County Board approves AFSCME, insurance contracts

<span>After several rounds of discussion during the past few months, Randolph County has its new employee insurance providers.</span>

<span>The County Board agreed during its meeting on Friday to enter into a contract with Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust (ICRMT) and Snedeker Risk Management for liability and workman's compensation insurance.</span>

<span>The agreement will cost the county roughly $490,000 per year. ICRMT was one of two bidders for the contract, with Counties of Illinois Risk Management Agency (CIRMA) being the other.</span>

<span>Commissioner Dave Holder said the bids were "virtually identical."</span>

<span>"The question wasn't so much price, it was service and the types of things offered," he said.</span>

<span>ICRMT insures about half of the counties in the state, while Randolph County will be the 20th county for Snedeker Risk Management.</span>

<span>"They provide updated policy manuals and web-based training," said Randolph County Sheriff Shannon Wolff, who was in attendance at the meeting. "It's great for our department."</span>

<span>Finding a new insurance provider became necessary in April, when it was revealed that the Illinois Counties Insurance Trust - of which Randolph County was a member - was no longer financially viable.</span>

<span>"It was announced they would not be able to continue without recapitalizing the trust," Holder said.</span>

<span>In previous sessions of the County Board, Holder said that recapitalizing the trust could cost the county a $2.2 million share of a projected $5.5 million price tag.</span>

<span>Holder said on Friday that it was decided that it was no longer practical to continue and operations would be discontinued on Aug. 31, the trust's year-end date.</span>

<span>In other action, the board approved a new three-year contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union. The contract includes a 2.8 percent average salary increase for sheriff's deputies and process deputy unit courthouse security officers.</span>

<span>The new contract will expire November 30, 2017.</span>

<span>Ty Peterson, AFSCME Council 31 spokesman, said the county "negotiated in good faith." He later added that the meeting was his "swan song" as he is resigning as AFSCME spokesman.</span>

<span>Wolff said the new contract includes random drug testing. A list of all employees will be compiled and employees will be randomly picked twice a year to participate in the testing.</span>

<span>As its final order of business, the commissioners approved a resolution for a public hearing on a proposed county excessive noise ordinance to be held at Southwestern Illinois College in Red Bud on Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m.</span>

<span>Wolff and Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker are expected to be in attendance at the hearing.</span>

<span>"Folks will have to sign in to be heard, it won't be a debate," said Board Chairman Marc Kiehna, who added that people can also submit written testimony.</span>

<span>Walker is anticipated to speak about county ordinances versus city ordinances.</span>

<span>"I anticipate a good turnout and interest is high in that particular area," Kiehna said.</span>

Highway Department

<span>County Engineer Mike Riebeling reported to the board that the Rockwood road project is scheduled to start after Labor Day. It will remain open to traffic during the project, which includes culvert replacement and dirt work.</span>

<span>Riebeling said that due to the state's budget impasse, the county has not received its June allotment of motor fuel tax funds and will not receive any future allotments until a budget agreement is made.</span>

<span>Currently, the county is $45,000 short in those funds due to missed payments from the state. Board Chairman Marc Kiehna asked Riebeling if he has had to cut back on maintenance due to the budget mess.</span>

<span>"We're not at that point yet," Riebeling said.</span>

Roundup

<span>The commissioners approved delinquent tax resolutions in Sparta Township, Baldwin Township and Coulterville.</span>

<span>County Clerk Pat Laramore said new plat books are available in her office for $25. They were completed in-house with help from Christopher Martin and Peter Hubbard.</span>

<span>Dave Walter, with Land Resource Management, said the agency has published its Geographic Information Systems (GIS) maps online at the county's website (</span><span>www.randolphco.org</span><span>) in Land Resource Management's directory.</span>

<span>Properties are set up under township name. Clicking on the precinct name several times allow users to zoom in to a particular parcel.</span>

<span>"It will pretty much tell you everything you want to know about that piece of property," Walter said.</span>

<span>Laramore said officials are working on a new county website that will debut in October.</span>

<span>Commissioner Ronnie White said plans are in progress for a series of forums, to be held in conjunction with county chamber of commerce meetings, about helping existing businesses expand or attracting businesses that would support existing businesses.</span>

<span>"The idea is to raise the tax base so they don't have to raise taxes," he said.</span>

<span>General assistance for the period was $1,900. Randolph County Care Center was reported to have 63 residents.</span>

<span>The next meeting of the County Board is scheduled for Aug. 28 at 9 a.m. at the Randolph County Courthouse.</span>

<span> </span>