DOCUMENT · COUNTY CAPABILITIES & GAP ANALYSIS
County Capabilities & Gap Analysis
Operational reference for Marion County, Illinois — fire and law-enforcement capability matrix, county-wide gap analysis, mitigation-plan currency status, and the open-action tracker. Purpose-built for board packets, grant narratives, and SCIRPDC mitigation discussions. Source data is the same that feeds the contacts roster and EOP — but here it's organized for strategic reading rather than operational lookup.
Print-friendly. Use Ctrl/Cmd+P to save as PDF for board packet inclusion. Last reviewed: May 2026.
1. County Fire Capabilities — 11 Agencies
CAPABILITY MATRIX
Fire and EMS coverage across 11 agencies serving Marion County. Two agencies cross county lines (Kell — Marion + Jefferson; Orchardville — Wayne Co HQ, covers Marion SE corner). Farina is HQ in Fayette but dispatched by Marion 911.
| Agency | Type | EMS | Aerial | HAZMAT | Tech Rescue | Rural / Tanker | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem FPD | Combination · ISO 3 | — | 95' platform (2014 Pierce) | Ops · county trailer here | Heavy rescue · grain bin · rope · extrication (formal certs) | 3 × 2,000-gal engine/tenders | Oilfield (Squibb) · MABAS Div 47 dispatch |
| City of Centralia FD | ~100% career · 2 stations | First-response (paired w/ LifeStar/UMR) | 110' Ascendant (only modern aerial in county) | Ops (rail corridor) | — | Hydrant city | Code enforcement / fire prev. bureau |
| Centralia FPD (Twp) | Vol / paid-on-call · ~27 | — | 65' Snorkel (1989, older) | — | — | 2,000-gal tanker + 1,000-gal Rosenbauer on order | Oilfield, wildland, 4-county MA |
| Kinmundy-Alma FPD | 100% volunteer · 138 sq mi (largest) | 2 BLS ambulances (only such FPD in county) | — | — | Brush/Rescue 9319 · ATV w/ Stokes | 2,500 + 2,500 (incoming) + 850 + 1,250 gal · 2,500-gal porta-tank | 50-gal foam · deepest vol-only inventory |
| Sandoval FPD | Combination · 2 career + 28 vol | BLS ambulance | — | — | — | Engine 9130 (Sentinel mid-mount) + tanker | Hwy 50 / IL 161 corridor |
| Patoka FPD | 100% volunteer · 31 FF | BLS ambulance | — | — | — | 2,500-gal Sentinel pumper-tanker (consolidated rig) | US 51 / Rt 161 corridor; ⚠ NOT Pike Co IN |
| Odin FPD | 100% volunteer · ~25 | First-response only (ALS via UMR Salem) | — | — | Battery hydraulic extrication on TWO engines · combination cutter/spreader on brush truck (off-road extrication) · Stokes basket | 2007 Freightliner pumper-tender | Skeeter Type 5 wildland (newest in county) · Off-road extrication kit |
| Farina FPD | 100% volunteer · cross-county | BLS ambulance | — | — | Walk-around rescue (Unit 1257) — rare for size | 2,000-gal tanker | ⚠ Fayette Co physically — Marion 911 dispatch |
| Iuka FPD | 100% volunteer · ~25 | — (UMR Salem) | — | — | — | 1,500-gal engine (new Jan 2026) | Rural / ag / wildland |
| Kell Community FPD | 100% volunteer · 18 + 2 · cross-county | — | — | — | — | Sentinel custom pumper-tanker (2022/23) | SE Marion + NE Jefferson Co · 2024 OSFM $26K grant |
| Orchardville FPD | 100% volunteer · 23 · cross-county | — | — | — | — | ~2,000-gal tender (typical) | ⚠ Wayne Co HQ — covers Marion SE corner |
2. The Four Anchors
Salem FPD — only ISO Class 3 in county
Only one with formal HAZMAT/grain bin/rope/extrication certs · MABAS Div 47 dispatch + backup PSAP for Marion + Clay · county HAZMAT trailer · IFSI training partner · hosts Squibb Regional Training Facility.
