CAMBRIDGE -- Henry County is one of five counties being sued in a class action suit in which landowners are claiming that in tax sales of their properties, the county is seeking more than it should and not returning enough to the landowner.
Executive committee chairman Marshall Jones told the county board of the lawsuit Thursday, asking them to approve a letter of engagement with an attorney to represent the county in federal court. Henry County State's Attorney Catherine Runty would not be able to do so.
The board approved the letter of engagement 17-0 with board members Rex Kiser, Jim Thompson and Lynn Sutton absent.
"We'll let it go through the courts and see where it goes," said Jones.
The initial complaint in the suit was filed in April in the U.S. District Court of Southern Illinois, listing officials and St. Clair and Sangamon counties as defendants. Henry County was added in an amended complaint filed in August, when Aaron Lindquist, a Colona resident, was added as a plaintiff.
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In other business the board approved an intergovernmental agreement with the village of Cambridge for police protection from the sheriff's department. The agreement provides for up to 80 hours of coverage a month at $29 per hour plus benefits. It is similar to agreements with Andover and Orion.
Board member Natalie Hendryx also reported that with two deputies graduating from the police academy and one entering the academy in January, the sheriff's department is fully staffed, although three will be in training. The department is aware, however, that one deputy is leaving to join the state police.
The Bishop Hill wind generator project is now completed and emergency generators have been put in place at the highway department.
Finance committee chairman Mark Burton reported that the county ended the recent fiscal year in "outstanding financial condition" and has built reserves to continue making capital improvements without incurring any debt. He credited department heads, county administrator Eriun Knackstedt and "every single employee in the county" with putting the county in such a good place.
Board members also learned the phone system at Hillcrest Home had failed and was temporarily replaced with cell phones from the Office of Emergency Management. Ultimately a new phone system was installed and the board approved the purchase for $24,119.83. Board member Brian Corkill reported the new system is better technology and working great.
The board also approved an architect's agreement for the nursing home which is planning to remodel bathrooms in the facility. Corkill said the Illinois Department of Public Health requires that an architect be used for the project.
Corkill said the nursing home is still having to use agency staffing although the census is down to 59. Total capacity at the home is nearly 100.
"We encourage them to find the right balance," he said. "We can't keep cutting back."
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