[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6381864,"mediaKeyId","2127827-854fba1f1b3b59bf7d1d0160ea303812","parentId",2127827,"title","Board action roundup: contracts, purchases and appointments approved","audioSeconds",6418,"startMs",742000,"endMs",7160000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2127827-854fba1f1b3b59bf7d1d0160ea303812&start=742&end=7160","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2127827-854fba1f1b3b59bf7d1d0160ea303812/thumbnail_742000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6381864/Stephenson-County/Illinois/Board-action-roundup-contracts-purchases-and-appointments-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381864-4c3c2d3dce5c36ea779044960774ef31/orig.mp4?Expires=1775142814&Signature=AOpg-Ymu-NVVGBrTLPDhZ22FrHDgiLkTfWnM-HBntx-7YuSCFp6aZ3jTJhx1jffWvMKP6FFwlH2oiW6aPEOw4x7UXFPUKl5X3XZ54pjyQ4PlF45qnwBgZAHlQ6tQaujPmHkwDWlYHK8hdSlpGbS~L4UuruCjAEG400R9khjkXJzm2gIfPZSzizY65oHJ~KAEvXWI3SGdoeRsmfSgSJA6X9ndlAwXO8a7CY5PunJkwVWSQ0ngOMQ4PGoJh-7r~eAiHUG4D6CyO8KAxdtNNKNiWOPl0zLxaJRcIDujyrSNRvM2nyqQ4al4U41Kaz2054tmlKDKapgrNAY4cOGRfcMwUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Stephenson County, IL","date","2025-01-17T02:40:29Z","article","Stephenson County Board members approved a slate of consent and action items, including purchases, personnel agreements and property transfers. Below are the primary decisions recorded during the meeting, followed by brief context and vote tallies where the transcript records them.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (items A, B and D): Approved by roll call (15 Aye, motion carries). Item C was removed for separate consideration.

- Consent item C (guardrail replacement grant): Approved by roll call (15 Aye, 0 Nay). The county engineer described a Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant for guardrail improvements; the grant pays up to $1,000,000 and the county share was described as about $111,000. The engineer said the HSIP maximum for guardrail improvements is $1,000,000 per year.

- Approval of vehicles for Sheriff's Department: Payment of $200,540.80 approved (14 Aye, 1 Nay). The board stated the expense was budgeted last year and this vote authorizes paying the invoice.

- Increase in employee basic life insurance benefit from $10,000 to $15,000: Approved (unanimous in voice roll; clerk recorded motion carried). County staff estimated the additional cost at less than $1.50 per month per employee (approx. $150/month total), to be absorbed by current budgets.

- Sale of two surplus properties: Approved (voice vote, motion carries). The resolution listed a sale amount described in the packet as \"16.70 plus recorder fee $170\" (transcript wording ambiguous); the board approved the sale as presented.

- Resolution authorizing the advance payment from the Nursing Facility Real Estate Tax Levy (tax anticipation): Approved by roll call (15 Aye, 0 Nay). The resolution authorizes moving up to $425,000 from the levy earlier than the normal July payment to cover outstanding nursing-facility billings.

- Approval of appointment slate (three appointments): Approved (voice vote, motion carries). Appointments approved: Todd McKenna to the 708 Board; Dale Diddens to the JA and AMS Trail Commission; Brett Anderson to the Lena Fire District.

- Approval of employment agreement for the nursing-home administrator (Mr. Perez): Approved by voice vote (motion carries). The board congratulated Marcos Perez on joining the team.

- Approval of agreement with TCM (Transitional Care Management) for nursing-home billing/management assistance: Approved by roll call (15 Aye, 0 Nay). The board approved continuation of TCM services per motion and roll call.

- Finance committee: Authorized a $40,000 payment for Quikit solutions software to streamline officer ticketing and squad reporting: Approved (voice vote, motion carries).

- Transfer of county-owned parcels at 431 and 437 South Adams to the City of Freeport: Approved (voice vote, motion carries). Planning staff described a conceptual mixed‑use redevelopment plan for the block and recommended consolidating county-held parcels under city control for future RFP development.

- Meeting date change for February: Approved (court services committee) — the February meeting moved from Feb. 12 to Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m.

Context and notable discussion

Several items drew board discussion beyond the roll call. The guardrail grant prompted questions about the county’s broader guardrail needs and prior HSIP submittals. The finance committee’s selection of a billing vendor for the nursing home (MatrixCare) drew sustained debate about local-vendor preference versus integration with the county’s existing MatrixCare electronic health record; that decision is covered in a separate article.

