Lucas Domonousky
Breeze-Courier Writer

TAYLORVILLE — The Christian County Courthouse hosted April’s full Christian County Board meeting Tuesday evening. Discussion centered around appointments made by Chairman Bryan Sharp, motions presented by committee chairmen and Solid Waste Department’s developing involvement with the Kincaid Ash Pond. One member, Vicki McMahon, was absent.

Salaries for several county officials and appointees were discussed and approved. They were recommendations from the Executive, Personnel, Liquor and Legislative Committee made last week. Chairman Clint Epley presented a motion to approve a County Administrator job description with a salary range of $60,000-$75,000 and to begin the interview process. Secondly, a job description and salary range of $40,000-$50,000for an Administrative Assistant to the County Administrator.

During discussion, Board member Mike Specha asked, “Is this an entirely new position?”

Board Chairman Bryan Sharp replied: “I would say you can call them both new positions. We’re altering Liz’s roll (Elizabeth Hile; Assistant to the County Board/Human Resources Director).”

Hile is set to retire at the conclusion of 2024. Both passed unanimously.

Salaries for incoming Christian County Circuit Clerk and Coroner were set on Tuesday night. Starting salary for the clerk is $72,000 and increasing by 3.5% annually. For coroner, the starting salary was set at $50,000 increasing by 3.5% annually. Both motions passed on 14-1 votes, with Sharp voting “no” on each.

Finally, the salary range for the next County Highway Engineer was set at $115,615 – $121,700 and to begin the interview process passed unanimously. Current Highway Engineer Cliff Frye is set to retire at the conclusion of 2024.

In her report, the Audit, Finance, Purchasing and Budget Committee Chairman Venise McWard offered a motion to utilized $61,556 of Contingency Funds to Siemens for a contractual shortfall experienced by Christian County’s Probation Department. It passed unanimously.

Before the meeting, Solid Waste Director Shawn Hammers passed around a handout which he directed attention to towards the end of the meeting. The information was in regard to the ash pond in Kincaid.

The handout stated, “As of June 2023, in accordance with 35 I.A.C 845.930(c)(1), Kincaid Generation, LLC’s preliminary corrective action cost estimate for the Ash Pond is $14,600,863. Groundwater quality standards are the maximum allowable concentrations of contaminants in groundwater which may be tolerated without creating a threat to human health or which would otherwise render the groundwater unsuitable for use as a drinking source.”

There were a total of seven different groundwater testing samples which exceeded those standards. The Solid Waste Department will provide Christian County with updates in the near future.

Two reappointments were made to Owaneco and Taylorville Fire Protection Districts. The first, Joe Dorr was appointed to Owaneco and Ron Verardi to the Taylorville Fire Protection district. Both appointments were affirmed by unanimous vote.

Three zoning variances were presented and approved on Tuesday evening. Variances included: Sloan Implement Company store relocation in Edinburg in Buckhart Township; Central Commodity FS 250KW solar panel array, Vandeveer St. in Morrisonville in Rick Township; and Warren Elder, 1871 East 2850 North Road in Blue Mound in Mosquito Township.

Highway, Buildings, Grounds, Environmental, Zoning and Welfare Committee Chairman Thomas Snyder, Jr. was the first to present the agenda items approved last week. A request for purchase of a wheel loader and tandem truck was approved. Snyder Jr. also made both of the motions which directed Christian County Treasurer Betty Asmussen and County Clerk to search for bids regarding their respective office remodel. Both passed through unanimously. Lastly, a motion to spend ARPA funds not to exceed $40,000 for keyless entry system within the Christian County Courthouse. The motion passed unanimously.

The motion for adjournment came at 6:08 p.m.