The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen, Quill Correspondent
Hancock County employees will receive salaries based on their years of service with the county. At the regular county board meeting June 17, the board approved a plan effective July 1.
The proposal would consider the employees’ years of service in setting pay, and those years would be honored for employees who move from one county department to another.
Employees who are now above the proposed salary schedule, based on years, will not get a cost of living increase until their years of service meet the proposed wage schedule.
Michelle Monroe, a resident, spoke in support of the salary proposal.
During public comments, Jordan Hawes of Hamilton announced he is a candidate for Hancock County Sheriff in the 2026 election. Hawes has lived in the area all his life, and served as a law enforcement officer in Warsaw, Hamilton and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. He is currently a special investigations officer in Macomb. Hawes serves as a member of the Hamilton Unit District school board.
A public hearing for site approval of a proposed solar energy facility in Prairie Township was held. Alex Farkes, owner of 22C Development LLC, was unable to attend and was represented by his attorney and engineer.
The project is on farmland belonging to Lynn and Judy McGaughey about one mile west of Carthage along County Road 1500N. The project, called 1500th Sun, LLC, would generate up to 3.9 megawatts.
Following the hearing the Carthage site was approved.
The board approved an added charge to W.L. Miller Co., for the completion of the Connable Road project, which took longer than the contracted 80 working days. Miller was charged $2,000 per day for 19 additional working days to complete the project this spring.
A 90-day extension was approved to submit the circuit clerk’s annual audit to the Administrative Office of Accountability.
The board approved paying an invoice from the Hancock County Veterinary Clinic for work related to a dog bite incident, quarantine, and euthanasia of the animal. A bill will be sent to the dog owner.
Since there is not currently an assistant state’s attorney, the board approved allowing State’s Attorney Bobi James to hire outside counsel as needed for some county legal issues.
In other business, the board: