A newly appointed Marion County Board member attended his first meeting Tuesday night. Shawn Richards of Salem says he has an interest in county government and issues over property taxes.
“I was aware there was an open seat,” Richards said. “I’m curious about it, and I know that it’s just something I want to get into and be able to help out the community.”
Richards says he will run for the District Three seat in the November election. The appointed seat expires when the new board members are seated in early December.
Richards retired after 21 years with the Centralia Police Department and has been the Kaskaskia College Police Chief for the past four years.
In other action:
- The board approved a $12,000 contract with Bellwether to help the county prepare the next fiscal year’s budget, which begins on December 1st.
- The board approved a budget appropriation for the lease/purchase of two new patrol vehicles for the sheriff’s department.
- On a 7-5 vote, the board agreed to pay a $3,585 medical bill for an employee, which was not covered by the county’s insurance plan.
