Luft enjoys photographing flowers in the summer, but he also likes snapping photos of close up objects in any season.
Luft recently joined the good company of other area artists
that have so generously donated artwork to the Henry County Courthouse
Beautification Art Project.
His digitally mastered framed piece of art represents the agricultural side of
the county. The enhanced digital
photograph of the historical Ryan’s Round Barn bursting with a magnificent
sunset background is the result of a new digital technique and software he uses
in his work. “This new process
called High Dynamic Range or HDR is more of a true representation of what your
eyes see rather than what the camera sees,” stated Luft.
It is a range of values between light and dark and works best with a lot
of contrast.
“I was recently approached by Betty Murphy and Jim King at the VagnHall Galleri in the Prairie Arts Center at Bishop Hill, where I currently have several pieces of my work on display. As members of the Beautification Art Committee, they both expressed an interest in my work at the exhibit,” said Luft. After several conversations with them, he agreed to donate to the art project at the Courthouse.
Luft is no stranger to the world of photography and has appreciated art since childhood. For many years it was just a hobby, until he was approached by a co-worker. “When I first moved to Charleston, a person from my work suggested I get more serious about it and I did,” stated Luft. He admits he took the advice and started studying it more and eventually had a photo agent in the Boston area represent him.
“I had always been interested in photography, but considered myself only a “snap shooter” not really knowing what I was doing,” Luft said. But, eventually photography became a supplemental career to his teaching including portraits and weddings. Luft has also had images published in several different magazines and books including a children’s publication.
While teaching at Eastern Illinois University, Roger took advantage of the opportunity to learn even more about photography. Although mainly self-taught, he has also lead photography workshops and seminars. “I enjoy teaching others how to use the features on their cameras,” said Luft. Over the summer, he taught a digital photography course for freshmen and sophomore students at the Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Center in Oregon, Illinois. “We would go out and shoot in the afternoon and evening hours and then look at the work to critique and evaluate the progress,” he added.
Retiring after 16 years as a university professor at EIU, where he taught business and prepared business education teachers, Luft now serves as treasurer of the Galva Arts Council. He is also president of the Tri-County Camera Club that includes photographers from Bureau, Stark and Henry County. He continues to teach education classes regularly for EIU and enjoys visiting student teachers, which includes 175 visits to schools over the last 5 years.
Luft is also a volunteer for Junior Achievement where he teaches business and economic concepts to third and fourth grade classes for a five- week one-hour session in the spring. He teaches one class in Kewanee and two in Galva.
He and his wife Paula, a native of Galva, continue to be active members of Messiah Lutheran Church. She too recently retired from a career in education. Paula taught business and office careers at Black Hawk East in Kewanee for 27 years. She is now working part-time as the Dual Enrollment Coordinator at the east campus.
Luft will be one of the local artists featured at the unveiling of Lee Kimball’s latest donated artwork made possible by a grant from Quad City Arts. This special evening will take place on Tuesday, December 7, from 6-8 p.m. at the Henry County Courthouse. Other area artists will also be in attendance to share in the evening’s celebration.
HENRY
Several
months ago, Henry County Courthouse learned that it was the recipient of a
$2,000 grant made possible by the Quad City Arts.
Support for Arts Dollar$: Community Access to the Arts is provided by
grants from the Illinois Arts Council, the Doris and Victor Day Foundation, the
John Deere Foundation & the Mary Iva Gittens Knouse Charitable Trust.
One
stipulation of the grant was that a painting must be done by a
As
a result, artist Lee Kimball was commissioned to paint a picture, which will
soon be unveiled at a special gathering scheduled for Tuesday, December 7, from
Additional guests for the
evening include other local artists who have also donated to the collection of
art already on display at the Courthouse.
A total of 20 artists have donated their work to the Henry County
Courthouse Beautification Art Project.
