South Central Reporter

Macoupin County Courts Committee met March 26.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

I. CALL TO ORDER

PRESENT: Pomatto, Thomas, Dunnagan, Quarton, Reiher, Rull, Schmidt, Duncan, Deihl, Ross, Watson

ABSENT:

II. AGENDA ITEMS

1. Crimestoppers Funding Request

Crimestoppers representatives spoke about their request for funding from court filing fees. Deihl said that he had promised before becoming a judge to do an administrative order designating Crimestoppers as the local agency to receive a portion of the court fees. They were here tonight to educate on the benefits of the program and the need for the fees should the new state statute effect how fees can be distributed. Crimestoppers allows for the anonymous tips to allow law enforcement to direct them where to look to help solve the crime. Tips that lead to an arrest receive a cash reward. The money received by Crimestoppers pays out those rewards and helps cover grants for local law enforcement agencies needs in the community. The county gives a different amount each month based on the fees collected. Some months its about 500 and other months its around 700.

2. Circuit Clerk—Scanning of Files

Circuit Clerk Lee Ross spoke about her goal to start scanning some older files to help effectiveness in her office and help deal with storage issues in the Courthouse. Should these files be scanned, the Administrative order would allow for these files to be destroyed. She is starting with 2 years worth of stricken files for 3,751 cases files. These would be closed cases and would not be any pending These would also scan the index books to allow for them to be accessed from their computers instead of pulling the old books down to review when needed. The costs was around $18,000 which is available in the Document Storage Fund.

3. Collections—Update

Ross also spoke about the county now using a collection service to help with those who have court payments that they haven’t been paying. The old system had significant costs and time invested in requiring these people to come to the Courthouse to either pay or renegotiate the payment schedule. Over the last few years, the Circuit Clerk and State’s Attorney had reviewed options for a collection service. The one they chose is used by over 70 counties in the state. This company has a nationwide database they can use to send notices. This has just started but so far, there has been a lot of success in getting payments from cases that have been outstanding for years and years. This is only used for people who have not been making payments. If they are have been making consistent payments, they aren’t part of this system. The Circuit Clerk and State’s Attorney will review the program and let the committee know how things are going in three or six months.

4. Filing Fees Rule Changes—Update

Judge Deihl spoke about the filing fee changes coming soon and that the Circuit Clerk would be going on April 9 to a meeting with the administrative office regarding the fee changes so hopefully they would soon have some more additional information.

5. Circuit Court—Update

Judge Deihl then updated the committee on the Circuit Court. Deihl thanked the committee for listening and acting in regards to the budget needs regarding to the Court Appointed Attorney costs. He hoped to update the Board in three months on how it is working.

http://macoupincountyil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=15&ID=3495&Inline=True