Adams County Board
QUINCY — The Quincy Riverfront Development Corporation already has $750,000 pledged for the burial of power lines along the Quincy riverfront. Corporation members now plan to go to three governing bodies in Quincy in early October to ask for $650,000 more. The $1.18 million project calls for the lines to be buried in Clat Adams…
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QUINCY — A group of Adams County veterans has been pushing for the establishment of Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) in the county for more than a year. State law requires that if a group of veterans makes the request of an Illinois county to establish a commission and follows all of the proper steps, the…
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QUINCY — Great River Economonic Development Foundation President/CEO Kyle Moore presented a draft copy of the housing needs assessment for Adams County and Quincy to the Adams County Board Tuesday night. Moore gave County Board members a full 250 page report and an executive summary and offered a brief summary of some of the study’s…
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QUINCY — First the Adams County Courthouse didn’t need to be closed. Then it did. Now it doesn’t. John Jurgeil of Jurgeil and Associates out of St. Charles, Mo., gave a report to the Adams County Board Tuesday night that said the building did need some remediation, it was okay to continue conducting business there.…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Members of the Adams County Circuit Clerk’s office are meeting Thursday night with Eighth Circuit Chief Judge Frank McCartney about the issue of mold in the Adams County Courthouse. An inspector with the Illinois Department of Labor replied to a complaint regarding the mold put forth by the Machinists Union, which represents the…
Read Full Article QUINCY — During a June 28 Zoom meeting to discuss mold problems in the 84,000-square-foot Adams County Courthouse, Larry Schwartz of SafeStart Environmental gave his conclusions about the April testing his company conducted to the 125 people who participated online. “The real hard facts are, right now, knowing what I know, and I can’t say I’m absolutely…
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QUINCY — A special meeting of the Adams County Board with only one item on the agenda — a discussion about a recent report on mold in the courthouse — lasted 14 minutes Wednesday night. Most of those in attendance left with more questions than answers, especially concerning a video meeting with a county committee…
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Adams County officials asking for patience as they determine what to do about mold in the courthouse
QUINCY — Adams County officials said Thursday morning they are “investigating our options” after hearing three doctors say during a Wednesday Zoom meeting that work should cease in the Adams County Courthouse because of unsafe air quality levels. A press release issued Thursday morning by Assistant State’s Attorney Todd Eyler said the county has received…
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QUINCY — Adams County’s Transportation, Building and Technology Committee has voted to hire Klingner and Associates to interpret the results of the mold inspection done in April and will hold another special meeting next week for those with concerns about the process. The county will spend up to $4,000 with the Quincy firm on this…
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The Chairman of the Adams County Board talks about the state’s attorney’s office, the presence of mold in the building and what projects the county has its eyes on for the future. MRN This Week is furnished by Harvey’s.
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QUINCY — After several Adams County employees demanded to see a preliminary environmental report done on the courthouse for mold, Adams County officials turned over the report to the employees. About a dozen employees attended the Transportation, Building, and Technology that preceded the Adams County Board Tuesday night because they were told they would get…
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QUINCY — Fewer ambulances are operating in Quincy and Adams County these days as the county’s ambulance service is currently 36 percent understaffed. At full capacity, Adams County EMTs and Paramedics staff six ambulances throughout Adams County and Quincy providing Advanced Life Support 24/7. Three units are stationed in Quincy and primarily serve the southwestern…
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QUINCY — GREDF President Kyle Moore addressed the Adams County Board Wednesday night to push for the need of improved housing in Quincy and Adams County. GREDF has been commissioned by the County and the City of Quincy to put together a housing study that is being funded primarily by the State of Illinois. Moore…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Adams County Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to hold on to some committed, but as of yet unallocated, funding from American Relief Plan Act funds as more county expenses arise. Projects that have been temporarily backburnered include $1 million to be used for housing in Quincy and Adams County. The Great River…
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QUINCY — The Adams County Board followed the recommendation of the Transportation, Building and Technology Committee on Tuesday and approved a bid of $56,000 from Safestart Environmental of Chicago to test for mold and other contaminants throughout the Adams County Courthouse. About 15 people — most of them attorneys, judges and employees at the courthouse…
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QUINCY — Not long after last Thursday’s fatal shooting involving deputies with the Adams County Sheriff’s office had concluded, Adams County Sheriff Tony Grootens said he asked for the videos taken from the cars of deputies who responded to the area of Fifth and West Radio Road. He wasn’t pleased with the answer he received.…
Read Full Article At Tuesday night’s Adams County Board meeting, a bid for $700,000 was approved to replace the camera and door access systems installed in the Adams County Jail. Verkada, a San Mateo, California-based company, won the bid over two other companies. The new system will be cloud-based and replace a system less than five years old.…
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Ashley Conrad and Bob Gough get you ready for a busy week in local government.
