The Christian County Board heard a report from Rick Cornell, director of Illinois Outreach for Clean Line Grain Belt Express project. The project is earmarked to build a 750 mile transmission line from Kansas to Indiana for the purpose of moving 3500 megawatts of electricity. This amount of electricity would provide power to 1.4 million homes per year. The total project investment is approximately 2 billion dollars or 2 million dollars per lineal mile. Mr. Cornell pointed out that the proposed line is projected to cut across either southern Christian County or northern Montgomery County. Some of the pluses include the use of local venders for materials, transport and some labor. The company has also agreed to pay the county the amount of $7000 per linear mile per year with a minimum of 20 years. There will be a public meeting for the purpose of discussing the possible land owners that could be affected and the compensation packages that will be offered. This meeting will be held in Pana at the Eagles on December 3, 2014 from 5 to 8 pm.
The board members also continued a long running discussion on the fate of Public Transportation program in Christian County. The county stands to lose a $325,000 reimbursable grant if they don't file the proper paper work by the end of the year. Between the county and the Senior Citizens of Christian County, they have had 2 years to get the proper paperwork filed. It was moved, seconded and approved to have Chairman Schmitz contact CEFS for guidance on what needs to be done. It was agreed by all that public transportation is sorely needed in Christian County and to lose the grant would be the death of the program.
Outgoing County Clerk, Linda Curtin reported that there would be testing at the Christian County Courthouse on December 11, 2014 at 10 am for the purpose of filling the Supervisor of Assessment position that is being vacated by the resignation of Mike Gianasi. The test is just one of the necessary requirements that must be met in order to be considered for the position.
Delbra Pratt, chairwoman of the "In God We Trust" Put It Up committee, was on hand and presented the board with a framed poster with the National Motto, "In God We Trust". She stated they are a grass roots effort to get all buildings in the county to display the motto per House Resolution 13 that approves and encourages the display of the motto.
The board said farewell to 4 board members, Dick Breckenridge, Dave Reed, Greg Hager and Joe Marley. They were presented with Certificates of Appreciation. County Clerk Linda Curtin was also honored for her many years of service and was presented a certificate as well as a commemorative key.