City of Centralia FD — only modern aerial in county
110' Ascendant 2018 · career staffing · urban/industrial/rail-corridor response · code-enforcement / fire-prevention bureau.
Centralia FPD (Township) — rural water-supply backbone
Most populous township area · 2,000-gal tanker + new 1,000-gal Rosenbauer pumper-tanker on order (Sep 2026 delivery) · cross-county MA across 4 counties.
Kinmundy-Alma FPD — largest geographic footprint
138 sq mi · two BLS ambulances (only Marion Co FPD with two) · deepest apparatus inventory of any volunteer-only department in the county · Sentinel/Rosenbauer custom pumper-tanker on order.
3. Fire + EMS Combined Districts & Water Network
SINGLE-POINT-OF-FAILURE ANALYSIS
Sandoval, Patoka, Kinmundy-Alma, and Farina all run their own ambulances under the FPD umbrella. In those areas, fire and EMS are a single dispatch resource and a single agency funding stream — losing one district means losing both fire and EMS coverage simultaneously. Significant for EMA / SCIRPDC continuity planning.
RURAL WATER-SHUTTLE NETWORK — ~20,000+ gal mobile in county
Every FPD outside the City of Centralia is essentially non-hydrant. Combined county tanker capacity (active + on order):
Salem FPD ~6,000 gal · Kinmundy-Alma ~7,100 gal + 2,500-gal porta-tank · Centralia FPD ~3,000 gal · Patoka 2,500 · Farina 2,000 · Iuka 2,500 · Sandoval / Odin / Kell / Orchardville ~1,000–2,000 ea. Solid for rural firefighting but gets thin at any working structure fire — which is why MABAS Division 47 mutual aid is essential.
4. Fire / Rescue Capability Gaps
⚠ COUNTY-WIDE FIRE / RESCUE GAPS
- No dive / swift-water rescue team — Raccoon Lake, Centralia Reservoir, Salem Reservoir, Forbes Lake, Stephen A. Forbes State Park, Crooked Creek / Skillet Fork drainage are all uncovered by a county-resident team. Routed through MABAS from Greater Egypt RPC counties or further afield. Plausibly addressable at SCIRPDC level.
- No Tier I HAZMAT team — only Salem's Operations-level trailer; Tier I has to come via MABAS from elsewhere in Region 9 or further north.
- No Technical Rescue Team (TRT) with confined space, trench, structural collapse, or high-angle certification. Salem has rope rescue + grain bin only.
- Off-road / oilfield extrication — partially closed by Odin FPD. Odin runs a combination cutter/spreader hydraulic tool mounted on its Skeeter Type 5 brush truck (rare for the size class), plus a Stokes basket for victim packaging. Combined with the Type 5 wildland, Odin can do real off-pavement extrication and patient recovery on oilfield leases, agricultural breakdowns, ATV/UTV crashes, and rural lanes the primary engines can't reach. Still a gap county-wide — Odin's coverage is local, not county-resident, and would benefit from formalized mutual-aid pre-plans.
- No urban search and rescue (USAR) — comes through MABAS state asset.
- Cross-county dispatch quirks — Farina (Fayette Co physically) dispatched by Marion 911; Orchardville (Wayne Co HQ) and Kell (Marion + Jefferson) operate across county lines. Should be explicitly mapped in EOP and SCIRPDC mitigation planning.
Rail HAZMAT priority
Both Centralia agencies should be prioritized for AskRail access and BNSF/CN/CSXT/NS commodity flow reports if not already receiving them — the city sits on four Class I rail lines (BNSF, CN, CSXT, NS) per the FRA NTAD NARN dataset, making it the highest rail-HAZMAT exposure point in the county. UP also operates in the county but outside Centralia city limits. Rail HAZMAT exposure is lowest in Iuka.
5. Law Enforcement Orientation
13 LE AGENCIES · 3 PSAPs · ISP TROOP 9
Marion 911 dispatches 13 LE agencies through two PSAPs. Centralia PD PSAP (6 telecom + 1 sup) covers the western county; Salem PD PSAP (4 telecom + 1 sup) covers the east and serves as MABAS Division 47 backup PSAP for fire/EMS in Marion + Clay Counties. Backbone: Zetron radio + 9-1-1, J2 Software CAD, WTH mapping. ISP Troop 9 (post-2024 reorg, absorbing legacy Districts 12 + 19) covers 15 counties from HQs in Effingham + Carmi; primary patrol is I-57 / I-70; primary dispatch via DuQuoin Communication Center.
