The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
State Forces New Fees For Criminal Action Based On Income Which Will Lower Income To Counties For Coming School Year
Joy Swearingen Quill Correspondent
The Hancock County Board approved agreements that keep the county transportation system in effect for another year, during their regular meeting on March 19.
The Hancock County Public Transportation system vans provide rides to any residents to anywhere in Hancock County by appointment, and rides to out-of-county, non-emergency medical visits up to two hours outside the county.
The system is linked with McDonough County and Macomb transportation systems, which are all coordinated by transportation executive director, Nathan Cobb.
The system has contracts with the Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging to pay for rides at no cost to senior citizens, with the Mental Health Center in Carthage to pay for rides to day program clients, and with UnityPoint-Memorial Hospital to provide rides for medical care.
These contracts and other local user income provide the matching funds for the Downstate Operating Grant of around $175,000 per year that is received to fund the system.
Operating on a fiscal year from July 1 to June 30, the transportation service gave a total of 7,971 rides in the year ending June 30, 2018. This included 193 out-of-county, non-emergency medical trips, and 7,778 in-county rides.
Four resolutions were passed by the board that met state and local provisions to provide the service for another year.
The board approved two groups of aggregate road materials for townships, based on the lowest on-road hauled cost. Where two providers were approved, townships can buy from the closest provider.
Bids were approved for pug mix aggregate from Central Stone Company of Tennessee, IL, for $5.55 per ton.
Bids were approved for aggregate surface course from R.L. O'Neal & Sons of Plymouth for $8.30 per ton, and Central Stone Company at Tennessee for $8.60 per ton.
State's Attorney Rachel Mast explained a new set of fees that can be charged for criminal and traffic convictions, that are paid into the general fund.
"New legislation was passed, designed to reduce disparity between higher income people and those criminals who are of lower income," Mast explained.
The list of fees which had been just one sheet now has 14 pages, with varied fees based on percentages of the total fee amount, adjusted by income level. In effect, there is going to be less money collected for criminal action.
In the process, funds that pay for drug court, teen court and court security are no longer available. Mast said these services are important to Hancock County.
The new fees list will be on the agenda for a vote at the April county board meeting.
Board members questioned why they should approve a fee schedule that would bring less money into the county general fund.
Mast explained that the law has already been changed. The county board has no voice in that decision, but the new fee schedule must be approved for the county to collect any funds.
Mast noted that this is a fee schedule to the county general fund only, and that additional fees may be collected to other county funds.
A second resolution relating to new fines for civil crimes is being prepared. Mast is currently working with neighboring counties to set up a consistent fee schedule.
The board approved a write-off of $43,452 in ambulance charges believed to be uncollectable in February, due to fee adjustments by Medicare and Medicaid.
The board discussed a contract with an appraiser for an appraisal of the surplus ambulance building and grounds near the sheriff's office.
Action on finalizing the electronics and paint recycling agreement with Western Illinois Regional Council was deferred until April.