Effingham County’s five-year contract with Abbott Ambulance is illegal, the Edgar County Watchdogs (ECW) alleged recently on their Illinois Leaks website.
The ECW contends that the county board does not have the legal authority to enter into a multi-year contract for an ambulance service “without a legislative grant of power.” Illinois county boards can't tie the hands of future board members, the group explained, citing the fact that Effingham County does not have home rule and therefore falls under Dillon’s Rule.
Dillon's Rule states that “such entities have no inherent powers, but only those powers either expressly granted by the legislature or necessarily incident thereto,” the ECW said.
The ECW also questioned the lack of voter involvement, since it said the board entered into the pact without a community vote.
“Allowing a board to enter into agreements that extend beyond their term of office takes control away from the voters,” the ECW said.
The ECW is asking Effingham County board officials to fix the problem, saying it has reached out to Chris Koester, the lawyer working with the county on the ambulance agreement, but has not received a response.
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