6. LE Specialty Coverage
SWAT — covered locally
Centralia PD Special Task Force Team + South Central Regional SRT (multi-county Region 9 team — Marion: Centralia, Salem, Central City, Wamac PDs; Washington Co: WCSO, Nashville PD, Okawville PD; Commander: Jamie Ramsey, Central City PD Chief) + ISP Troop 9 SWAT + ILSOS Police mutual aid + FBI HRT escalation. Marion County is well-resourced for tactical response.
Bomb / EOD — covered via mutual aid
No local bomb squad; ILSOS Police Bomb Squad is the mutual aid resource; ATF as federal escalation.
ILSOS Police specialized mutual aid — Bomb Squad · SWMD Tactical Support · Statewide Task Force
ILSOS Police has Bomb Squad, SWMD Tactical Support, and Statewide Task Force assets in the county. To request assistance of these assets after hours, contact the ILSOS Police PIU (Police Inquiry Unit).
7. LE Capability Gaps
⚠ COUNTY-WIDE LE GAPS
- K-9 — concentrated. Centralia PD K-9 + Salem PD 1 multi-purpose K-9 + ISP Troop 9 K-9. MCSO does not currently operate a K-9 unit. Smaller village PDs depend on Centralia, Salem, or ISP K-9 availability.
- No countywide mental-health crisis response unit (CIT / co-responder). TASC Deflection (MCSO + Centralia PD + Salem PD) is the closest current capability; no dedicated co-responder or CIT at county level. Real gap given small village PDs are stretched.
- No countywide LE training facility. Salem FPD's Squibb Center is fire-only. LE recruits go to SW Illinois Police Academy (Belleville), U of I PTI (Champaign), or other regional academies.
- PSAP redundancy is solid. Three PSAPs operate Marion County dispatch: Centralia PD (west, 6+1 telecoms), Salem PD (east, 4+1), and MCSO (county-wide / unincorporated). Salem PD also serves as MABAS Division 47 backup PSAP. The 911 Coordinator desk sits at the Marion County EMA building (1999 S Marion St) for administrative/ETSB coordination — no dispatch happens there. Hard-down of any one PSAP forces the other two to absorb its traffic, but the 3-PSAP redundancy is materially better than typical 2-PSAP rural counties.
- Wamac's tri-county jurisdiction (Marion + Clinton + Washington Co; most pop. in Washington Co) requires ongoing case-by-case coordination across 3 sheriffs / 3 SAOs / 3 911 systems.
- Smaller village PDs (Alma, Junction City, Kinmundy, Iuka, Patoka, Odin, Central City) are effectively force-multiplied through MCSO + ISP rather than carrying their own specialty capabilities. Treat as patrol-presence supplements, not independent service-delivery agencies.
- Drug enforcement is well-resourced but federally weighted. SCIDTF + SEIDTF + FBI TOC-W + Safe Streets + Federal Drug Task Force = strong federal backing, reflected in 60–210 mo federal sentences 2024–25. Local-level dealer-tier cases mostly run through federal task forces now.
8. State / Regional Mutual Aid Resources
REGIONAL MUTUAL AID — pre-existing agreements
- MABAS Division 47 (fire) — primary dispatch at Salem FPD; member agencies pre-position resources for working structure fires, mass-casualty, hazmat escalation.
- ILEAS (law enforcement) — statewide LE mutual aid; regional WMD response teams, mobile field force, crisis response.
- IPWMAN (public works) · IPHMAN (public health) — pre-existing coordination compacts.
- IL EMAC — EMA-to-EMA mutual aid through IEMA's state framework.
- ILSOS Police (Bomb / SWAT / SWMDT) — Director-identified specialized mutual aid; PIU 24/7 tasking.
- ISP Troop 9 — SWAT + K-9 at troop level; talkgroup TG 17003 (D12A); primary dispatch via DuQuoin Comm.
