The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
JoySwearingen, Quill correspondent
The Hancock County board received three bids to buy the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) building and ambulance barn in Carthage, which was offered for sale earlier this year.
The board rejected all bids, because they all fell outside the bid specifications, each having additional stipulations not in the bid specs.
“I have concerns for taking bids that are outside the scope of the provisions,” said State’s Attorney, Bobbi James.
“With the competitive bidding process, if you go outside those provisions there may have been someone else who would have submitted a bid.”
Bids were from Adrienne Jacquot, Ryan Jacquot and the Hancock Building Commission. James advised that they could now enter into negotiations with individual bidders.
“You have done what you can do, you have taken bids, and none of them came in as you wanted,” James said. “If at this point, you can enter into negotiations with someone, then it is okay.”
Following the vote to reject the bids, board president Mark Menn appointed a committee of Wayne Bollin and Andrew Asbury to negotiate with Ryan Jacquot in the purchase of the buildings as high bidder.
The property was appraised at $355,000, and the sale price must be at least 80 percent of the appraisal, or $284,000.
The county is selling the EMS building and ambulance barn to help alleviate the deficits in the ambulance service budget. Provisions in the bid request stated the county EMS would have the right to lease the buildings for up to three years at a set cost of $15,000 per year.
In other EMS discussion, Health and Miscellaneous committee chairman, Andrew Asbury, said he and Aaron Feigain, EMS director, have been talking with groups in the county about the tax rate referendum that is on the April 4 ballot.
In other business, the board learned that the Sheriff’s Office is down several squad vehicles, and has a long wait for the new vehicle that is on order.
The board approved purchase of a used Ford Explorer from Carson Motors for $39,002.
Some of the sheriff department equipment from cars no longer able to be used will go into this vehicle.
A technology grant was received by the circuit clerk’s office for $231,000. This will be used for new software, a new copier and courtroom technology. It should be ready to use by April 3.
Land acquisition agreements along the Connable Road were approved. The county is improving and widening the south half of the road to the required width of 24-feet, using ARPA federal funds. A small portion of land from property along the road will be taken to accomplish the work.
The board approved the two agreements for grants which provide most of the funds for the Hancock County Transportation System.
The 5311 agreement (assistance for rural counties) provides $64,104, which is an increase from 2022. The Downstate Operating Assistance Program (DOAP) provides $205,238. The local matching portion for these grants comes from contracts for transportation with Memorial Hospital, Mental Health Centers of Western Illinois, and the WCIA Agency on Aging.
A credit card was approved for the use of Jeff Dedey, doing part time IT work for the county. Purchase of a network rack on the third floor of the courthouse for IT equipment was approved.
A resolution was approved giving support for Illinois and Hancock County agriculture.