The Monroe County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved an official restructuring the county’s geographical information systems and mapping of platting responsibilities.

Following the resignation of former mapping and platting director Laura Henry in late 2022, the commissioners passed a resolution which dissolved the mapping and platting department and placed those duties under the purview of the Monroe County Clerk’s Office, with Monroe County 911 in charge of assigning new addresses. 

During Tuesday’s board meeting, Monroe County Clerk Jonathan McLean explained an ordinance revising the county code was needed to make the change official.

Commissioners also approved an administrative change for a $10 fee which is charged for deed and plat processing.

The fee had previously been put in the county’s general fund, but McLean requested the collected fees be used to fund GIS operations.

McLean also noted the GIS maps have recently began to be updated monthly rather than annually.

In other action, the commissioners approved a floodplain variance which will allow construction of a lean-to extension to an existing structure in the Bottom area west of Maeystown.

There had been no objections to the request during discussion at a recent meeting of the Monroe County Zoning Board of Appeals.

Commissioners also appointed Oak Hill Administrator Shari Kruep to the Mid-America Workforce Investment Board, a regional organization which assists employers and potential employees in Southwestern Illinois. 

Kruep also gave her monthly report on the county-owned senior living and rehabilitation center in Waterloo.

Kruep said currently there are no cases of COVID-19 at Oak Hill, but there has been a recent increase in influenza. 

She also reported the census was down in December – likely due to a desire to keep relatives out of care centers and hospitals during the holiday season – but admissions are “picking up” in the new year.

Kruep also noted payroll expenses at Oak Hill were up for December due to bonuses and other holiday-related pay incentives.

Oak Hill has hired four new certified nursing assistants recently, and Kruep said reliance on staffing agency personnel has “decreased greatly,” but adding “until it’s zero, we need to work on hiring our own staff.”

The next meeting of the Monroe County Board will be at 8:15 a.m. Feb. 5 at the Monroe County Courthouse in Waterloo.