County board updated on condition of anhydrous leak survivors; adopts resolution declaring support for first responders

Oct. 16—The surviving victims of the Sept. 29 anhydrous ammonia leak near Teutopolis are still experiencing varying degrees of respiratory issues and vision problems due to their exposure to the deadly chemical, Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes reported on Monday.

"As of right now, we've got four still in the hospital," Rhodes told the county board. "Three are critical. Some of them are on the vent, and one's very serious, so we're still praying for those individuals."

She called it a "tough situation" for all of those involved.

The accident just east of Teutopolis on Route 40 killed five people, including a local father and his two children and two people from out of state.

Also during Monday's meeting, the board adopted a resolution recognizing and honoring the county's first responders for their sacrifice and service to residents, especially those who responded to the anhydrous leak.

Effingham County Board member Jeremy Deters, who drafted the document, shared the proposed resolution with members.

At the start of the meeting, members of the board and other attendees stood for a moment of silence for the victims of the accident following the pledge of allegiance and a prayer.

The district Deters represents on the county board, District I, is one of the areas impacted by the anhydrous ammonia accident, and he explained that he wanted to draft the resolution to "show the county's support for all of our first responders."

"It's humbling to see a disaster like that occur within your own community," Deters said. "But it's awesome to see the response from the county and all the agencies involved, so I thought it would be important for us to show our support for the people that work in the background to keep us safe, including police, fire, the coroner's office, dispatch personnel, the EMA, the medical services, all of it.

"As I said before in committee, this community is at its best when things are at their worst, and I think that's something to be proud of."

Board members then listened to Deters read the resolution that declares the county's support for its first responders and other public safety employees for risking their lives as well as their "critical role of protecting and assuring public safety."

"Now, therefore, be it resolved by the county board of Effingham County, Illinois to declare for itself and the residents of the county that the county gratefully and fully supports our first responders."

Additionally, the resolution encourages residents of Effingham County to express their gratitude to county first responders with "expressions and acts of kindness and appreciation for their efforts and sacrifice endured."

Deters further commented on the anhydrous ammonia accident, thanking the firefighters and other emergency responders from surrounding communities for their assistance.

"We had a great outpouring, and we really came together as a community overall," he said. "And from the bottom of my heart and from my district, thank you for everybody who helped us out."

Rhodes, the coroner, also commented the new resolution during the meeting. Like Deters, she thanked each and every first responder who arrived on the scene of the accident that night.

"We didn't actually get to the scene because of the safety issue, but the fire department and hazmat officers did a phenomenal job of saving a lot of lives that night, absolutely phenomenal," Rhodes said.

Meanwhile, Effingham County Chairman Josh Douthit said he was at Teutopolis High School in the moments following the accident and praised the efforts of the first responders who came to the scene that night, saying it was "amazing to see" the different departments and agencies work so well together.

"There were no entities there that were acting more important than the other," Douthit said.

Effingham County Board member Christopher Keller was absent from Monday's meeting.

In other matters, the board:

—Approved the renewal of the county's lease with the city of Effingham for the Effingham County Animal Shelter for another 10 years. The Effingham City Council is expected to vote on the proposed agreement during it's meeting Tuesday, October 17.

—Approved the acceptance of a quote from Blue Cross Blue Shield for employee health coverage for the 2024 fiscal year.

—Approved the acceptance of a quote from Delta Dental for employee dental coverage for the 2024 fiscal year.

—Approved the acceptance of a quote from Mutual of Omaha for employee vision coverage for the 2024 fiscal year.

—Approved the Mound Township Decennial Committee report.

—Approved Kelly Lockhart as the replacement for Phil Toops as Effingham County Program Compliance Oversight Monitor beginning on November 1, 2023.

—Appointed Robert J. Bohnoff as the replacement for Ernest Garbe as a member of the South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission to serve a term lasting from October 16, 2023 until November 30, 2024.

—Approved a county contribution of $765.96 for monthly health insurance premiums for county employees and $300 for the county employee HSA account.

—Approved the allocation of $46,463.65 in earmarked ARPA funds to the Effingham County Fair.

—Approved $7,914 in ARPA funds for the payment of added costs for emergency masonry repairs to the Effingham County Office Building.

—Approved the county's budget for the 2024 fiscal year with a 30-day layover.

—Approved disbursements out of the county's contingency fund for prior years trustees' tax sale proceeds.

Nick Taylor can be reached at nick.taylor@effinghamdailynews.com or by phone at 618-510-9226 or 217-347-7151 ext. 300132.