BOND COUNTY UNIT 2 SUPERINTENDENT ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION
When the Bond County Community Unit #2 School District Board was called to order, the board immediately adjourned to closed session. After about 25 minutes, the board came back to order and announced the resignation of Superintendent Melanie Allyn, effective at the end of the school year. In her resignation letter, Ms. Allyn explained that she will retire, after serving the district for four years, because of personal reasons. The board then read a prepared statement that praised Ms. Allyn for her integrity, hard work ethic, and for charting the course toward excellence. The board then immediately approved the search for a new superintendent.
In other news, an update on the athletic facilities was presented. The track, locker rooms and bleachers should all be done before the first trackmeet. The concession stand is finished and the sodding and seeding of the athletic fields should start soon, weather permitting. Also it was reported that the school district took part in the reading-out-loud of the Gettysburg Address on Lincoln's birthday, that helped set a new Guiness Book World Record. The board approved the letting of bids for four new school buses and one van, retaining the current firm that does the audits, an increase in substitute teachers pay and policies concerning student transfers and drug testing of student athletes.
BOND COUNTY BOARD TO ASSIST CITY WITH DONNEWALD PURCHASE
At the most recent Bond County Board meeting the city addressed the board in hopes of receiving financial assistance for the Donnewald Distributing land purchase. The board made a suggestion to let the city forego a $40,000 payment to the county for this year only, to use toward the project. The board discussed their hopes that Donnewald Distributing will use local companies for construction of their building.
County Highway Engineer Mike McCormick addressed the board. Carlyle will be sponsoring a Triathalon this spring and about three miles of the path will come into Bond County. This event will become a five year commitment. Chairperson Jill Franks will meet with ICIT to discuss insurance and liability issues for the event. The matter was tabled until the next meeting.
The board has until March to decide on moving forward with Illinois County Insurance Trust. Jill Franks will meet this week with the trust company and the board will make their decision at the March meeting.
Joe Doll was at the meeting to request a written commitment for Colt Coal Company, stating that if his land is sold it goes for fair market value. State’s Attorney Chris Bauer has been in contact with Colt Coal’s attorney and this issue has been tabled until the next meeting.
TWO MULBERRY GROVE FIREMEN RECOGNIZED FOR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE
The Mulberry Grove Fire Protection District has compiled its 2008 annual report. Firemen Dwight Volkmar and Paul Lutz were recognized for 25 years of service to the Mulberry Grove Fire Department. They were each presented a watch, from the Mulberry Grove Fire District. Jay Greenwood was named Fireman of the Year and Jeremy Hopkins First Responder of the Year.
The annual report showed a total of 104 calls, which was an increase over 2007. 31 of those calls were for fires and 73 were for first responders. Mulberry Grove Firemen were called to provide mutual aid 16 times and received mutual aid once. Mutual aid calls were down for 2008 when compared to 2007. The total approximate dollar value of property loss for 2008 was $66,200.00 and the average response time for fire calls was 7.71 minutes. The Mulberry Grove Fire Protection District 2008 membership totaled 20 persons, the same as the number of first responders.
