The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen, Quill Correspondent
Money from future tax receipts was approved by the Hancock County board to cover the second February ambulance payroll and other EMS bills.
At their meeting Feb. 22, the county board approved $215,000 in tax anticipation warrants to cover a shortfall in the ambulance fund.
While acknowledging that a better, long-term plan is needed, treasurer Kris Pilkington said this is the best way to cover the ambulance February bills, since there is under $30,000 in their account.
“Payroll due this week is around $35,000, and other bills for this month are extra high, around $53,000,” said Pilkington.
The ambulance fund should receive $215,000 in property tax revenue later this summer. The tax anticipation warrants would need to be paid back in the same tax year as they are taken, after tax money is received.
Pilkington said she could send out bids to banks immediately and get funds in time to meet the February ambulance payroll and bills.
“This is only a short-term fix,” she stressed. “It is an emergency.
Mark Menn noted that after the tax anticipation warrants are paid back, the ambulance fund would be short on funds for the next year. Pilkington said she would only take the tax advance as needed. If it is not used, it would be there for the future.
Andrew Asbury asked about other line of credit options. It was explained these would all have to be paid back with interest, just the same.
“This is the option that has the least red tape,” Asbury said.
Current accounts receivable are $225,000, from unpaid ambulance service billing. However, many of those bills are to Medicare or Medicaid and are paid at a rate of about half the billed amount. Pilkington said an average monthly income from ambulance calls is $51,000, and the payroll is around $65,000, depending on hours.
The ambulance has received a couple of grants earlier in the year.
EMS director, Jennifer Meeks, is working on information for the county Finance Committee about a possible sales tax increase to go for the ambulance service. This could be put to voters in June or November.
“I am seeing our health committee has to get on the stick and work out a long-term solution,” said Tom Rodgers. “We shouldn’t have been surprised that we are having a cash flow problem.”
The board voted down a resolution to approve monthly contractual write-offs of $61,491.21 for Medicare and Medicaid charges, and another $17,312.75 for bad debt to be turned over to a collection agency.
In other financial action, the board approved resolutions clarifying language in the employee health insurance plan, and allowing the county to reimburse employees up to $100 for a subscription to air evacuation coverage. In the case of an out of network air service, the county administrator could approve paying up to $20,000 in medical air transport charges.
The board approved issuing credit cards for each county department. These would help with on-line purchases and signing up for workshops and classes. One card would be issued to each department. The charges would be reconciled each month, before giving to the bill to the treasurer. Only budgeted items could be paid with the cards. There would be a $5,000 limit.
Approval of the sheriff’s union contract was delayed for a month, to work with the union on wording.
“Everything is in place, we just want to clean up the language,” explained Mark Menn.
The board approved a new agreement with DEVNET for server hardware and software.
The county and 9-1-1 will each pay half the cost of a new phone system at the Sheriff’s Office.
Director of Hancock County Public Transportation, Miranda Lambert, provided an agreement with the HCPT and Memorial Hospital. The hospital uses the HCPT vans to provide trips for some residents who need to come to the hospital.
An agreement was approved to dispose of several HCPT vehicles that need repairs and have been out of service. None of these agreements will cost the county.
Samantha Harnack, director of Hancock County Economic Development, reported to the board about changes she is making to the HCED website, www.growhancock.com. It is being updated in two phases, and will include a calendar of events for the whole county. Towns that do not have their own website can have a page on the HCED site.
The board extended the Illinois Electronics Recycling Program, which allows residents to bring paint and electronics for disposal to the county Highway Department building in Carthage on Fridays.
A resolution was approved related to the county website that requires more consistency with groups that want to put links to their businesses on the county site. Changes are happening in the ownership of the company that hosts the website.
The board approved the Highway Department paying up to $30,000 for a dump trailer.
Josh Dooley was appointed to fill a vacant term on the Niota Drainage board.