State's Attorney Talks County Out of Another Layer of Government
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Perry County commissioners Thursday stopped short of adding another layer of government to what it does.
Commissioners had on their agenda discussion of the formation of ad hoc committees to discuss and deal with both health insurance and personnel policy.
However, as discussions began State's Attorney David Stanton recommended that the board instead appoint commissioners to look into and handle any topics or concerns in regard to health insurance and personnel policy without the added layer of another committee.
Stanton advised it would be prudent for the sake of saving the county time and possibly money. If a committee were formed, meetings would have to be scheduled and have taped minutes. Public notices for the meetings of the committees would also have been required.
Chairman Bobby Kelly was appointed to manage health insurance and commissioner Sam Robb was appointed to oversee and recommend changes in personnel policy.
Other discussions and approvals included:
Approved the amended budgets for the county road fund and unit road district fund.
After a recommendation from a recent audit, the line item 'fringe benefits' was changed in both funds. In the county road fund it was changed to "tort liability/worker's compensation" and in the unit road district fund it was changed to "health insurance fund."
Approved the ratification of the chairman's appointment of a member to the Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council. The board kept Vanessa Worthington in the position.
Approved the ratification of the chairman's appointments of two members to the Emergency Telephone System (911) Board. The board kept Jim Grafton for one position and replaced former commissioner Lora Booker with commissioner Epplin.
Approved the ratification of the employment of Mario Dolce for the unit road district.
Perry County solid waste manager Rebecca Tracy commented on clean-up plans for spring. A rock road on the northeast side of Route 13 as well as Cheetah Road both are in need of a major clean up. There are also many creeks in the county that need cleaned up due to illegal dumping over bridges. Tracy said that it is an opportunity for community service or volunteer work.
Tracy also made note that she had received many complaints about people being outside of geographic range for trash service. She plans to look into a solution.
The solid waste manager also wants to tell all of Perry County that burning trash inside is illegal: both in our communities and in the unincorporated areas. Tracy said that many people argue that they are outside city limits when they are cited, but that county ordinance still prohibits all such burning.
County Highway engineer Doug Bishop commented on a coal mine subsidence in Oxbow subdivision, just west of Pinckneyville. There was damage to at least two houses and garages, and Bishop warned that old underground coal mines exist all across the county and to make sure that those in subsidence-prone areas should check if your insurance will cover any damage to your home.