Jasper County Illinois Board January 12,2017
The Jasper County Board met in regular session on Thursday, January 12. The
meeting was held in the Board Room, Jasper County Office Building in Newton.
Members present were Michl, Fehrenbacher, Kerner, Leffler, Heltsley, Weddell,
Swick, Hall, Warfel, Hickox and Pickens. Smithenry was absent. The meeting was
called to order by proclamation according to law by Sheriff Britton. The Board
observed a moment of silence. Britton led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Chairman Heltsley asked for Public Comments. There were none.
Kerner moved to approve the agenda. Swick seconded the motion. The motion
carried on a voice vote.
Committee Reports:
The Road and Bridge Committee met on January 6. The committee is
recommending Ben Bland be hired as acting County Highway Engineer for 100 days.
The rate of pay will be $2,000 per month. No IMRF will be paid on this salary. Ben
is the Cumberland County Highway Engineer. The rock and pipe letting will be held
on January 27. There was no Solid Waste meeting.
The Sheriff's Committee met on December 28. Alex Wagner changed positions and
is now a full time corrections officer. The Sheriff has hired two part time dispatchers.
The Dispatcher training will start this month. The new squad car and light bar has
been ordered. The Sheriff purchased new cell phones for all cars at a cost of
$3947.16 per year. The new union contract will increase the salary line $27,398.00
per year. New safety vests for the department will be partially paid for by a grant.
The remaining balance will come from court fees and donations. The new rate of
pay for the Court Security Officers will be $12.00 per hour.
The Finance Committee met on January 9. Treasurer Bigard gave his monthly
report. Theresa Zuber with the Peoples State Bank appeared before the committee
concerning the securities pledge for monies deposited in the Peoples bank. The
board will increase the Sheriff's Budget on March 1. Theresa Zuber appeared
before the full board and discussed the securities pledged as collateral for funds
deposited above the FDIC limit of $250,000. The bank will be use letters of credit
with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. If the Peoples State Bank would fail,
the County monies would be wired to the County immediately. The highest amount
the county had deposited in 2016 was $9 million, so the bank is proposing $10
million with temporary securities if the funds would temporarily increase. There is
less paper work with this process.
The Building Committee met on January 5. McClure's Masonry bid $5,580 to tuck
point the front columns at the jail with the work to be completed in the spring. The
floor in the dispatch area needs tiles replaced. The contractor at the Courthouse will
have to install electric heat in the lobby due to the walls being too thick to drill
through. The Ambulance Department will advertise for bids to do concrete work in
the parking lot. The East wall in the Supervisor of Assessments office has no
insulation and is very cold. The clerks are needing to use electric heaters. Woods
was directed to get bids to insulate and expand the wall. The dehumidifier in the
basement of the County Office Building will be replaced.
The Ambulance Committee met on January 4. The department is looking to replace
their laptops. The ABC360 Conference will be April 12 and 13 in St. Louis.
The EMA Committee met January 12 at 6 pm. It was attended by Ed Francis, Doug
Long, Mark Bolander and David Brown. The EMA office has moved from the jail to
City Hall. The trailer and ERV are now parked in the lower part of City Hall. The
volunteers radios are in need of new batteries. The batteries will be purchased with
a court ordered fine, which is now paid in full.
The Animal Control report is in the board packet.
JEDI met on January 10. They held the annual election of officers and approved the
annual budget. The annual CEO event will be held on January 15.
The Health Department report is in the board packet.
For the Treasurer's report, Bigard addressed the bank securities issue. Other banks
in the county are also interested in this change. The new accounting and payroll
software will be installed beginning next week. Sales tax averages for the past few
years was discussed. There was three pay periods in the month of December,
making the expenditures seem higher than normal.
Leffler moved to approve the County Clerk's monthly report. Kerner seconded the
motion. The motion carried on a voice vote.
There was no old business.
Hickox moved to approve the bid for tuck pointing the pillars at the County Jail at a
cost of $5850. Leffler seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Swick moved to approve the appointment of Doug Weddell to the 911 board. Hall
seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Leffler moved to approve the appointment of Mike Hall to a three year term on the
Board of Health. Hickox seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Swick moved to appoint Angela Fehrenbacher to a one year term on the Board of
Health. Pickens seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Hickox moved to approve the appointment of Weddell to the JED I board. Kerner
seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Fehrenbacher moved to approve the amendment ofthe Sheriffs budget to add
$27,398 to his salary line effective March 1,2017. Warfel seconded the motion. The
motion carried on a roll call vote with all eleven members present voting yes.
Smithenry was absent.
Kerner moved to approve the minutes. Weddell seconded the motion. The motion
carried on a voice vote.
Chairman's Comments:
The R. O. E. Annual report is available to the board. In the board packet there is a
proposed document for possible County Board rules. The board is directed to look
that over and it will be discussed later. The board discussed an email bank for the
County Board members.
Swick moved to enter closed session at 7:45 pm. Hall seconded the motion. The
motion carried on a roll call vote with all eleven members present. Smithenry was
absent.
The board entered open session at 8:35 pm.
Leffler moved to appoint Ben Bland as acting County Highway Engineer at the pay
rate of $2,000 per month, with no IMRF paid on that salary, $300 per month truck
expense and $50 per month cell phone expense, effective upon IDOT approval.
Kerner seconded the motion. The motion carried on a roll call vote with all eleven
members present voting yes. Smithenry was absent.
Swick moved to allow the claims. Hall seconded the motion. The motion carried on a
voice vote.
Weddell updated the board on the Chamber of Commerce open house at the new
incubator office space.
Leffler moved to adjourn at 8:45 pm. Kerner seconded the motion. The motion
carried on a voice vote.
Linda Huth, Jasper County Clerk