Clay Board Hears Latest on Hospital

Clay County board members Tuesday appointed Amanda Goostree as Interim President of Clay County Hospital.

Goostree was promoted due to the departure of Hospital President Bob Sellers, who resigned to take a job in Georgia.

Also, the Board approved the termination of a hospital management agreement with BJC, the managers of Alton Memorial Hospital.  BJC asked for the termination as of the end of 2013 once Sellers announced his departure.

The County Board has already been considering the sale of the hospital to private interests; it is one of the few County-owned and operated hospitals in downstate Illinois.

The Clay board also approved creation of a Greenways and Trails Committee, tasked with among other duties developing trail extensions at Charley Brown Park in Flora.  Committee members are Sue Pettit, Jerry Stringer, Jacky Lueking, R.C. Franklin, Dinah Helmuth, Randy Bukas, Brittany Walker and Dan Sulsberger.

Board members discussed possible repairs to the county jail, but the Board asked for additional information.  The Board also named Steve Spitzner as Chief Deputy Sheriff following Andy Myers' promotion to sheriff.

The Board got an update on courtroom renovation at the Courthouse in Louisville.  Work is underway to make the desk areas computer-friendly as the County moves toward electronic filing of court information.  Painting, new carpeting and new benches are a part of the work.

Also Tuesday, the Clay board designated Assistant State's Attorney Melanie Pearce as IMRF-eligible; renewed the County's worker compensation and property/casualty insurance coverage; and approved renewal rates for county health insurance coverage.