East Central Reporter

City of Olney Police Pension Board met Jan. 25.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

AGENDA #1 CALL TO ORDER: Vice President Holly Hamilton called to order the City of Olney Police Pension Board meeting for January 25, 2024, at 8:30 a.m.

AGENDA #2 ROLL CALL: The following were present: Sergeant Holly Hamilton, Officer Timothy Sturm, Tim Dunahee, and Charles “Chuck” Sanders. Rick Runyon was absent. City Treasurer Jane Guinn and City Clerk Kelsie Sterchi were also present.

AGENDA #3 MOMENT OF SILENCE – POLICE SERGEANT (WILLIAM) JOSHUA SCHLICK Sergeant Hamilton called for a Moment of Silence in remembrance of Sergeant Schlick.

AGENDA #4 ACKNOWLEDGE OFFICER TIMOTHY STURM AS NEW MEMBER The active police officers held an election, and Officer Sturm was elected to finish Sergeant Schlick’s term on the Board.

AGENDA #5 APPROVE MINUTES FROM POLICE PENSION BOARD MEETING ON NOVEMBER 21, 2023: Sergeant Hamilton moved to approve the minutes from November 21, 2023, seconded by Mr. Dunahee. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

AGENDA #6 AUTHORIZE SURVIVING SPOUSE BENEFIT – SERGEANT SCHLICK: The Board would need to take action to authorize the Surviving Spouse Pension Benefit following the unfortunate passing of Sergeant Schlick. In known history, this was the first time that an officer of the Olney Police Department had passed away while still on the roster. Because of this, Mrs. Guinn reached out to the IDOI for guidance.

The IDOI informed Mrs. Guinn that they no longer assisted with such matters. Instead, the Board would need to make a determination as to what benefits would be authorized. They also suggested that the Board could hire a third-party CPA to help assist determining the appropriate award amount, and Krista McLaren with Kemper CPA Group was hired. Mrs. Guinn also had the City Attorney review the suggested determination because of his expertise with the State statutes.

Based on the information provided and professional advice provided, Mrs. Guinn presented that the most applicable determination would be from P.A. 101-610(c) which stated, “Upon the death of a police officer while in service, having at least 10 but less than 20 years of service, a pension of ½ of the salary attached to the rank or ranks held by the officer for one year immediately prior to death shall be payable to the survivors in the sequence provided in subsection (a) of this Section. If death occurs as a result of the performance of duty, the 10-year requirement shall not apply and the pension to survivors shall be payable after any period of service.” Therefore, Sergeant Schlick’s Surviving Spouse Pension Benefit would be 50% of his salary at the time of his death.

For good measure, Mrs. Guinn also utilized the IDOI’s Pension Division Benefit Calculator and plugged in the applicable information. The Calculator made the same determination based on the information that was input.

Sergeant Hamilton asked if there were any discrepancies related to the FOP contract and this pension benefit. Mrs. Guinn clarified that the pension benefits were solely dictated by State statutes. The FOP contract did provide for a Death Benefit which had been paid to the beneficiary.

Mr. Dunahee asked if surviving spouses received an increase each year. Mrs. Guinn indicated that surviving spouses did not receive increases. Living retirees did receive a 3% annual increase.

Mr. Dunahee asked why surviving spouses did not receive increases. Mrs. Guinn replied that was the provision of State statute.

Mr. Dunahee then asked why the surviving spouse benefit was different than that of Dave Hoffee’s. Mrs. Guinn replied that several factors contributed to pension benefit such as years of service, whether or not the officer passed while on the roster, and the officer’s salary, etc. The two benefits would not be the same.

Sergeant Hamilton moved to approve Surviving Spouse Pension Benefits for the beneficiary of Sergeant Schlick as provided in P.A. 101-610 (c), seconded by Officer Sturm. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

AGENDA #7 PUBLIC COMMENTS/PRESENTATIONS: No one from the public was present.

AGENDA #8 SCHEDULING OF NEXT MEETING: The next meeting of the Police Pension Board had been scheduled for March 12, 2024, at 8:30 a.m., and the Board wished to keep this meeting date.

AGENDA #9 ADJOURN: Sergeant Hamilton moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Dunahee. A majority affirmative voice vote was received. The meeting of the Police Pension Board adjourned at 8:40 a.m.

https://cms2.revize.com/revize/olneynew/pp%20jan%2025%202024.pdf