Shelby County Board Chairman, George Frazier was absent from the board meeting held Wednesday morning. Vice chairman Floyd Storm ran the meeting.

In the first item of business, Paul Brooks was sworn in as the board representative from the District 10. Brooks will fill the unexpired term of Lloyd Spencer who resigned due to health reasons. Brooks is retired from the Secretary of State’s Office. He is married to Kay and lives at 708 N. Morgan, Shelbyville.

The Board went into closed executive session midway through the meeting to discuss compensation for board members and elected officials. The board had approved a pay increase of $3,580 for the Supervisor of Assessments, Diana Clagg and the Circuit Clerk, Susan Arthur back in the March meeting. That raise would take those two elected officials salaries to $52,580. The coroner’s salary went to $25,290 from $24,000 or an increase of $1,290. The coroner’s position is not considered full-time. This issue was revisited because Chairman Frazier had sent a letter to board members asking that they reconsider and give what has been a standard raise in the past for elected officials of $5,000.

The final vote on this issue was close with 12 members voting to keep the increase the same and 8 members voting to raise the increase.

“I really have mixed emotions about this issue because we have to negotiate with the union this summer and if the union asks for the same increase as they have in the past, the employees would be getting bigger salary increases than the elected officials,” said Frazier. “I feel we should keep the elected officials in line with the employees.”

In other actions the board approved a request from Freddie Fry, Tourism Director to place story boards depicting Lincoln’s history in Shelbyville on courthouse grounds. Fry told the board she was not asking for money as the boards have been paid for by grants. This was approved.

The board heard a presentation from Josh Shallenberger, Chief Operating Officer for Shelby Electric Cooperative. Shallenberger asked permission for the cooperative to install a wireless Internet transmitter on the roof of the courthouse.

“This piece of equipment would allow us to give wireless access to the Internet for anybody in the downtown district,” Shallenberger told the board.

This was approved.

Linda Mitchell, CEFS Program Director asked the board to approve a procedural resolution for the Downstate Public Transportation Act. That was approved.

Linda Hubbartt, Executive Director of Shelby County Community Services asked the board to approve a resolution of support for that agency to replace two vehicles. That was approved.

Shelby County Clerk and Recorder, Kathy Lantz informed the board the price of marriage licenses in Shelby County would be increased by $5. Lantz explained the increase was necessitated by the State of Illinois to be used in the Married Families Domestic Violence Fund. Marriage licenses will be increased from $20 to $25 effective June 1, 2008.

Lantz also asked the board to approve changing the polling place in Lakewood Township. That polling place will now be located in the United Methodist Church instead of the township building.

Next the board heard the Highway Report from the County Engineer, Alan Spesard. Spesard asked the board to approve the engineering design on a closed bridge located in Prairie Township. That was approved. Spesard also asked the board to approve design on a bridge that was closed in Shelbyville Township. This was also approved.

Spesard informed the board that the highway commissioners conference would be held Friday, May 16. He said he and his staff would be receiving CPR Training. Finally Spesard informed the board his department would be inspecting the Findlay bridge and the inspection would require underwater inspections and the Shelby County Rescue Squad and Dive Team had volunteered to help with that project.