[{"_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",6178229,"mediaKeyId","5242875-42ad3b35e6022f8de115c0e7ab5c6e5c","parentId",5242875,"title","Iroquois County seeks to convert per-diem animal-control staffing to regular posts, budget shows potential savings","audioSeconds",365,"startMs",8995430,"endMs",9361005,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5242875-42ad3b35e6022f8de115c0e7ab5c6e5c&start=8995&end=9361","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5242875-42ad3b35e6022f8de115c0e7ab5c6e5c/thumbnail_8995430.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6178229/Iroquois-County/Illinois/Iroquois-County-seeks-to-convert-per-diem-animal-control-staffing-to-regular-posts-budget-shows-potential-savings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178229-7b9e555fea47891db788bfd8a3f2ca4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174681&Signature=j6c3BfOpvpy3TKNA7Uf6vLZc9TBmXzMXdwtwp05ZOnH-5ZQePCRuIK~sz0Vx1ehBKiQ-SIWulMohzYuNPnAHnqx~S86vdMsTfSeggWXn8gyDBw~iIlwZX9Kyl6sVonVlS8SUfXW4efjZ~ELP-Xk2jkYpwIIdJHle3GhjGWo-oDDCeVWrjXc2g1JcQp5cUNTO4GkS8C1Cr2mnlOxp9va13nJqBzQDFLD~UUIcvj7EJBsgAkw0xR9EIWbMUCYhhw5zem4-wOLQJTy9Usl7x15u~-nYjvgk6tWIqhx8Thnx3K3YrLJL7y3C2xDu8i1-l4XGPTicT~kn18l~PG3QP1EW7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Iroquiois County, IL","date","2025-07-07T20:27:55Z","article","Jill Baldwin, who presented the animal-control budget at the June 24 finance meeting, asked the committee to approve a staffing change that would replace per-diem kennel workers with one full-time and one part-time employee and to create a separate veterinary expense line in the department budget.

Baldwin said the department now pays per-diem kennel workers roughly $55 per call and that shifting to scheduled hourly staff would improve oversight and likely reduce outlays. \"Paying them $55 for that, well, we could be paying them a base salary; paying them a base salary is gonna save us some money,\" she told the committee.

The proposed budget includes a department head salary (unchanged in principle) and a full-time warden at $18 per hour (about $37,000 annually) plus a part-time kennel worker budgeted at roughly $15.50 per hour for about 728 hours a year ($10,815 projected). The presentation separates \"animal care\" (supplies) and a new \"veterinary medical expense\" line, the latter proposed at $14,000 to cover vaccines, medication and emergency vet visits; Baldwin said the health committee is also considering contracting with a local veterinarian for those services.

Baldwin said the department plans to continue holding stray animals for 10 days as required, after which animals may be rehomed or euthanized; she noted adoption would reduce euthanasia and could provide modest revenue to help cover costs. She also told the committee that a restricted fund (Fund 460) must be spent on spay/neuter programs and that the department would look for state assistance or grant money to support recycling events and other one-off costs.

Baldwin asked the board to consider intergovernmental agreements so municipalities that rely on county animal-control services would contribute to call-out costs; she said such agreements had been used historically but are not in place now. The committee did not take a formal vote; Baldwin said she will deliver a duty list and follow up on potential vet-contract terms and on establishing clear policies for adoption and fostering.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","6-24-2025 Finance Budget Hearing","oneSentenceSummary","Animal-control administrators asked the Finance Committee to approve creating stable staff positions to replace per-diem workers, move veterinary expenses into a dedicated line, and explore revenue from adoption and spay/neuter programs.","taxTitle","Iroquois County, Illinois","taxId",67072,"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},6178234,"Public defender warns statewide FAIR Act could reshape county system; requests salary and staffing increases",1329,3064365,4393570,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5242875-42ad3b35e6022f8de115c0e7ab5c6e5c&start=3064&end=4393","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5242875-42ad3b35e6022f8de115c0e7ab5c6e5c/thumbnail_3064365.jpg","/articles/6178234/Iroquois-County/Illinois/Public-defender-warns-statewide-FAIR-Act-could-reshape-county-system-requests-salary-and-staffing-increases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178234-cb39a7adebe9ca5ddb027c3257109565/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174681&Signature=TxjtYrAXUXzVnumlWs0GekNRE9SGXX-iXAfxISXe8LA-O4OpUunniZEoo3d~2vaw3jHWTF1QeQjRxkxBDzEap8l3BPCRiSYUh0-ERyWYWctxuPgxVCw6BcZsUaAzxxOVxk6FrqTMHTNCeG97dDiEgTyMflr1oQ-ohxDQLZZlRT4690xRFUFQAtBUCx7c~rq0LKWaS45OLl1-BV6CXN63McXe~0YtoFJlVKhkOHRPCYs35b8AA6qNwJwSIvX~vkeLPqhnelvnYUnRVeIgIDlmQYukbwnTrcuN8TYTEacYDMIltbQ6HjBMBZvcoUa29OKSUJBJlnOuevZFsUroA-jO6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A county public defender (presenting at the June 24 finance hearing) told the Finance Committee that a newly passed state measure referred to in the meeting as the \"FAIR Act\" could significantly change how public defense is structured and funded in Illinois and urged the county to consider local salary and staffing proposals while awaiting clarity on state implementation.

