The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Joy Swearingen-Quill Correspondent
The 2020 budget and levy request for the coming year were approved by the Hancock County Board at their meeting Nov. 19.
The budget includes expenses of $3,980,899 for the county general fund, and shows a projected surplus of $16,035 in income over spending for the year. The levy request is for $4,213,142, a 2 percent increase over last year. The levy request is a dollar amount. The county can receive no more than the levy request, but the actual funds received by the county are based on tax rates applied to the assessed value of county property, which could be less than the levy.
Finance Committee Wayne Bollin thanked his committee for the long hours spent hearing budget requests and making the final document. He praised office holders for staying under budget and holding down costs for the county.
Several agreements and salaries were approved based on the new budget.
The board approved a conflict of interest public defender contract with Lucie, Scalf & Bougher Attorneys at Law of Macomb for $35,000.
The salary of Circuit Clerk was set at $54,140.
The board approved hiring Dale Bolton as Supervisor of Assessments for a salary of $76,200.
Mike Wright was appointed as animal control officer for $18,066. Betty Twaddle was appointed as county board secretary for $12,413.
A state's attorney appellate prosecutor agreement for $8,000 was approved.
A new two-year contract with the Fraternal Order of Police in Hancock County was approved. It includes a 2 percent pay increase for deputies, and a 2.5 percent increase for dispatchers and jailers.
The board renewed their contract for property and casualty, Workman's Compensation, liability and other insurance coverage. The provider is Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust, a self-insurance group.
The board heard comments from Ben Ralph of Niota inquiring about a vacant lot in Niota he would like to buy. The lot is part of property seized by the sheriff several years ago.
Since the property does not have a good legal description on file, it was the opinion of State's Attorney Rachel Mast that it would need to be surveyed before being sold. The matter was referred to the building and grounds committee to consider.
Belynda Allen, Hancock County Economic Development coordinator, addressed the board with concerns about the former Dallas City High School building and two abandoned properties in LaHarpe. She had been applying for Brownfield grants to assess hazardous substances in the buildings when they were sold, stopping that process.
She believed that, had the grant process been able to continue, the properties could have been demolished, solving safety issues with the buildings, and allowing for potential economic development in the county.
In other business, the board: