[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6283837,"mediaKeyId","2585829-05f129115c1e38f4756e69833424f4c7","parentId",2585829,"title","Group seeks formation of Williamson County Veterans Assistance Commission under 330 ILCS 45/0.01","audioSeconds",697,"startMs",1747000,"endMs",2444000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2585829-05f129115c1e38f4756e69833424f4c7&start=1747&end=2444","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2585829-05f129115c1e38f4756e69833424f4c7/thumbnail_1747000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6283837/Williamson-County/Illinois/Group-seeks-formation-of-Williamson-County-Veterans-Assistance-Commission-under-330-ILCS-45001","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283837-23503030fe2c4616497c1b61c1cb7eeb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771133668&Signature=YpnEuAW2zIOuHfgX9XO7OOPziQVsWZJMhm0FJXjotUMliKY5~CXuixIEhzbvSsctjjwRapXjLGiohwcaazQEBJaRZAkeJHGCyW~pqDLMMxBoZ5uokze5mhgwwO9XgiFuBicqS65jV7LZVjaROl6qTfPq84a9kQ5wwQAyzMMPgHCS6op3qOjJTypWDJe0jjmnCyS6dopTHHdT2NWFV4QgyuO3YziNGqX~brKAc1X~jNApjJM30QtmhQ5lSLncBoEhw~Blx2zNXiBzCdpikUzoyDl6dOSOJ-7O9lfhlGmANRX91SErMJOc2tvnbxE412SOJIsoEHesKTL0n02nDu7-Aw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Williamson County, IL","date","2025-03-12T03:45:39Z","article","Tom Harness, who identified himself as interim president of the Williamson County Benefits Assistance Commission, asked commissioners to acknowledge formation of a Williamson County Veterans Assistance Commission and to begin the administrative steps necessary to receive county funds to assist veterans and their families.

Harness cited Illinois statutory authority and local bylaws in presenting the commission’s purpose. He referred to “330 ILCS 45/0.01” during his remarks and said the commission will provide immediate assistance to veterans for utilities, housing, food, gas and other needs as outlined in the group’s bylaws. Harness said the commission’s members include representatives of local veterans service organizations and that the group aims to begin operations at the start of 2026, if the county can help meet the formation timeline.

Commissioners and staff discussed levy and budget logistics, with one commissioner noting the process must align with the county’s timeline for levies and the treasurer’s office. Harness said the commission will prepare a budget for review and pledged to work with county staff on required audits and accountability; he also said office space may be available in county property recently purchased across the street from the courthouse.

During public comment, Liam Longivan, superintendent for the Franklin County Veterans Assistance Commission and a member of the Illinois Association of Veterans Assistance Commissions, urged formation and described the potential fiscal benefits of a well-run commission. Longivan said his commission has recorded a 28% return on investment in its first year and reported 23% year-to-date against budget for the current year; he told commissioners that Williamson County’s VAC could expect positive returns on federal benefits assistance within a few years.

Commissioners expressed support for the proposal and asked staff and the proponents to coordinate next steps, including budget preparation and timelines to conform with county levy rules. No formal vote to create the commission or to commit funding was recorded in the transcript; the discussion focused on acknowledging the group’s formation plans and coordinating administrative and budgetary work.

Harness and proponents said they will return with a proposed budget and supporting documentation. Commissioners asked the group to work with the treasurer and county legal staff to ensure statutory compliance and to meet levy deadlines if the group seeks a county levy for funding.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March11, 2025 Regular Board Mtg.","oneSentenceSummary","Tom Harness, representing a coalition of local veterans service organizations, asked the commissioners to acknowledge formation of a Williamson County Veterans Assistance Commission and to work with the county on budgeting and levy mechanics; public comment emphasized anticipated return on investment from increased federal benefits assistance.","taxTitle","Williamson County, Illinois","taxId",63574,"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},6283842,"IT vendor recommends migration to Microsoft cloud; mail-machine vendors present upgrade options",119,769000,888000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2585829-05f129115c1e38f4756e69833424f4c7&start=769&end=888","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2585829-05f129115c1e38f4756e69833424f4c7/thumbnail_769000.jpg","/articles/6283842/Williamson-County/Illinois/IT-vendor-recommends-migration-to-Microsoft-cloud-mail-machine-vendors-present-upgrade-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283842-07fbd88b85649b336c2a333c6e1b127a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771133668&Signature=afQ4xQI7qtxMYiS2P~rcydVAZ14CEv8cDqhXKRDiWI-k-JiwbjDc8CtCyxXZ3NActXqNyz62rRHdG05cwe9SeXc2-mv0tRteG2xPFXCLRZx1Bo~DViXvadmBnrKQ7g62uzZVpkMksR3aofP6Zb3OhwVpK93rp5NUhaMymAZhzCVidWEein3uA953tfH~vEALp6qi4Ky9ilFM43Hewnp1gf3vpsBH0~KNY3XMOGWRm1UkZT6FdhHvjmSKeptfyEBUgzM9a~h2g9ufPhm1-MsDOh7KZLbCETT9s6Kr-AxK56r1qFGCx0x8TBbdyN-sZkmXJy~-m7R5EBPgkldCxka1Sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County IT contractors briefed commissioners on the courthouse network and e-mail infrastructure during Tuesday’s meeting and recommended migration from the county’s on-premises Microsoft Exchange environment to Microsoft 365 as the current server approaches end of support.

