County Board Ratifies FOP Contract

The Effingham County Board Monday ratified a four-year contract agreement with county sheriff's deputies represented by the Fraternal Order of Police.

The agreement is effective September 1 and includes pay increases of 2%, 2-1/4%, 2-1/2%, and 2-1/2%. The Board also passed a motion commending the work by Sheriff Dave Mahon and Chief Deputy Paul Kuhns to reach the agreement.

The Board agreed to contribute $2,000 from Economic Development funds toward the cost of the 2017 Manufacturing Day observance in October; loaned $30,000 in recaptured grant funds to Steve's Liquor and Snacks, a new business being built along US Route 40 at Funkhouser Road at 3% interest over five years; agreed to properly classify a DUI court supervision monitor position in the salary schedule; and approved a preliminary engineering agreement to replace the 400th Street bridge over Limestone Creek west of Edgewood in West Township.

Board members also approved several appointments, including Johnathon Paholke to another term on the Ambulance Oversight Committee. Board member John Perry voted No on Paholke's reappointment, saying it was the Oversight Committee that led to problems with the ambulance service contract and so planned to vote No whenever a member is up for reappointment. Paholke was reappointed, though. Other appointments approved were Dr. Christopher Balda, Dan Niemerg and Charles Siler to the Board of Health; Logan Mellendorf as a trustee of the Lucas Township Drainage District; Mike DePoister to replace Cody Hartke as a community member at large representative on the 911 Board; and Brad Gebben, Gary Parker and David Holste as members of the newly-formed Ethics Commission. County Board Chairman Jim Niemann said each of the six candidates had to go through a vetting process. Niemann said none of the three appointees have any relatives who are County employees or other ties to County employees.

The Board also heard from Mahon that EMA Director Pam Jacobs did a good job in hosting the staging area for the multi-agency group on hand over the weekend to ensure proper response to any problems that could have arisen from the eclipse.

County Clerk Kerry Hirtzel reminded that September 5 is the first day for 2018 candidates to circulate nominating petitions for next year's elections.

The Board recognized four County retirees; Tim Forehand after 21 years with the Sheriff's Department, and Judy Overbeck, Linda Hampton and Linda Dittamore with the Health Department; Overbeck for 33 years, Hampton for 22 years, and Dittamore for 19 years.