Two Henry County leaders recognized for years of service
At the Tuesday, November 8 County Board meeting, Sheriff Gib
Cady and Mr. Tom Nicholson were both recognized for their many years of service
to Henry County. Mr. Cady has been sheriff for the last 32 years and Mr.
Nicholson held the position of Chairman of the Board for almost 23 years.
Together, they have served the county for almost 55 years. Both received
plaques for their dedication and years of service. Sheriff Cady is the
longest serving sheriff in Henry County , while Mr. Nicholson was the youngest
chairman elected to the Henry County Board.
Henry County Courthouse staff, visitors and nearby residents enjoy chime of bell
The Henry County Courthouse Clock Tower Project is finally complete and many people are now able to enjoy the melodic chime of the bell. It is a welcomed sound heard all around Cambridge, like a voice from the past.
Following the removal of the dials, all four faces and the
inside clock parts on Monday, August 2, by members of Americlock in St. Louis,
work began to restore the clock and repair the exterior of the Clock Tower; an
undertaking that would engage Americlock experts for almost two months.
Scott Painting and Decorating, Inc. from Rock Island was contacted to paint the exterior of the tower. Two professional painters from the company arrived at the Courthouse the first week of September to begin priming the tower. During the initial days of priming, high wind gusts of up to 25 mph made it difficult to complete the task along with several rain outs.
The paint used was a high performance acrylic coating to take care of minor rust with low VOC materials in accordance with EPA regulations. After several weeks and some improvement in weather, the final brush strokes were applied. The Clock Tower was now ready for the return of its newly overhauled faces.
Workers from Americlock returned on Monday, September 27, to reinstall many of the original clock parts as promised in August. The repair work on the faces included one coat of primer, two coats of paint and one coat of gilding. It was captivating to the audience below to watch the faces put back in place one by one. The gold on black with the white band around each face was magnificent when captured by the sun.
Alan Andrews, owner of Americlock reported that the dials took longer than expected and the numerals were held in place mainly by paint. “The gilding on the faces should last between 20-30 years and 40-50 years on the dials,” stated Andrews. Unfortunately, the original cedar hands could not be restored to use and were replaced with aluminum hands instead.
Work continued on the following day with West County Forge on site. This company is also from St. Louis and does custom iron work, railings, gates and furniture. They were employed to duplicate the original finial lightening rod. The total weight of the new finial was about 200 lbs. and measured 11’ 3” in height.
The company was able to get the original plans from the architect in order to fabricate the look of the finial. It ended up being slightly taller than the original, which was 10’ 8 “. The hardest part of the design was trying to line all the sections up to fit together as one. A copper lightening rod runs all the way through the piece and comes out at the base.
Following the completion of the Courthouse clock, Mr. Andrews did some research and learned some very interesting facts about the Henry County Courthouse clock and bell. It is a Seth Thomas #16, Time and Strike with a one and a half second pendulum rod. The bell is a one thousand pounds bell. The clock was completed at the Seth Thomas Works on May 14, 1917 and shipped by the CNJ and Pacific Railroad on June 15, 1917. It was directed to the attention of A.J. Records in Cambridge. It was sent with 115’ of cable, four pairs of gilded hands and six pulleys.
In addition, the #16 was the workhorse of the Seth Thomas Company. “Unfortunately, there are very few left and even fewer in operation,” stated Andrews. He added that he feels Henry County is fortunate to have one of these clocks intact and in working order.
Tom Nicholson announces final reign as Henry County Board Chairman
Tom Nicholson’s political career began in 1981, when he was elected to the Lynn Township board. He was the first Democrat elected to serve as a trustee since its establishment as a township. The only other person serving the township longer than Nicholson is Ted Seabloom, with about 30 years of service.
Nicholson’s interest in government continued to grow with a personal concern regarding the tremendous amount of land zoned out of agriculture. At that time, the term “premature rezoning” meant that many farm acres were being zoned to residential use. This uneasiness led him to a 22 year political career as Chairman of the Henry County Board.
