The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

9-1-1 Addressing Topic of Henderson County June Meeting

By Sally Day for the Quill

Tom Hickman, Henderson County Highway Engineer was on hand at the Henderson County Board meeting, Tuesday, June 10, 2014, to inform them that he had been in touch with a company who was willing to set up rural addressing for the county. This would entail giving out new addresses to all locations in the country and to verify each address. Hickman said they could do this at a cost of $85,000.

Board members were quick to ask if this would tie in with the 9-1-1 system. Cindy Rhinehart, Zoning Officer said it was the first step toward the 9-1-1 system.

Hickman added that the addressing would give a geological location to each property. Board member Mark Lumbeck noted that 9-1-1 cannot begin without taking the information to the public and putting it to a vote. "It all has to be laid out on the table," Lumbeck said, "how it is going to work and how it is going to be paid for." Hickman reiterated that this was an addressing system only at this time.

Board member Jim Alexander asked if it was possible to go with Warren County on the 9-1-1 Emergency System.

Board member Curt Eisenmayer mentioned that 9-1-1 was a very big investment. He added that Noel Oliver is a former coordinator of the McDonough County Emergency 9-1-1 operation and perhaps he could be notified for more information.

Lumbeck added that Warren County has a spot for Henderson County on their 9-1-1 Emergency System. He continued, saying when he was Henderson County Sheriff, his department brought this to the board and learned that at that time there would have been between a $14,000 and $17,000 cost a month to the county. Lumbeck said this would be a very hard sell to the tax payers. He noted that the best option for the county was to go in with someone else on this. He continued that the Sheriff Office would have to be completely renovated to accommodate this system.

It was said that there are about three different types of 9-1-1 Systems. The county board employees who were at the meeting said that they get two to three calls a day from various businesses and entities who request 9-1-1 addresses. Rhinehart told the board that Henderson County is only one of two counties in Illinois which does not have the 9-1-1 rural addressing. There are 102 counties in Illinois.

It was determined to table this conversation until next month, when they would ask a delegate from Warren County to talk to the board.

In other business, the board:

• heard from board member Terry Myer that all local Post Offices except for Oquawka would be changing their hours.
• heard a request from board member Jim Alexander that representatives from all ambulance services attend the Henderson County Ambulance meetings.
• learned that a variance was needed for members of the Chandler family, asking they be allowed to place three hog confinements on two-acre tracts on their land. Board members asked Cindy Rhinehart, Zoning Officer what the recommendation of the Zoning Board was concerning this. She told members that the Zoning Board recommended allowing the variance. The Zoning Board had met earlier and heard no negative feed back about the variance.
• heard from Tom Hickman of the Highway Department. He noted there were highway resolutions, all of which were culverts to be placed in Media Township, Biggsville Township, Terre Haute Township and Oquawka Township. These resolutions were combined into one motion and all passed.
• agreed to allow Cindy Rhinehart to use a county owned vehicle to travel occasionally to site operations and to take it to her home.
• heard from Henderson County Health Department Administrator Lynne Hasse that there will be a Health Fair held June 28, beginning at 8 a.m. with a run. There will be many things to do during the day and this is a way for the average citizen to find out what the Health Department offers.
• appointed Ned Adams as a Drainage District #2 Commissioner to fill the vacancy of Mike Ford.
• reappointed Jon Dawdy to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a five year term.
• approved the Prevailing Wage Resolution.
• approved claims paid in May 2014.
• accepted Health Department claims.
• approved the minutes of the May 13, 2014 meeting.
• heard roll call as follows: Gail Russell, present; Mark Lumbeck, present; David Hinshaw, present; Albert Renken, present; Terry Myer, present; Jim Alexander, present; Bob Peterson, present; Tex Stewart, absent; Stan Torrance, present; and Marty Lafary, absent.