SCT 7.8.20

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Scott County Times WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

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Times NEWS Bluffs hears of Municipal Court. See page A2

Brown retires from bank. See page A2

Scott County Nursing Center works to protect residents. See page A2

WEEKEND WEATHER

WINCHESTER, IL 62694

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SATURDAY, JULY 11

89 69 High

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SUNDAY, JULY 12

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Scott County Times Obituaries listed in this issue: none. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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VOLUME NO. 153 NUMBER 28

Tax dates announced By CARMEN ENSINGER Scott County Times Scott County Treasurer Mark Ford announced the upcoming dates for the first and second installment of the Scott County real estate taxes. “The first installment is due Aug. 13 and the second installment Sept. 24,” Ford said. “It should be noted that it is later this year than in year’s past because it was held up by the County Clerk.” Scott County Clerk, Sandra Hankins said the taxes are only marginally later than last year and that was due to the fact that she had to wait for the overlapping taxing bodies to send their EAVS to her. “I still don’t have Pike County’s,” she said. “I had to use another method for theirs. I can’t control what other counties do. It’s out of my hands. I can not proceed until I get their information. As soon as I got what I needed, I proceeded. A lot of counties are later this year.” Last year the first installment of the tax bills were due July 26 and the second installment was due Sept. 26. Ford also announced a major change implemented Monday morning after the Scott County Commissioners met with Judge David Cherry. “The County implemented its security measures this morning,”

Ford said. “As of today, the only entrance to the courthouse is through the handicap access on the East side. Entry cannot be gained through the front door nor through my door in the basement.” While there is no metal detector in place as of yet, it has been ordered and will be in place soon. “Right now, the sheriff has a bailiff on the door to check those entering the courthouse,” Ford said. “He will also take your temperature before you will be allowed access to the courthouse.” Ford said the Illinois State Supreme Court has mandated that all courthouses in the state abide by certain restrictions when it comes to entry into courthouses. These restrictions include no cell phones or any other electronic devices allowed into the courthouse. Ford did not say whether the county had already drawn up an ordinance to that effect. Because of the new security measures, Ford said it would be best if people would mail in their taxes rather than pay them in person. “If you do choose to come in and pay your taxes, you must call us to let us know you are coming which will be relayed to the bailiff,” Ford said. “It’s going to be a headache so that is why we are recommending you mail in your taxes.”

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Winchester approves bid for pool project By CARMEN ENSINGER Scott County Times The Winchester City Council at their July 1 meeting approved Phase 2 of the pool project by approving the low bid for the construction of the bath house. Phase 1 of the project was the construction of the filter house, which is near completion. The city received a 50/50 grant last year in the amount of over $600,000 but the bid on the entire project, which included a new filter house, bath house and pool liner, came in at over $1 million. The council decided to break the project into phases. After deciding not to open the pool this year, the council agreed several months ago to go forward with bidding out the Phase 2 project, which included the bath house and pool liner. Bids for Phase 2 were opened on Friday, June 26. Greg Hillis, with Benton and Associates, announced that Trotter General Contracting of Industry, was the low bidder with a bid of $399,676 for construction of the bath house. Additional alternate bids for the additional concrete was submitted at $27,110 and removing and replacing the pool liner at $71,100. Hillis said he compared where

the bids ended up for the bath house on the complete project compared to the phasing out of the project. “Back in February, we estimated the bathhouse to be $360,000 and the estimated cost for the filter house to be $240,000,” he said. “By doing the project in phases, the total cost will be around $575,000 total for Phase 1 and 2.” Hillis said the bids actually came in less than what their estimate was after breaking down the project. “It feels good that our estimates were a lot closer this time as compared to last time,” he said. “This bid is covered under your grant so my recommendation is to award the base bid for the bath house and let us and the pool committee take a look at the liner and see if it has any additional life left to it before we entertain the alternate bid for replacement to make it cheaper for the city.” Winchester Mayor Rex McIntire said at least the project was down to where the city could afford it. “We would like all of this work to be local but unless you have one heck of a reason you have to accept the low bid as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “It’s a bad position to put ourselves in if we (See, POOL, A2)

Submitted photo

FIRST FARMER’ MARKET

Brandon Moore waits for change from Dena Walker during the first Farmer’s Market of the year held in Winchester. There were only two vendors on hand for this first market, which was held on July 2, but they drew a big crowd. This week, the Music in the Park begins directly after the market, which is held on Thursday’s from 4 to 7 p.m.