“In August 1988, I was appointed to the county board and
became the youngest chairman ever elected.
I was brand new to it, but it has been a great ride,” stated Nicholson.
He admits that his eyes were opened to the many responsibilities that the
board has to deal with monthly.
“This board and past boards operate in concert on most issues.
It is just ballot differences,” he added.
He feels that once you become a board member, you try to do what’s best
for the county. “There is very
little that is voted on along party lines,” said Nicholson.
Since taking office in 1988, Nicholson has remained steadfast in his beliefs that everyone should have equal opportunity to serve their community and government. One of the first changes he integrated pertaining to the monthly board meetings was the time of day they would meet. According to Nicholson, the board originally met at 9:00 in the morning each month. People punching a time clock could not serve on the board due to work commitments. This meant that only a small segment of people including farmers, self-employed or retired people from the community would be available.
“I got the rules changed so that everybody could be elected without giving a condition of their employer. Both republicans and democrats on the board right now would not be on the board if they had to beg their employers to be off one morning per month,” stated Nicholson. The county board has met in the evening ever since the change was implemented many years ago.
Other highlights of Nicholson’s career include the start-up of the Henry County Economic Development Partnership, which still meets monthly at the Henry County Farm Bureau office in Cambridge. “With the declining population in Henry County and the loss of major “smoke stack” industries in the 80’s, this group worked to get a Kellogg Grant to bring in people from government and manufacturing business to do strategic planning for the county,” said Nicholson.
The strategy focused on stopping the decline and moving forward to building back the economy. One of the ways in which the group succeeded was coordinating efforts with Lane Evans in the development of the Rural Revolving Loan Fund for small businesses in Henry County. Once established, the RRLF promised to stimulate the economy by sustaining and encouraging growth of existing businesses and to attract new businesses to the county. It remains a very viable program to date.
Over the years, Nicholson has served as a member of all standing committees and has a long standing relationship with the Bi-State Regional Planning Commission. The recognition plaques that are displayed in his office serve as a reminder of the countless hours that have been given for the benefit of others in the county. Some of these include appreciation for 25 years to the Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust and a Business Award for his work in 1994.
Nicholson has also played a major role in the passing of the 708 referendum for Mental Health and the Enhanced 911 System. Another credit to his reputation as a person of change and progress is the result of a new jail. “After being threatened with a lawsuit by the Attorney General, we had to do something about the jail and public safety addition situation and the overcrowding in court,” stated Nicholson. He noted that with the pledge to the voters not to use property taxes, but instead use alternate bonds, fines and fees a new jail could be built. Voters gave their permission on this premise and the slogan, “let the criminals pay for the new jail” was produced along with a new jail in 1999.
Early on in his tenure as county board chairman, he wanted to improve transparency in government. With this in mind, he fought for the position of public information manager. “I thought this was extremely important,” he said. Nicholson wanted to bring about awareness and clarity to the work of the board and other areas of county government. He insisted that having a PIO on board is a way to keep people informed and up to date on important matters.
As Nicholson’s term is about to expire, he hopes that others will take the initiative to get involved in their community or government including minorities. When he joined the board there was one female serving and now there are eight. “There is a great deal of gratification in trying to make the quality of life in your community a bit better,” said Nicholson. He feels there is a responsibility that people have to their fellow person or neighbor and one way they can fulfill that is by taking on the oath of public life.
“There are 112 taxing districts in Henry County and a person may look through the handbook of Henry County to see all the committees a person could serve on and, of course, the county board,” said Nicholson. He is a believer that you can make a difference by engaging in public service. “It’s a great way to get your family involved and if you don’t explore that you don’t know what you’re missing,” he added.
BISHOP HILL COUPLE DONATE TO
HENRY COUNTY COURTHOUSE CLOCK TOWER FUND
On Monday, August 9, 2010, Henry County board member, Jim
King, accepted a very generous donation to the Henry County Courthouse Clock
Tower Fund made by Wilbur and Marilyn Nelson from Bishop Hill.