- Federal escalation — FBI TOC-W (Centralia PD active member), FBI HRT/SWAT, FBI Safe Streets, DEA Fairview Heights, ATF, USMS, HSI, FEMA Region 5 (Chicago).
9. Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (MHMP) Status
⚠ ACTION ITEM — MHMP currency must be confirmed
Marion County's Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan should be downloadable as a public PDF on this site. The plan is typically authored / updated by SCIRPDC or Greater Egypt RPC for southern Illinois counties. HMGP (Hazard Mitigation Grant Program) eligibility hinges on a current FEMA-approved plan within its 5-year window. If past the update window, that is the action — and there is a real grant story to tell. If current, the PDF should be uploaded here for public access.
Resolution path: Phone call to SCIRPDC at (618) 548-4234 · 120 S Delmar Ave Ste A, Salem. Result feeds into the action-item tracker below.
Related: See Resources § Recovery & Mitigation for IEMA-OHS HMP programs (HMGP / BRIC / FMA) and the Illinois Mitigation Assistance Resource Guide (FEMA R5).
Resolution path: Phone call to SCIRPDC at (618) 548-4234 · 120 S Delmar Ave Ste A, Salem. Result feeds into the action-item tracker below.
Related: See Resources § Recovery & Mitigation for IEMA-OHS HMP programs (HMGP / BRIC / FMA) and the Illinois Mitigation Assistance Resource Guide (FEMA R5).
10. County Bridge Inventory (NBI 2025)
MACRO PICTURE — 294 total bridges in Marion County · 197 inspected by County Highway Dept
| Metric | Marion County | Illinois Statewide | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total bridges in county | 294 | 26,927 | Bridges + culverts ≥20 ft (NBI) |
| Inspected by County Highway Dept | 197 | — | County + township structures under Marion Co Highway Engineer inspection cycle |
| Poor condition | 22 (7.5%) | 2,563 (9.5%) | Marion better than state average |
| Good or better | 177 (60.2%) | ~44.3% | Marion substantially better than state |
| Avg sufficiency rating | 64.5 | 64.2 | Composite 0–100 (higher better) |
| Average age | 53 years | 46 years | Marion older than state |
| Daily crossings (county-wide) | ~497,000 | 137.5 million | — |
| State Grade (BridgeStats) | — | C | Statewide composite |
Bottom line: Marion has fewer poor-condition bridges and more good-condition bridges than the state average — but the inventory is older, which means deterioration is the slow-but-steady kind that gets worse without programmatic reinvestment. The County Highway Engineer's office is responsible for the inspection cycle on 197 of the 294 structures (county-owned + most township bridges); IDOT inspects state-route structures; railroads inspect their own.
DEFINITIONS — for committee use
- Good: Lowest NBI condition rating across deck/superstructure/substructure/culvert is 7–9 of 9.
- Fair: Lowest rating is 5 or 6.
- Poor: Lowest rating is 4 or worse. (Federal post-2018 definition of "structurally deficient.")
- Sufficiency Rating (SR): Composite 0–100 score combining structural adequacy, safety/serviceability, and essentiality. Federal Highway Bridge Program: SR <50 typically eligible for replacement; 50–80 for rehabilitation.
- Functionally Obsolete (FO): Legacy classification — FHWA stopped tracking after 2016 NBI submittal. No longer a federal funding trigger. Pre-2017 data only.
- Posted bridge: Reduced legal load limits; posted weight overrides Federal Bridge Formula on that structure.
OWNERSHIP & JURISDICTION
The 294 bridges break down across multiple owners:
- IDOT District 8 (Edwardsville) — owns/maintains state route bridges in Marion Co (US-50, US-51, IL-161, IL-37, IL-15, IL-148, I-57 overpasses where IDOT owns the structure). Regional point of contact for all state-owned bridges + technical assistance to county/township engineers.
- Marion County Highway Department — county highway bridges (CH-13, CH-19, CH-20, CH-23, CH-27, CH-30, etc.). HQ: 1014 W Main St, Salem. (618) 548-3887.
- Township road districts — bulk of small rural bridges; funded through IDOT Township Bridge Program (TBP) annual allotment.
- Municipalities — Centralia, Salem, Sandoval, Patoka, etc. own bridges within city limits.
