Fayette County Board Meeting Held

DEBORAH SIMCOX

Correspondent

      Several persons addressed the Fayette County Board at the Tuesday, August 13 meeting. Superintendent of Ramsey School District #204 Melissa Ritter, accompanied by three Board members, asked for modifications of the agreement for the expenses of the prospective School Resource Officer (SRO). The County had agreed to provide $7,500 for a 3 year period. Ritter is asking for $7,500/year. She stated, “Show some support for us.” Ritter stated that Ramsey School District has a mechanic for basic maintenance on the car furnished for the SRO, but was concerned that if the transmission went bad, the County would expect Ramsey to pay for that expense. The car will be furnished by the Sheriff’s Department and is furnished for a cost of $100/month to Ramsey School District. Ritter stated, “We just want it in writing.” Now the agreement will be discussed in a Legislative Work Session and a Finance Committee Meeting next month between the Ramsey School Board and the Fayette County Board to “hammer out the details.”

      The presentation by Steve Bryant of Homeland Energy was to discuss the county aggregate agreement. Homeland Energy coordinates seven counties that collectively can offer power. This gives the citizens an option of using power from them or from Ameren.

The final presentation was by Lawrence Goldberg and Derek Ptomy of the Goldberg Group Architects, St. Joseph, MO regarding the County Courthouse project. They offered a comparative chart showing office size changes for individual office holders. Increased security within the structure of the cell wall and windows was discussed as well as the facility’s ability to classify mental illness among the jail population. The next step is developing a site plan and budget.

In Old Business, the agenda item of the intergovernmental agreement between Ramsey School Board of Education and the Fayette County Sheriff’s office regarding the hiring of a SRO was tabled until next month.

      In New Business both items on the agenda for discussion and possible approval were tabled: Labor Union Contract, due to waiting for the signed contract, and plan for the St. Elmo Fueling Station, due to awaiting a letter from IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation).

      The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 12 at 7 p.m. The Public is welcome to attend.