Around The County

Details: Written by Bryan Hunt - Breese Journal Editor

The county-owned site in Carlyle where the Clinton County Health Department and its board of health want to construct a new health department building. (Photo by Bryan Hunt) The Clinton County Health Department last week began offering rapid testing for COVID-19.
Details of this program and others were shared during the Nov. 17 meeting of the Clinton County Board of Health, held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The rapid testing started the morning of Nov. 17 at the Clinton County Fairgrounds in Carlyle, according to Sean Eifert, the health department's interim administrator.
There were three test sessions again, on Nov. 19 and this past Tuesday and Wednesday at the fairgrounds
He said health department personnel working the site "were able to move people through very quickly."
Eifert applauded the planning and preparation of many of the county health department staff for the project's success.
Those waiting to be tested did not have to wait very long, Eifert said, and they were able to avoid traffic problems that were encountered when the Bond County Health Department offered rapid testing in Greenville.
Eifert is the full-time administrator for Bond County's health department.
One thing that was not done in Clinton County, which was done in Bond County, was advertising for the rapid test site.
Eifert said they had people from within the state and from out-of-state at the Greenville test site, which led to long lines and long waits for the tests.

Details: Written by Kelly Jo Ross - Breese Journal Reporter

The Carlyle City Council approved a partial payment for resurfacing done on Krebs Hill.
At the Nov. 23 city council meeting, Carlyle City Administrator Andy Brackett said that the Street and Alley Committee voted to approve a partial payment to Byrne & Jones Construction for the Krebs Hill Resurfacing project.
At a council meeting earlier this month, the council approved tabling a payment to the company for the project.
Byrne & Jones Construction performed work on the surfacing of Krebs Hill earlier this year, however, surfacing issues on Krebs Hill did not meet the specs of the project.
It was indicated that numerous people were upset with the finished project; the biggest complaints were of water coming up through the street and that it looked like a "patch job" on the street.
Company representatives were looking for payment, or even a partial payment for work already done.
Since then, attorneys from both sides have been discussing how to remedy the issue.
Brackett read a statement from Carlyle city attorney Joe Heiligenstein, advising that the city would like to resolve the issue as amicably as possible.
"If Byrne and Jones would be willing to come out and examine the intersection with the city engineer to determine whether they are willing to make the appropriate corrections in repairs to the intersection," Brackett read, adding that they are seeking a partial payment of 85 percent of the total costs, which is $350,613.05, subject to a new partial payment request approved by HMG and Byrne & Jones.
Brackett added that hopefully Byrne & Jones Construction will correct the issue, and that they, as a city, should make a payment in "good faith payment." He said that it would cost approximately $45,000 to fix the issue.
In other news, the city of Carlyle is inviting all residents to join in on filling the town with Christmas cheer.
This year, the Christmas Light Contest will have a different twist to it — the winners will be voted on by the public. "We will post a Facebook poll for the public to vote for their favorite holiday displays," said Carlyle Mayor Judy Smith.
The top five winners will each receive a $50 utility credit.
"We would love for as many houses as possible to participate, to help us create some holiday cheer and socially distanced, family-friendly fun," said Smith.