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Muddy River News MRN THIS WEEK PODCAST: Bret Austin Play Episode Pause Episode Mute/Unmute Episode Rewind 10 Seconds 1x Fast Forward 30 seconds 00:00 / 00:25:10 Subscribe Share Stitcher RSS Feed Share Link Embed Download file | Play in new window | Duration: 00:25:10 | Recorded on January 2, 2023Subscribe: StitcherThe businessman and chairman of…
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QUINCY — The Adams County Board passed a nearly $57 million budget Tuesday night that will use carry-over funds from the current fiscal year to balance. In the final County Board meeting of the current fiscal year, the County’s new budget year begins Dec. 1, the budget passed by an 18-1 vote, with John Brady…
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QUINCY — Ryan Niekamp defeated Democrat Arianna Downard-Salih for the second time to remain as Adams County Clerk and Recorder. Niekamp garnered nearly 84 percent of the vote Tuesday in Adams County’s only contested countywide race. Voter turnout was at 58 percent in the county. Treasurer Bryden Cory won re-election in his uncontested race and…
Read Full Article Election Day is just around the corner, and I am reminded of the old saying, “All politics is local.” It is very easy to get bogged down in the current political climate that plagues our country on a national level. Division and discord are the order of the day. I find it rather interesting that,…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Adams County Board voted to spend $7,500 toward a study on housing throughout Quincy and Adams County. The County Board received letters from Quincy Medical Group, Titan, Knapheide and the Quincy Public Schools in support of such a study, calling more housing critical to bring in needed employees to the area. Adams…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Adams County Board will consider putting $2 million toward assisting what many local officials believe will help spur growth in Quincy and Adams County. At Tuesday night’s Adams County Executive Committee Meeting, Finance Committee Chairman Bret Austin proposed using $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding and $1 million the County…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Adams County Board approved spending more than a half million dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funding for villages in the county to replace or repair restrooms in their communities. Camp Point received $120,000 for the restroom in Bailey Park and Liberty received $120,000 for the restroom in Central Park. Plainville, Coatsburg…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Adams County Board narrowly voted to give the Circuit Clerk a more than $6,000 raise on a split vote. The discussion on the vote centered around giving the raise during middle of Circuit Clerk Lori Geschwandner’s term. By statute, most raises for officeholders are allowed to be voted on to go into…
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Club Muddy CLUB MUDDY PODCAST: Elephants and asses in the room Play Episode Pause Episode Mute/Unmute Episode Rewind 10 Seconds 1x Fast Forward 30 seconds 00:00 / 00:52:21 Subscribe Share RSS Feed Share Link Embed Download file | Play in new window | Duration: 00:52:21 | Recorded on August 8, 2022Frankie, Bobby and Ashley try…
Read Full Article Frankie, Bobby and Ashley try to put a bow on the Adams County Board controversy in an extended dance mix version of Club Muddy. PARENTAL GUIDANCE!!! Bobby also drops an f-bomb that he shoudn’t have, but he will use the Hamilton musical as his defense.
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Ashley and Bob wrap up the discussion on the Adams County Board’s Open Meetings Act violations. The Abbey, Harvey’s, Instant Replay, Quincy Warehouse Bargains and Utopia bring you the Daily Muddy.
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Members of the Adams County Board discussed their political futures behind closed doors during a closed session of their May 10 meeting. Bret Austin, Adams County Board vice chairman and Finance Committee chairman, assured his fellow board members these discussions would remain private, despite the fact they were being recorded. These board members must be…
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The Adams County Board’s Finance Committee went into closed session May 9 to discuss giving themselves raises and lay out a political strategy to deal with potential fallout from voters who might not approve of the action. These actions are not permitted under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. “The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The herd was thinned a bit on Tuesday night. In a large field of candidates, including many first timers, 29 people advanced from the primary in an attempt to fill all 21 Adams County Board seats, which happens every 10 years. While some have basically secured their slots on the County Board, many…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Adams County Board is reviewing more requests for projects to utilize funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Adams County has received $12.7 million in ARPA funding from the federal government. Finance Committee Chairman Bret Austin said the county has spent roughly $6.5 million has another nearly $4.8 million in pending…
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Bob Gough talks to retired Quincy Police Chief Rob Copley about closing out his law enforcement career and the 2022 Illinois Primary is fast approaching. The Abbey, Utopia, Harvey’s Furniture, Instant Replay, Quincy Warehouse Bargains and The Liquor Booth bring you The Daily Muddy.
