State: Perry County Properties Fairly Assessed
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Supervisor of Assessments John Batteau announced that the Department of Revenue has issued the Perry County a tentative equalization factor of 1.0. He's hoping to receive an equally favorable final multiplier within the next two weeks.
As soon as the final multiplier is issued, County Clerk Kevin Kern and Treasurer Bill Taylor can complete their portions of the tax process and get the bills in the mail.
The board briefly discussed the possibility using an insurance broker to handle the bidding process for property casualty and worker's compensation insurance. Commissioner Sam Robb said that the cost of using a broker varies. The 'cadillac' plan under which the broker handles the entire process and beyond costs $28,000.
There was a difference of about $135,000 between the two bids received by the county last year, Board Chairman Bobby Kelly said. The board, at that time, chose the more expensive bid.
Commissioner Jim Epplin said that hiring a broker is a waste of taxpayer money. He added that the County Board has handled insurance bids for as long as the county has existed without paying a broker.
"It seems like double dipping to me," Epplin said.
Robb said that he has had difficulty getting office holders to help prepare the bids.
The issue will be placed on the agenda for action at the next meeting.
The board will advertise for bids for electrical service providers before the next meeting. Nick Hill of Select Energy presented a proposal that would save the County $3,000 over the next year if they switched to Direct Energy as their supplier for all three county buildings. Ameren would still service the lines. Hill said that the county pays Ameren 6.7 cents now. Direct Energy charges only 6.3 cents.Hill said that deregulation allows commercial and municipalities to choose their energy suppliers. Several local municipalities and hospitals have made the change or are in the process of accepting bids.
State's Attorney David Stanton pointed out that any contract worth more than $20,000 has to be bid. He volunteered to place the ad advertising for bids. Bids can be opened at the next meeting.
Stanton also volunteered to send a memo to all office holders asking that they submit any budget changes to Kern by Friday, Aug. 28.
Amending the budget to reflect the approximately $300,000 in repairs being made to the jail roof is necessary. Sheriff Keith Kellerman said he would speak to the county's auditors to determine how the repair bills should be handled.
"I have the money," he said. "I just don't know which line item to use."
John Parkinson of Image Architects said that he is almost ready to solicit bids for the roof repair at the jail. He hopes to open bids Sept. 15. The contractor will have to show that they have all materials for the project within easy reach before any repairs can begin.
"We want to minimize any shut down at the jail," Parkinson said. The roof and lights on the east wing will be replaced.
In other business, the board:
-- formed an committee, headed by Commissioner Jim Epplin to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on offering early retirement incentives to employees. Sheriff Keith Kellerman and Stanton said they have both been approached by employees about early retirement. They volunteered to sit on the committee.
-- passed a resolution adopting a multi-hazard mitigation plan. The plan is necessary for the county to receive future grant funds for mitigation. The overall plan addresses how responders should handle both man-made and natural disasters in the county. Emergency Service Providers from all over Perry County participated in creating the plan. Mapping was done by SIU. Municipalities within the county will also be asked to accept the plan, Ike Kirkikis said. His team put together the draft of the plan, which has been approved by FEMA.
-- passed an ordinance approving a zoning change from Ag to Commercial for five acres on the south side of Route 154 neighboring the Nine Mile Baptist Church. The property is owned by Loretta and David Cloninger. The change will allow the Cloningers to open a business similar to a machine shop.
-- passed a resolution approving a special use permit for Nicky Z. Giacomo and Sheila Keast to place a mobile home on a lot in Winkle, owned by Pete Giacomo. The mobile home will replace an older model.
-- heard from Greg Hensler that he would like to change the name on his special use permit to reflect the name of the limited liability company he and his father, Jim, have formed on the advice of their attorney. The permit asks permission to open the North Town RV Park north of Pinckneyville on Bethel Church Road. Zoning Administrator Jeff Ashauer said that only the County Board can approve a change to a permit application once it has been filed. Hensler was told that the issue will be placed on the Sept. 3 agenda for action.
-- heard from Rita Schwebel that the zoning board rejected her special use permit application to build a daycare and garage on her property. Ashauer said that the zoning board tabled the issue. The issue holding up the permit approval is how far the zoning board is willing to reduce setback requirements for the garage. The standard setback requirement is 35 feet. Ashauer indicated that the board would be willing to reduce he requirement to 18'6". Schwebel and her contractor, Theodore Buccini of Custom Remodeling and Construction want a setback of only 12'6". The board has no authority to act. The Zoning Board must approve of deny the special use permit. Even if the permit is denied, Schwebel's only recourse would be to appeal the ruling in court.
-- announced that the Sheriff's Department has received a $12,000 Community Facility Grant throught the USDA's Rural Development program. The funds will be used to purchase a new squad car.