White County board members met Thursday night, instead of Tuesday, due to the primary election.
Before the board addressed the two agenda items, public comments were made by Carmi resident Richard Cook. He raised allegations of illegal activity within the White County Sheriff’s Office and presented a printout of Illinois code 55 ILCS 5/3-7013, which states that no deputy sheriff in the County Police Department and no employee in the County Department of Corrections shall participate in any manner in the activities or interests of any political party or of any candidate publicly. That code only pertains to Cook County.
Shifting focus, Cook then addressed the White County Jail, stating he believes a third-party, independent review should follow recent incidents involving jailer Darren Hays.
Following public comments, the board turned to new business. White County 4-H Youth Development Program Coordinator Amy McCarty presented updates, highlighting new programs for the year, SPIN Club and Building Blocks, as well as the involvement of 16 young participants from multiple counties in public presentations.
The board continued by inviting Ashley Davis and Karson Kays to share information about SAFE (Sexual Assault and Family Emergencies). The organization serves 11 counties and provides free, confidential services, including advocacy, counseling, and prevention education.
Davis noted that April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and explained the major benefit of having SAFE in the community.
“I am an advocate for SAFE, so we provide medical and legal advocacy during their entire time. We also provide free counseling for any individual that has been a sexual assault survivor and or their family members that are affected by sexual assault. Another thing that we do, which this region has been very good at receiving of, is our prevention and education.”
The board signed the proclamation with SAFE.
After hearing from guests, a few county officers provided updates from their departments.
Ambulance Director Adam Allen finished the month with a positive balance of just over $2,600. Allen also shared that his department will host a fundraiser in the near future featuring a raffle for a redneck hunting blind with a trailer and stand. The fundraising proceeds will support pediatric care improvements, specifically targeting systems to enhance care for children. The estimated cost of specialized equipment ranges from $10,000 to $15,000.
Next, County Clerk Kayci Heil addressed voter turnout, noting that despite perceptions of low participation, 743 people voted in their office alone, which was considered substantial for a primary election. She added that mail-in ballots will still be processed for up to two weeks.
Finally, Circuit Clerk Kelly Fulkerson reported that $50,000 in grant money has been spent, with approximately $800 remaining. She also thanked courthouse officer Randy Cobb for addressing a water leak in her office, which she suspects is originating from the second-floor kitchen. She is currently waiting for replacement tiles.
The next White County board meeting will be on April 14 at 7 pm.