Board formalizes benefits and cost-sharing for new 911 systems manager

The DeWitt County Board approved a benefit policy for the county’s 9‑1‑1 systems manager/CENTCOM supervisor and an intergovernmental agreement that apportions salary and benefit costs among the Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB), the Centcom board and the county.

The benefit policy makes the position an employee for county benefits purposes and clarifies co‑employer reporting: the sheriff’s office and the county will serve as co‑employers. County presenters explained the ETSB lacks an employer identification number and therefore cannot directly employ staff or offer county benefits; the arrangement allows the county to provide benefits while ETSB reimburses the county for costs.

The intergovernmental cost-distribution agreement assigns 80% of salary and benefits to the ETSB and divides the remainder among CENTCOM participants by population: the city of Clinton is to pay 44% of the CENTCOM share, the county 44% and the city of Farmer City 12%. The transcript records that ETSB will reimburse 100% of the employee’s individual health-insurance premium to the county annually.

The board also confirmed the appointment of Karen Clevenger (identified in the meeting as the hire) to the role; the board said she has nearly 30 years of telecommunications supervision experience.

Why it matters: the formal arrangement clarifies reporting lines and payment responsibilities for a position that serves countywide emergency-communications operations and ensures the employee will have county benefits while preserving the funding split among participating entities.

What’s next: ETSB and CENTCOM will reimburse the county per the agreement; staff to implement payroll and benefits enrollment under the county and to monitor reimbursement annually.