The Vermilion County Board has cleared the way for some technology upgrades at the Rita B. Garman Vermilion County Courthouse. Judges had requested the upgrades in four courtrooms at a cost of $312-thousand dollars. The county will use federal COVID recovery money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to fund the project.
The County Board also approved a request from the I & I Firefighters Association to use $133-thousand dollars in ARPA funds for upgrades to the dispatch system for fire departments and ambulance services across the county. County Board Chairman Larry Baughn said he thinks the upgrades to the system are a matter of public safety.
Gary Hawker, President of the I & I Firefighters Association, said earlier that the money would allow equipment to be placed on towers in the northern and southern parts of the county to help improve communications. He said currently the dispatches only come from a tower that’s in the center of the county. Hawker said some of the funding would also be used for new radio equipment.
The Board also heard from Steve Fourez, chairman of the finance committee of the County Board, who said fund balances are tracking pretty much as expected. Fourez added the committee is continuing work on a plan to adjust compensation for county employees. The committee has been working on the plan for several months – seeking to find a way to keep good employees around.
