The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen, Courtesy of Hancock County Journal-Pilot
The Hancock County board passed a resolution in support of residents' rights to own firearms.
However, a controversial clause in the resolution was removed by an amendment. That paragraph would have designated the county as a "sanctuary" county and prevented local law officers from enforcing any legislation that limited constitutional use and ownership of firearms.
The resolution as approved states that it is the right of people to keep and bear arms, and that Illinois counties derive economic benefit from safe forms of firearm use in recreation and hunting. It further noted that numerous bills continue to be introduced into the Illinois Legislature that infringe on the right to bear arms.
It states that the Hancock County Board opposes enactment of laws that would infringe on these rights, and the board demands that further actions restricting this right cease. It asks the governor of the state to veto all such legislation if it is enacted.
Don Little presented the gun sanctuary resolution as it had been brought to the board at the August meeting, saying, "I want to alter the resolution by removing the last paragraph. I don't like anything with "sanctuary' in it. Laws given by the state are to be enforced."
Pat Cramer stated, "Legally, (sanctuary) just means a safe place." However, other board members believed the word has taken on a new meaning in recent years.
"We are not a body that sanctifies lawlessness. I fully agree with everything else about the resolution," said Wayne Bollin.
Sheriff Scott Bentzinger said he had a problem with the wording that said the local law officers should not enforce certain laws.
Bridge concerns
At the board's regular meeting Sept. 18, Charles Gavillet spoke about concerns he had with the removal of a bridge near his farm in Prairie Township.
Gavillet gave a history of communications and actions by the county and township road departments related to the bridge closure and an agricultural crossing that was used over a creek since 1950 that let him conveniently move farm equipment to his fields.
The bridge was closed on County Road 1200 North just east of 1700 East, and Gavillet said he was told he had to remove his agricultural crossing or face a daily fine. Now he must drive eight miles round trip to that part of the farm, rather than 50 feet.
Gavillet answered several questions that had been brought up in an executive session in August, about concerns he has brought to the county Road and Bridge Committee.
He said the problem had been ongoing since 2015. He said he has three years worth of photos, information and FOIA documents to backup his concerns, and that he had found over 17 violations since he started the investigation.
After the meeting Gavillet noted that Illinois statute gives priorities for keeping roads open: 1) school bus routes, 2) agriculture access, and 3) postal carrier access. He said investigation by IEPA continues because of concrete with exposed rebar that still remains in the creekbed after the bridge was removed.
To a question, what would satisfy him, he said he would not be pursuing a civil litigation. He would be happy if the bridge was restored and persons responsible held accountable.
Smeltser resigns
The board accepted the resignation of Ambulance Coordinator Gabe Smeltser, effective Sept. 1. They named Terri Griffin as interim ambulance coordinator at an annualized salary of $50,000.
The safety manual and revised fee schedule for the ambulance service was approved, making calls more in line with surrounding counties. It increased the fee for calls made to parts of the county which are not in the county ambulance service.
Griffin noted that the contractorial fee write-offs, (the amount not paid by Medicare and Medicaid,) was $102,686.43 in August, which includes some accounts of past months.
Warsaw mayor, Mike Heisler, asked the board if they were providing help in disaster events, and if they considered a recent storm that hit Warsaw a disaster. Several groups helped Warsaw clean up in July when a storm downed many trees.
Warsaw later received a bill from the county for their part in helping with the cleanup.
County ESDA coordinator, Jack Curfman, suggested that a mutual support agreement between towns and the county is "something to look at in the future, something similar to what the county has with other counties, or mutual aid agreements between local fire departments."
Other actions
The board approved changing a bid date from Sept. 1 to Oct. 15 for county insurance so that a complete report of claims history and driver information is available to companies making bids.
The board approved designating the Zumwalt Farm Office as the polling place for Rocky Run-Wilcox Township. The previous polling place was damaged by a falling tree. There are no other businesses, churches or appropriate large meeting places in the township.
The board approved a new fee schedule for the county recorder. A state mandate says the fee schedule should be in place by Jan. 1, 2019, and must be approved two months before it goes into effect, which it will on Dec. 1, the start of the county fiscal year.
Among the increases, a standard recording fee would raise from $45 to $60, and the larger recordings would increase from $60 to $85.
Property tax bills have been sent out and the final due date is Oct. 12. Treasurer Kris Pilkington said she would be making a distribution to taxing bodies soon. The tax delinquent list will be published Oct. 31, with the tax sale on Nov. 19.