Ending

Clerk-recorded roll calls and voice votes were used across items; when dollar amounts or other specifics were not spelled out in the transcript, the board packet or the clerks’ office should be consulted for exact contract language and sale figures.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Stephenson County Board Meeting - 1/16/25","oneSentenceSummary","Stephenson County Board approved consent items, several finance committee actions, two nursing-home items, committee appointments and property transfers during the meeting; roll-call tallies were recorded for each vote.","taxTitle","Stephenson County, Illinois","taxId",64464,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6381868,"Greater Freeport Partnership reports business-retention wins, workforce outreach and new leads",0,5273000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2127827-854fba1f1b3b59bf7d1d0160ea303812&start=5273&end=5273","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2127827-854fba1f1b3b59bf7d1d0160ea303812/thumbnail_5273000.jpg","/articles/6381868/Stephenson-County/Illinois/Greater-Freeport-Partnership-reports-business-retention-wins-workforce-outreach-and-new-leads","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381868-7cadab2770fe4807e774b0cc8fdf8513/orig.mp4?Expires=1775142814&Signature=j9gSW-obSnO~5IvEyuG9Db5GQI-W9IOa0KZ-B~WTIz9qR9WJZOUrqP5usl31iGkjpRmfLS3NNILxmYqcx4SjmWuSsWKnPLFNmiuO4A4FVdZVyLxsyMZiUB9IYYW-HkOYAtZspY~bsXrhPDH7vu3GzCjdklUqXFOIfZWxTaxcOzfAqsUAXS80smU9MCKxN9kMwYbaqywEqz6ym1pmFgVlFgbqnxavNAUBavydx6vjd9eaCvEuyvMEnpmlXxe-YWniON~HhjOUfeNHncK0RQFcxSi8jRC5gEB6Ir3ofZyW7uWsSLr8YLENzk7Bu-qD6fpdI0WPyuPnb2MBV6DEJLRF7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Greater Freeport Partnership (GFP) presented its fourth-quarter report to the Stephenson County Board, highlighting business-retention activity, workforce outreach, tourism promotion and a string of new business leads.

Andrea Schultz Winter and Nicole Hess, representing GFP, told the board that a countywide business survey showed 84% of respondents reported their companies were stable or expanding. They said GFP completed 18 business-retention visits, helped 11 entrepreneurs and brought 14 new commercial leads into the office in Q4, including an announced local manufacturer expansion and a new manufacturer, RVL Metals, planning to collocate with an existing firm.

\"An existing ag manufacturer publicly announced a partnership to revolutionize ethanol production by capturing and converting CO2,\" Schultz Winter said, adding enterprise‑zone benefits were being used in that project. The presentation also cited a startup and business-support pipeline, marketing projects such as a 12‑month printed calendar (800 copies printed with advertiser support) and the annual Pretzel City Brewfest, which GFP said drew a majority of tickets from more than 30 miles away.

The partnership described workforce-development efforts including Manufacturing Day, a Freeport High School and Highland Community College job and career fair and an Ag Expo that seek to connect students with employers. GFP said connections made with Goodwill Industries and CJA grant funding had expanded the Yield program to include alternative energy and basic electrical construction training.

Board members raised questions about tourism occupancy levels and short-term strategies to increase hotel stays for Q1. \"What are your plans to make sure in Q1 this year we're going to exceed those numbers?\" asked County Board member (and former committee member) who pressed for a 10% increase over last year. GFP responded that much event and travel planning occurs several months in advance; the partnership said it is targeting group tours, conferences and potential new hotel development to expand capacity in the medium term.

Board members also asked about the Illinois Work Share program, which GFP described as an Illinois Department of Employment Security option that allows employers to reduce hours while paying employees a portion of wages through unemployment funds to avoid layoffs. \"It keeps the people on the payroll,\" the presenter said.

GFP also reported progress on membership (about 400 members, including courtesy/nonprofit members), retention rates (96.7% in Q4; 97.5% annual retention) and a continued push to market downtown events and holiday shopping. The board asked GFP to follow up with more concrete short-term occupancy plans and to meet with interested board members to provide detailed ideas.

