Hearing Set for Today on County, Ambulance Service Lawsuit

A hearing is set for this afternoon in hopes of a resolution being reached in the lawsuit involving the Effingham County Board and Altamont Ambulance Service.

The hearing will begin at 1:30pm at the Effingham County Government Center. 

The ambulance service sued the County for passing a measure allowing other ambulance services to handle transfers of patients. The County countersued, alleging violations of the ambulance ordinance by the service.

The matter has been hanging fire since 2014. 

County Board Chairman Jim Niemann said he expects a conclusion to the matter at the hearing, although Effingham County State's Attorney Bryan Kibler urged caution until the resolution is approved.

Local attorney Chris Koester was retained to represent the County Board in the suit.

Also Tuesday, the County Board approved a transfer of $46,000 from contingencies to the sheriff's vehicle and equipment fund to replace a squad car involved in a crash. The Board also approved a request from the City to place two ornaments on the Courthouse lawn this Christmas season, and approved an ordinance addressing the payment of cable TV franchise fees, which will net the County about $3,400.

The Board approved a seven-lot subdivision plot just south of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, south of Altamont.

County Clerk and Chief Election Authority Kerry Hirtzel reported that early voting for the April election will begin this Thursday. Military voting is already underway.

Niemann distributed a correspondence concerning the county public safety tax question on the April ballot. We'll have more on that soon.