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County Board approves new fees for civil trial juries

Posted July 01, 2015 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler The Herald Tribune

CHESTER -- In response to a new state law that took effect on June 1, the Randolph County Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance on Thursday that raises the fee for any party demanding a jury trial in civil court cases to $212.50.

The law, which was signed by former Gov. Pat Quinn in December 2014, raised the pay jurors receive in return for their services and also reduced the number of jurors in civil trial cases from 12 to six.

According to media reports, only 12 states require a 12-person jury for civil cases.

"All criminal cases will continue to have 12-person trials," said Randolph County Circuit Clerk Sherry Johnson. "We probably have, at the most, three civil jury trials (per year) and an average of zero to one."

Prior to the law, juror compensation varied from county-to-county statewide, with Randolph County jurors being paid $10 per day and 10 cents per mile to travel from their home to the courthouse.

The law changes compensation to $25 for the first day and $50 for each additional day they are needed.

"Part of the reason (for the fee increase) is the cost the county is going to pay for a jury has increased and this will help offset that cost," Johnson said.

Simple math suggests a civil jury would cost the county $1,350 in compensation for a five-day trial. Johnson said the average length of a civil trial in the county is two or three days, with the longest she's seen lasting two weeks.

"Everybody's going to the $212.50 fee," Johnson said, referring to other counties. "All this (revenue) goes to the General Fund."

The commissioners also approved an ordinance that establishes a separate fee of $150 for alternate jurors.

"That's something new they never had to pay for," Johnson said. "They will have to now."

In other action, the commissioners approved a new three-year contract with Homefield Energy, which establishes the electric rate at 5.910 cents per kilowatt.

The deal, brokered by Select Energy Partners, begins in August and runs through August 2018.

"We're anticipating there will be a significant increase (in electric costs) and thought it would be good to lock it in and have some stability in our electric rates in the next three years," said Commissioner Ronnie White.

The commissioners approved two special use permits, one for fireworks and the other for "Horrorland" in Modoc, which had been tabled during the board's previous meeting on June 19 in order to clarify the requested dates on the application.

The commissioners granted a two-year permit (which covers October 2016 and October 2017) for Laurie Umbdenstock, with the requirement that Horrorland be torn down within 30 days after the event concludes each year.

The Halloween-themed event, which is run by reportedly 40 volunteers, will run every weekend in October, ending October 30.

Finally, the commissioners approved a raffle license for St. Patrick Church in Ruma. No specific date of the coat raffle was given other than the license expires Dec. 31.

Prior to adjournment, Commissioner David Holder updated the media on the county's progress on finding a new insurance provider.

"We have received two proposals on insurance coverage and we're evaluating those proposals," he said, adding a meeting has been scheduled for July 9 to further discuss the topic.

Holder said the county's largest areas of coverage involve the operations of the Randolph County Sheriff's Office and the Randolph County Care Center.

Board Chairman Marc Kiehna also commented on the recent security upgrades project to the entrance of the courthouse. With the exception of a few finishing touches, the project is complete.

Kiehna wished to publicly thank Quadrant Design architect Michael Schneider, Empire Earth and Concrete and others associated with the project for their work.

"It's nice to have good people doing the work for you," he said.

Roundup

The commissioners approved Dr. Patrick Miller, Mike Kennedy, Sue M. Odle, Denise Ebers and Ken Buch to the Randolph County Board of Health. Ebers and Buch were approved on one-year terms, while the others had three-year terms.

The Randolph County Care Center was reported to have 64 residents.

Randolph County Engineer Mike Riebeling reported new intersection signs have been installed on New Palestine Road at Shawneetown Trail.

Randolph County Health Department Administrator Thomas Smith commented on a recent Letter to the Editor regarding the state's budget impasse by the Illinois Public Health Association.

"I don't think we're greatly affected by that," Smith said. "Some of the other administrators are glad contracts weren't signed."

General assistance for the period was $1,500, plus $3,079 in expenses. The next meeting of the Board of Commissioners is July 17 at 9 a.m. at the Randolph County Courthouse.

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