CELEBRATING

Submitted photo

THE

4TH

With few of the traditional options for celebrating the 4th of July available, the Shewmake children decided to show their patriotism with their attire. Kaisley Shewmake, Kendyn Shewmake and Kayson Shewmake celebrate 4th of July at home in Winchester

Scott County announces first COVID-19 case By CARMEN ENSINGER Scott County Times The Scott County Health Department announced that it now has its first COVID-19 case. Scott County was the only county in the states 102 counties without a single positive case of the virus until now. The Scott County Health Department made the announcement July 2. According to Scott County Public Health Director Steve Shireman, the patient is a 66-year-old female who is recovering at home. The announcement was made on social media. “As a health department, we interview the patient in an effort to gather all information concerning potential contacts and then we notify these

contacts with the CDC guidance,” Shireman said the in the post. “We all play a vital role in stopping the spread of the virus. We ask that every person continues to practice social distancing of at least six feet, wear a mask when in public and wash their hands frequently.” On a more positive not, Scott County Nursing Center Administrator, Debbie O’Dell announced that none of their staff or residents tested positive for the virus. “The state implemented mandator testing of all staff and residents in the nursing facilities and we are proud to say that we are virus free here,” she said. “They tested all 36 residents and our 62 staff and all the tests came back negative.”

Winchester plans to demo old water plant “We have had a very busy month as By CARMEN ENSINGER far as JULIE locate calls,” Simmons Scott County Times said. “That means more people are As a matter of safety, the city of building. We also had a lot of permit Winchester plans to demo the old issues for swimming pools so there water plant after approval was given is a lot of construction going on in by the council at the July 1 city council Winchester which means some people meeting. are spending money.” Utility Superintendent John Simmons also brought up the issue Simmons said the area has become an of looking for a grant to have their eyesore and presents an unsafe area. water meters updated to automatic “The area has grown up a lot since reads. it was abandoned and the fence we “We are still in the process of had around it is falling down,” he changing out the old meters and right said. “There are a lot of open pits now we still walk the route reading the out there that I always deemed pretty meters,” he said. “The automatic read dangerous. We are scared someone would free up manpower as right now might fall in one of those pits, which it takes us three days to read them.” are about 20 feet deep. It’s in the best Benton and Associates Engineer interest of the city to Greg Hillis updated have it demo-ed and the council on the “It’s in the best filled in.” library grant. The 1914 build- interest of the “We turned the ing, however, will grant in the third week be spared as it is still city to have it in June, which was in fair condition and demo-ed and two weeks earlier than equipment is stored in the deadline,” he said. there. “The only question filled in.” There are a lot of they had was about big tanks out there and the Illinois Historic John Simmons all of them are wide Preservation letter open. we put in the grant Utility Superintendent “We want to get because it didn’t say them all caved in and level the place it ever expired. They said they would off,” Simmons said. like to have a new letter to go in the Simmons received two bids on the grant. Everything else was satisfacproject which includes demolishing tory.” the concrete walls and caving them Hillis also gave a report on the in plus filling in with dirt, which the Motor Fuel Tax program which is city already has plenty. Jerry Moore done every year. gave a bid of $7,310 and Terry Weavel “Back in June we came down of Weavel Construction gave a bid of and drove the streets and looked at $10,150. The council accepted the low what streets needed the most mainbid from Moore for the project. tenance,” he said. “We are asking The council approved the purchase for an appropriation of approximately of a new flow meter for the sewer $63,000 which includes engineering plant at a cost of not to exceed $3,200. and $59,092 for the roads.” “The one we are using now has been Mayor Rex McIntire told the counthere since its construction in 2003,” cil that he had made an inquiry about Simmons said. “It went down five putting in a mini house on one of his weeks ago and at the time we could lots in town. barely read it anyway,” Simmons said. “I told him we had discussed this “We have to have it because it tells two or three years ago and at that time the gallons of sewer water that passes the council was in agreement that through the plant and we have to they didn’t want to get that started,” report that.” McIntire said. “I am still in agreement The actual cost of the flow meter with that.” is $2,998 and the cost includes instalIt was also the concensus of the lation. council. Simmons said the one positive from McIntire also said the new auditor, the COVID-19 situation is that people (See, WATER PLANT, A2) are building more.


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