County commissioners approve first poker run licenses

<span>CHESTER -- After approving a county poker run ordinance two weeks ago, the Randolph County Board of Commissioners approved the first such licenses on Friday at Randolph County Courthouse.</span>

<span>Both licenses went to the Steeleville Eagles, for poker runs scheduled Oct. 5 and Oct. 12. The Steeleville American Legion and Steeleville Jaycees Park were also included on the application.</span>

<span>The board also signed a proclamation recognizing the 20th anniversary of 9-1-1 emergency phone service in the county, which went live on Oct. 4, 1994 at 9:11 a.m.</span>

<span>According to an informational pamphlet handed out to the media, Randolph County 911 began accepting wireless calls in 2001.</span>

<span>Cindy Wagner, Enhanced 9-1-1 coordinator at the courthouse, said the push is to include text messaging and video feeds with the service.</span>

<span>"The Randolph County Board and the Randolph County Emergency Telephone Systems Board do hereby recognize the 20th anniversary of the Randolph County 9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System and extends its sincere appreciation to the dedicated men and women who hand life-threatening calls with much expertise, composure and efficiency," the proclamation stated.</span>

<span>A ceremony was held at the courthouse on Friday in recognition of the event, with cake and punch being served to attendees.</span>

<span>General assistance claims for the period amounted to $3,288.94.</span>

Randolph County Care Center

<span>Ken Slavens reported to the board on the idea of getting a cyber protection quote for medical records.</span>

<span>"Obviously, it's a sign of the times," said Commissioner Marc Kiehna, who brought up the recent Home Depot security breach, which compromised the credit cards of 56 million customers from April to September. "We're getting to the point where if we want to get with the rest of the world, we're going to have to accept credit card payments."</span>

<span>A question was raised if the county really needed it.</span>

<span>"Personal protection of medical records is a big deal," Slavens said. "I will try to get more information, but things are changing."</span>

<span>Kiehna said the county will have to decide which direction to go on the topic.</span>

<span>"My feeling is it should be on our radar," he said. "But we have to make sure we're not making a knee-jerk reaction."</span>

Sheriff's Report

<span>Randolph County Sheriff Mike Hoelscher emphasized to the board the importance of the Randolph County hotline (618-826-6443) for law enforcement tips.</span>

<span>"It's an anonymous hotline where the command people can answer it and people can leave information," said Hoelscher, who added the service can be used to provide tips on drug activity and even traffic problems.</span>

<span>Hoelscher also informed the commissioners on the results of a recent meeting of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. The situation in Ferguson, Mo., was discussed, along with the proper response handling of riot control versus crowd control.</span>

<span>"There's a concern about training because in the past, officers would take their training on their own," Hoelscher said. "I look forward to stepping that up a little bit a bit more.</span>

<span>"We're dealing with a younger generation of officers right now and, truthfully, they want to be paid for their time."</span>

Zoning/Street naming

<span>The commissioners approved the naming of a public street near Sparta between Houston Road and Woodcox Road to "Hargis Lane."</span>

<span>Lori Umbdenstock's special use request to use six lots of rural land for commercial recreational use was approved. Umbdenstock is using the property at 6480 Simpson St. in Modoc for "Halloween Horror Land."</span>

<span>It will be open on Friday and Saturday nights in October from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.</span>

<span>The commissioners approved Norman Pensoneau's request of a separation of a farm residence from three buildings on 138 acres of land located behind the Cohen Complex in Chester.</span>

<span>Jay Gonstal's map amendment request to rezone 3.5 acres in Red Bud from rural residential to commercial was approved. Gonstal's auto repair business is growing and approval of the request was contingent on the installation of a privacy fence between his business and a neighboring residence.</span>

<span>Finally, the commissioners approved a flood proofing variance for Tim Durbin, who is in a wheelchair. The request involved a second addition to a residence in a flood plain that would include the installation of an elevator and improved bathroom facilities.</span>

Public comment

<span>At the conclusion of the meeting, Sparta City Commissioner Linda Boston informed the board of a project to install a merry-go-round and two 6-foot park benches at the old Sparta Vernon school property.</span>

<span>Boston asked the board if they would be interested in donating funds for the project.</span>

<span>"We want something for the kids in that area," she said. "It will be for 12-and-under kids and they would have to be supervised by an adult."</span>

<span>Kiehna said the matter would have to be on the board's agenda, but he would be happy to work with the project.</span>