Sangamon Sun

Hancock County Finance, Fees and Salaries Committee met June 12

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The meeting was called to order by committee chair Wayne Bollin at 8:57 a.m. Members in attendance included Harry Douglas, Dennis Castlebury, Lee Ann Lambert, Alex Blythe, and Mark Menn. Steve Lucie and Joe Boyles were absent. Visitors included Chad Stewart, Keith Krohe, Jeff Dedey, Kris Pilkington, Mike McVey, and Holly Wilde-Tillman.

Mr. Stewart spoke to the committee about the necessity of being a non-sanctuary county and the 287 (g) program which enhances ICE’s collaboration with state and local law enforcement. Mr. Menn stated that the board has a resolution that they are in the process of amending to make it stricter.

There was lengthy discussion regarding salaries of the courthouse employees. There is a proposal that Bellwether has came up with. Mr. Douglas stated this is the time to level the playing field. He asked if there has been any employee compensation since the last meeting. Ms. Wilde-Tillman updated the committee of her salary increases and would like to get the 4 county employees up to comparable wage for their years of service. Mr. Castlebury asked about overtime. Ms. Wilde-Tillman stated she only has overtime during election. Stephanie Swisegood has comp time from her evening meetings and does not get overtime pay. Ms. Pilkington does not give her office overtime, they get a little extra compensation on their paycheck. She has never been over budget on her salary line item. Mr. Castlebury made a motion to approve the salary schedule, move the 4 employees up to a comparable wage beginning July 1, and only the salary line item can be used for salaries, inter-courthouse hiring wages will be honored. The employees who are above the proposed salary schedule will not get a COLA until their years of service meet the proposal wage. Mr. Douglas seconded. A roll call vote was taken with all members present voting “yes”. Motion carried. 

Mr. Krohe went over health plan 6-month comps. Last year the total fixed cost was at $201,795, this year $216,119.   Last years total plan cost was $390,713, this year $449,126. He believes it will be an 8% increase in maximum cost to the plan. The plan is currently running at 74% of the aggregate.

Mr. Bollin stated that he has been approached to put a bid in for redoing tile at a solar farm site. He asked Justin Greeley if there was a conflict in which Mr. Greeley stated no as this is not a county project. Mr. Bollin wanted transparency with the board.

Mr. McVey states he has 1 Board of Review member who did not show up for any meetings, would not answer any phone calls or emails. He would like to terminate him and hire a new member. This position needs to be somebody not affiliated with the republican party. Mr. Menn has asked local realtors if they know of anybody. Whoever is appointed has a year to pass the exam that will be taken in Springfield, the test is free. Gary Twist sent a proposal offering his service to review 26 convenience stores and gas stations in the county. The cost of the project compared to the amount of return may not benefit the county. Mr. Blythe motioned to send a letter of termination from the Board of Review to Troy Pierce, Mr. Douglas seconded. All members present voted aye.

Mr. Dedey thinks it is necessary to have a full-time IT employee for the county, whether it be him or somebody else. He believes this person would have more time to help the offices and finding grants. There are expensive IT supplies that he purchases with his credit card.  He would like to increase the maximum. Mr. Blythe made a motion to increase his maximum from $5000 to $7500. Ms. Lambert seconded. A roll call vote was taken with all members present voting “yes”.  Motion carried. Mr. Dedey will put together something budget-wise regarding a full-time employee.

Ms. Wilde-Tillman informed the board that Hancock Township has paid for the rerun of the ballots for their trustee position.  Ms. Wilde-Tillman and Ms. Pilkington are being sued along with 101 county clerks and treasurers in Illinois. They have been working with Ms. James regarding this. Other clerks are sending this to their liability insurance. They believe this will be a state issue and that the attorney general will take this on for the county clerks and treasurers.   She is looking into a new voter registration software. The current company cannot keep up with the state mandates. She states that she has a grant for this and will not come out of her budget.

Ms. Weber would like a 90-day extension to submit her annual audit to the administrative office of accountability. Mr. Douglas moved this extension be approved, Ms. Lambert seconded. All members present voted aye.

Mr. Douglas made a motion to approve the resolution for designation of depositories of county funds. Ms. Lambert seconded the motion. All members present voted aye.

A motion was made by Mr. Douglas to recess until June 17 at 6 p.m. Mr. Blythe seconded. All members present voted aye. Meeting adjourned at 10:06 a.m.

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