The couple donated the money on behalf of Nelson Farm Service and The
Village Smithy, both owned and operated by the Nelson’s.
“I feel that the Henry County Courthouse is one of the most outstanding
courthouses in Illinois,” stated Mr. Nelson.
He believes very strongly that the courthouse should be
preserved and that’s why the couple is taking steps forward to make a
contribution to the clock tower. “I
too think it is important to preserve the courthouse as it is our history and
heritage and it will be gone if we don’t take care of it,” said Mrs. Nelson.
Both would like to see others make a donation towards the fund in any
amount.
According to Jim King, numerous donations have been made
including one donation for $5.00. “Some people in the community recognize the
significance of the courthouse and want to give back for the heritage purpose
and are taking the opportunity to donate at this time,” stated King.
Although the Nelson’s donation was substantial, they believe there are
many people who would be willing to donate whatever they can afford to help
repair the courthouse clock tower.
Each donation will add up to a permanent investment in maintaining the stately
eloquence of the courthouse.
Progress to date includes the visit made on Monday, August 2, 2010, by staff members from Americlock in St. Louis. The crew arrived to remove the four faces from the Clock Tower as part of the matching $50,000 grant received from Landmarks Illinois’ Richard H. Driehaus County Courthouse Grant Program, funded by the Richard H. Driehaus Charitable Lead Trust, to repair the clock of the Second Empire-style courthouse designed by T.J. Tolan and Son and Brentwood S. Tolan in 1880. The crane crew of Ratliff Bros. and Co. Inc. from Kewanee assisted throughout the day, raising and lowering the crane’s basket to just the right height and location to each face of the tower.
The work began promptly at 8:00 a.m. with James Androuais
from Americlock leading the way to the tower to scope out the work ahead.
Plans included removing the dials, all four faces, the antenna and the
inside clock parts. Staff members
speculate it will take until the end of September to make all the repairs and
return the clock in working order.
The work involves replacing the bushings in the clock and providing new
mechanicals; however, keeping the clock original.
The faces will be sand blasted, primed and regilded with a
gold leaf process to look original.
The hardwood cedar hands will be repainted and repaired to put back into place
once the faces are returned to the tower.
It was noted that everything in the tower is made of tin and that each
face of the clock weighed about 100 lbs.
The removal of the east side face of the clock took the
longest to remove as it appeared to be as one piece and built into the tower
side. There was a bead of solder all
the way around the face, which had to be cut away using a jigsaw; however, the
other faces were more easily detached as they were fastened in with nails and
screws. Not having to cut the faces
out hurried up the process throughout the afternoon.
Thus, allowing the crews to remove the final face by about 3:45.
The antenna was most difficult to eliminate as the crane was not tall enough in its original position. The boom had to be lengthened about 10 more feet to be able to swing around to the backside or west face of the clock. It was a delicate maneuver, but was able to be accomplished safely and without damage to the tower. It was all quite remarkable to those standing at ground level.
In recent months, several other individuals from Henry
County have donated to the Clock Tower Fund for the much needed repairs.
A check has been received from James Johnson, Tucson, AZ, in memory of
his mother, Hazel Marie Johnson, who resided in Cambridge and the area for many
years. Additional funds were sent
from Rosemary Hoogerwerf, now of Davenport, IA. She states, “She is sorry
she can’t give more” and that she worked at the Courthouse in a temporary
position for a few weeks around 1950. She also says, “I was always
impressed with the Courthouse building, but didn’t realize its architectural
significance until years later.”
Others who have mailed in checks include Steven & Lisa Depies of Geneseo, and the Frances M. Conrad Trust. Donations are still being accepted and may be forwarded to County Administrator, Colleen Gillaspie at the Henry County Courthouse, 307 W. Center Street, Cambridge, IL 61238. Checks should be made out to the Henry County Courthouse with memo indicating Clock Tower Fund.
