St. Clair County Board approves Pledge of Allegiance rules

The Pledge of Allegiance now must be recited at all St. Clair County commission and board meetings.

The St. Clair County Board on Monday approved an ordinance requiring the pledge be recited at all county commission and board meetings.

Previously, there was no common protocol regarding the Pledge of Allegiance at each official meeting.

The ordinance was brought forward last month, but was tabled as county officials wanted to make sure every meeting room had a flag.

County Board members Ed Cochrell and Frank Heiligenstein proposed the ordinance.

Cochrell points out students start their school days with the pledge and said he believes every meeting should begin with the same.

“I think every public body should say the pledge,” Cochrell said.

Other items

▪  New well permit: The county health department now has a permit fee of $200 for people who want to put in geothermal heating and cooling systems on their properties. Putting in a geothermal system requires putting in a series of wells.

The permit fee is the same for any person digging a water supply well.

St. Clair County Health Department Executive Director Barbara Hohlt said she expects about 20 geothermal systems to be installed this year.

▪  Future bridge work: County Board members approved the highway department hiring Rhutasel & Associates to perform engineering work for a bridge replacement along Probst Road in the Prairie Du Long Road District.

Rhutasel is set to be paid $32,775 for design work and $18,500 for preparing necessary environmental documents. Funding for actual construction wouldn’t take place until the 2017 fiscal year, according to County Engineer Jim Fields.

This story was originally published September 28, 2015 at 9:14 AM with the headline "St. Clair County Board approves Pledge of Allegiance rules."