Cash transactions flood clerk's office

Two months into his term in office, Circuit Clerk Jim Muir has presented a "wish list" of items he would like to purchase to make his office run more efficiently.
Muir presented the list during last week's meeting of the Franklin County Board finance committee.
Muir pointed out that his office takes in large sums of cash on a daily basis. As a result, Muir requested a computer and monitor to accept debit and credit cards. Secondly, Muir asked for more security cameras in the office to track transactions; and thirdly, for digital monitors on each floor of the courthouse that would make the court docket available to community members. Digital dockets already have been placed at courthouses in Jefferson and Perry counties, Muir reported.
Muir said he understands the county's financial condition, but he said those purchases could ease traffic in the circuit clerk's office and tighten overall security.
Muir offered $5,300 from a fund in his office to help offset the costs associated with the purchases, noting the county board would have to come up with the remaining $10,000.
Chairman Randall Crocker supported all three requests, although he tabled a full discussion on the topic until the board's committee meetings in March.
In other news from the committee meetings:
-- Point Man representative Rocky Morris questioned the board's decision to River City Construction for the Campbell Building renovations. He said Curt Erwin Construction had submitted a bid of $320,000 for the work, yet an estimate of $500,000 was accepted from River City. Crocker said Erwin was not required to submit a bid, and a committee recommended hiring River City based on its past projects. The Campbell Building project is now expected to cost $550,000 as a result of the expansion of the Regional Superintendent of Schools office, it was reported.
Benton Mayor Fred Kondritz was in attendance, thanking the Board for remodeling and fixing the Campbell Building.
"It will make Benton a better place to live," Kondritz said.
-- Treasurer John Gulley reported a common account balance of $1.4 million, and the general fund is $800,000 in the red. He also reported the Juvenile Detention Center account balance is $184,000 and will need to be monitored closely. He also reported he had been in contact with officials from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources over payment due the county for flood control. Department officials claim the county is owed about $40,000; Gulley said his figures have placed the debt at nearly $200,000. Gulley asked department officials for further review and presented State's Attorney Evan Owens with information about the dispute.
-- County officials discussed at length their public meetings regarding promotion of the 1 percent sales tax for the construction of a new courthouse. Crocker said there has been a good response from the community. Health and Environment Committee Chairman Tom Vaughn said, "We make it honest but let them decide whether they want it or not."
Kondritz said response from the community has been neutral to positive.
"What they're telling me is that they reluctantly will vote for it," he said.
Meetings about the referendum scheduled for this week include: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Benton Grade School Board; Christopher Village Board, 5:30 p.m.; and 6 p.m. Thursday, a town hall meeting in Sesser at the Goode Township Building. Town hall meetings are scheduled Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week at 6 p.m. in Benton, Royalton and West Frankfort, respectively. The Benton meeting will be at the Civic Center.
Muir asks board to help make debit, credit transactions possible

BY RICK HAYES
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Two months into his term in office, Circuit Clerk Jim Muir has presented a "wish list" of items he would like to purchase to make his office run more efficiently.
Muir presented the list during last week's meeting of the Franklin County Board finance committee.
Muir pointed out that his office takes in large sums of cash on a daily basis. As a result, Muir requested a computer and monitor to accept debit and credit cards. Secondly, Muir asked for more security cameras in the office to track transactions; and thirdly, for digital monitors on each floor of the courthouse that would make the court docket available to community members. Digital dockets already have been placed at courthouses in Jefferson and Perry counties, Muir reported.
Muir said he understands the county's financial condition, but he said those purchases could ease traffic in the circuit clerk's office and tighten overall security.
Muir offered $5,300 from a fund in his office to help offset the costs associated with the purchases, noting the county board would have to come up with the remaining $10,000.
Chairman Randall Crocker supported all three requests, although he tabled a full discussion on the topic until the board's committee meetings in March.
In other news from the committee meetings:
-- Point Man representative Rocky Morris questioned the board's decision to River City Construction for the Campbell Building renovations. He said Curt Erwin Construction had submitted a bid of $320,000 for the work, yet an estimate of $500,000 was accepted from River City. Crocker said Erwin was not required to submit a bid, and a committee recommended hiring River City based on its past projects. The Campbell Building project is now expected to cost $550,000 as a result of the expansion of the Regional Superintendent of Schools office, it was reported.
Benton Mayor Fred Kondritz was in attendance, thanking the Board for remodeling and fixing the Campbell Building.
"It will make Benton a better place to live," Kondritz said.
-- Treasurer John Gulley reported a common account balance of $1.4 million, and the general fund is $800,000 in the red. He also reported the Juvenile Detention Center account balance is $184,000 and will need to be monitored closely. He also reported he had been in contact with officials from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources over payment due the county for flood control. Department officials claim the county is owed about $40,000; Gulley said his figures have placed the debt at nearly $200,000. Gulley asked department officials for further review and presented State's Attorney Evan Owens with information about the dispute.
-- County officials discussed at length their public meetings regarding promotion of the 1 percent sales tax for the construction of a new courthouse. Crocker said there has been a good response from the community. Health and Environment Committee Chairman Tom Vaughn said, "We make it honest but let them decide whether they want it or not."
Kondritz said response from the community has been neutral to positive.
"What they're telling me is that they reluctantly will vote for it," he said.
Meetings about the referendum scheduled for this week include: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Benton Grade School Board; Christopher Village Board, 5:30 p.m.; and 6 p.m. Thursday, a town hall meeting in Sesser at the Goode Township Building. Town hall meetings are scheduled Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week at 6 p.m. in Benton, Royalton and West Frankfort, respectively. The Benton meeting will be at the Civic Center.