The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen, Quill Correspondent
The Hancock County Board received a long list of possible risk management classes that could be taken by county employees, during their regular meeting on March 18.
Nick Irmeger representing Bliss-McKnight was present at the meeting and reviewed the purpose of risk management services. The classes are provided free of charge for training purposes by the insurance company.
“The purpose of the training is try and limit the amount of liability claims the county has. More claims mean higher insurance costs,” Irmeger said.
The board approved requiring officeholders to select three classes each year that would benefit their employees. The courses come in many different forms, such as in-person classes, podcasts, surveys, model policies and handbooks. Irmeger will teach the in-person classes.
They cover a wide variety of topics such as workplace safety for construction sites, driver safety, hazmat safety, customer service, legal and human resources guidelines, and general workplace safety. Some are more specific such as firearm simulation, operating a snow plow, or mowing safety.
“The training has a two-fold approach,” Irmeger said. “We teach them on individual topics that can lead to liability concerns.
“A lot of these are primarily focused at drivers, your highway departments, police departments, teaching people where that liability is. They don’t think about it until something bad happens. I try to get out ahead of that.”
Secondly, he said building these relationships and awareness can lead employees to come and ask questions prior to making decisions or taking actions.
The county and township bituminous material and culvert bids needed for 2025 were opened March 12. The following were approved as low bids or having no alternative bids:
The board approved several resolutions related to the Hancock County Transportation System to allow for Section 5311 and Downstate Operating Assistance Program state grants to operate the system.
In other action, the board approved purchase of the ARCGIS Parcel Fabric Conversion system to replace an older mapping system. It is paid by Geographic Information System funds.
The board approved requiring two signatures on checks issued from the Office of Circuit Clerk. The second signature should be the office holder or an authorized signer from the County Treasurer’s or County Clerk’s office. This requirement is currently procedure in other departments.
Ryan Weeks was appointed as the noxious weed superintendent. Mike Moore was appointed to a three-year term as trustee for the Blandinsville-Hire Fire Protection District.
Membership was continued in the Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network.
A resolution was approved that all Workers Compensation claims must go through the County Clerk’s office before being submitted through insurance.