Quincy Reporter

Adams County Board Public Health & Safety Committee met June 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at 5:30 PM in the ROE Conference Room Overseeing the Sheriff, Emergency Management, Coroner and Animal Control.

Committee members present were Mark Dietrich, Barbara Fletcher, Steven McQueen and Mark Sorensen. Also present were Sheriff Tony Grootens, Chief Deputy Pat Frazier, Coroner Scott Graham, EMS Director John Simon, and Terry Bower. Excused was Brent Fischer.

The meeting was called to order at 5:35 PM.

All bills were reviewed and appeared to be in order.

A motion was made by Mark Sorensen and seconded by Mark Dietrich to approve the minutes of the May 9, 2023, meeting. Motion passed.

Ambulance/Emergency Management: Director John Simon

Director Simon reported that staffing is down by 17 and that the Mendon unit has been phased out due to a lack of staffing. They are only able to staff 4 of 6 units most days.

A special meeting of the Ambulance Board was held which resulted in an agreement to begin early negotiations with the union. They could have an agreement by August.

School courses are ongoing. The current classes are beginning their testing phase. 16 students are enrolled in next year’s high school program. The high school program is now able to incorporate more students from the County.

The Department has received approval for Academy style courses and is under negotiations with Blessing. They hope to start these courses in August.

The Memorandum of Understanding with the Union was signed last month. It appears to have improved morale.

The Ambulance Service is establishing a Tactical Medical Program to integrate Emergency Medical Services with the Quincy Police Department and the Sheriff’s SRT.

Adams County EMS has received a new drone for search and rescue specifically for interior searches.

EMS is also establishing a public/private partnership to purchase sand bagging machines for the County with the assistance of GREDF.

Coroner’s Report: Coroner Scott Graham

Coroner Graham reported that during the month of May 2023 there were: 78 reported deaths

6 autopsies

1 abandoned cremation

37 cremation permits were issued.

2 suicides

Coroner Graham also reported that the first session of Death Investigator Training is starting on Wednesday and Thursday of this week at Town and Country Inn and Suites. They are training Deputy Coroners, Sheriff’s Investigators and officers from the Quincy Police Department. They have 30 attendees scheduled.

Sheriff’s Report: Sheriff Grootens

Jail:

For May, the average daily population of the Adams County Jail was 127. There were three new Corrections Officers hired and one departed.

Old Business

None

New Business

West Side Courthouse Security- Improvement is needed for the security at the west side of the Courthouse. Sheriff Grootens and Terry Bower are working with the stakeholders to provide a solution which does not require an increase in manpower.

Adams County Health Department Security- No discussion at this time.

Adams County Sheriff Resource Officer-Sheriff Grootens handed out a proposal requesting a second School Resource Officer so that there would be one officer for each half of Adams County, halving the response time in the event of an incident.

Animal Control Service Agreement- The Committee was presented with a copy of the current Adams County Animal Control Service Agreement for review.

Appointments

None.

https://www.co.adams.il.us/home/showpublisheddocument/8629/638247540161400000