With some minor adjustments, the La Salle County Board's Committee on Appointments approved a final version of the new consolidated committee structure.

If approved at the full board meeting Friday, Nov. 20, the number of committees will be reduced from 22 to 17 effective Tuesday, Dec. 1. The change is expected to produce a savings in the amount paid to County Board members.

Notable among the changes was the removal of long-time Information Technology Committee Chairman Art Rigby, D-Peru. Rigby was taken off the committee completely and not given another chairmanship. Stephen Abel, D-Mendota, a former school administrator, was designated chairman.

In recent days, Rigby has quarreled with Board Chairman Jerry Hicks, D-Marseilles, about the appointment of a director to the county's new IT department.

Rigby knew the change was coming, commenting at Thursday morning's IT Committee meeting that it would be his last one.

Rigby said he thinks Abel will make a good chairman.

"I am really impressed with the man. I don't think much will get by him."




Pollex slated as county interim IT director

La Salle County's acting Information Technology director, Illinois Valley Community College employee Don Pollex, appears to now be slated to hold that position for up to a year to allow time for the County Board to make a permanent appointment.
Thursday, the County Board's IT Committee, in a special meeting called by Board Chairman Jerry Hicks, D-Marseilles, unanimously voted in favor of a resolution naming Pollex as interim director. Only member Ron Dittmer, D-Streator, was absent.
Friday, the Fee and Salary Committee and then the full County Board are expected to follow suit.
The committee meeting drew an unusually large number of county officials as audience members. They included Clerk JoAnn Carretto, Supervisor of Assessment Linda Kendall, Auditor Jody Wilkinson, Sheriff Tom Templeton, Treasurer Don Lamps and Circuit Clerk Joe Carey as well as several County Board members.
Pollex, who Hicks said now is paid $58,000 by IVCC, will have a salary set at $65,000.
Bob Greenwalt, D-Sandwich, said he was surprised at the salary. Kelly Reffert, D-La Salle, said she thought the salary was low to normal for the responsibility Pollex would have. She said $80,000 would be more in line.
Susan Thornton, R-Ottawa, asked if the department needed to continue with a four-person staff now budgeted. Hicks said it did. Stephen Abel, D-Mendota, noted the county was "one less employee, sort of" because Harold Barnes, the IVCC director of Information and technology services, would no longer be providing services to the county.
Committee members discussed the savings the county might realize from starting its own IT department. The usual amount cited is $100,000, but Abel said it appeared as though $75,000 would be more accurate. Hicks replied the savings actually would depend on what the benefit package the four new employees qualified for. Hicks said the savings could range from $70,000 to $110,000.
The committee also discussed the hiring timeline and worked on the wording of a job posting. Hicks said interviews would be conducted by himself; Tom Ganiere, D-Ottawa; and someone from the IT Committee.