The Knox County Board approved the hiring of a new Assistant State’s Attorney at last night’s delayed January meeting.
Due to the increased number of cases, the State’s Attorney’s office has been stretched thin which led to State’s Attorney John Pepmeyer to make the request to the county.
While Board Chair Pamela Davidson did vote to approve the request, she was critical of the timing of the request. Saying that such a request should be made during the budget process.
“We need all the departments to come to us and tell us what their needs are for us taxpayers not to be spending money that we don’t [have]. It’s so hard! It’s hard for me to even just sit here because I know it’s such a crunch on taxpayers that have to spend money. So, let us budget and do things properly.”
The new prosecutor will be paid at a salary of $47,500. Pepmeyer told the finance committee on Monday that he hoped to have the new attorney hired by the end of the month.
The county board also approved the creation of a Nursing Home Advisory Committee.
The commission would be filled with professionals in the community that have experience in fields related to the operation of the nursing home.
A question came up regarding the legality of the county creating the committee, which was addressed by board member David Amor. He says such committees already exist in the state.
“I spoke to the board chair in McLean County. They also had some issues at their nursing home. They had created exactly this kind of [committee] to [come in] and help with recommendations, recognizing that the members of the board committee are not professionals [in nursing home administration]”
The new committee will not have any voting powers, just assist the county in continuing to move the nursing home in a positive direction.
The committee was approved with a 12 to 2 vote with board members Todd Olinger and Patrick Harlan voting against it, and Lyle Johnson absent.
