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State's attorney reports arrests and staffing shortages; county moves to address abandoned properties and notes public defender turnover
Summary
The state's attorney reported recent arrests, staff vacancies and $11,901.52 in March collections; county staff said it assumed ownership of the Aldina Infirmary and plans an RFP to demolish it, and the public defender's office reported a recent retirement and new hires.
The Lee County Public Safety and Services meeting included a series of reports on legal staffing, collections and county-owned nuisance properties.
Mr. Boonstra reported that local law enforcement recently arrested Matthew Steel and summarized staffing shortfalls in the state's attorney's office. He said the office is down two assistant state's attorneys and an administrative assistant and that interviews are planned to fill the vacancies. "We're going to be doing some interviews this week and going into next week," he said.
On collections, he reported $11,901.52 collected in March, bringing the year-to-date total to $30,850.42, figures that were entered into the meeting record.
County staff updated the board on abandoned and nuisance properties. The county holds a lease on an old school it is marketing for a housing development partner, and staff said they recently assumed ownership of the Aldina Infirmary, which has been deteriorating for years. Staff said they plan to issue an RFP to demolish the infirmary, return the site to green space and then either auction the parcel or solicit a housing developer. The Strong Communities Grant that has funded some work is scheduled to close in November; Amboy has already removed one home and is in the state reimbursement process.
The meeting also noted a recent retirement and staff changes in the public defender's office: longtime public defender Bob Thompson retired on the 10th after nearly 30 years; Will Foxhead has assumed the full-time public defender role and hired Seth Wiggins as an additional full-time assistant.
Board members asked whether attorney turnover stemmed from wages and cost-of-living pressures. The state's attorney said lower government wages relative to private practice and regional hiring patterns are contributing factors but said the county has increased pay rates over the past five to six years to be more competitive.
No votes were taken on staffing or property actions during the meeting; staff said they would pursue research (Joe) into a specific nuisance-property address brought up during discussion and consider administrative cost reimbursement where applicable.
