Busy Night for White County Board
With a full agenda, it took the White County Board close to an hour to cover the items during the February meeting held Tuesday night at the White County Courthouse.
The board tabled approval of recent contract negotiations when it was pointed out by Board member Jake Carter not everyone had read the proposed contract which according to Board Chairman Donnie Puckett had been worked out late last month. When asked what the raise for county employees would be, Several figures were reported by McAnalty and Puckett with 30 cents seeming to be the average amount. Circuit Clerk Kelly Fulkerson questioned what the proposed $15 minimum wage would do to the contract which led to considerable discussion about the issue, which actually does not go into effect, if approved by the Illinois legislature until 2025,
The board approved donations to the county senior citizens centers. This is a matter of routine done every year. The White County Senior Citizens Center will receive $4500. The centers in Grayville, Norris City and Enfield will receive $900 each.
A number of agenda items had to do with the county highway department. The board approved a resolution reappointing Brian Ray as the county engineer as required by the state.
A resolution approving maintenance under the state highway code was approved.
A contract for a box culvert was approved. Dees Inc. of West Frankfort presented the low bid of $119,639, which was approved by the board. The culvert is for County Road 2000 North, just west of County Road 800 East.
Fuel bids from Wabash Valley were approved for the highway department, sheriff’s office, ambulance service and the animal control officer. The board accepted a firm bid of $1,.898 for 87 no lead (regular no lead).
The annual Illinois highway maintenance code was approved, That is basically a state mandated requirement authorizing the expenditure of motor fuel tax funds for highway maintenance. Ray explained the highway department has budgeted $500,000 for the roads this summer.
Ray also received a go ahead from the board to shop dump trucks. The county highway engineer explained the highway department was in need of a new truck, reporting the older trucks were becoming too expensive to keep up. He pointed out that the sale of surplus equipment including at least one of the older trucks will help offset the nearly $200,000 it will take to purchase a new fully equipped truck.
The board spent little time discussing health care at the jail. Puckett asked the board for permission for the jail committee to make a decision at a meeting with Deaconness Hospital later this week, or next week, The Evansville hospital had expressed interest in providing health care for the jail, but had asked for additional time to put together a proposal and then meet with the jail committee. The board gave Puckett approval to make the decision.
White County will continue to use Illinois SouthTourism as the state certified tourism bureau.
Gary Baxley and Virginia Connelly appeared before the board to inquire about an accident involving a White County Ambulance at Evergreen Acres. Apparently a pole was knocked over and damaged the vehicle owned by Connelly.
Under Illinois statutes, emergency services, such as ambulance, fire departments, etc are not liable for damages during a run. Puckett explained this to Baxley who explained the situation to the board pointing out Connelly’s vehicle sustained over $2000 worth of damage. Baxley and Connelly said that public opinion on the matter was not on the side of the board.
Puckett said he understood their frustrations but pointed out there was nothing the county could do about the situation.,
When Baxley and Connelly asked for a vote on the matter, Puckett again explained there was nothing the board could do and there was no reason for a vote.
At that point Baxley questioned the board about a number of expenditures and trips taken by a “board member”. While Baxley never named the board member is was obvious he was referring to former board member and chairman David Dosher.
Puckett then provided Connelly with a phone number of an insurance company representative and basically closed the matter for further discussion.,
The board then went into executive session to discuss personnel.
The county board normally meets the second Tuesday of each month. The meetings are open to the public.
