The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen, Quill Correspondent
Adams County EMS is officially managing day-to-day operations of the Hancock County Ambulance service.
At their meeting March 22, Hancock County board and former EMS director, Jennifer Meeks, approved and signed a separation agreement for her employment. In addition, the resolution naming Adam Doellman as interim director expired as of March 22, and was not renewed, leaving no current EMS director for Hancock County.
At a special meeting March 16, the Hancock County board and Adams County approved an intergovernmental agreement for Adams County provide assistance in managing routine operations of the Hancock County service. The agreement runs through Nov. 30.
John Simon, chief of Adams County EMS, reported that Hancock and Adam counties are working “as a team” during the transitional period.
The Adams County command team may work to guide and direct crews, set and maintain schedules, work with billing, give staff development, assure proper maintenance of ambulances, and other duties in lieu of an EMS director.
According to the agreement with Meeks, her responsibilities end March 31, and she will continue her pay through April 15. The agreement allows her to file for unemployment after that time if she chooses.
Salaries set
The board approved salaries for county positions that are up for election in June. The new salaries will go into effect at the beginning of FY23 on Dec. 1, 2022. The salaries include a $3,500 increase, plus a 3 percent increase in the three following years.
The salary for the Hancock County Sheriff will be $71,995. The salary for the Hancock County Clerk and Recorder is $60,340. The salary for the Hancock County Treasurer is $60,340.
The salary for the appointed Supervisor of Assessments is $61,440. Casey Livingston of LaHarpe will take over for Dale Bolton on June 1.
Approves 9 Resolutions
The board approved a series of nine resolutions, required to continue the Hancock County Transportation system. They include steps to apply for a Section 5311 Grant, and the Downstate Operating Assistance Program.
Miranda Lambert, director of the Hancock County Transportation System, explained the service and answered questions for the board.
“These are the grants that let us do what we do,” said Lambert, who also directs the McDonough County system.
The transportation system does not require funds from the county. It operates with grant funds.
The matching funds needed for these grants come from contracts for service with Memorial Hospital, Mental Health Centers of Western Illinois, and the West Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging.
This van service provides door-to-door transportation to clients of the three contract services, as well as anyone who calls in advance to arrange a ride in Hancock County, as available. Rides are also given for non-emergency medical trips within a two-hour drive. For more details, call 877-371-4278.
The board approved renaming a county committee the “Building, Grounds, Safety and Insurance Committee.” It was pointed out that OSHA requires the county to have a safety committee. The board merged safety committee concerns into the existing committee for building, grounds and insurance.
The board approve the purchase of a ballot-on-demand printing system from Election Systems and Software for a total of $9,975, which includes $1,700 in training County Clerk Holly Wilde-Tillman recommended the system which gives the county ability to print ballots locally.
A preliminary engineering agreement with Cummins Engineering was approved for a road in Carthage Township. The road work could qualify for federal safety funding that may be released later this year, provided the initial engineering is complete.
Veterans Program
Deb Whitaker of Warsaw gave the board information on the progress of the first annual Veteran’s Garden Day, Saturday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hamilton Community Center.
The day is designed to celebrate and honor Veteran’s by providing seeds, fertilizer, plants, gardening resources, and a lunch to Hancock County veteran’s and their families.
To volunteer to help with the event, email seedsofhonor2022@gmail.com or call 319-795-8694.