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General Assembly voted to give county sheriffs raises, state will reimburse county for most of the salary QUINCY — The Adams County Board went into executive session Tuesday night to discuss the salary increases they were about to vote themselves. After they came out of the closed portion of the meeting, Board members voted 16-1…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Adams County Board voted Tuesday night to pump in another $50,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help find people on probation find jobs. Adams County Board Chairman Kent Snider said 27 people have found jobs with local manufacturers since the program was established last September and utilizing the first…
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QUINCY — When asked about funding a majority of the 48th and State roundabout, Adams County Engineer Jim Frankenhoff said that wasn’t an issue. “We have the money,” said Frankenhoff, whose term as county engineer was also renewed by the County Board at Tuesday night’s meting. So the County Board approved to appropriate $1.7 million…
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QUINCY — UPDATED Adams County Sheriff Rich Wagner will retire from his position in December. Wagner, who did not file a petition to run for the office he was appointed to, issued a statement Tuesday morning. Filing for elected offices for the June 28 primary closed at 5 p.m. Monday. Wagner’s statement: “I would like…
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Melvin J. “Bud” Niekamp, a self-proclaimed watchdog of taxpayer money while simultaneously holding elected office on two public bodies before being challenged in court for his service, has died. Niekamp, who made “Bud votes no” a standard part of many local reporter’s stories over the years, was taken to court in 2009 by a group…
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QUINCY — Add two more candidates to the list of people interested in seats on the Adams County Board. David Hoskins (R-District 7) filed for re-election on Thursday. Republican Jim Fisher also filed to run in District 3. Fisher joins Rodney Hermsmeier as challengers to three Republican incumbents — Marvin Kerkhoff, Dave Bellis and Raquel…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Four more candidates filed for Adams County Board on Wednesday, including two incumbents and two challengers. Republican incumbents Marvin Kerkhoff and Dave Bellis filed for re-election in District 3 as did newcomer Rodney Hermsmeier. Incumbent Republican Raquel Sparrow filed for re-election in District 3 on Monday, but with three more Republicans filing, now…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Adams County Board member Steve DeMoss (D-District 1) filed to run for re-election on Tuesday. Two others also filed to run for the 21-seat board on Tuesday: Republican Keith Callaway, also in District 1, and Republican Tim Finlay in District 5. Both are first time candidates for County Board seats. District 1 suddenly…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Adams County Board approved moving more than $920,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds at its meeting Tuesday night. The approved funding, provided by the federal government for COVID relief, was vetted by Bellwether, a consulting firm based out of Normal hired by the county to ensure all of the guidelines and…
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QUINCY — The Adams County Board approved to spend about $258,000 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds on new election equipment Tuesday night. The current machines are 18 years old. Finance Committee Chairman Bret Austin said the 45 touchscreen DS-200 machines are an improvement to the technology of the voting system. “I think we have…
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QUINCY — Agencies who haven’t turned in an application to receive American Rescue Plan Act funds from Adams County still have a chance to do so. Bret Austin, chairman of the executive committee, said during Tuesday night’s meeting of the Adams County Board that emails were sent to 138 non-profit agencies in Quincy asking if…
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Bob Gough talks to the Adams County Board Chairman. Muddy River News This Week is furnished by Harvey’s.
Read Full Article Bret Austin is confident the funding already received — and what is yet to come — will prove to be a major assistance to Adams County in its efforts to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the health and economic impacts tied to the present situation. “I’m optimistic about the process,” said Austin, who serves…
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QUINCY — Two more projects were approved Tuesday night by the Adams County Board that will be paid for with money the county has received from the American Rescue Plan Act. Approved was the purchase of approximately 20 laptop computers for the Adams County Sheriff’s Department. The estimated cost is $80,000. The computers would replace…
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by J. Robert Gough, MRN Publisher After months of being stalled over lack of funding and then a dispute over bid specifications, the Adams County Board unanimously approved a $700,000 bid from Otis Elevator of Farmington, Connecticut. Adams County Board Chairman Kent Snider (R-4) called for the special full board meeting following a special meeting…
Read Full Article With apologies to Aerosmith, there is no love in the elevators of the Adams County Courthouse. The county has been wrangling with the issue of its elevators for years. One of them basically has been out of service for about two years. At a special meeting Tuesday night that lasted about 45 minutes, the county’s…
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QUINCY — One of the projects to be paid for with money Adams County has received from the American Rescue Plan Act is one step from approval. Another project, however, ran into a roadblock during Tuesday night’s Adams County Board meeting. The County Board voted to approve a resolution to upgrade the county’s network and…
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QUINCY — The executive committee of the Adams County Board can move forward with three projects that will be paid for with money the county has received from the American Rescue Plan Act. Bret Austin, finance chairman for the Adams County Board, said in Monday night’s executive committee meeting that representatives from Bellwether LLC in…
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QUINCY — Barney Bier, a former Adams County Board member and former state’s attorney, believes decisions announced by County Board chairman Kent Snider after a June 15 meeting are not in line with state law. A letter dated June 16, signed by Snider and sent to county department heads, noted personnel changes with the County…
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