New Cold-In-Place Recycling
Project Completed in Henry County
The Henry County Highway Department has recently completed
the Cold-In-Place Recycling (CIR) project along two roads, County Highway 39
(known as Bishop Hill Blacktop) and County Highway 24 (known as Kentville
Blacktop). The CIR project, which
began the end of May, was completed the middle of June.
Funding for the project was a result of Stimulus Funds from the Federal
Government.
The project consisted of recycling the existing asphaltic materials along both roads. This was the first attempt at this type of recycling in Henry County. The final phase of the road work was delayed due to the heavy rains during those weeks of scheduled work.
Experience in cold recycling indicates a need for obtaining
optimum moisture content in the reclaimed asphalt pavement material so that the
emulsified asphalt can be dispersed effectively in the mix. The recycled
mixtures are usually susceptible to damage from moisture intrusion and abrasion
by traffic. According to Henry
County Engineer, Steve Brandau, the moisture level needed to be below 2% before
the final seal coat could be applied.
“We had to wait until the material had a chance to dry out due to the
rainy period,” he added.
“This new type of process strengthens the base for roads
that will be black topped in the future,” stated Brandau.
Cold recycling of asphalt pavement is a method of recycling that can
yield significant savings in labor and materials, greatly reduce a project's
negative impact on the environment, and provide a sustainable answer to the
problem of asphalt concrete maintenance.
If the material permorms like the county anticipated, the CIR process will be
used on more Henry County roads next summer.
Local artist draws from his roots to paint his
prairie shoots
As color begins to return to flower gardens
everywhere and hues of purple and yellow crocuses dot each neighborhood, so
begins the greening of the prairie plants and grasses that adorn our rural
countryside fields. To one local
artist this is his invitation to pluck and paint a specimen of simple beauty.
George Olson of Woodhull is all too familiar with
the many species of prairie plants that grow in the area.
He has an eye for perfection and knows which stem he will bring to his
studio. An art history professor by
trade, his passion for painting tall prairie grass, barns and landscapes of
winter snow scenes keep him focused and searching for his next prey of the
prairie.
Olson and his wife Patricia, returned to the area
in 2000 after he retired from The College of Wooster in Ohio, where he began
teaching in 1963. “My wife grew up
in Woodhull, and we wanted a change of scenery,” stated Olson.
The couple met many years ago while attending Augustana College in Rock
Island. “My wife actually took more
art courses than I did,” commented Olson.
At the time, he was interested in the Augie choir.
As a watercolorist, Olson’s artwork and prairie
studies has been exhibited widely in the U.S. and England, including the local
communities of Galesburg, Monmouth and Bishop Hill.
He participated in the “Botanical Painting and other Works” art exhibit
at VagnHall Galleri in Bishop Hill as a group exhibition.
Additionally, he presented to a group in Monmouth at the Buchanan Center
for the Arts in November of 2009, on “Drawing the Plants of the Prairie,” and
also exhibited during the Plains and Prairie exhibit.
As a naturalist, his books of illustrations and text provide his readers
with a vivid picture of the natural splendor he captures with each painting.
Further venues where
his work has been on exhibit include Missouri Botanical Garden, Chicago Botanic
Garden, New York Botanical Garden and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.
This Traveling Exhibition: Losing Paradise focuses on endangered plants
of the U.S.
His collection of
watercolor drawings and natural history publications makes him a highly visible
local artist and one that is sought after frequently.
He was recently contacted by Henry County board member and chairperson of
the courthouse art committee, Betty Murphy.
Like many other local artists, he was called upon for a donation of his
artwork; a request that he quickly fulfilled with a painting entitled, “Ivy
Leaf, Morning Glory.”
“I first saw his work at Bishop Hill in the Bishop Hill Prairie Art's center
gallery above the pottery studio. Thought it was amazing and bought his
book which I read completely before giving him a call.
