SE Illinois News

White County Board met 7 p.m. Thursday, April 11. met Thursday, May 11.

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A special meeting of the White County Board begun and holden this 11th day of April, 2017 in

the White County Courthouse in the City of Carmi.

Chairman Dosher called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Clerk Dozier called the roll with McAnulty, Usery, Puckett, Trout and Dosher all present.

Mr. Trout led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Chairman Dosher asked the Board if they had received copies of the minutes of the previous

meeting and were there any additions, changes or deletions. Mr. Trout made a motion that the reading

of the minutes of the previous meeting be waived and that the minutes of the previous meeting be

approved as proposed in writing. Motion seconded by Usery. Motion passed 5-0 on roll call vote.

Chairman Dosher asked for a motion to approve the current bills. Mr. Usery made a motion to

approve the payment of all current bills. Motion seconded by McAnulty. Motion carried 5-0 on roll call

vote.

Mr. David Bachman, Foreman of the White County Highway Department stated that the railroad

crossing at Maunie would be closed for repairs from 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 12 until 8:00 a.m.

Friday April 14, 2017. Everyone will need to use the back roads in and out of Maunie until Friday.

Mrs. Pam Armstrong, Treasurer, gave an overview of the new and improved Board report that

her office had prepared for the month of March. She also had written a letter stating why some of the

funds increased or decreased more than $5,000.00. Mrs. Armstrong also stated that she had made a

decision to outsource the printing and mailing of tax bills. She stated that she could have that done

cheaper than her office staff could process the bills, because of additional payroll for part time

employees. Mrs. Armstrong stated that she believes that it is important for her to begin collecting tax

monies as quickly as possible because of the financial conditions of some of the School Districts and

other taxing districts. Mrs. Armstrong stated that next year she would also look into e-mailing tax bills

to individuals who are interested. She also reminded the Board her office has already implemented the

payment of taxes by credit card.

Mr. Adam Allen, Director of the Ambulance Service, stated that he had a profit of $47,925.70 for

the month of March. He stated he would like to praise Teresa Brock an EMT and his billing clerk for

hammering away at the bills and the deficit.

Mr. Puckett stated that the Sheriff was tied up on other business and was unable to attend but

he would be submitting his report to the Board tomorrow.

Mr. Puckett stated that 9-1-1 held their meeting last month and everything is going smoothly.

Mr. Chris Marsh, Coroner, stated that he had submitted his report in writing.

Mr. Ray Diel and Mr. Kevin Kern gave the Board an invitation to a regional information seminar.

Mr. Kern stated that it would be held on May 16, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. at Anthony’s Wild West Saloon in

Flora. The meeting will be for members of the Board to meet surrounding county board members and

to review county insurance coverage, work comp and risk management programs and employee health

care plans. Mr. Dosher stated that they all couldn’t attend because of breaking the rules on open

meetings. Mr. Dosher stated that Mr. McAnulty and Mr. Trout were on the Insurance Committee. Mr.

Diel and Mr. Kern also invited other elected officials to attend. Mr. Kern said he would like to praise

Paula Dozier and her office staff in getting information to them and helping them set up meetings with

employees to get signed up with the new coverage.

Chairman Dosher stated that he had received a letter from Mike Knight the Community

Service Coordinator in which Mr. Knight stated that he would be retiring on May 24, 2017. Mr. Dosher

read Mr. Knight’s letter to the Board. Mr. Dosher praised Mr. Knight for his continued efforts with the

community service program, from cleaning up after festivals, painting curbs, and cleaning up fields after

the tornado went through Crossville. Mr. Trout stated that most of the time Mike did as much work as

his crew members. Mr. Dosher also explained that the Community Service position is not a position that

the County Board could fill. Mr. Dosher explained to the Board that the community service position will

be filled by the White County Court System and the Probation Office.

Mr. Adam Allen, Director of the Ambulance Service, stated he would like to show the

Board the new advanced cots for ambulances. A representative from Stryker along with Chris James

gave a demonstration and gave a breakdown of the cost. The cost for two of the electronic cots would

be $101,000.00 and they would give the county 0 percent financing charge for the next three years. Mr.

Allen stated the Ambulance Service could go reduce to two man crews, saving $163,000.00 a year in

ambulance payroll. Mr. Allen also stated it would save the county monies in premiums for workmen’s

compensation, because most of the ambulance service injuries are from lifting. The discussion led to

patients becoming heavier and heavier and some of the difficult situations EMT’s find themselves in.

They could also use a chair system with tracks that would take people down the stairs and then move

them to the new electrical cots. Mr. Allen stated the workman’s compensation carrier also provides a

yearly grant of around $7,000.00 that could be used to defray the cost of the cots. Mr. Allen did state

that the grant monies are not guaranteed funds but the county has received them for the last several

years. Mr. Dosher asked the Ambulance Committee to keep working with the Director and crunching

numbers and maybe a decision could be made by summer.

Mr. Dosher stated he had made an error and that this item was supposed to be on the agenda prior to

the cot demonstration. Mr. Dosher then stated the Board needs to approve a resolution for the sale of

real estate to Mark Johnson through the County’s Trustee program. The parcels being sold are 13-14-

227-005 and 13-14-227-006. Mr. Trout made a motion to approve the resolutions of sale of real estate

through the Trustee’s program. Motion seconded by Usery. Motion carried 5-0 on roll call vote.

Mr. Chris Marsh stated that an individual in a local nursing home had no family and no power of

attorney or advance directive. He said the County Clerk’s Office and he did some investigative work and

by 4 o’clock last Friday we knew where the gentleman was born, lived and whom he was married to. He

stated that now plans can be made concerning his burial. He thanked the Clerk’s Office and stated that

with cooperation between the offices many problems can be solved.

Mr. McAnulty stated he thought the power load cot was a great piece of equipment and the

savings on payroll and work comp premiums should be taken into consideration. Mr. Marsh said he had

witnessed the ambulance service in action on several scenes. Mr. Marsh then stated the power load cot

would definitely be of benefit.

Chairman Dosher stated that the next meeting would be held on Tuesday, May, 9, 2017 at 7:00

p.m.

Mr. Puckett made a motion to adjourn seconded by Usery. Motion carried 5-0 on roll call vote

http://www.whitecounty-il.gov/Data/Sites/1/04-11-2017-board-meeting.pdf