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Randolph County rolls out property fraud alert service

Posted October 24, 2015 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler Staff Writer

A new property fraud alert service is coming to Randolph County, and it's free.

During Friday's meeting of the Randolph County Board of Commissioners, County Clerk/Recorder Pat Laramore announced an online subscription service, "Property Fraud Alert," that will allow members of the public to have their name/property monitored within the clerk's office.

That monitoring will allow property owners to be notified when the name they have submitted is used in any recording activities within the office. Laramore said this is to help prevent any fraudulent activity from occurring.

"This is one of the biggest fraud protection services in the area," Laramore said.

When subscribing to the service, people will have the option of choosing two notification methods - email or telephone call.

"It's just another way for Randolph County to give back to the people," Laramore said. "I'm excited about it."

Laramore said that while the service does not prevent fraud from occurring, it does provide an early warning system for property owners to take appropriate action in the event fraudulent activity has taken place.

"It does not stop me from recording the document, but it does give you enough notice to stop it if anything happens," Laramore said.

Property owners can sign up for Property Fraud Alert online at www.propertyfraudalert.com/randolphil or by calling 1-800-728-3858. You can also call the clerk's office at 618-826-5000 ext. 191 with inquiries.

Also during Friday's meeting, the commissioners were introduced to new 4-H extension program coordinator Wil Bingman and received the University of Illinois Extension's annual report and impacts from Lynn Heins.

Heins is the county extension director for Unit 26, which includes Randolph, Franklin, Jackson, Perry and Williamson counties.

Bingman, who resides in Steeleville, is a Southern Illinois University graduate from Carmi with a degree in criminal justice. He credited his mother with getting him involved in 4-H.

"4-H is a great career," he said. "It gave a lot to me growing up and I want to give back to the kids."

During her presentation to the board, Heins said the extension's theme is to "communicate our public value."

"I feel every dollar in Extension is an investment," she said. "The greater good that we do that serves not only our local communities, but also our state."

Heins said one out of every 20 people in the area are participating in 4-H, with eight 4-H clubs in Randolph County.

Bingman said a new science club has recently started in Coulterville and 4-H offers more than 200 project areas to choose from.

"Studies show that youth who grow up in 4-H are more likely to contribute to their community, go to college and vote," she said.

The final item on the agenda was an update on the infrastructure renewal project, which is scheduled for a Thursday viewing at 1 p.m.

"Engineers and leaders of Honeywell will lay out plans for upgrading the HVAC equipment," said Commissioner Dave Holder.

Holder said that contractors will be looking at the plans to propose prices to the County Board and those prices will help determine whether the project is completed in phases or all at once.

"We're just in the initial phases of how we get this done," Kiehna said.

Roundup

• General assistance for the period was $1,206.03. The Randolph County Care Center was reported to have 64 residents.

• County Engineer Mike Riebeling reported his agency has received its new dump truck and was attaching a snowplow to it.

Public Comment

• Randolph County Economic Development Coordinator Chris Martin reported on the recent launch of the website for the Kaskaskia Cahokia Trail (www.kctrailillinois.org). The trail includes Chester, Ellis Grove, Prairie du Rocher and Modoc.

The Randolph County Progress Committee is hosting the website, which Martin designed.

"I think it is a good legacy for you guys," he told the commissioners. "It's something we can all leave behind."

Health Dept.

• Randolph County Health Department Administrator Tom Smith reported on his agency's fiscal year 2016 budget, which showed total direct costs at $867,417 to go along with $880,558 in revenue.

Smith said some parts of his agency, like clinics, communicable diseases, sewage, food and water services, are supported by a Local Health Protection Grant. The grant brings in $63,500 for Randolph County, but is now frozen because of the state's budget impasse.

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