I told him about the courthouse
beautification project,” commented Murphy.
He went to the courthouse to see the art. A week later he called
and agreed to meet her with two paintings which he let her choose from.
“He has combined his interest in native prairie plants with his extraordinary
watercolor drawings to create unique works of art. We're so fortunate to
have one of his paintings in our courthouse,” added Murphy.
The recent donated
piece of art depicts the rich blue shade of this Blue Dawn flowering plant
captured to perfection. Although
recognizable throughout the Midwest, Olson admits that he sometimes will look
for something out of the ordinary while traveling around.
“I may spot a good specimen and decide to give it a try,” said Olson.
“If I find something in the field, I may snuggle up to the plant if
that’s what works for me that day.”
He is quick to
describe his work of plant studies as being done in the following manner; 1)
propagation and education, 2) workshops and slideshows, and 3) the final
artwork. “I feel they are all
related to each other,” added Olson.
As long as his eyesight remains good, he plans to continue his work in the field
of prairie plants.
Over the last year,
many forms of art have been donated to the courthouse including a variety of
paintings, photography and even pottery.
On the walls of the courthouse now hangs a permanent collage of history
that is enjoyed by all visitors to the courthouse.
It is the hope of the art committee that the collection in the courthouse
continues to expand down the hallways of this historical structure for all to
appreciate. It truly captures the
essence of what makes the communities and people of Henry County so unique.
The Henry County Courthouse
A place where walls teach history lessons
The Henry County Courthouse in
Cambridge, Illinois, will soon be celebrating its 130th year. It is
located at the west end of town adjacent to College Square Park, where it stands
three stories tall. It provides a magnificent view of the town from any window
on any side of the building. The courthouse walls have become a shrine for
local artists willing to donate their work so others can experience the trials
and tribulations that make up the past and present of Henry County.
Construction on the courthouse began in March 29, 1876. Initially, the building
was to cost $68,000, but a very rainy spring caused delays and costs soared to
$77,000. In fact, a windmill and well were built on site to provide a
continuous stream of water. The county board first expressed an interest in
building in 1866, but decided to postpone starting the structure as it was too
soon after the war to undertake such a big financial burden.
The architect hired to design the courthouse was Julian Hinckley from Indianapolis. The county board committee that was first appointed for the building included: James Blish, James Reherd, Thomas Mowers, John Morgan, and Nathaniel Gould. They hired Hiram Dickinson of Galva to oversee the daily work. The heating contractor was Haxtun Steam Heater of Kewanee, which is now Kewanee Boiler.
The foundation is unfinished stone that is 3 feet thick. Originally, Sageston Sandstone was used, but it began to erode away and was replaced with Bedford Limestone in 1942. There are sixteen distinct fireplaces throughout the courthouse at an original cost of $45.00 each. Every fireplace is unique in color and finish. The woodwork used is oak with some trimmed in black walnut. All the offices at one time had a sink tucked away in some small corner of the room. Some have now been removed or replaced with something more modern.
Stone that was used were 4 x 6 feet and 1 foot thick. By May of 1879, the walls were up to the 2nd floor. A large drum in the cellar used horse power to lift the stones into place. Horse drawn carts were used to carry the stones into the cellar. Some construction was delayed while waiting for iron beams.
Help in laying the
bricks came from Philadelphia. Two men were employed from Philadelphia because
the bricks were of a type that local bricklayers were not experienced in
laying. In October 1879, roof work began. In March 1880, Mr. Dirksen of Pekin
was employed to adorn the ceiling of the main courtroom. He was an artist of
some note in frescos and decorative painting. Some were disappointed that the
ceiling was not a dome, but instead was crafted as a lowering of the ceiling in
the middle of the room. Mr. Dirksen did the views of the four villages
including Cambridge, Kewanee, Galva and Geneseo with accurate detail. In the
renovation during the 1950’s, the painting was not touched. However, Mr.
