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Effingham County Board forwards funding, salary and contract items to full board; multiple motions pass
Summary
The Effingham County Board moved several routine items — hotel/motel funding for the Deterich Fourth of July, an assistant public defender pay increase, a PECOM stipend increase, a CFS service agreement, an employee assistance program renewal, and four board‑of‑health reappointments — to the full board for final action. Each motion passed at the meeting and will appear on the full board agenda.
The Effingham County Board voted to forward a package of funding, personnel and contract items to the full board, approving motions to send each item for final consideration.
Hotel/motel funding: The board approved forwarding a request for $2,000 from the county hotel/motel tax fund to support the Deterich Fourth of July celebration and fireworks, an increase of $500 from the prior year. The motion to send the funding request to the full board carried with one recorded opposition (mover: Sandy; second: Doug).
Assistant public defender pay: Scott, the assistant public defender, asked the board to approve a salary increase that would move the position from about $100,787.86 to $120,000 beginning July 1. Scott said the increase would be covered by the Public Defender Fund grant and by higher state reimbursement under the incoming Fair Act, so the request did not require a new county appropriation in the current year. The board forwarded the request to the full board (motion carried; one opposed).
PECOM stipend and CFS service agreement: The board discussed raising the monthly PECOM stipend because the position will cover seven counties. After debate about comparable stipends, members voted to forward a $2,500-per-month stipend recommendation to the full board. Separately, the board reviewed an updated service agreement with CFS (Central Illinois Public Transportation) that raised umbrella liability insurance coverage to $5 million and included language intended to prevent Effingham County service disruptions when CFS serves other counties. The agreement was forwarded to the full board for approval.
Employee Assistance Program: The board moved to renew the county's employee assistance program (Sarah Bush program) at roughly $5,075 (the budget includes $5,500). Members asked the provider to supply anonymized counts of individuals served; the renewal was forwarded to the full board.
Appointments: Four incumbents — Amy Schmidt, Grant Bushu, Greg Campos and Michael Williamson — were recommended for reappointment to the Board of Health for three-year terms beginning July 1 and were forwarded to the full board (each motion carried with one recorded opposition). The board discussed ways to improve public notice for committee vacancies and agreed to encourage prospective applicants to consult the county website.
Adjournment: The meeting concluded after the board confirmed logistics for an upcoming solar hearing and moved to adjourn.
Votes at a glance: the meeting record shows each motion forwarded to the full board and that motions carried at this session, typically by voice vote with one member recorded as opposed on the listed items. The full board will record final tallies when these items return for approval.
