County Board Approves Additional Funding For Audits
By Stephanie Malench
smalench@timestribunenews.com
The Madison County Board met on March 17 and began with tributes to County Board member Jim Dodd (D-Alton) who passed away on March 10 and Don McNaughton, a sergeant in the Sheriff’s Department who passed away on March 17, followed by a moment of silence.
There were four public comments.
The first one was by Cindy Klein-Webb expressing concern over comments that Ron Jedda, President of the Parks and Recreation Board and Chairman of the Madison County Mass Transit Board, made on a Facebook post about the Collinsville High School Black Student Union selling T-shirts that Black Lives Matter is a divisive and violent organization. Klein-Webb recommended that the board consider the ramification of his comment and offer diversity training.
Two comments pertained to a zoning resolution changing a property owned by Lloyd Grath in Collinsville to agricultural from residential so he can have live stock to graze on the back of his pasture. Grath said he had petition signatures from 9 of 12 neighbors approving of his request. Christopher Giler who owns property attached to the property is against it because he wants to build a community of villas on his property.
The last one was from Wanda Cerney explaining that the COVID vaccine should be stopped worldwide, comparing the results to those of superbugs that developed from overuse of antibiotics.
An emergency appropriation was passed to cover the auditing services for elected official and department head transitional audits totalling $43,750 that had not been accounted for in the initial 2021 budget.
The audit will be completed by Scheffel Boyle in Edwardsville.
The county is again participating in the 2021 Ameren Illinois Community Action Agency Income Qualified Program with $255,000 in funds for those who qualify.
A 1.35 mile section of Governor’s Parkway between 157 and Plum Street in Edwardsville was transfer to the City of Edwardsville highway system from the county pending state approval.
Resolutions were passed to purchase 1,633 boxes of black nitrile gloves costing $49,972.67 and 55 laptop computers for $53,14.59 for the health department.
During unfinished business, Matt King (D-East Alton) wanted to acknowledge Madison County Health Department Director Toni Corona and Director of Community Health and Public Information Officer Amy Yeager for the job being done with the mass vaccination clinic at the Gateway Center in Collinsville.
In new business, Mike Walters (R-Godfrey) thanked the Sheriff’s Department and the State’s Attorney’s office for sending the murderer of a Godfrey trustee to jail. Mick Madison (R-Bethalto) did not think that Jedda disparaged the CHS club with his comments on Facebook. Michael “Doc” Holliday, Sr. (D- Alton) asked when the Step Up committee report would be given to the board.
There was no discussion or comments on any of the new business items.
