The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen, Quill correspondent
Kolton Johnson was recognized with the Jim Drozdz Hancock County Officer of the Year award at the beginning of the Hancock County Board meeting June 20. (pictures and separate story was in last week's Quill.)
Deputy Josh Smith read his nomination of Johnson for the award and made the announcement in the presence of many law enforcement officers from around the county.
“The award is based on qualities that exemplify what Jim stood for,” according to Smith. “Chief of these are performance and service to the community.”
Each department administrator of the county and city police departments can make a nomination. A panel including the sheriff, county police chiefs, state’s attorney and state police make the final selection for the award.
More awards were presented by Sheriff Travis Duffy (also in last week's Quill).
An agreement between Hancock County and the Village of Basco was approved at the meeting. The plan works to correct problems of flooding that occurred along Main Street in Basco after work was completed on the street last year.
Improvements were started in 2015, with an agreement between Basco and the county, to make the street into an 80,000-pound roadway. Most of the cost was paid with federal funds.
The project included work by Dallas Rural Water District, Nicor, and the Hancock County Highway Department with engineering design by Poepping Stone Bach Associates.
In the process, problems arose with flooding by surface water in ditches and yards. Widening of the street created narrower, deeper ditches that were difficult for homeowners to mow, according to county engineer, Elgin Berry.
Debris plugged drains that were supposed to take the water away. A sidewalk was removed in anticipation of work by Nicor, and a driveway was blocked.
In recent months, the county has worked with Basco officials and homeowners, and with the businesses involved in the project to reach an agreement.
Designer PSBA has helped to correct design problems. Storm sewer pipes will be laid into the ditches and covered, which should make the ditches more shallow for homeowners and remove excess water. The new agreement between Basco and the County splits the $23,281.37 cost of laying and covering the storm sewer.
The sidewalk will be replaced by Nicor. Dallas Rural Water and the county will split the cost of labor and materials for relocating a water hydrant.
The board approved buying two used ambulances at a cost of $129,000 each. These are 2012, diesel ambulances from Fenton Fire in California, each with less than 20,000 miles. They will replace an ambulance with 238,000 miles, and another ambulance that needs a new engine.
A recently approved transfer agreement with Memorial Hospital, back dated to January 2023, includes a $112,000 reimbursement, which will be used to pay for some of the new ambulance cost. ARPA funds, received during the pandemic, will be used toward further payment.
The board approved purchase of three laptops to go in ambulances for charting patient care. These will be purchased from Full Speed Computers in Carthage for $935 each. The county has received a Workman’s Compensation rebate for steps taken to increase employee safety. Payment for the computers will be taken from these funds.
Lainey Sullivan, a member of the Hancock County 4-H Federation, spoke to the board about local 4-Hers, their activities and the upcoming 4-H Fair in July. She thanked the county board for their support of Hancock County 4-H.
The board approved salary adjustments for the state’s attorney, sheriff and public defender, based on requirements by the state.
The board approved appointment of Rex Johnson as trustee to the Dallas Rural Water District. Brad Hopping was appointed to Tri-County Fire Protection District.
A 2002 dump truck and a snow plow were declared as surplus so they can be sold at auction.