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Board of Commissioners discusses ICIT

Posted April 24, 2015 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler The Herald Tribune

CHESTER -- In a nutshell, they're concerned.

The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Friday at the Randolph County Courthouse and after tackling the items on the agenda, discussion turned to the Illinois Counties Insurance Trust (ICIT).

Commissioner and Budget Director Dave Holder told those in attendance that he attended a meeting on April 15 in Fairview Heights, during which it was discussed whether ICIT will remain financially viable.

Three options were also debated - whether to roll ICIT into another trust, dissolve it completely or recapitalize it.

"This will no doubt have a profound effect on our budget and the cost of our insurance," Holder said. "How much and what has not yet been determined, but it's certainly going to change what we do."

ICIT is a group of five counties - Christian, Randolph, Jersey, Clinton and Edwards - that combine to provide a generally cost-effective alternative for insurance coverage for counties and county-related agencies.

By pooling the risk of a severe loss over a larger population, premiums are generally more stable and the purchasing power of pool members can be combined for more favorable terms when negotiating plan services.

Randolph County is the biggest contributor of the five ICIT members. In Randolph County, ICIT is looked at in three groups - general county insurance, insurance related to the operation of the sheriff's office and insurance related to the operation of the Randolph County Care Center.

"How those would continue to fit together as we would move to another trust, I'm not sure of that either," Holder said "The point being this will become the summer's project we're going to be dealing with."

Holder told the commissioners that recapitalizing the trust could cost the county a $2.2 million share of a projected $5.5 million price tag. He said the numbers were considered general amounts and there have been no projections as to which direction the other counties would go in.

"Does everyone want to recapitalize? Probably not," Holder said. "So then comes the next question, do we just dissolve? Or do we try to roll into another insurance trust in Illinois or do we just dissolve and say 'Everybody go have fun?'"

Holder said the county currently has bonds outstanding that were used to refinance ICIT in 2009. He wasn't sure of the balance of those bonds, but the county is making payments on them.

"In the process, if (ICIT) does in fact dissolve, there would still be trailing liabilities Randolph County would be responsible for," he said. "Once again, how much is not known at this point in time, but in the process of doing this, it's going to change the configuration of how we obtain our insurance and the cost of it."

Also on Friday, the commissioners heard from Lynn Heins, the new county extension director with Unit 26, which serves Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Randolph and Williamson counties.

The county extension director is the local representative of University of Illinois Extension with the responsibility to facilitate and establish relationships with diverse audiences.

Heins formerly worked with the Missouri extension.

"I served Washington County, St. Francis County and Ste. Genevieve County," Heins said. "And I did farm management there. When this came available, it was obviously closer to home, but I was excited because I felt I had that good extension foundation."

In other action, the commissioners approved raffle licenses for Friends of St. Leo's, Randolph County Democrat Central Committee and Prairie du Rocher American Legion. A poker license was also approved for the Prairie du Rocher American Legion.

Roundup

Under public comment, Charlie Schupbach, with the Randolph County Farm Bureau, announced the farm bureau will be having an open house on May 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to acknowledge the work of Manager Ryan Ford, who is leaving the organization.

The commissioners approved a special use application by the Buch family to separate two acres from existing farm property with the intention of selling the remaining 27 acres.

The property is south of Route 154 off Griggs Road near Baldwin.

General assistance for the period was $1,200 with no expenses. The Randolph County Care Center reported 61 residents and also the purchase of a new dishwasher and ice machine.

The commissioners made two board appointments. Dave Mulholland, of Steeleville, was appointed to a five-year term to the Randolph County Housing Authority.

Cathy Norton was appointed to the Kaskaskia Water District on a five-year term, replacing Donald Etling, who passed away in a tractor accident last year.

Treasurer Justin Jeffers announced his department is adding a payment box to the exterior of the courthouse for real estate tax payments.

"That's coming in the very near future," he said.

County Engineer Mike Riebeling said the resurfacing project on Shawneetown Trail is anticipated to start Wednesday.

Prior to the meeting, Commissioner Ronnie White informed the media about efforts of The Tourism Bureau ILLINOISouth to consolidate in the light of proposed budget cuts by Gov. Bruce Rauner.

ILLINOISouth covers 19 counties and will add its 20th (Hamilton) on July 1. The organization is also targeting the uncovered counties of Macoupin, Montgomery, Coles, Clark, Crawford, Franklin, Saline and Gallatin.

Godfrey, Grafton, Godfrey, Jersey and Calhoun counties have a regional convention and visitors bureau in Alton. Shelby, Effingham, Jefferson, Jackson and Williamson counties each have their own tourism agencies.

Look for a full report on this topic in an upcoming issue of the Herald Tribune.

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