An IT representative said Microsoft has delayed a new Exchange release and that the county’s in-house Exchange servers are approaching unsupported status, which will effectively force a migration. The consultant told the board some older Office licenses in the county are registered to e-mail accounts the county no longer controls, and those machines will need updated licensing as they are replaced. The vendor said security and litigation-hold features available through Microsoft 365 would remain available and that the vendor will assist with migration planning and budgeting; staff said they hope to include the project in next year’s budget cycle.

No formal action was taken. Commissioners asked for a budget timeline and additional details; staff and the vendor said they would return with cost estimates and a migration plan.

On a separate agenda item, two vendors presented proposals to replace or lease new mail-processing equipment used by county offices. Vernon Stevens of 7 Business Machines described a second-generation unit with updated software and carrier-billing integration that the vendor said would save the county on some larger or oddly sized postal items. Stevens said his firm would match the county’s existing pricing for commissioners’ accounts and highlighted an expected lifecycle of eight to nine years for the new equipment and an on-site service turnaround generally under four hours for reported malfunctions.

County staff said the courthouse sends the majority of mail and that some departments use different campus machines; the board asked for two weeks to review proposals and confirm whether to proceed under existing state procurement cooperatives. Commissioners did not vote on the mail-machine procurement at the meeting.","Fair Networks told commissioners the county's on-premises Exchange server will soon be unsupported and recommended migration to Microsoft 365; mail-machine vendors presented leasing and maintenance proposals and the board asked for two weeks to decide.",{"_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},6283847,"Commissioners approve highway salt agreement, buy 2025 SUV and award Skyline roundabout engineering",237,138000,375000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2585829-05f129115c1e38f4756e69833424f4c7&start=138&end=375","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2585829-05f129115c1e38f4756e69833424f4c7/thumbnail_138000.jpg","/articles/6283847/Williamson-County/Illinois/Commissioners-approve-highway-salt-agreement-buy-2025-SUV-and-award-Skyline-roundabout-engineering","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283847-012eded606de74206574c521b76567eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771133668&Signature=RPKyqfzZ0A5KiAw57xsHxhztezqobhh5De5U7~jnf6swVziz0nm9IOTR3dAJrzlFiw8e79tjv6J67NGLKbE486mNkJIx~oUltMXSggWqSbWIYbgtJWqtu0v7jf6m7WDNmmhaL4hCjsduf5zg-Tz28lbxJN4wzkVduz~FnYLDJ4p7EkgxjN3wyYX6HNGBd0TWYECDyUw27EndxCCRmLvbCC7QszePeybS2Wy9dodOsoSKqizhKflgp2IU2HyiVWzlJMzSaGt7QXDpvG0X58i-nQhD0X-drus-wfB1FqUeHHfWe-G4uDpMk60ljTwOmI5rpmuXIzkucX~OrT5BDIquMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Williamson County commissioners on Tuesday approved a package of highway department measures that included joining a central management purchasing agreement for road salt, authorizing purchase of a 2025 SUV for $34,766, and outsourcing construction engineering for the Skyline roundabout.

The county engineer told the board the central management system (CMS) agreement will allow the county to buy salt at a reduced price and that the vendor’s program “save[s] us approximately $20 a ton” compared with recent spot prices. The engineer said the department anticipates a need of roughly 500 tons but did not specify a final order quantity.

The CMS agreement was presented as a resolution during the highway department portion of the meeting. Commissioners moved and seconded approval and completed a roll call vote; named votes recorded during the roll call included Maxett, Jim Marlowe and Jim Raiser (the transcript records affirmative roll-call responses). The board approved the resolution to authorize entering agreements with the CMS program.

On a separate motion commissioners approved purchasing a 2025 SUV for the highway office at $34,766. The purchase was described during the highway agenda item as part of the department’s regular vehicle rotation. The motion passed on roll call.

The board also approved an engineering services agreement for the Skyline roundabout project. County staff said San Juan will begin work on April 1 and that the construction period is expected to run about three months in total; officials estimated the most significant traffic disruptions will last approximately two months once the contractor implements a full closure. Staff said crews will try to schedule the most disruptive work during low-traffic periods, including summer break, and that initial work in April will focus on staging, tree removal and preparatory dirt work before full closures.

Separately, the board approved a personnel motion to recognize Robin as the highway department’s office manager for the purposes of providing official meeting minutes and establishing the administrative sign-offs needed for financial access (QuickBooks). Staff explained the county’s financial vendor requires minutes designating an official office manager before granting platform access.

County staff said the salt agreement is intended to reduce per-ton costs seen during recent market volatility. Exact quantities to be purchased under the CMS contract and the procurement schedule were not finalized at the meeting; staff said they will provide follow-up details. The board did not attach a limit to the declared office-manager authority beyond the minutes-required access described by staff.

Next steps: staff will finalize quantity requests under the CMS program and proceed with the vehicle procurement and the Skyline contract per the approved motions. Commissioners asked staff to provide construction staging and traffic-control plans in advance of major closures.","Williamson County commissioners approved a central purchasing agreement for road salt, authorized purchase of a 2025 SUV for the highway department and approved an engineering services contract for the Skyline roundabout, with construction expected to begin April 1 and major closures lasting about two months.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Group seeks formation of Williamson County Veterans Assistance Commission under 330 ILCS 45/0.01

IT vendor recommends migration to Microsoft cloud; mail-machine vendors present upgrade options

Commissioners approve highway salt agreement, buy 2025 SUV and award Skyline roundabout engineering