Effingham County board approves handbook changes, modifies opioid request and accepts FOP proposals after closed session

The Effingham County Board met in regular session and voted on several administrative and personnel items, approving a modification to an Our House opioid grant request, adopting changes to bereavement leave in the county employee handbook, and accepting labor proposals from the Fraternal Order of Police after returning from closed session.

The board moved through the consent agenda, approving routine minutes, monthly reports and bills and specific committee recommendations including a disbursement of up to $4,500 to American Legal Publishing for an updated code of ordinances, a $10,000 disbursement to Effingham County Public Transportation to provide free rides to seniors and disabled veterans in 2026, and a SECO Inc. control-systems bid of $19,239.63 for the Government Center. Board member Tim Ellis asked that one consent item (D3) — a modification to an Our House opioid request — be pulled for discussion; after hearing that Samantha and a colleague had explained intended uses and certification for a new coach, the board approved the modification without changing the previously approved dollar amount.

The board next approved revisions to handbook policy 3-11 on bereavement leave. The adopted changes expand covered relationships to include aunt, uncle, niece and nephew; allow a supervising department head or elected official to grant one paid workday for special relationships on a case-by-case basis; and require paid bereavement days be taken on regular scheduled workdays within 10 workdays following the date of death or on the days of the funeral or memorial service.

Committee reports included a call from Dave Campbell for community letters of interest to support a revolving loan fund grant application; Campbell asked local businesses and partners to submit letters within roughly a week to 10 days to demonstrate demand for small-business startup or expansion financing.

During public comment, Aaron Mason, representing Fieldworks Incorporated and one of the bidders on the Government Center access-control project, asked whether local representation would be considered after award. The chair responded that county procurement policy requires awarding to the lowest responsive bidder unless there is a stated, statutory or documented reason to deviate; because the board had acted on the item at committee, the chair said the award process would proceed unless the selected bidder could not meet obligations in its bid.

The board then convened in closed session to discuss collective negotiation and bargaining under Illinois statute cited in the transcript. After returning to open session, Jeremy Daeters moved to accept the proposals from the Fraternal Order of Police for two entities, contingent on final review by the state's attorney. The motion passed on roll call with one abstention by Mike Buzzard.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.