LaSalle County Law & Justice Committee approves routine bills, records staffing updates

The LaSalle County Law and Justice Committee on Feb. 24 approved routine bills and departmental reports across multiple offices and recorded several personnel changes.

Tom Templeton, meeting moderator, conducted votes that approved the state's attorney bills and report, the public defender bills and report, circuit clerk bills and report, judiciary bills, a semiannual/quarterly report and detention-home bills and annual report; motions were moved and seconded as recorded in the meeting and carried with 'aye' votes.

Joe Navarro, the state's attorney, told the committee that long-time juvenile-division employee Vicky Denny had retired after more than 20 years and that he is considering hiring a part-time (30-hour) replacement instead of a full-time hire. He also said the office hired a new Spanish-speaking paralegal to assist victims and Spanish-speaking clients.

Greg McCarroll, circuit clerk, reported January revenues of $69,293 distributed to agencies and January collections of $15,724; he also urged improved public education about circuit-clerk functions and previewed an association-produced video explaining those functions.

'Jake' provided detention home financials: monthly bills of $12,737.01, prepaid $1,109.31 and monthly income $7,670.21, with fiscal-year-to-date income of $242,660.85 and an end balance of $433,497.70; he also reported 64 intakes for the year (a decrease of three from last year).

Votes at a glance: the meeting record shows motions and recorded 'aye' votes on approvals for the state's attorney, public defender, circuit clerk, judiciary, semiannual/quarterly reports and detention-home matters. The committee adjourned after completing business.