County Board proclaims Retired Teachers' Day

<span>With a light agenda on the schedule last Friday, the Randolph County Board of Commissioners proclaimed Sept. 1 as Retired Teachers' Day in the county.</span>

<span>Several local members of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association were in attendance for the proclamation, which acknowledged the 14,506 hours of volunteer service members of the IRTA provided during the 2014-15 school year.</span>

<span>In other action, the commissioners approved a $50 increase (to $700 a month) to the Wehrheim Home Management Fee. The Wehrheim Home is an eight-unit apartment building in Ellis Grove that the county owns and is managed by Don Morrison.</span>

<span>"He is well worth what we reimburse him," said Board Chairman Marc Kiehna, who added that Morrison hasn't had a reimbursement increase in four years.</span>

<span>The only other item on the agenda was a special use zoning permit by Jeremy Schlueter for a 29-acre tract located at 8562 1st Rd. in Evansville.</span>

<span>The permit stated Schlueter intended to separate three acres of the tract, which contains a residence, in order to sell the home to another family member. The family wishes to retain the remaining 26 acres.</span>

<span>After the meeting, Kiehna also offered him his opinion of the county noise ordinance hearing, which had occurred the night before at Southwestern Illinois College's Red Bud campus.</span>

<span>"I thought the crowd was very respectful," he said. "We asked folks to speak to the question of should the county create a noise ordinance."</span>

<span>Kiehna said that the county will be taking written testimony through Sept. 30, with interested persons to send their testimony to the Randolph County Courthouse care of the Board of Commissioners.</span>

Highway Department

<span>County Engineer Mike Riebeling told the board that his work vehicle has 296,000 miles on it and "needs some work."</span>

<span>He identified a 2016 Ford Explorer that could be purchased through state purchasing for $26,000.</span>

<span>Commissioner Dave Holder said the board will have to determine whether to address the situation in this year's budget or next year's budget.</span>

<span>Riebeling said it could take between 12 and 14 weeks for delivery of the new vehicle.</span>

<span>Kiehna asked Riebeling how the county is dealing with the loss of motor fuel tax funds, which have been held up by the state's budget impasse.</span>

<span>"All of our funds are suffering because of motor fuel funds, but enough money is in the county highway budget to cover it," he said.</span>

<span>House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie of Chicago introduced a measure on Aug. 25 that authorizes releasing $146 million in motor fuel taxes to counties, cities and road districts for costs through Sept. 30.</span>

<span>The motor fuel tax bill is House Bill 4149.</span>

Roundup

<span>General assistance claims for the county were $1,000. The Randolph County Care Center reported 61 residents.</span>

<span>The next meeting of the County Board is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 11 at 9 a.m.</span>