Dirksen had painted corn and flowers on the ceiling in each of the corners.
These were not kept.
Once completed, decorating of the
offices began. The earlier blinds on the windows were made of cherry and
maple. In 1897, electricity supplanted the initial kerosene lamps. A system of
pipes was installed throughout the building for gas lights, but they were never
used.
A wing was added on the west side in 1940, and the west porch was removed at that time. In 1955, the interior was remodeled at a cost of $158,000, and the remaining three porches were removed. Then in 1969, some additional remodeling occurred, which created four new offices and a meeting room on the third floor. The most recent addition took place in 1998, when construction began on a new judicial wing. The expansion contains the jail, two courtrooms and offices for the circuit clerk, court services, states attorney, public defender and sheriff.
The Henry County Courthouse is listed
on the National Register of Historic Places. It remains a pillar in the county
and continues to be the hub of daily trafficking for people to do all sorts of
business throughout the building each day. The clock no longer strikes time and
is in need of some major repair, but its face serves as a reminder of just how
many years this building has provided essential services to the residents of
Henry County.
HENRY COUNTY ANNOUNCES CITIZENS FOR THE
RENOVATION OF THE HENRY COUNTY COURTHOUSE
A new committee has been formed in Henry
County to address the immediate need for courthouse renovations and repairs due
to the continuing deterioration of the exterior walls and roof of the
129-year-old structure.
The Citizens for the Renovation of the Henry County Courthouse is composed of
volunteers, representing all geographic areas of the county. Harold Ford
and Greg Peterson co-chair the committee. Jerry Meyer is the committee
treasurer, and Bill Philhower is committee secretary. Other citizens serving on
the committee are: Larry Lock, Tim Wells, Bernard Francque, Jim White, Byron
Carlson, Danny McDaniel, Everett Swanson, Tom Weston, Jens Rehder, Judy Rehder,
and Bill Schehl. Working with the committee are county board members Jesse
Crouch, Jim King, and Tom Steele.
Committee members will be available to speak to the issue with community
organizations seeking to learn more about the Public Facilities Sales Tax
Referendum, which is collected by the Illinois Department of Revenue and given
back to the county for this purpose. The public will have several opportunities
to learn about the amount needed for repairs and the one-quarter of one percent
sales tax increase. Any organization that would like a speaker is invited to
contact the committee through the courthouse at 309.937.3400.
Co-chair Harold Ford wants every town in the county to recognize the pros’ of
this temporary tax and what it can mean to the county. “As a group we are
working together to try and present this information to people so that they will
see the need to pass this sales tax increase,” stated Ford. He wants voters to
understand that the committee is unanimous in feeling that this is the best
method available and others from outside the county will help pay for the
repairs to the courthouse. “This is better than a property tax and it is
temporary,” added Ford.
Greg Peterson, co-chair of the committee brings experience based knowledge to
the group. "I inspect a lot of buildings
similar to the Henry County Courthouse in my profession as a structural
engineer. Past experience has taught me that repairs are needed to this
building now to prevent future repair costs from being even more costly or
eventually rising to the point that repairs become cost prohibitive,” stated
Peterson.
Members will be prepared to discuss what repairs
are needed including the areas of asbestos and lead paint abatement, tuck
pointing and mortar replacement for four rooftop chimneys, exterior masonry,
metal components that need to be cleaned of corrosion or replaced, dormer
repair, clock tower windows and seal all open masonry joints as well as roof
repair. Also outlined in the original cost estimate is repair to the clock
tower which includes window replacement, refurbish or replace the iron and slate
roof, replace access steps, repair the sheet metal in the bell enclosure and
inspect the tuck pointing on exterior of courthouse.
Additional information regarding the funding
details of the proposed sales tax referendum will also be presented. The much
needed repairs are now estimated to cost $2.840 million, which is an increase
over the $2.583 million originally quoted, but failed to achieve a majority vote
at the polls in April 2009.
