Jersey County Board discusses updates to cybersecurity
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
By Carissa Sitki
The Jersey County Board met for their monthly meeting on Tuesday at 7 p.m. where they discussed cybersecurity in the county.
With cybersecurity threats becoming more and more prevalent, Board member Jarrod Hayes shared a report from the County Offices Committee regarding a potential cybersecurity project.
On Monday, Jan. 3, the committee met with county officials as well as CUSD #100 IT coordinator Chris Griffin, Sean Sower with the Illinois State Board of Elections and Department of Innovation & Technology, and John Reuff with Jano Technology.
According to Hayes, Griffin has agreed to “spearhead” the project, to evaluate the options available in updating the existing systems and equipment that is in place in the Administration Building, Courthouse and Sheriff’s Office. Griffin has provided his IT services to the County Clerk, Sheriff, Circuit Clerk, and 911 offices. He also has familiarity with systems in all county buildings, apart from the Highway Department.
Additionally, Griffin will work with Sower and Rueff to evaluate software options available to the County via DevNet, and the State of Illinois to provide security at little to no cost, according to Hayes.
Hayes said that some new or updated computers may be necessary as well as the replacement of wiring or related devices, to accommodate the cybersecurity updates. American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are eligible for use in this project.
Measures that will be taken to ensure cybersecurity include training county employees in avoiding phishing emails, and other potential threats; Griffin’s IT services; and installation of various security programs.
According to Board Chair Don Little, the Committee hopes to have a package, related to costs and services for the cybersecurity at the various county offices, for the February meeting. “This project should provide the county with protection at a reasonable cost,” he said.
In other business, the Board approved a resolution to withdraw Jersey County from the West Central Development Council (WCDC), which functioned as workforce development and job services, and a regional planning agency for the purpose of economic development and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) writing and project administration. The WCDC stopped functioning as a regional planning and economic development entity in 2018 when the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity no longer recognized them as a grant writing and administration agency.
The Board also approved:
-Resolution to award 2022 MFT maintenance materials for the County
-Resolution to award 2022 MFT maintenance materials for various townships.
-Request for aid from the City of Grafton regarding police radios in the amount of $14,160.
-Recommendation regarding Election/Voting area remodeling bids in the amount of $49,800 for the former Job Service area in the basement of the Government Administration Building.
-Resolution authorizing the transfer of FY2021 funds.
-Resolution of endorsement for the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau.
-December Animal Control report which showed seven dogs running at large, four stray dogs, two dog bites, one dog attack on chicken, one animal abuse, six animals impounded, three animals euthanized, three animals still in impound.
The Jersey County Board will meet again on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m.