The public defender described the office's current model: a mix of part-time and grant-funded attorneys, supplemental grant money used to hire a fourth attorney for juvenile court, and a small in-county PD office with shared resources. He said the FAIR Act, which the presenter said had passed both houses and awaited the governor's signature, establishes an Office of State Public Defender and includes provisions that could standardize salaries for public defenders at approximately 95 percent of the county state's attorney salary. \"It's gonna be 95% of the state's attorney's salary is. And I believe the state is going to either fund the differential or fund it in its entirety,\" the presenter said, adding that the law contains different rules depending on county population and that the effect on small counties (under 35,000 people) required clarification.

The public defender urged continued use of available state and federal grant funds that already support part of the office's staffing (including the public defender services grant he described as roughly $82,000 in recent years) and asked the county to consider a 20 percent raise request for himself and an assistant and cited the complexity and constitutional duties in high-profile felony and homicide cases the county currently faces.

He detailed how grant money has been used to add attorneys and fund investigators; he said the county's office provides the same level of work for public-defender clients as for privately represented clients, including thorough file review and expert follow-up when necessary. \"They are entitled to the same defense that millionaires are entitled to in terms of constitutional protections,\" he said.

No committee action was taken; the public defender asked only that the board consider the proposed salary adjustments and monitor the state law's final text and implementation schedule before changing the office structure.","The county's public defender outlined existing workloads, grant-funded positions and the possible effect of the Illinois FAIR Act, which passed both legislative chambers; he asked the county to consider raises and staffing changes while noting the law could alter funding and structure.",{"_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},6178239,"Iroquois County prosecutor outlines modest budget increase, grant funding and enforcement path for cluttered properties",641,853420,1494625,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5242875-42ad3b35e6022f8de115c0e7ab5c6e5c&start=853&end=1494","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5242875-42ad3b35e6022f8de115c0e7ab5c6e5c/thumbnail_853420.jpg","/articles/6178239/Iroquois-County/Illinois/Iroquois-County-prosecutor-outlines-modest-budget-increase-grant-funding-and-enforcement-path-for-cluttered-properties","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178239-fb10ddfda292528ca8fa6896bca59916/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174681&Signature=P529-PYxrkldZszvMEyzWtiNCBUGuyOT-I-Be0IsKjr5geue4uP0lUoL4hJPXxGvm0wq91WIrk~WlMWC34MClpfU9CbsVePSyYbVJ4hpnHgg67pF6Cl91~obPF6XUiyZ7Qp4XHHjbgG-o4dPRH4EGNDGAfS0h6gMlh8DahhuaYuGRo7JghSYJ1xPBEy0egs3jTPee2rJySIpWFJr1q6TXFUdsutt4R~4azHU20~DzuBbZgk6so9yN37wANEOoxlXxmcD5QYmqRRDo8Lqd5dj1qWPN0UVHzHumZChWmZaH5XxY9ZDCmyWkmekOUwRhhmc2wAIqIdSx9tijel7DEDHRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mike Quinlan, the county's state's attorney, presented his office's budget to the Finance Committee on June 24, saying the office sought a small increase largely tied to appellate-prosecutor membership and training but remained below neighboring counties' projected staffing costs.

Quinlan told the committee the single largest contributor to the modest increase was the county's contribution to the appellate prosecutor group, which moved to $12,000 and provides appellate representation and legal research not available in the county's limited Illinois-only Westlaw subscription. \"They not only do all of our appeals, but they're also a source of excellent advice,\" Quinlan said.

Quinlan discussed continuing legal education (CLE) rules and his office's approach to controlling travel and lodging costs: he and two assistants intend to complete required CLE hours online where possible rather than attend out-of-town seminars.

On grant-funded staff, Quinlan said one assistant's salary is supported by a grant administered through a regional partner and that the county has a victim-witness coordinator position (Britney) whose salary has been reimbursed through a federal pass-through grant; he said that grant is expected to be renewed for another three years. \"That grant will be renewed for another 3 years,\" he said.

The presentation included a lengthy discussion of long-running enforcement of cluttered and nuisance properties. Quinlan described the county's process: notice letters, civil complaints filed by outside counsel where necessary, and potential recovery of enforcement costs through judgments and liens on property. He quoted an experienced outside attorney's past fee estimate and gave a working figure for county budgeting: \"My understanding... the cost is $2,000 to ultimately get a property in compliance,\" he said, adding those costs are typically recoverable when a property is later sold.

