County Board Votes to Proceed w/Energy Saving Project

The Effingham County Board Tuesday voted to finalize an agreement with Smartwatt designed to save the County on energy costs.

The Board voted to pay Smartwatt in cash to save on interest costs. The total price tag is $789,015. Smartwatt agreed to cover $40,000 in incentives.

(GENA BLAIR OF THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND COUNTY BOARD CHAIRMAN JIM NIEMANN)

The Board approved a proclamation supporting School Choice Week; named Pat Mear to the Mental Health 708 Board; and honored Gena Blair and Lt. Larry Finfrock each for 25 years' service to the Effingham County Sheriff's Department.

(SHERIFF'S LIEUTENANT LARRY FINFROCK AND COUNTY BOARD CHAIRMAN JIM NIEMANN)

Board Vice-Chairman Dave Campbell reminded that the County has about $35,000 in revolving loan funds to be shared with new or expanding businesses; the Board approved an annual contribution of $15,000 to the Effingham City/County Committee on Aging for senior services; funding was earmarked for the county capital improvement, repair or replacement fund; created a departmental structure for the Effingham County Dive Rescue Team with Dive Team Commander Terry Trueblood as the department head and Deputy Commander Jeremy Kyle as his assistant; approved qualifying 65 and older benefits that will mean more income for the senior workers and will save the County some money; and approved a master service agreement with Magoo and Associates to serve as a backup to the County's IT man Jason Repking.

The Board moved up the reimbursement of all travel, meal and lodging expenses from $30/day to up to $45/day; agreed to go halves with Moccasin Township on a box culvert replacement project on 400th Street, three miles north of Altamont; approved a subdivision plat of Hankins Subdivision, three miles southeast of Altamont; heard from Chief Election Authority Kerry Hirtzel that March 17 is Primary Election Day and that Early Voting begins February 6; heard from County Treasurer Paula Miller that 191 parcels of land on which taxes were not paid were sold on January 9, generating a little over $350,000 for the County; and heard from County EMA Director Pam Jacobs that the county's mitigation plan is to be complete by mid-February and that a weather spotter class has been scheduled for April 1.

Board members Joe Thoele and John Perry were not present for Tuesday's meeting.