The Effingham County Legislative/Personnel Committee agreed to recommend two new board appointees at Monday’s meeting. Linda Ruholl was appointed to the Board of Health to serve a term beginning 10/01/2016 and ending 6/30/2018. Todd Hull was appointed to the Economic Development Committee with term beginning on 10/01/2016 and ending 09/30/2018.
Bonnie Mellendorf addressed the committee on the completion of the ISP Memorial Flagpoles, located on the corner of N. Third Street and E. Jefferson Avenue in downtown Effingham. The committee officially thanked Mellendorf for her assistance with the project.
Executive Director of the Effingham County Council on Aging Linda Hubbard requested funding from the committee to the tune of $15,000. The agency provides services for senior citizens in the area and has received funding from the county in the past, but not in recent years.
Also discussed was the possibility of dissolving the Grants Committee and adding its responsibilities to the Economic Development Committee. The rationale for the change is that with few grants available, the county could be more efficient by having one less committee.
The Committee also heard a presentation from AFLAC Representative Ken Koebele on a new insurance plan for county employees. Under the plan, employees would submit to quarterly health assessments in exchange for allowing them to use a percent of their taxes to purchase life insurance and other AFLAC programs.
Chief Deputy of the Effingham Sheriff’s Office, Paul Kuhns, updated the committee on a recent jail inspection by the Illinois Department of Corrections. The inspection found “no deficiencies” with the Effingham County Jail. Additionally, the IDoC reported hearing compliments on the cleanliness of the jail and the respect of the staff towards inmates. Chief Deputy Kuhns also reported to the committee that the Sheriff’s Office had settled an insurance claim with GIECO involving a totaled squad car totaling $10,268.
The committee also agreed to forward an Election Judge Supplemental List and a list of the 2017 County Holidays to the full County Board.