The Perry County Board of Commissioners approved a new towing ordinance during its regular meeting on Thursday and also briefly discussed the holdup in early voting.
In regard to the towing ordinance, Perry County Sheriff Steve Bareis said it is similar to those enacted by municipalities in the county - which assesses a $200 fee for vehicles confiscated due to DUI and driving while license suspended or revoked.
Bareis noted his office did a fee study last year, which determined 54 cases could have qualified for the fee, generating $10,800 for the sheriff's office drug fund.
He said the fee is based on the cost of two hours of time for two deputies.
In other news, County Clerk Josh Gross said early voting was still on hold while an appellate court determined whether candidate Scott Drury could remain on the March 20 ballot despite paperwork issues.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the court ruled last Friday that Drury can stay. A previous judge ruled that a state legislator running for statewide office couldn't be on the ballot while it was in question whether or not he properly submitted a statement of economic interest.
Drury immediately appealed the decision and is one of eight Democrats seeking the party's nomination in the attorney general's race. Election officials in several counties, including Jackson, Williamson and Perry, decided to wait for a final decision before printing ballots.
Gross said that rather sending out a ballot that may be rescinded, he decided to wait and consulted both Williamson and Jackson county officials before doing so.
"We were hoping to have this decided on Tuesday and it hasn't," Gross said Thursday. "We're sitting on our hands waiting for the green light."
Gross also noted that the controversy doesn't affect Republican or military ballots.
ROUNDUP
• The board approved a special use permit application from Robert and Teresa Knapp, of Tamaroa.
Gross explained that the Knapps want to put a 28x68 modular home at 6615 Falcon Road to replace an older modular home that is already on site.
• The board made the following reappointments: Tim Bronke to the Tamaroa Community Fire Protection District (a three-year term) and Jeff Suchomski to the Pinckneyville Rural Fire Protection District (three-year term).
• The board approved raffle licenses for Fraternal Order of the Eagles and the Perry County Jail Museum. Both are annual license requests.
• The next meeting of the board is March 1 at 2 p.m. It is open to the public.