Quinlan urged the county to weigh the decision to pursue enforcement against the up-front expense, noting the strategy of pursuing a few long-standing cases to signal the county intends to enforce property standards. He also said staff capacity limits how much the state's attorney's office can absorb without outside counsel, and he recommended close coordination between county leadership and outside counsel (George, the long-serving municipal attorney) when litigation is required.

No formal motion was made during the hearing; Quinlan's remarks were part of the annual departmental budget presentations and will inform the committee's appropriation decisions.","During the budget hearing, the county state's attorney described a small net increase driven by appellate-prosecutor contributions, explained how legal research and continuing education are funded, and discussed the cost and process for pursuing enforcement on long-standing cluttered-property cases.",{"_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},6178244,"Iroquois County health official says new emergency-notification contract will cut annual costs by about $5,000",553,34941,588845,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5242875-42ad3b35e6022f8de115c0e7ab5c6e5c&start=34&end=588","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5242875-42ad3b35e6022f8de115c0e7ab5c6e5c/thumbnail_34941.jpg","/articles/6178244/Iroquois-County/Illinois/Iroquois-County-health-official-says-new-emergency-notification-contract-will-cut-annual-costs-by-about-5000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178244-eefefdeebda97fcd90c153646e1a597b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174681&Signature=lMJigSkUZOqyRd1V1nR2qMnAABkqpKby3PkK8-WX54s7RhdIyGUH3PNIBwf-n0-1fMianKA4io11-SKioa17hUvvVhXKB6W8iPA3AZjNvJDXhbBvpqmR6cLle78cGfRWkQTKbOfr7mRhhRBK-XPu4NaUa~iNrKq3uBA5KFpJ1XSfnvZ5LFj3UqtlVnyNH9UfVvBkcY65HHKf1tx5~hUlp-V8ydLsLQYXc~tRyCm7SBw4GnIumwU0a~Rc2lm3Psj4dYqwocZykXUgFg7a~y05ppLVQ0zI68fCSXGvTg3SqEL7300Dp3fnbjXvgNYd~t4FdZ7P4KUbUQStuz2qqan68g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Stray Anderson, an Iroquois County health department official, told the Finance Committee on June 24 that the county can save roughly $5,000 a year by switching its emergency-notification service to a vendor that recently signed a state contract.

Anderson said his department asked for a smaller budget than last year after negotiating with two vendors. \"This year, I was able to secure a much lower request because I signed a contract with a new third-party supplier, which was HyperReach,\" he said, later noting the new vendor offered a one-third price of the prior vendor's near-$7,500 annual fee. \"They came in with a number that was a third of what they were.\" Anderson said the new company agreed to a $2,500 annual price and to defer billing until May 1 of the next year so the county can run both services in parallel.

The cost change came up during the department's budget presentation as Anderson detailed why his overall request is smaller this year than last. He said the vendor also agreed to a 3 percent annual increase written into the contract and that the vendor corrected the contract language to include a no-increase clause effective until 2030 after an immediate email exchange.

The discussion also covered the county's weather-station coverage. A county board member asked whether the single device, located in the county seat area, provides adequate information for southwestern Iroquois County. Anderson said the station supplies current, not predictive, measurements (temperature, wind speed/direction, relative humidity) and that the county relies on nearby sources such as the Kankakee airport or University of Illinois when additional data are needed. \"If I had a fire department with an incident somewhere in Iroquois County, they wanted to know what the current temperature, wind speed, direction, relative humidity. Those things are pertinent,\" Anderson said.

Committee members suggested alternatives to broaden coverage, including sharing data with neighboring emergency-management agencies and exploring private sponsorships (for example, renewable-energy firms providing solar power and Wi-Fi to remote stations). Anderson said he will check whether other county EMAs can share data and that he will explore sponsorship requests to private landowners or companies when the county meets renewable-energy developers.

No formal action or vote on the notification contract was taken at the meeting; Anderson presented the budget and described the vendor switch and operational details for the committee to consider when the board finalizes appropriations.

The county will continue receiving the existing HyperReach service until the current contract expires April 30 of next year while the new vendor allows free integration and deferred billing through the transition period.","During the June 24 finance meeting, a county health department official outlined savings from switching emergency-notification vendors and discussed limitations of the county's single weather station and options to improve coverage.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Iroquois County seeks to convert per-diem animal-control staffing to regular posts, budget shows potential savings

Public defender warns statewide FAIR Act could reshape county system; requests salary and staffing increases

Iroquois County prosecutor outlines modest budget increase, grant funding and enforcement path for cluttered properties

Iroquois County health official says new emergency-notification contract will cut annual costs by about $5,000