The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By David Grimes, Quill Correspondent
Funding needs for courthouse renovations and repairs might be forthcoming than originally thought, and county board members approved bids for related work at their June meeting last week.
Henderson County applied to be considered for Illinois First grant dollars almost two years ago.
"But no one saw the current budget crunch coming at the time," said Randy Keever, chairman of the board's buildings and grounds committee.
Months went by without receiving any word from the state on whether the county would receive funding.
Now, the chances of Henderson County receiving the $125,000 applied for through the program are looking better than they were six months ago.
And that, according to Keever, is due in large part to the efforts of a number of local citizens as well as Senator Laura Kent Donahue.
Keever lauded Donahue, fellow committee person Barbara Lumbeck, businessman Kim Gullberg and board chairman Marion Brown specifically for their efforts in effective grant writing, placing phone calls, securing bids for needed work and persistently stating the County's case in Springfield i n order to gain a share of Illinois First Dollars.
"She (Donahue) has really pushed hard for Henderson County," Keever said. "She's stayed with us and has not given up."
Though not yet set in stone, the opportunity for receiving the money from the state for projects such as making the courthouse entry handicap accessible, flooring repairs, a new air conditioning unit for the downstairs portion of the courthouse, a new furnace, boiler, siding, windows and tuck pointing is looking better now than it did a year ago, according to Keever.
Board members approved bids for all projects, except for window replacement.
If the funding is received, work could begin as soon as next month. Keever said he hoped all projects could be completed by this fall.
"This is the second-oldest courthouse in the state of Illinois," he said. "It really should be kept up."
In other business, the board . . .
¥ Discussed the need for street lighting near the Carman Cemetery, approving the project if the highway department committee decides to proceed with it;
¥ Discussed the need for recording equipment replacement at the Sheriff's office, but tabled until later;
¥ Tabled discussion of a 911 resolution;
¥ Amended an animal control resolution;
¥ Voted to appoint Michael Thompson, Oquawka, to complete the unexpired term of the late Paul Allen;
¥ Heard committee reports from ambulance service, solid waste;
¥ Approved the auditor's report on fiscal year 2001.
Stevenson was absent. The board next meets at 8:30 a.m. on July 9, 2002.