[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6342740,"mediaKeyId","2253409-372502786a0253f035e7d4983d5813e1","parentId",2253409,"title","Board approves minutes, monthly reports and bills for multiple departments","audioSeconds",2024,"startMs",77000,"endMs",2101000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2253409-372502786a0253f035e7d4983d5813e1&start=77&end=2101","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2253409-372502786a0253f035e7d4983d5813e1/thumbnail_77000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6342740/LaSalle-County/Illinois/Board-approves-minutes-monthly-reports-and-bills-for-multiple-departments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342740-4580c8592ae596750b719fc489766e0f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771094040&Signature=hOPTzrG7L95MzLOnpfp7RZG98UxHdx3IY4UvsH1t3AHi804kEPMElm4YFupA7DeF-~grdbMmLjcdl7MTOFuCE82ZxdNHRcxXEssmlNk2o7IzS36ycrOXGpDbZKT07WT5ukC168p99LsVGeHaWdCxM1tdigrguMPRGhQ8dT8U~aeec6apuisigvPRCTsO0IcJSmaq9TIM2huD9zTS6NJpROnJLkmjxRppSm9UrvQ4rVfGepKDBDVhfMxdLha33NBrDIbhsDqRt7WC8xb2gVkhofU76Ia-AmJnwKxFSNja1pN~eopqIRb3tZKUv8xhh0xZt401kLg8UQaSbMBu-B6Gyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","LaSalle County, IL","date","2025-02-10T17:08:08.187Z","article","At the Feb. 10 LaSalle County oversight meeting, board members moved and approved routine administrative items across multiple departments.

Motions approved by voice vote included: ROE and school-services minutes; VAC and nursing-home minutes; acceptance of the LaSalle County School Health Services report (moved by Kathy Owens, seconded by Nancy Urich); acceptance of the VAC report; approval of bills for the VAC, nursing home, ROE and school services; and adjournment. A printed nursing‑home report was on file but the board deferred questions on that report until the next meeting and accepted the nursing‑home bills.

The meeting record contains multiple motions but no roll-call vote tallies were recorded in the transcript; approvals were confirmed by voice vote or by unanimous \"aye.\" The board chair directed that some items (such as a nursing-home report) be revisited at the next meeting when the absent member, Kathy Owens, could address questions in person.

Votes at a glance (motions reported in transcript):
- Approve ROE and school-services minutes — mover: Kathy Owens; second: Doug Stockley; outcome: approved by voice vote.
- Approve VAC and nursing-home minutes — mover: Doug Stockley; second: Kathy Owens; outcome: approved by voice vote.
- Accept LaSalle County School Health Services report — mover: Kathy Owens; second: Nancy Urich; outcome: approved by voice vote.
- Accept VAC report — mover: Nancy Urich; second: Ron Blue; outcome: approved by voice vote.
- Approve VAC bills — mover: Nancy Urich; second: Ron Blue; outcome: approved by voice vote.
- Approve nursing-home bills — mover: Doug Stockley; second: Nancy Urich; outcome: approved by voice vote.
- Approve ROE bills — mover: Kathy Owens; second: Nancy Urich; outcome: approved by voice vote.
- Approve school-service bills — mover: Kathy Owens; second: Nancy Urich; outcome: approved by voice vote.
- Motion to adjourn — mover: Kathy Owens; second: Doug Stockley; outcome: approved by voice vote.

