The Monroe County Board of Commissioners on Monday heard Regional Superintendent of Schools Kelton Davis detail results of work in recent months to improve office space the county rents to the Regional Office of Education at 107 East Mill Street in Waterloo.

Davis noted that new flooring is making it easier to maintain cleanliness and the office’s work flow has improved.  Separating the entry area from the rest of the office area, as well as adding seating adjacent to each desk has made work more efficient, Davis said.

“It is a more professional work environment all the way around,” he noted.

Another change was adding a separate room for GED and other tests. Previously, these tests were administered in the courthouse. New state requirements include using computers and separate work stations with security arrangements. Those requirements are now implemented in the new facility at the regional office, Davis said.

He also said various other tests, including those offered via the Pearson-Vue computer testing system, as well as several types of background checks, can now be administered at the regional office as well.

Finally, Davis reported that in late November, the state consolidated several regional education offices, but left the existing Monroe-Randolph grouping intact as a two-county region.

Monroe County Highway Engineer Aaron Metzger reported that with recent bad weather and predicted snow this week, the county has a good supply of road treatment materials.

“We have used all the salt we ordered this year, but reserves from the last two relatively mild winters are on hand and should be sufficient,” he said.

Trustees Harry Reichert, Charlotte Hoock and Dylane Doerr next presented an annual summary of work at Miles Cemetery west of Waterloo.  They said that much progress was made last year to enhance maintenance, and that the cemetery is licensed and able to accept new burials.

Doerr displayed photos of the mausoleum he had obtained online that were taken at the cemetery in 1916 and 1919. He said they show details that will aid in restoring the wall around the mausoleum. Doerr also showed a photo of a stone discovered recently, with a name and the date 1858 on it, possibly  identifying a previously unknown construction superintendent of the mausoleum.

Reichert added that a video security system has “virtually eliminated” vandalism at Miles.

The county board accepted the resignation of Judith A. Vogt from the County Board of Review and approved the appointment of Dennis Patton to the Tourism Bureau of Southwestern Illinois.