May 21—Four members of the Effingham County 911 were recognized this week for their serviced. For two, their terms are expiring and two others stepped down.
Board Chairman Julie Stephens, who started on the board in 2016, and Board Treasurer Wayne Rubach, who also started in 2016, are leaving the board after their terms end on June 30. Both Stephens and Rubach are "at-large" members of the board.
"Thanks for allowing me to be on the board for these five years," Rubach said.
He suggested to board members to remember new "at-large" members may not know the acronyms the 911 board uses during meetings.
"The first two or three meetings were interesting," Rubach said. "The first couple of months I would write it down, then go home and find out what things meant. Please have patience with them."
Sheriff David Mahon has been on the 911 Board since 2014. Mahon is retiring as sheriff on June 1.
Stephens was informed before last month's 911 Board meeting by Effingham County Board Chairman Jim Niemann that Mike DePoister resigned from the 911 board due to work and personal issues. DePoister's term would have finished on May 31. DePoister was not able to attend Tuesday's meeting.
Effingham County Board and 911 Board Vice-chair David Campbell presented Stephens, Rubach and Mahon with an inscribed commemorative desk clock for their years of service on the 911 Board.
This week the Effingham County board appointed Jake Buhnerkempe to the 911 board for a term starting June 1 to May 31, 2024. According to Effingham County by-laws the elected Sheriff or a representative of the Effingham County Sheriff Department will be appointed to the 911 Board filling Sheriff Mahon's seat. That leaves two empty seats to be filled by Effingham County board appointment.
Rubach said this month they had a excess revenue over expenditures in the amount of $57,707.31 in the money market account. He said their beginning balance on March 31 was $1,085,931.16 and after receipts and disbursements the balance was $1,143,638,47. With the addition of funds in their checking amount totaling of $1,306.80, the board's total cash and investments came to $1,144,945.27.
The biggest expense in May is Motorola Solutions-Starcom monthly maintenance fee for the amount of $3,178.
He said five years ago the board's balance at the end of June was $433,000 as compared with $1,144,945.27 this year. Rubach credits the increase to several grants they have received over the years.
Effingham County Sheriff's Office Telecommunicator Supervisor and Effingham County 911 Board System Administrator Tina Daniels said they will be getting $10,065.25 more than expected for a NG911 grant from the State of Illinois.