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County Board approves 'Access to Justice' fee

Posted October 09, 2015 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler Staff Writer

With a light agenda, the Randolph County Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance on Friday that established an "access to justice" fee in the county.

The ordinance puts the county in compliance with an amendment to Public Act 99-281 that had been passed into law on Aug. 5. The fee collection was to start Sept. 1.

"The way I understand it, this Access to Justice fee is for veterans and people who can't afford an attorney to provide information for them," said Circuit Clerk Sherry Johnson, who was in attendance at the meeting.

The ordinance states that all clerks of the circuit court shall charge and collect a $2 fee at the time of filing the "first pleading, paper or other appearance filed by each party in all civil cases."

No additional fee shall be required if more than one party is represented in a single pleading. Fees collected by the circuit court clerks will be remitted to the clerk of the state treasurer, for deposit into the Access to Justice fund.

During public comment, Board Chairman Marc Kiehna said the commissioners have received a letter from the Illinois Farm Bureau in regard to the discussions over the proposed county noise ordinance.

The letter stated the IFB is not in favor of the proposed regulation.

"We will soon have a discussion on that," Kiehna said.

Commissioner Ronnie White said Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA) Director and Grand American Tournament Director Lynn Gibson spoke at a Sparta Chamber of Commerce meeting on Wednesday.

Gipson discussed the World Shooting and Recreational Complex, which is now closed to shooting sports while state employees remain on the job. The ATA has threatened to move the Grand American, one of the ATA's signature events, from Sparta if the state's budget impasse is not resolved by November.

White said there have been some discussions about privatizing some of the events at the WSRC, but not the whole complex. In a previous interview with the Herald Tribune, Gipson said he didn't see a private entity "working their asses off to break even."

"It was built as a park, it should stay a park," Gipson previously said.

White said Gipson has been in discussions with State Rep. Jerry Costello II (D-Smithon) and State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville) about keeping the complex open.

They have also reached out to Jim Schultz, Gov. Bruce Rauner's appointment for director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

"We're going to try and hit them from every angle to keep the WSRC open," White said.

Finally, the commissioners approved a docket of 10 parcels as part of real estate tax resolutions. During the board's Sept. 25 meeting, Treasurer Justin Jeffers said county residents with delinquent notices had until Oct. 7 to pay up or have their names published in area newspapers.

There will be a delinquent tax sale of any remaining properties on Nov. 2 at 9:30 a.m.

Roundup

• Randolph County Health Department Administrator Tom Smith reported his agency believes it can last until the end of June with current budget projections. The health department is providing services as usual with no layoffs currently planned.

• The Randolph County Care Center was reported to have 62 residents

• General assistance for the period was $1,511.01 with administrative costs at $1,492.60.

• County Engineer Mike Riebeling reported the Rockwood project is coming along and will be completed in two or three weeks. Tractors are still out mowing right-of-ways.

• The Herald Tribune asked Riebeling about how snow removal is affected by the loss of motor fuel tax funds due to the budget impasse.

"If it goes on long enough, we would get into a situation where we can't meet payroll," he said. "When that happens, we'll have to lay people off and won't have anybody to drive the trucks."

Riebeling was asked how much longer his agency could hold out.

"I haven't looked at that that closely, but I'm getting ready to," he said.

• The next meeting of the County Board is scheduled for Oct. 23 at 9 a.m. It is open to the public.

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