Sangamon Sun

Hancock County Finance, Fees and Salaries Committee met March 13

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The meeting was called to order by committee chair Wayne Bollin at 9:00 a.m. Members in attendance included Dennis Castlebury, Joe Boyles, Alex Blythe, Steve Lucie, and Mark Menn. Harry Douglas and Lee Ann Lambert were absent. Visitors included Keara Weber, Kris Pilkington, Bobi James, Mike McVey, and Jeff Totten.

Ms. James discussed a couple of bills that she had from the previous trial. There were a couple of expert witnesses. This will put her expert witness line item over budget. The board said this can be adjusted at the end of the year. Ms. Weber’s office has a contract for a collection company to collect the circuit clerk’s unpaid fines. The collection company can set up automatic payments. There is a collection fee of 30% which will be collected back through the payment of fines.

Ms. Weber stated her clearing account is set up. There was discussion regarding whether her office needed to have 2 signers on checks. She has reached out to AOIC and the auditor and they stated she does not need a second signer. It was discussed that this is a check and balance type of thing. Bellwether will be looking into this. Ms. Weber will have her checks co-signed until the board hears back from Justin.

She has been approved for her court modernization grant. She will be getting a whole building generator and a flat back scanner so as to not have to send the old documents through the upright scanner. Some of the paper is very fragile.

Mr. McVey  stated the ESRI software is being discontinued March 2026. Bruce Harris has a proposal for a ArcGIS Pro Parcel Fabric Conversion. It will be 100% paid by the GIS fund. The GAMA system was installed on Tuesday. He put in the 2024 sales and looks accurate. Motion to approve the ArcGIS Pro Parcel Fabric Conversion pending Ms. James review was made by Mr. Lucie, seconded by Mr. Castlebury. A roll call vote was taken with all members present voting “yes”. Motion carried.

Mr. Totten went over the ESDA and flood plain reports. There is a strong storm heading through the county on Friday afternoon/evening that they are keeping an eye on.

Ms. Pilkington went over the financial reports. She is hoping to get tax bills sent out a month earlier than last year.

Mr. Lucie stated there is a house bill 2515 where they are trying to eliminate township government.

Mr. Menn stated Ada Bair from Memorial Hospital asked if the board would be interested in having an informational dinner. This will be brought up at the meeting on the 18th. It was asked if this could happen after June.

Claims were gone over. Motion to pay the claims was made by Mr. Blythe, seconded by Mr. Boyles. A roll call vote was taken with all members present voting “yes”. Motion carried.

Motion to recess until March 18 at 4 p.m. was made by Mr. Boyles. Mr. Blythe seconded the motion. All members present voted aye. Meeting adjourned at 10:53 a.m.

https://hancockcounty-il.gov/finance-minutes-march-2025/