Jasper County Board Discusses Ambulances, Daycare

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Published on May 13 2022 10:39 am
Last Updated on May 13 2022 10:44 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Jasper County board members Thursday continued a discussion on how to boost ambulance service in the county.

Jasper Unit 1 school district has sent $10,000 to cover standbys done by the ambulance service at all Newton home football games. The payment will also cover any other high-traffic events where the schools request coverage.

United Life Care officials have visited the county ambulance service to see where they could help. In the meantime, the County has increased the loading rate for calls. That will not change Medicare or Medicaid billing, but will help with private insurance. They have also secured a new supplier for medical supplies. Outsourcing of billing was also pursued to cut costs.

The Board voted to contract for six months with ULC for $15,000, with a month-to-month contract for up to another six months at $2,500/month. 

There was also discussion about daycare needs in Jasper County. Christina Watts spoke to the Board about purchasing Kids Kingdom. The current owners have been trying to sell the daycare, and Watts was approached about purchasing the business. She said she has been fundraising to acquire the daycare and provide services to 47 children, with 100 on a wait list. She has also applied for a license with a name change to Little Eagles Learning Center..

The Board learned that recently enacted state legislation that requires the Sheriff's salary to be at least 80% of the State's Attorney's salary will require an adjustment in the Sheriff's pay. Board members also agreed to utilize South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission to make sure the county's solid waste management plan is updated as the current five-year plan has expired.

Work is in the home stretch on the Jasper County law enforcement center. The project is 93% complete, but will not be finished in May as was projected. A generator has a scheduled delivery date in October, and the detention area ceilings are not available so cannot be installed on time. The projection is that offices could be occupied by July 1, but the jail portion of the center will not be finished by then.

The Board appointed Beverly Gorrell and Jack Thompson to the Housing Authority Board and Thomas Matson to the Board of Review, as well as Sarah Kinkade to the Southeastern Illnois Economic Development Authority.