Effingham County tax and finance committee recommends ARPA reallocations, approves purchases and personnel changes

The Effingham County Tax and Finance Committee reviewed ARPA spending and approved several recommendations for the county board, including reclaiming a $10,000 earmark, approving equipment purchases and forwarding personnel pay changes.

Committee Chair opened the meeting and reported ARPA balances, saying, “we're down to $27,600 that has not been allocated,” and urged departments with lingering small balances to submit invoices or have the funds revert to the general fund. The committee then handled a series of motions to advance funding and administrative items to the full board.

On ARPA grants and invoices, the committee voted to recommend to the full board approval of an invoice recorded in the meeting text as “174814” for trail/maintenance work. The motion was moved by Doug and seconded by Tim and carried.

The committee approved a purchase to pay for 10 tablets, the amount recorded in the meeting as $2,595.11, after Josh presented the purchase details. Jeremy seconded the motion and the committee voted to carry it.

On previously earmarked grant funding, Dave reported that the 708 board had reviewed OneHope United and “the entire board unanimously said not to fund that” because of staffing concerns. The committee voted to remove the $10,000 ARPA earmark for OneHope United and return it to ARPA/general fund balance.

The Child Care Research Committee brought forward an application for an Effingham County child-care scholarship for Destiny and Blake Marksman, who were described as meeting the program’s income eligibility and having a newborn enrolled at Unit 40’s Little Hearts program. Courtney asked the committee to recommend awarding the scholarship; Josh moved, Chris seconded and the motion to forward the recommendation to the full board carried.

Votes at a glance:
- Approve minutes: motion moved by Jeremy, seconded by Doug McCain; outcome: approved.
- Recommend approval of invoice “174814” to full board: mover Doug; second Tim; outcome: recommended/approved by committee.
- Purchase of 10 tablets for $2,595.11: mover Josh; second Jeremy; outcome: recommended/approved by committee.
- Reclaim $10,000 earmark for OneHope United and return to ARPA: mover (recorded) 2; second recorded; outcome: recommended/approved by committee.
- Recommend awarding Effingham County child-care scholarship (Destiny and Blake Marksman): mover Josh; second Chris; outcome: recommended/approved by committee.
- Authorize county engineer certificate of authority (see separate action described by Greg Custer): mover Josh; second Chris; outcome: recommended/approved by committee.
- Authorize confidential secretary pay at $27.81/hour (state’s attorney request): mover Chris; second Sandy; outcome: recommended/approved by committee.
- Add VAC superintendent as a full-time position at $28.85/hour to the salary schedule: mover recorded; second recorded; outcome: recommended/approved by committee.

What this means next: All of the committee’s motions were forwarded to the full county board for final approval or implementation as noted on their agenda. The certificate of authority for the county engineer will permit the Effingham County Highway Department to participate in state joint purchasing where authorized; personnel pay changes and the VAC superintendent position will require board action before they take effect.

Meeting adjourned after brief general information and updates.