A first draft for the members of the new La Salle County Board committee structure was hammered out Tuesday morning by the board's Committee on Appointments.

Again employing a system pioneered by Board Chairman Jerry Hicks, D-Marseilles, when he assumed his post, assignments are made as closely as possible according to the desires of County Board members.

Members were given "wish list" forms for their assignments. They indicated the committees they were most interested in serving on and ranked them for additional guidance.

Where possible, requests were fulfilled. Then the committee assignments were reviewed to see if they were equitably assigned.

In some cases, specific assignments were mandated. Susan Thornton, R-Ottawa, was assigned to the landfill oversight committee. Hicks said the County Board member whose district includes the landfill must be assigned to the oversight committee.

Once again, Stephen Carlson, R-Mendota, was passed over for any assignments because he has a property tax legal action pending against the county.

After input, the Committee on Appointments will meet again Thursday, Nov. 19, to see if changes need to be made.

Approval could come at either the board's Friday, Nov. 20 meeting or its Monday, Nov. 30 meeting.

The new committees would take effect either Tuesday, Dec. 1, or Saturday, Jan. 1.

La Salle County Board members

• Stephen Abel, D-Mendota
• Jill Bernal, D-Peru
• Sandi Billard, R-Oglesby
• Russell Boe, R-Ottawa
• Charles Borchsenius, R-Sheridan
• Herman "Bones" Bruns, D-Streator
• Stephen Carlson, R-Mendota
• LouAnne Carretto, D-Ottawa
• Ronald Dittmer, D-Streator
• Randy Freeman, R-Lostant
• Thomas Ganiere, D-Ottawa
• Bob Greenwalt, D-Sandwich
• Jerry Hicks, D-Marseilles
• Robert Jakupcak, D-Streator
• Donald Jordan, D-Streator
• Jack Leininger, R-Marseilles
• Matthew McLaughlin, D-Peru
• Jerry Myers, R-Streator
• Jim Olson, D-Seneca
• Catherine Owens, R-Sandwich
• Mary "Kelly" Reffett, D-La Salle
• Art Rigby Jr., D-Peru
• Joseph Savitch, D-La Salle
• Rick Scott, D-Ottawa
• Gary Small, R-Utica
• Kenneth Stockley, R-Earlville
• Susan Thornton, R-Ottawa
• Tom Walsh, D-Ottawa
• Arratta Znaniecki, R-Ottawa.

Proposed assignments for main La Salle County Board committees.

(* signifies committee chairman.)

• Auditor, Recorder, State's Attorney, Public Defender: Dittmer*, Reffert, Bruns, Boe, Greenwalt, Freeman, Jordan.
• Bridges & Township Roads, Highway: Jordan*, Olson, McLaughlin, Rigby, Jakupcak, Bruns, Stockley.
• Circuit Clerk, Judiciary, Detention Home: Greenwalt*, Reffert, Olson, Small, Bruns, Borchsenius, Leininger.
• County Clerk, Treasurer, Assessment, Board of Review, Geographic Information System: Scott*, Borchsenius, Abel, Owens, Znaniecki, Dittmer, Jordan.
• Committee on Appointments, Legislation & Rules: Hicks*, Ganiere, Stockley, Walsh, Scott, Boe, Billard.
• County Property: Olson*, Jakupcak, Rigby, Ganiere, Leininger, Scott, Savage.
• Development, Environmental Services, Tax Increment Financing: Stockley*, Myers, Boe, Abel, Scott, Small, Jordan.
• Finance & Fees: Ganiere*, Abel, Savage, Walsh, Greenwalt, Znanieki, Leininger.
• Information Technology, Central Services & Printing: Abel*, Rigby, Dittmer, Freeman, Thornton, Ganiere, Greenwalt.
• License: Hicks*, Savitch, Jakupcak, Myers, Boe.
• Insurance & Insurance Trust: Myers*, Savitch, Stockley, Billard, Jakupcak.
• Nursing Home, Veterans Assistance Commission: Small*, Znaniecki, Carretto, Owens, McLaughlin, Thornton, Ganiere.
• Public Safety I (Sheriff, Courthouse Security): Leininger*, McLaughlin, Olson, Greenwalt, Borchsenius, Bruns, Small.
• Public Safety II (Coroner, Emergency Management Agency, Animal Control): Freeman*, McLaughlin, Billard, Znaniecki, Stockley, Jordan, Reffett.
• Fee & Salary: Savitch*, Ganiere, Walsh, Myers, Carretto, Bernal, Billard.
• Regional Superintendent of Schools: Carretto*, Abel, Bernal, Dittmer, Owens, Myers, McLaughlin.
• Tourism: Leininger*, Thornton, Freeman, Owens, Rigby, Reffett, Bernal.