LeeAnn Lambert was named to represent District 5 on the Hancock County board at their regular meeting Nov. 19. She was recommended by the Hancock County Republican Committee.
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen, Quill Correspondent
LeeAnn Lambert was named to represent District 5 on the Hancock County board at their regular meeting Nov. 19. She was recommended by the Hancock County Republican Committee.
Lambert has served in education for many years, in the past three years as principal for Missouri Connections Academy, a virtual school. She was previously a high school biology teacher and taught for many years at the middle school level.
Lambert is CEO and co-founder of the Outreach Center for youth on the square in Carthage, with her husband, Darin.
They are operate Victory Signs & Co. in the rear of the Outreach Center building.
Lambert was appointed to the board following the resignation of Patsy Davis, which was accepted during the same meeting.
The board expressed appreciation for Davis’s service, dilligence and work behind the scenes during her tenure on the board.
The board approved a contract with Gary Twist to continue in the supervisor of assessments office during November and December as needed. The new supervisor, Michael McVey, is slated to begin Nov. 25. Twist will help with the orientation for McVey. A resolution with details of McVey’s contract was approved.
The board approved two more sitings for solar energy facilities in the county, both presented by Alex Farkes of 22C, following public hearings on the sites.
Highway 94 Sun LLC will provide up to 5 megawatts of power to the Carthage Ameren substation. It will be two miles south of Carthage on 45 acres of land owned by Terry and Janet Geissler.
CR-900 Sun LLC will provide up to 3 megawatts of power to the Niota substation. It is just south of Rt. 96 on County Road 900E on land owned by Randy Douglas and farmed by Bob Ziegler. Farkes has leased 25 acres, however he told the board the project will likely be around 17 acres.
Jake Johnson of Bellwether said both projects have complied with all the regulations set by Illinois and Hancock County.
In answer to board questions, Farkes said the panels are made in the U.S. and have a 25 to 30 year warranty. There is a panel recycling facility in Indiana. The glass and aluminum are recyclable, and all other materials are non-hazardous. All power created by the projects will be transmitted into the Ameren grid. There is no power storage at the sites.
The board approved the county budget, the county levy and the county ambulance budget for Fiscal Year 25, which begins Dec. 1, 2024.
According to finance committee chairman, Wayne Bollin, the budget is balanced. It includes a 4 percent increase for county employee salaries.
There is a 3.6 percent increase over the FY24 budget. The levy dollar request is 5 percent above last year’s levy.
Bollin said that the committee goes over every line item more than once and meets every department head more than once.
Working with Bellwether has streamlined the process but the committee continues to work as it has in the past.
“Their work does not take the place of our work,” Bollin said.
“I think it is important that everybody on this board knows where the numbers are and where they came from. When we talk to the tax payers we are satisfied we have done the right thing.”
Board chairman Mark Menn urged all board members to become familiar with the details of the budget, and not to hesitate to ask questions about the budget.
The board approved paying any remaining bills in November to keep expenses in the proper fiscal year.
The board approved purchase of 15 body cameras for deputies and 11 car cameras. These must be in place according to state regulations by Jan. 1
Sheriff Travis Duffy had told the finance committee the county should receive a grant for these. One body cam and one car cam will be purchased from the county for use in Warsaw.
The quote from Motorola for body cams is $34,185. The car cams will cost $37,780.
The salary of the director for Hancock County Public Transportation was approved at $2,500 per year. The bid for the ambulance building went to Straightline Construction, with the project to be completed by May 24, 2025. EMS needs to be out of the current building by June 30, 2025.
Temporary weight restrictions were approved for county roads, which can be posted if required during the freezing and thawing periods of the winter. Roads can be posted for up to 90 days as needed.
A resolution was passed related to the local bridge formula program.
The administrative agreement with Bellwether has been approved.
The Connable Road project has used 72 out of 80 working days allowed in the contract. The asphalt, striping, and shoulders still need to be done. A day of 50 degrees and rising with no fog or rain is considered a working day.
An insurance proposal from Ryan Ramsey was approved.
The resolution regarding the appellate prosecutor was approved.
One ambulance was declared as surplus property. Bids for the ambulance will be opened Dec. 2.
Viewing rights of circuit clerk accounts was approved for Sara Leffler.
The Hancock Building Commission lease for county buildings was approved at the same rate as last year.
Kenneth Royer was appointed as trustee to the West Point Fire Department.
Mark Menn was appointed for a five-year term with the Hancock Building Commission.