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Randolph County board makes appointments

As is tradition with the start of the new fiscal year, the Randolph County commissioners made several appointments to various boards.

The commissioners appointed Clyde Boyd to fill a vacancy, expiring May 31, 2019, on the Sparta Community Airport Authority. They appointed Chester Animal Hospital veterinarian Jodi Bainter to replace Daniel Schupp as the county's Animal Control director.

"We sure appreciate his services," said County Board Chairman Ronnie White of Schupp. "We think (Bainter) will do a great job."

Mike Hoelscher was reappointed as the county's EMA coordinator, with Nancy Schilling and Rick Grah to serve once again as assistants.

Other appointments were Cindy Jones (General Assistance administrator), David Walter (Land Resource Management administrator) and Bruce Cowell (Animal Control warden).

All the appointments, with the exception of Boyd, are one-year terms expiring Dec. 1, 2018.

In other news, Stephanie Martin announced she had been appointed as the permanent Randolph County Health Department administrator by the county Board of Health at its Nov. 28 meeting.

The Illinois Department of Public Health approved her as an administrator on Sept. 20.

Martin was appointed interim administrator of the department in March based upon the recommendation of retiring administrator Thomas Smith. In a news release announcing Martin's appointment, the county board of health stated it will negotiate a contract with Martin after a collective bargaining agreement with Local 399 International Union of Operating Engineers is completed.

The current collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 31.

Martin noted that her department is seeking bids for cleaning and air conditioning/heating services at the health department office.

During public comment, the commissioners brought up online sales tax and whether the county gets a share of it when county residents make an internet purchase.

"Online sales tax, that's a real problem," said Randolph County Economic Development Coordinator Chris Martin. "That makes it more important to shop local."

The commissioners were asked if they had heard anything about Dave Rednour's proposed gun range on County Line Road across from Knight Hawk Coal's property outside of Percy.

Commissioner Marc Kiehna stated they had not and had recently sent a letter to Rednour asking for an update.

Kiehna was also asked if there was anything new regarding the proposed UTV ordinance for the county.

"Until there is a change in Illinois law, I don't think there will be a change here," he said.

General assistance for the period was $500. The Randolph County Care Center was reported to have 69 residents.

The next meeting of the board is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Dec. 15.