County Board Endorses Hiring of Deters for Niemerg Case

The Effingham County Board Tuesday endorsed the hiring of former State's Attorney Ed Deters as a special assistant state's attorney to prosecute the case of Kelci Niemerg.

State's Attorney Bryan Kibler asked for the Board's endorsement of his decision to hire Deters.  Kibler said Deters' familiarity with the case led to his decision.  He said, "I feel this is more efficient" and feels "we'll get to trial much quicker."

Niemerg is charged with aggravated battery of a child for allegedly using excessive force when she placed an infant in a playpen in her home in May 2011. 

In making the motion to endorse Deters' hiring, board member Rob Arnold said Kibler has money in his budget to hire assistants, pledges to stay within his budget, and has latitude to hire who he wishes within those parameters.  The vote was 8-1 with board member Lloyd Foster voting against the motion.

In other business Tuesday, the County Board tabled a proposal on elevator maintenance until more information is received; agreed to spend $4,900 to replace a door on the jail sallyport; tabled action on the placement of a fountain for the county Cultural Center and Museum Association until they know what it would cost to make the fountain usable; and agreed to sell two parcels of land on which taxes were delinquent to get them back on the tax rolls and to generate more than $12,000 in revenue.

Board members also appropriated $5,500 in funds already elsewhere in the budget for the Coroner's Fee Fund to help pay for equipment for the Coroner's Office; and honored the Teutopolis 8th grade girls basketball team for winning the state championship and finishing 27-1 on the season.