The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Hancock County Board Meeting

Ambulance service in Hancock County was again a main topic of debate at the February 20, 2007 Hancock County Board meeting.

An agreement with Memorial Hospital Association for ambulance services was approved 8 to 6. The agreement requires the hospital to meet several requirements, including:

• Basic Life Support
• Advanced Life Support
• Providing ambulance readiness 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Complying with requirements of the Illinois Emergency Medical Services Act.

Hancock County has had an agreement with Memorial Hospital Association for ambulance service for over 35 years.

Voting for the ambulance agreement were Regan Ramsey, Kenneth Nudd, Steve Bolton, Emmett Postle, Debbie Limkemann, Randy White, Marlin Long, and David Walker. Voting against the ambulance agreement were: Tom Scheetz, Joseph Stevenson, Bob Mapes, Bill Crabill, Delbert Kreps and Stephen Finney.

The Hancock County Board accepted the resignation of Joe Barlow as EMS Coordinator, effective March 31, 2007 by a 11-3 vote. White, Postle, and Limkemann vote "no" on the resignation.

In other business, the Hancock County Board:

• Established fees of one dollar and five dollars for copies of tax bills provided by the county treasurer.
• Reestablished the Emergency Disaster Fund. The fund has been abolished upon advice of the county's auditing firm. However, the county engineer informed the board use of the state and federal money in the fund was restricted.
• Approved a variance for Donald Kerr to construct a grain bin in the Hunt Drainage District floodplain.
• Authorized a hearing to amend the county budget, if needed, for the retrial of People vs. Daniel Ramsey.
• Learned the Regional Office of Education will retain an office in Hancock County, as its current location, in the courthouse.

A corner of the Regional Office will be "boxed in" to create a cubicle for one additional probation office.

The original plan called for the Probation Department to take the Regional Office completely-threatening closure of the Hancock County office.

• Confirmed two appointments. Rodney Yuskis to a two-year term as a Hunt Drainage District commissioner. Joyce Lillard to a five-year term as Hancock County Housing Authority board member.

The next Hancock County Board meeting will be held on April 17, 2007 at 5:30 p.m.