Scott County Administrator, Dee F. Bruemmer discussed her retirement plans with the Board of Supervisors at their last regular meeting. Ms. Bruemmer was appointed County Administrator in August of 2008 after serving 27 years as an assistant administrator in the City of Davenport. She plans to leave the County in the spring.

County Chairman Sunderbruch, along with several board members, recognized the significant accomplishments of Ms. Bruemmer during her tenure at the county and the role she has played in making the county financially sound now and in the future. The Moody's Investor Services upgrade to Aa1 this month is a validation of the hard work that has been done to create the necessary fund balances and capital improvement plans that will allow the County to continue to have one of the lowest county property tax per capita in the state. Only nine counties have a lower per capita amount.

Over the seven years of Ms. Bruemmer's tenure, the County has implemented several cost savings measures to assure financial success. She introduced LEAN to the organization, which lead to operational savings in many of the departments, and skill development, to continue to find ways to become more efficient. These new ways of doing business saved the county over $1.5 million in the first year and has contributed ever since to increasing the fund balance to over 20%.

To help offset the revenue losses due to the 2008-2010 recession Ms. Bruemmer recommended the county become self-insured and develop a strong wellness program which has had great results. Since 2009 the county health insurance cost has increased an averaged 2% per year a rare result private or public sector. One of the more innovative ideas she recommended was insuring inmates to reduce medical costs in the jail.

In addition, she led the County in developing an IT masterplan that resulted in new financial software for better performance management and a complete replacement of the County's hardware and software. Additionally, a facilities masterplan was completed which included $8 million of courthouse renovations to upgrade courtrooms and security; expansion of the secondary road facility to combine the workforce and bring preventive maintenance of vehicles in house; and finally a new patrol facility located near Highway 61 and I-80. All of these projects are funded without bonding. Supervisor Hancock, who was Chair at the time when Ms. Bruemmer was hired, recognized her significant knowledge of local government and her ability to collaborate with other jurisdictions and agencies. "The County has benefited because of her breadth of knowledge and skills and we only hope that she continues to serve our community in her retirement."

Supervisor Earnhardt, who worked closely with Ms. Bruemmer in the formation of the mental health region and in securing funding from the state for mental health services, stated that "Dee is a professional who has worked exceptionally hard to satisfy the needs of the County."

Supervisor Brinson Kinzer stated "I have worked with Dee only a short period of time but have been impressed with her work and the excellent job she has done for the County. I made a friend and I will miss her leadership."

In reviewing her time working with Ms. Bruemmer, Supervisor Diane Holst added, "I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with someone so well versed in the operations of our county, and I appreciate her sharing her knowledge."

The Board of Supervisors plans on discussing the process to replace Ms. Bruemmer at their next Committee of the Whole Meeting on December 1, 2015. Please contact Mary Thee, Assistant County Administrator/HR Director for any  questions at 563-326-8767.

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has made appointments to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board and the Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees.

Name: Kathryn Jean Olson

Position: Chair - Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Kathryn Jean Olson the Chair of the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, which she joined in 2011 and has chaired since 2013. She brings with her nearly four decades of experience in dental hygiene and healthcare outreach and administration.

Currently, Olson is the Dental Director at Crusader Community Health, where she was previously the Director of Pediatric Dental and Outreach Programs. Prior to joining Crusader Community Health she spent 12 years as Clinic Administrator at Milestone Dental Clinic in Rockford, nine years coordinating various programs in the Swedish American Health System, and nearly two decades in private practice as a dental hygienist. She has served on a number of professional boards and associations, including 13 years as a board member of the Academy of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities, two of which she spent as president. In 2009 the Academy presented her with the Harold Berk Award for outstanding leadership working with persons with disabilities.

Olson received her diploma in Dental Hygiene from Marquette University. She also has a bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University and has done Speech Pathology coursework at Northern Illinois University. She lives in Rochelle.

Name: John McGlasson

Position: Board Member - Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed John McGlasson to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board. McGlasson's extensive involvement in the community, local government and his experience in business will bring an important perspective to the board.