According to Orion resident Jerry Meyer, “as a committee we are looking to this
issue as an opportunity to educate the public on the need for repairs to the
Courthouse. No one wants to approve a tax, but this will only cost the average
couple in Henry County less than $15 annually.”
Voters will be asked once again on the February 2, 2010 ballot to approve the
Public Facilities Sales Tax Referendum. Voting “yes” for a one-quarter percent
increase in the sales tax will provide the much needed funding to begin repair
and the restoration of the historic courthouse. The benefits to passing the
increase are many and the committee members feel that voters need to be
apprised of how it will affect them directly. The following points will be
outlined:
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The revenue raised by the sales tax is restricted to repairing the courthouse.
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A one-quarter percent increase only amounts to an additional 25 cents on each $100 of personal retail good purchased.
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Groceries, medical expenses, titled property items, farm equipment and production supplies, and items not sold at retail are exempt from the tax increase.
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Anyone who buys retail goods in Henry County, even people who do not live in the county, will pay the tax.
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There is a sunset provision on the increase that ends it in a 10-year period.
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If enough money is raised before the sunset limit, the County Board will repeal the increase. It is projected that a one-quarter percent increase in the sales tax should generate enough revenue to pay for the repairs in a 7 to 8 year period, allowing the County Board to repeal the increase 2 to 3 years before the sunset date.
-
If other monies become available for the repairs, the County Board will repeal the sales tax increase prior to the 10-year sunset period.
For more information, please call the Deputy County Administrator’s office at 309.937.3400.
The walls come
to life in the Henry County Courthouse
If the walls in the Henry County Courthouse could talk, they would tell you
about the trials and tribulations that the early settlers came to experience
over 175 years ago. The new artwork that now hangs in the Courthouse does just
that for the many people who pass through the hallways each day.
The assortment of framed paintings that outline the walls offer a glimpse of the
past and a voice of the future for life in the county. They also serve as a
reminder of the life and people who make up Henry County. The art represents
and embodies a true expression of the artists that have donated so much of their
time and talent for future visitors to enjoy.
The most recent addition by Bishop Hill Colony Potter Jeffrey Goard, is a 3-D
cone 10 functional (copper-matte) glaze stoneware platter that he designed in
his studio in Bishop Hill. At the request of Betty Murphy, chairperson of the
committee, Jeff designed and donated a piece that is similar to what he sells at
his studio. “I create functional pottery that people want and can use,” stated
Goard. He receives his inspiration from a great aunt who was an educator and
worked during the summer months doing pottery.
“I enjoyed watching her work and as I got older I emulated her work,” said Goard.
He became the new owner of the pottery shop in Bishop Hill on a chance meeting
four years ago during Memorial Day weekend. “I went to Bishop Hill with my
friend Rose, and during this visit learned that the current owner, Gail Hintze
was retiring.”
On the day of his stop over, he had a conversation with Ella Davidson and she
liked his work. “I began doing pottery during the Mid-Sommer and worked on the
wheel demonstrating and talking about the history and culture of the art,” Goard
said. He has owned and operated the pottery shop located inside the Prairie
Arts Center for three years at the present. The rest is now history for Goard.
“I believe it is a good fit here and I love art history and the utilitarian
society in Bishop Hill,” added Goard. He believes that people come to Bishop
Hill seeking history and culture and it is this experience that is so
important. Goard does not sell his pottery online, but instead prefers that
visitors view his work in the studio. According to Goard, “you can’t box up the
world and send it in the mail; people need to come to Bishop Hill for the fine
dining, culture, history and music.”
Goard’s stoneware piece now hangs on the main floor of this 128 year old
building. He joins 12 other area artists who have donated artwork including
oils and pastels. Their work is the structure and means by which people can
relate and understand the struggle and successes experienced by the people who
live and work in the county.
Articles submitted by: Deb VanDeWoestyne, Henry County Public Information Manager