Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Finance And Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Stephenson County Board approves OSPS lease, awards $5,000 in diversion grants
Summary
County board approved a lease assignment for the Office of State Pretrial Services after a name-change and awarded two use-diversion grants—$3,000 to a local counselor’s program and $2,000 to RAMP—subject to standard eligibility checks.
Stephenson County board members approved a lease assignment for the Office of State Pretrial Services and approved two use-diversion grants totaling $5,000 at a regular county meeting.
The lease assignment formalizes a name change: the Office of State Pretrial Services (OSPS) has separated administratively from the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) and will assume responsibility for the payment previously made by AOIC. "Essentially, it's simply a name change," said Doctor Radi, a probation department staff member, adding that the payment from OSPS "goes to the general fund, not to... probation service fees." The board voted to approve the lease; the motion passed.
The diversion fund awards included a $3,000 grant to Lamont Hale of Twin Cities Counseling Services LLC to pilot a weeklong cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program for adolescents, and a $2,000 award to RAMP for youth programming. Lamont Hale described the Twin Cities Counseling Services program as two five-day groups (ages roughly 12–14 and 15–17), each intended for up to 10 youth, teaching participants how "to stop and think before you react" and how behavior affects relationships. Hale said the project is scheduled for July and is partly funded by a Lutheran Foundation grant; he asked the board for $3,000 to cover materials, food and program costs for one year of programming centered on a one-week session.
Board members discussed eligibility rules for the diversion fund and asked staff to verify whether applicants must be nonprofit organizations under the fund's rules. The board approved Hale's $3,000 request with members directing staff to confirm eligibility and complete any required documentation before final disbursement. For RAMP's $2,000 award, staff noted the application reported serving participants up to age 22 but that the diversion program application guidance indicates served individuals must be under 18; staff will notify the awardee and clarify required age limits and reporting requirements.
Other routine business included approval of the meeting agenda, approval of minutes from the March 12, 2025 meeting and approval of claims totaling $361,206.57; each motion was approved by the board during the session.
Georgia, a county staff member, said she will contact both recipient agencies to arrange follow-up and to request the required final financial and program reports at the end of the fiscal year.
No public commenters spoke during the meeting and the board adjourned after the business was completed.
