Construction Trades Class Proponents Seek County Support

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Published on May 11 2015 4:13 pm
Last Updated on May 11 2015 5:05 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Representatives of the proposed Construction Trades class for Effingham County made an appeal to the Effingham County Board Legislative Committee for funding help Monday.

Bryan Wenthe, who is president of Construction Trades Effingham County, or CTEC, said there are plans to make the course self-supporting by building a "warchest", but in the meantime, assistance is being sought for the first year of instruction beginning this fall. The Effingham City Council has already committed $75,000 for the first year, but County officials say they don't have that kind of money available. Member Jeff Simpson suggested the County might come up with some scholarships to cover the cost of participation by certain students.

The first class is to begin in August in conjunction with the start of the school year. 20 students will participate in the initial class.

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The committee heard from Dexter Sloan, who is a member of Local 1197 of the Laborers Union, who took issue with the decision by the Board last month to support Governor Rauner's Turnaround Agenda including changes that would allow Right to Work status in certain employment zones. Sloan said the move would lead to lower wages, not better conditions for more workers. He wants to schedule an informational meeting to explain why efforts to circumvent union guidelines is a bad idea.

Also Monday, the Legislative Committee delayed consideration of union contracts for several County employee groups and an issue of rent for the Veterans Assistance Commission to the Tax and Finance Committee meeting this Thursday...heard that a test will be held June 17 on new software for the County Treasurer and County Clerk's offices...and discussed a series of appointments to boards and committees that the County Board will consider at its regular monthly meeting.