Ending

Board members praised the presentation and pressed GFP for quarterly follow-up with specific, short-term strategies to raise occupancy and capture more state occupancy taxes to support tourism promotion.","The Greater Freeport Partnership told the Stephenson County Board it recorded business-retention visits, new leads and tourism engagement in the fourth quarter and outlined workforce development and marketing efforts to boost local occupancy and jobs.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6381874,"County board approves MatrixCare for nursing-home billing after fee negotiation",1991,4814000,6805000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2127827-854fba1f1b3b59bf7d1d0160ea303812&start=4814&end=6805","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2127827-854fba1f1b3b59bf7d1d0160ea303812/thumbnail_4814000.jpg","/articles/6381874/Stephenson-County/Illinois/County-board-approves-MatrixCare-for-nursing-home-billing-after-fee-negotiation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381874-79d41292f68de5e8ea914223f7f4583e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775142814&Signature=ZH7wMq~Uvio9y6~kcEWxjSusAZt026B4flfFCsV2Uyjb71SM9qS1nDewOKZBpAPmvwcUEBil2bOKf04eXPDWNIfMwyTUVoXJhDJl8-uzYT2ZMW-MUlhlSjAJTvB6yit4VQszMtXr6Wxopxvvckux7Pl6wTYFSEoAFyGLi72asvj4HJy9bauWr7gudREf9k8KEye~gvn~rEdx2CPEfeeopU~2bvcFzqTkjhcGaUt1e3IOr3gfz5I2wyLBlDJk8LKwDxyp4BHUN6HtmsiZAQ6a4M3pJsuniEKLMWkmAWeXmTaHaH5~vhgr9-rImYBiZDrD8iUhcK2kJEGq7kx6HB8VkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Stephenson County Board voted 12-3 to hire MatrixCare to provide billing and financial-management services for the Stevenson County Nursing Center, approving a one‑year arrangement that lowers the vendor fee to 3.65% for that trial period.

The decision follows a multi-hour finance committee review and presentations from two bidders: Malaysia Hayward of Hayward Financial Group and Laurie Norseth and Christy Brown representing MatrixCare and its revenue-cycle partner Quality Healthcare. \"We do have that insight into the billing, the back office piece, on collections,\" Laurie Norseth said, describing an accounts-receivable assessment pulled from the facility's existing MatrixCare electronic health-record system.

Board members debated cost, local preference and experience. Malaysia Hayward emphasized local accountability: \"We are right here. We are transparent. We can be held accountable,\" she said, noting her firm’s proximity to the county. MatrixCare officials described an AR cleanup and ongoing collections process and said they could show data from other facilities. Christy Brown told the board that claims older than timely-filing windows require case-by-case review: \"Things that are in your 365 days, those are the things that I can't give you good answers for\" until they've been investigated.

Board members pressed on price, minimum monthly payments and expected results. Finance chair Tim Whelan and others said the county currently pays roughly 5% to its vendor and wanted savings. Several board members urged giving a local vendor a chance, but other members said integration with the county’s existing MatrixCare records and the vendor’s AR-cleanup offer argued for MatrixCare.

The board approved an amendment reducing MatrixCare’s fee from the originally proposed 4.65% to 3.65% for one year; the amendment passed 14-1. The board then approved the contract on the main motion by a 12-3 margin. The amended deal also lowers the monthly minimum payment to roughly $13,500 (board members discussed a rounded estimate; the exact monthly minimum to be reflected in the final contract paperwork).

MatrixCare representatives told the board the county’s AR over 365 days must be reviewed for collectible items; they estimated that, across the facility, the >365-day bucket is substantial and will require detailed cleanup work. Norseth said the company’s historical net-collection rate across clients averages about 98% but that achieving strong results requires coordinated work between the vendor and the facility: \"I can't get you to 98% if we don't have good admission processes,\" she said.

County Administrator Marcos Perez, newly appointed nursing-home administrator, told the board he had reviewed the proposals and discussed them with board members and staff, and that he believed the county would get the services it needs from the selected vendor.

The board’s packet included a MatrixCare AR assessment and an AR-cleanup offer that the vendor said would target current aging accounts and unbilled claims prior to January 2025. Several board members said the vendor agreed to consider a lower fee and to reduce the monthly minimum for the one-year trial.

The board directed staff to finalize contract language reflecting the one-year 3.65% fee and to bring the final agreement back for signature and implementation steps. The county will then proceed with the AR cleanup and onboarding work described by MatrixCare.

Ending

Board members who opposed the MatrixCare motion said they preferred the local proposer or wanted a longer record of local experience before committing county revenue. Supporters said the vendor’s integration with the county’s existing records and the AR-cleanup offering represented a practical path to restore billing stability and recover receivables.","After a debate between a local proposer and a national vendor, the Stephenson County Board voted to contract MatrixCare for billing and financial-management services for the county nursing center under a one-year trial at a reduced fee.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board action roundup: contracts, purchases and appointments approved

Greater Freeport Partnership reports business-retention wins, workforce outreach and new leads

County board approves MatrixCare for nursing-home billing after fee negotiation