Due to financial problems in the budget, the Ogle County Board voted yesterday evening to have a hiring freeze policy that goes into effect immediately.
Finance and Insurance Chairman Greg Sparrow of Rochelle said they need to cut the personnel budget involving money in the General Fund.
Sparrow said that a study involving the entire staff will also be done in the near future.
He is looking at reducing the personnel costs for the county by around $700,000. The last thing Sparrow wants to do is layoff employees. Under state law, the county needs a balance budget and the cuts may come as early as December first.
Sparrow is also asking the unions not to take a pay increase for the next fiscal year which may save some positions being cut.
In a 11-10 vote, the board approved an architectural agreement for Focus House involving permanent housing for the teens at the facility in rural Rochelle. Absent from the meeting were board members Zach Oltmanns, Nic Bolin, and Garrett Williams.
County officials approved 15 changes to the zoning ordinance. Planning and Zoning Administrator Mike Reibel said the changes will be less restrictive for area residents.
The enterprise zone was amended which now includes the City of Amboy. The 2018 Ogle County holiday schedule was approved which involves 13 days. County offices will be open on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
