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Board approves $112,000 contract to launch Group Violence Intervention despite objections
Summary
The State's Attorney proposed a 12-month contract with consultant Sarah Ott (Aligned Community Strategies) for $112,000 to start a Group Violence Intervention program; the board approved the contract 13–3 after public questioning about consultant availability and cost.
The Rock Island County Board on March 19 approved a proposal from the State's Attorney to engage consultant Sarah Ott of Aligned Community Strategies for a 12-month Group Violence Intervention (GVI) effort at a contract cost of $112,000.
The State's Attorney's written proposal said Ms. Ott — described as a former Chief Strategy Officer involved in Davenport's GVI initiative — would help establish a data-driven framework to identify individuals involved in violent crime, coordinate services and pursue funding. The proposal requested funding shares: $33,600 from the Opioid Settlement Fund (33%), $39,200 from the county General Fund (35%) and $39,200 from the State's Attorney's Drug Forfeiture Fund (35%).
Board Member R. Simmer spoke against the contract during the public meeting, saying he doubted the consultant's availability and questioned whether the county should instead invest in a full-time local employee. "I just haven't seen the assurance that we actually have her undivided attention for this program... I am going to have to vote no on this," Simmer said. Despite his and two other 'no' votes, the motion carried 13–3.
Supporters argued the consultant would bring expertise and help the county compete for state and federal grants to sustain the program.
