At the latest Hamilton County Board meeting, members addressed key agenda items, including a payment issue with Novacom Communications, appointments to the Emergency Telephone System Board, and funding for local initiatives.
Back in 2023, the board agreed to do business with Novacom, and the company and the board agreed to $60,000 for Repeater Link Systems, portables, and mobiles. In July 2024, the board received its first down payment of $20,592.18, but nothing has been sent since.
Now, Novacom is requesting a final payment, but one last repeater has not been set up, and the board was curious whether that repeater cost is included in the final number or if another bill is heading their way.
Chairman Kelly Woodrow and County Clerk Heather Bowman discussed the issue.
Woodrow: “We agreed to do this, was it three years ago, two years ago, Heather?”
Bowman: “2023, we agreed to do it. We funded for it in 2024, and the contingency line item was $60,000 that we agreed to. We were only invoiced the down payment, it was $20,592.18, and we paid that in July of 24. But I think because of the licensing and some of the things that were held up, we never got the final invoice.”
The board asked Dorothy Smith, an ETSB member, if the company had installed its final repeater and for her thoughts on the billing. With Woodrow giving the option to table the item until the project’s final cost is known, or if another bill is expected for the repeater that hasn’t been installed.
Smith: “I mean, that was your agreement. To my knowledge, unless they’ve got put up in the last few days, it wasn’t. I don’t like to pay for things until I receive them.”
Consequently, a motion was made to table the item until Smith can contact someone at Novacom regarding the billing issue.
Moving on to the remaining items in New Business, the board approved Jessica Barbre, Administrative Assistant of the Southern 14 Workforce Investment Board, as their grant/fiscal agent. A request for “Local Authority Approval” was given to the 8th Annual HamCo Food and Brew Fest, which will be on February 21st at the Big Red Barn. Lastly, a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado for the EMA, which is licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health and used to respond to medical calls, will be paid for out of the Emergency Medical Fund in the amount of $14,410.33.
There were only two highway recommendations to approve. A payment of $10,000 to each Township will be made through the Coal Fund account. The board will also appropriate funds from the Motor Fuel Tax Allotment for the maintenance of county highways for January 2026 until December 2026.
Chairman Woodrow recommended an appointment to the Hamilton County ETSB to fill the vacancy of Justin Webb’s three-year term. The board agreed that Jason Craddock will complete Webb’s term, who, during his time, was completing the two years left of Adam Zimmerman’s term on the board. Other appointments to the ETSB included Dorothy Smith and Jason Stewart for 3 years, and Landon Vaughan for 1 year.
During public comments, Paula Hatfield of 4-H shared recent program projects, including making 300 red, white, and blue blankets for veterans on the Honor Flight. She also introduced a 4-H’er who spoke about her experience as one of 10 Illinois delegates to the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, where participants learned leadership, team building, and community service.
Lastly, John Williams with Colonial Insurance passed out new insurance quotes to the board members, who then stated they will present the information to the Insurance Board and will contact Williams at a later date.