Currently, McGlasson works in sales for Pro Com Services of Illinois. Previously, he worked for Supreme Radio Communications, and the family-owned Pontiac Seed House and Flower Shop. McGlasson is a former member of the Livingston County Board and the Pontiac City Council. He is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and the former vice president and board member of the Illinois Chapter of the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management.

McGlasson attended Illinois State University and lives in Pontiac.

Name: Daniel Caulkins

Position: Trustee - Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Dan Caulkins to the Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees. Caulkins is an EIU alumnus and brings more than 40 years of business and management experience to the board, as well as experience in local government.

Currently, Caulkins is the Vice President and COO of Patterson House, Inc. The company operates homes for adults with developmental disabilities. In addition, he assists in the operation of Franciscan Properties in West Chicago.

Previously, Caulkins was a member of the Decatur City Council. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Army and Illinois National Guard.

Caulkins earned his degree from Eastern Illinois University. He lives in Decatur.

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Second Vice President Keith Turney has received appointments to two groups that will help chart the future of law enforcement in the nation and in the state of Illinois. Turney will serve on the National FOP Legislative Committee and on the Illinois Commission on Police Professionalism. Both appointments are effective immediately.

"Keith is the definition of police professionalism and these two appointments recognize his dedicated and untiring service to the law enforcement community," said Illinois FOP President Chris Southwood. "It's an honor that one of our own will be an integral part of charting the future course of law enforcement in our state and nation."

"I feel honored by these appointments that will allow me to represent the interests of the Illinois FOP on the state and national level," Turney said. "It is vital that the men and women who protect and serve the public in one of the nation's most dangerous and challenging professions have an effective voice at all levels of government."

National FOP President Chuck Canterbury named Turney to the five-member FOP Legislative Committee for 2015 - 2017. The committee monitors and drafts federal legislation concerning all aspects of law enforcement, from working conditions to training to citizen interaction. The members also communicate with federal elected officials about matters that pertain to law enforcement.

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner appointed Turney to serve on the Illinois Commission on Police Professionalism. The Commission, whose members are not paid, was created by the Police Reform Omnibus Act passed by the Illinois General Assembly this past May. The Commission will review current training, duties, identification, and other matters pertaining to law enforcement officers, and submit a report and recommendations to the General Assembly and Governor by January 31, 2016.

Turney is currently the Second Vice President of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge and has served as a Field Representative for the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council for the past five years. Before joining the FOP Labor Council,Turney had a 31-year career with the Joliet Police Department, the fourth largest in the state of Illinois, retiring as a commander.

The Fraternal Order of Police, founded in 1915, is the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing officers, the FOP is the most respected and most recognized police organization in the country. The Illinois FOP, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing more than 32,000 active duty and retired police officers - more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide. Visit www.ilfop.org for more information.

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Names Rep. Raymond Poe the Director of the Dept. of Agriculture

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has named a new Director of the Department of Agriculture. He has also made an appointment to the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission.

Name: Raymond Poe

Position: Director - Illinois Department of Agriculture

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed life-long farmer and Illinois State Representative Raymond Poe the Director of the Department of Agriculture. Poe's experience as a legislator, as a businessman and as a farmer makes him the ideal choice to lead the agency.

Poe has represented the citizens of Central Illinois for the past 20 years as a member of the General Assembly. He's a member of the Agriculture & Conservation; Appropriations-Higher Education; Personnel & Pensions; and Business Occupational Licenses (Republican Spokesperson) committees. He has farmed in Sangamon County his entire life.

In addition to his legislative experience, he served on the Williamsville School Board, where he was president for three years. He is also the former president of the Sangamon County Farm Bureau and the former president of the Lincoln Land Farm Supply.

Poe is a graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology in Chicago. He lives in rural Springfield.

Name: James Mullenix

Position: Commissioner - Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed James Mullenix to the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission. Mullenix brings nearly 35 years of experience as a defense attorney to the commission.

Currently, Mullenix is an attorney at Koehler Mullenix, LLC where he handles criminal defense cases. Prior to his work in private practice, he was an Assistant Public Defender at the Cook County Public Defender's Office. In this role he handled a wide-variety of cases from misdemeanors to capital murder cases.

Mullenix earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame and his law degree from Loyola University. He is a former member of the Peace Corps. He lives in Evanston.