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Bret Austin

Illinois Attorney General’s Office: “Adams County has acknowledged that its closed session discussions…were improper” 

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QUINCY — The Illinois Attorney General’s office has received the recordings of the closed sessions of the Adams County Board and Finance Committee meetings for May and acknowledged the board’s actions were “improper”.

Can we continue to trust the leadership of the Adams County Board?

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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.

Adams County State’s Attorney’s office turns over recordings of May closed session County Board, Finance Committee meetings

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QUINCY — Between the closed sessions of both the May 10 Adams County Board meeting and the May 6 Adams County Finance Committee meeting, County Board members spent a combined hour attempting to twist arms for a unanimous vote on salary increases and discussing the political ramifications of holding a vote just before an election.

Adams County Board showed lack of trust in voters, political process when going behind closed doors

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Multiple County Board members said the information wasn’t sent the week before in the County Board packet, nor was the matter discussed at either the July County Board meeting or the July Finance Committee meeting.

The District recognizes founders of Blues in the District after 25 years

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QUINCY — On July 22, the 25th anniversary of Blues in the District, officials with The District recognized and thanked the four founders responsible for bringing this free music concert series to Quincy — Karol Ehmen, Fran Cook, Bret Austin and Sandy Austin. This group had a vision for family-friendly free public concerts. With the […]

Adams County wants more non-profit agencies to apply for ARPA funds

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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 […]

Adams County Board passes $61.5 million budget for 2022

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QUINCY — The Adams County Board unanimously passed its fiscal year 2022 budget Tuesday night that absorbs increases in personnel and employee health insurance. It is a nearly $1.8 million increase over the FY2021 budget. The $61.5 million spending plan calls for four new corrections employees to accommodate the new jail and an additional $600,000 […]

Adams County looking at possible 32 percent increase in employee health insurance

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As Adams County prepares its 2022 budget, the Adams County Board received a little bit of sticker shock on one important item at Tuesday night’s meeting. Finance Committee Chair Bret Austin informed the Board that the County’s employee health insurance plan was looking at a 32 percent increase. “There are not a lot of options […]

Austin calls ARPA funds ‘a once-in-a-generation opportunity’

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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 […]

Local landlords anxious for eviction moratorium to be lifted

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QUINCY — The idea made complete sense.  Gov. JB Pritzker’s executive action has protected from eviction any Illinois residents who can’t pay rent because of the pandemic since March 2020. Nearly 18 months later, local landlords are ready for the eviction moratorium to expire. “A lot of politicians on the state and federal level are […]

One County Board project to be paid for with ARPA funds advances, but another returns to committee

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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 […]

Consulting firm says three Adams County projects meet ARPA eligibility requirements

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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 […]