Crocker: Ambulance committee to reconvene

On the heels of the defeat of the public safety tax, Franklin County Board Chairman Randall Crocker said more meetings are on the horizon.

“The defeat of the public safety tax creates concern about the ambulance service,” Crocker said Wednesday. “I will reconvene the public relations committee to see if they can determine what went wrong and whether to put the referendum on the April 2009 ballot. We may learn more in December after Clay Hobbs is sentenced.”

Hobbs was the director of Mercy Regional Emergency Health Services, which provides ambulance service to the county. Hobbs was indicted on several federal charges earlier this year.

In other matters Wednesday, finance committee chairwoman Linda Clark extended appreciation to department heads and county board members for their work on next year’s budget. She said members would consider and vote on the proposed budget during the Nov. 18 meeting.

The budget will be on display in the county clerk’s office until the day of the meeting.

County treasurer John Gulley said the fiscal year 2009 budget is balanced.

“The general county fund will see a 1.47-percent increase in expenditures, which is lower than the cost of living increase,” Gulley said. “Revenue will be down by six percent, which is misleading due to a one-time payment to the Juvenile Detention Center.

“Expenditures are higher than revenue because some departments have a higher balance to cover their expenditures,” Gulley said. “For example, the highway department has a larger budget because they never know what the weather will bring.

“The total budgeted expenditures of $18,481,459.93 for the next fiscal year reflect a 2.4-percent decrease in expenditures from 2007-2008. The $17,190,097 in budgeted revenue is a 3.3-percent decrease from FY08. The good news is that zero taxes will be levied for the jail because the jail bonds will be paid off in 2009. The levy will be going down after the jail is paid off.”

Gulley reported that fines paid in circuit court are expected to increase by $285,000, or 90.5 percent. He said health insurance costs would decrease by 24 percent, or $159,325.

Gulley reported $137,000 in claims with $1,816,757.22 in the county’s common account. “That includes the second installment of real estate taxes,” he said.

County highway engineer Mike Rolla read bids he had received for a wheel loader and said bids would be taken under advisement. Rolla reported bids from Mt. Vernon and Evansville, Ind. equipment companies would be reviewed, with the low bid accepted during the Nov. 18 meeting.

He reported a rural sign program bid letting would be held on Nov. 12. Regarding a railroad crossing improvement on Dry Road, Rolla said the project is 80-percent complete.

“That does not include the railroad signals and crossing lights,” he said. “The Illinois Commerce Commission will reimburse the project cost.”

Rolla said he had purchased 200 tons of salt, with an additional 150 tons still to purchase.

“There is no guarantee when the salt will be here, so I contacted a company in New Mexico and was able to get the salt for $140 per ton,” he said. “We also have 750 tons of cinders. We used 900 tons last year and are looking for more. They will be at no charge, but there will be a cost to transport them to the county.”

David Rea, buildings and ground co-chairman, said two 50 pounds of Ice Melt had been ordered. Sheriff Bill Wilson said about 10 bags would be needed, adding the majority is used around the county jail.

Rea said the restrooms in the courthouse are in need of repair. Crocker said electricians would provide a proposal on Wednesday. Gulley suggested work be completed before Dec. 1 to use remaining funds before the new fiscal year begins.

In other business, Rend Lake Conservancy District representative Keith Ward extended appreciation for passage of the referendum to develop the Gun Creek area.

“A developer has been informed of the outcome of the referendum and is very interested in getting started on a project,” he said. “The Gun Creek area was part of the proposed development plan when Rend Lake was built. The district owns all of the Gun Creek area with the exception of the water’s edge. The Army Corps of Engineers owns that.”

Ken Hungate reported on a transfer funding issue involving Franklin County Animal Control. He said Gulley, animal control supervisor Jarrett Broy and county board administrative assistant Gayla Sink had drafted a form to use when animal control receives donations.

“I would like to put this matter on the Nov. 18 agenda for board approval,” Hungate said. “The money donated for the Jeff Collins memorial was accidentally transferred to the building fund to offset construction costs. The family specifically requested their $7,220 be used to purchase food and blankets.”

Gulley said the money had not been transferred due to a question Hungate had posed during a previous county board meeting.