No formal recorded roll-call tallies are present in the transcript; the article records mover/second where specified and records outcomes as presented.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Nursing Home, VAC, ROE and School Services/Healt Dept 2-10-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The LaSalle County meeting approved minutes for ROE/school services and VAC/nursing home, accepted department reports from school health and VAC, and approved multiple sets of bills; one nursing-home report was deferred for later approval.","taxTitle","LaSalle County, Illinois","taxId",59330,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6342745,"Veterans Assistance Commission cites large benefit payouts and warns of VA rating changes",702,1026000,1728000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2253409-372502786a0253f035e7d4983d5813e1&start=1026&end=1728","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2253409-372502786a0253f035e7d4983d5813e1/thumbnail_1026000.jpg","/articles/6342745/LaSalle-County/Illinois/Veterans-Assistance-Commission-cites-large-benefit-payouts-and-warns-of-VA-rating-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342745-439582c74477212afe84440bc5fbe77b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771094040&Signature=LQMS9AHXvPOU6B3tsFFwBqX4Kypd4ZSvIrJ3UvHv-pv5uwI0kdK-p38uWC-RLT5p3BjQ3uYxXQh75RWW3ahw12fzufdjOAcdRBNV92FoURAzKVLFi3eFbM5Hhfr6oMkByS0klz3KZEDRCiY5EkBEqMOQ~dTnbIHXqksZBzwW6TOADUddQnKe0F8YF5NURkWAw4MkucUV1if-nCy5xy0QvOMQKnWCN8z9YRfNcAEtMYYetA5ULRAmNw1uBVlqfWDJ2HWcUpWXeu53JEcUiUdR5rxNXRVbcazWaqT~Ec4QJMUA0T-PslMz2M7Ne77zlJUChDL5l5SBLZ8XmzHWcIgElQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Krista Hammer, representing the LaSalle County Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC), told the board that December and January outreach included holiday events at the veterans home, delegate-form updates and training for VAC board members.

Hammer described statewide VAC reporting that the 36 reporting county VACs brought in about $132 million in benefits for veterans and their families last year. She also recounted a local case in which a veteran received a retroactive award of more than $200,000 and an ongoing monthly benefit of about $4,000 after a multi-year appeals process.

Hammer summarized federal developments affecting veterans' claims. She said recently added presumptive conditions for Gulf War and post‑9/11 veterans — including several cancers and blood disorders — may allow service connection for qualifying veterans. She warned that proposed changes to VA rules could make it harder to receive ratings for sleep apnea and could remove tinnitus as a stand‑alone compensable condition unless coupled with bilateral hearing loss.

Hammer said VAC outreach includes weekly satellite office days in Mendota, Streator and Marseilles and twice-weekly service in Peru, and that the commission provides in‑office programming such as a free Native American flute group for veterans' mental-health support.

The commission's report was accepted by the board; a motion to approve the report was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote.","Krista Hammer summarized December outreach and year-end benefits for veterans, highlighted a six-figure retroactive VA award, and warned that pending VA rating-rule changes could affect tinnitus, sleep apnea and mental-health claims.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6342750,"School health services report: vision/hearing screenings, active-shooter drills and head‑lice follow-up",179,193000,372000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2253409-372502786a0253f035e7d4983d5813e1&start=193&end=372","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2253409-372502786a0253f035e7d4983d5813e1/thumbnail_193000.jpg","/articles/6342750/LaSalle-County/Illinois/School-health-services-report-visionhearing-screenings-active-shooter-drills-and-headlice-follow-up","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342750-a3e315374e9e2cfc3616f4ad3afeb3b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771094040&Signature=d7sSaQlkPuB0KGSpP9CHy2Co3VvtXLPqvDiAxrAj-YNvQHJ~EjfzqXVINOshqKkoff4NsTKUwBZQyqloduMBhFOV0HImAik8mFeZlpVxm7mDnv4gPVDmJ5WG4JeqRSidGYmrYbT5hEe8BinnDBxR8xMzSL7dC7kolhA~xWoCshCFZZn3NI7vFdz0l4u7-76fj8Iu-CykGZCsGai8NZ~-6DohMT9~5l8d125JYoIFm3-u~b~IAo0oDNJor99sBHb7e22N3F2H4qZUv-cy0o0X8uMZx4iuLInjliahKW8f26HG1AtZFUcM3ePxYzmUKHoxk6wfRMG3YhEGI~02lQSTXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carol Newer, who identified herself as representing LaSalle County School Health Services, described the unit as a three-person office (two registered nurses and an assistant) that supports schools without on-site nurses and provides supplemental help to other schools.

\"The main focus of our job is vision and hearing,\" Newer said, and she summarized that December and January activity was primarily vision and hearing screenings, with some rescheduling at schools and follow-up testing for students who failed or were borderline.

