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Board proclaims April Sexual Assault Awareness Month; approves AirMedCare briefings, appointments and routine measures
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Summary
At its March 16 meeting the Effingham County Board approved a proclamation designating April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, authorized AirMedCare Network to present membership options to department heads, accepted an Ethics Commission resignation and appointed a replacement, approved courtyard maintenance ($825/year), and authorized the chairman to sign approved opioid-settlement documents.
The Effingham County Board on March 16 approved a series of routine and administrative items, including a proclamation for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, authorizations for vendor presentations, appointments, and facility maintenance.
The board unanimously approved a proclamation declaring April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Regina McKinney, director of prevention for SAFE, and advocate Donna Rulo thanked the board and described SAFE’s services across 11 counties. "SAFE is a nonprofit organization that provides advocacy, counseling, and education services to 11 counties," McKinney said.
The board also agreed to allow a representative of AirMedCare Network (presented by Jessica Gersh) to meet with department heads to determine employee interest in membership plans that would cover employees' households. Gersh described multiple plan options — individual, census and payroll-deduction models — and cited a typical group price near $99 per year, with lower rates available for multi-year or census plans. The board moved to let the vendor meet staff and department heads and the motion carried.
On appointments, the board accepted a resignation from Jeremy Kyle on the Ethics Commission (he is joining the full county board) and appointed Mike DePoeister to fill the vacancy; the seat must be held by a Republican per the vacancy rules discussed at the meeting.
The board approved a proposal from Burrows Pro Turf to maintain the Historic Courtyard, estimated at $825 annually for three seasonal treatments and insect control. The funding was allocated from the administrative budget and the board said it will revisit the arrangement if results are unsatisfactory.
Finally, the board authorized the chairman to sign opioid-settlement documentation that has been vetted and approved by the state's attorney, to reduce the number of routine DocuSigns brought to the full board; the chair said any new settlement requiring confidentiality or closed-session consideration would still be presented to the board for approval.
Votes at a glance: consent agenda and multiple administrative items approved; proclamation adopted; AirMedCare presentation authorized; resignation accepted and appointment made to Ethics Commission; courtyard maintenance approved ($825/year); chairman authorized to execute opioid-settlement documents.
The meeting adjourned after additional committee and elected-official reports and a short public-comment period.
