Judge Daniel Emge addressed the Washington County Board regarding changes to the court filing system set to go into effect on January 1, 2018. The Supreme Court has mandated that all civil cases in Illinois must be filed electronically to the Circuit Clerk. Judge Emge said that Circuit Clerk Cindy Barczewski has been anticipating this change and purchased equipment accordingly.

“The Circuit Clerk has done a very good job over the last several years,” said Emge. “She’s been kind of anticipating this and has been purchasing equipment as we go, and I think we pretty well have all of the hardware and equipment that we need other than two computers and two scanners. Cindy’s done a good job and I don’t think we’re going to have any financial issues.”
Plans are to turn one of the attorney-client rooms near the circuit clerk’s office into a public use area for the public to file petitions. Judge Emge did say that the new procedures will require some adjustment, and that the circuit clerk’s office will be there to help during the transition. He also said he anticipates that criminal cases will also be switched over to electronic filing in the near future.

County Engineer Mitch Burdick reported that there was only one qualified bidder for the Motor Fuel Tax Aggregate Bid for 2017. With only one qualified, Burdick did compare the bid with neighboring counties and found it to be in line with those bids. Burdick also informed the board that the County Highway 7 road closure and the bridge work on County Highway 18 were complete. The board approved three zoning changes per the zoning committees recommendation: a special use permit was renewed for a camper used as a residence by Daniel Jebron, a worker at the coal mine, in Lively Grove Township; a change in zoning from Ag to R-1 for 3.6 acres in Johannesburg Township for Brandon Leonhardt to build a home; and for an updated classification on the Frederking Subdivision just west of Nashville on State Route 15.