County Board Delays Action on Ambulance Agreement

The Effingham County Board Monday agreed to table any action on a revised ordinance governing ground ambulance service in the county in hopes of avoiding litigation.

The Board meeting began about 10 minutes late as Board Chairman Jim Niemann met with State's Attorney Bryan Kibler and Eric Walter, who is counsel for Terry White and Altamont Ambulance Service, which does business as Effingham City-County Ambulance Service in much of the county. When the Board meeting began, Niemann said the parties had a "very candid discussion" and said he'd like to delay action on the revised ordinance a month to see whether "we could come to an agreement, rather than go to court." The Board then agreed to the delay.

Also Monday, Board members heard from Health Department Administrator Rebecca Mertens that the department is "on the highest alert to be screening for the Ebola virus", but quickly added that there are no cases in the county. Mertens said Health Department staff will meet with St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital representatives Tuesday on the issue.

Mertens said if someone traveled in the past 21 days where a case of the virus has existed, a screening would be a consideration, but said they are aware of no such cases.

The Board voted to allocate $1,000 to the Effingham County Manufacturing Day later this year where county high school students are exposed to the manufacturing industry in the county. The proposal was considered by the Board without committee recommendation only in the interest of time, not due to any objections. Due to budget concerns, the Board approved the $1,000 contribution, rather than the $2,500 requested by the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce.

Board Vice-Chairman Dave Campbell reported that the checks are ready from economic development grant funds for loan to CW Motorsports and JLS for planned expansions, and that he would be presenting the loan funds to the two businesses. Board members also approved the appointment of Joyce Shumaker and Dr. Ted Fifer to two-year terms on the County Board of Health, and heard that the renovation of the former first floor courtroom in the County Office Building to regular meeting room space has been completed.

Not a topic at Monday's meeting was information from last week's Tax and Finance Committee meeting that County Engineer Greg Koester has agreed to serve as Executive Assistant to the County Board. Niemann said after Monday's meeting that Koester will work through the end of the fiscal year November 30 on a trial run, assisting the Board with budget creation, contract negotiations and other day-to-day operations as needed. Koester will not receive any additional pay during the trial period.

If the trial period is judged successful by the Board and by Koester, the position would then go a one-year trial period with compensation to be determined. If after the one-year period the arrangement was judged successful, it would become a regular part-time position of approximately eight to 10 hours a week.

Niemann said he initiated the move in his position as chairman. He said he "hopes the move would create easier access and greater continuity to the Board and its functions, even as elected officials come and go." He said no action is needed by the Board since no pay is involved, and said he polled each Board member and no one objected.

Board member Mike Depoister was not present for Monday's meeting.