Courthouse Ceremony June 26

By Brent Huelsmann

Although a walkthrough has been held, and workers have settled in, the Washington County Courthouse will be rededicated on June 26 at 2 p.m.

At the latest Washington County Board Meeting, the board finalized the plans for the rededication, saying that light refreshments will be served.

Board Building Committee Chair Gary Suedmeyer joked “I doubt we will have Stag” after another board member jokingly suggested it. Cookies and lemonade were talked about being served.

The rededication will take place at the front entrance of the courthouse, and a walkthrough will be offered after the rededication.

Electric Rate Contract

The County Board also approved a three-year electric rate contract, which would start in July of 2017 by Homefield Energy. The current contract runs through June of 2017.

When stating the rates of the contract, Suedmeyer said, “their feelings are with natural gas and things, part of it is coal fire plants are shutting down, they’re thinking natural gas prices will probably go up.”

The volatile nature of commodity rates worried the board causing them to lock in the rates now.

The contract will run through July of 2020.

Former ROE Office Rented

The County Board also passed a resolution allowing the Workforce Development Group to rent the former Office of the Regional Office of Education.

Suedmeyer stated to the board, “we met with them a couple of weeks ago, and that was the committees recommendation that we would rent the facility.”

The rent for the facility would be $500 per month, and would include utilities, but not internet and phone.

The Workforce Development Group is currently at the Community Center, and has just one employee. The Workforce Development Group has workers in St. Clair County, Washington County, Monroe County, Randolph County, and Clinton County.

The facility will be rented on a year-to-year basis. The year-to-year basis is due to the fact the board was worried that county officials may need more room in the future.

Zoning

The other business of the meeting was Daniel Dlubala’s zoning map amendment was passed. Two acres in the Pilot Knob Township will be rezoned from Agricultural to R1 Residential.