Newer said staff participated in county active-shooter training at the courthouse and have assisted with school lockdown drills. She also described post‑holiday head checks and a single school visit for a head-lice issue. For vision referrals that did not generate a response within six to eight weeks, her office sends another notice.

The board moved to accept Newer's report; the motion was made by Kathy Owens and seconded by Nancy Urich, and was approved by voice vote.

","LaSalle County school health services described vision and hearing screening work in December and January, participation in county active-shooter training and follow-up procedures for failed screenings and parent referrals.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6342755,"LaSalle County health department reports staffing gaps, Wedron water filtration costs and new vaccine contract",481,425000,906000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2253409-372502786a0253f035e7d4983d5813e1&start=425&end=906","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2253409-372502786a0253f035e7d4983d5813e1/thumbnail_425000.jpg","/articles/6342755/LaSalle-County/Illinois/LaSalle-County-health-department-reports-staffing-gaps-Wedron-water-filtration-costs-and-new-vaccine-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342755-71c7a553214b28f690d02392c60f6050/orig.mp4?Expires=1771094040&Signature=STvnuA8LrPIYCvhKzosomlsAn7og8uQC~-vaP4tqIMgpfJMy~DrefHIScjEsM1x99hif8mRhwb2kH~g2VNkvn3mqVG7jJqzvl6QUt9Yl0VAASrf8yssI0EXwUupNpns-ad8CSoe6QGZ8twIzI1ip~KCJpQOGvO5Slng1ul~zz53Tw4NxrO2FIbVnKPaJynxvT90D3QSw49ZyNFzRglgRsmkwDkbyzXcqzW7CGsx8ilZJIQiNsV67W4cmWG59mQ7Bju3fVtIxbUvWlOJYpryeLJhZzuj0W6niqsm9GClqSS2aOOo70uLXC7E9Nj6kSOxbQMh505xzsbvKNfEEOpwjkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chris Posey, administrator of the LaSalle County Health Department, told the LaSalle County oversight meeting on Feb. 10 that the department is operating with several vacancies and is dealing with a long-term water-contamination issue in Wedron.

\"We currently have 3 open public health positions,\" Posey said, adding that two openings are for public health nurses and one is for an environmental health practitioner. He said positions were posted on the county website and would be listed on Indeed.

The department raised a persistent contamination problem in Wedron, where some homes use whole-house filtration systems. Posey said the systems remove petroleum byproducts that can make tap water smell like kerosene. \"These are not normal water filtration systems. These are whole house water filtration systems that cost about $16,000 a year to replace,\" he said, and added that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) has paid to replace filters but that a permanent solution remains unsettled.

Posey also reported several operational changes intended to streamline county public health services. The department has started using DocuSign for digital signatures so standing orders and contracts can be signed electronically. The health department also entered an agreement with Vaxcare, under which Vaxcare buys vaccines and the county is paid an administration fee, removing the need for the department to purchase vaccines up front.

On infectious disease and safety guidance, Posey said the department is monitoring H5N1 activity and relayed state guidance for hunters and long-term care facilities. He referenced advice from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about thoroughly cooking game and avoiding raw milk; he also said the Illinois Department of Public Health issued reminders to nursing homes with outdoor water features about animal carcass handling.

Posey notified the board that Planned Parenthood will close in March, and that the health department provides overlapping services such as pregnancy testing and sexually transmitted infection testing. He said the department planned to expand STI testing and compile a list of alternative providers for clients.

The health department reported routine public outreach activity — posts on winter driving, radon test availability, cervical cancer awareness and food-safety guidance — and described a recent First Amendment audit at the health department that staff handled without incident.

No formal action was taken on the substantive items; the report was presented for oversight and informational purposes.

","County health administrator reported three open positions, ongoing water-contamination work in Wedron with expensive whole-house filtration systems, adoption of DocuSign and a Vaxcare agreement to reduce upfront vaccine costs, and noted Planned Parenthood closing in March.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves minutes, monthly reports and bills for multiple departments

Veterans Assistance Commission cites large benefit payouts and warns of VA rating changes

School health services report: vision/hearing screenings, active-shooter drills and head‑lice follow-up

LaSalle County health department reports staffing gaps, Wedron water filtration costs and new vaccine contract