- Federal / Railroad — handful of railroad-owned overpasses (CN, BNSF, NS, Amtrak).
Active Bridge Projects (Highway Dept · current)
Authoritative project list provided directly by the Marion County Highway Engineer's office. Funding splits and design-contract dates are as recorded by the Highway Dept.
County Bridges
⚠ 1. Skillet Fork Bridge — County
Status: Replacement project.
Funding: 80/20 split — Federal / Local.
Owner: Marion County Highway Department.
Background: Existing structure built ~1915. Severely deteriorated — flooring stringers failed; bridge currently relies on a 4-inch concrete base + asphalt to support traffic. Restricted to 15-ton (later 10-ton); loaded trucks prohibited and detoured via US-50 or IL-15.
Funding: 80/20 split — Federal / Local.
Owner: Marion County Highway Department.
Background: Existing structure built ~1915. Severely deteriorated — flooring stringers failed; bridge currently relies on a 4-inch concrete base + asphalt to support traffic. Restricted to 15-ton (later 10-ton); loaded trucks prohibited and detoured via US-50 or IL-15.
⚠ 2. Poplar Creek Bridge — IL-161 Extension, Salem ↔ Iuka
Status: Replacement project — Preliminary Engineering phase.
Funding: 80/20 split — Federal / Local.
Design contract: March 2023.
Owner: Marion County Highway Department.
Why it matters: Primary east-west connector between Salem and Iuka along the IL-161 Extension corridor.
Funding: 80/20 split — Federal / Local.
Design contract: March 2023.
Owner: Marion County Highway Department.
Why it matters: Primary east-west connector between Salem and Iuka along the IL-161 Extension corridor.
Township Bridges
⚠ 3. East Fork Creek — Carrigan Township, Meridian Rd
Status: Replacement — Preliminary (designed by Bridge Bundling Program, IDOT).
Funding: Township Bridge Program.
Design contract: February 2025.
Funding: Township Bridge Program.
Design contract: February 2025.
⚠ 4. East Fork Kaskaskia River — Kinmundy Township, Shanghi Rd
Status: Replacement — Preliminary Engineering.
Funding: FHWA funding (STP-BR) + Local match.
Design contract: August 2024.
Funding: FHWA funding (STP-BR) + Local match.
Design contract: August 2024.
⚠ 5. Raccoon Creek — Centralia Township, Racetrack Rd
Status: Replacement — Preliminary Engineering.
Funding: Joint Bridge · Township Bridge · Township Road & Bridge (local).
Design contract: January 2026.
Funding: Joint Bridge · Township Bridge · Township Road & Bridge (local).
Design contract: January 2026.
⚠ 6. Trib. Raccoon Creek — Raccoon Township, Racetrack Rd
Status: Culvert-to-Bridge conversion — Preliminary Engineering.
Funding: Joint Bridge · Township Road & Bridge (local) · Township Bridge.
Design contract: November 2021.
Funding: Joint Bridge · Township Road & Bridge (local) · Township Bridge.
Design contract: November 2021.
IDOT Jurisdiction (Not County-led)
▲ 7. Lost Creek Bridge — Old US-51
Jurisdiction: IDOT.
Status: IDOT is handling all portions of the project — engineering, construction, and the detour. County Highway Dept has no project-management role on this structure.
Status: IDOT is handling all portions of the project — engineering, construction, and the detour. County Highway Dept has no project-management role on this structure.
▲ 8. Hoots Chapel Rd / Boone Street Rd — solar farm haul corridor (road, not bridge)
Not a bridge project but a major active road infrastructure issue. Heavy hauling for the 500-acre / 300,000-panel / $15M solar farm project NW of Salem damaged Hoots Chapel Rd. Bond posted by Alberici (GC): $75,000 cash + $1.5M bond to Marion County for repairs. Salem Township received the same $75K + $1.5M bond for damages to Boone Street Rd. Heavy hauling is now mostly complete; permanent repairs after project completion.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP (current)
- County Highway Engineer: Alex R. Kreke (sworn in late April 2025; from Dieterich, IL; previously engineer w/ City of Wentzville, Missouri). Replaced Mike McCormick, who resigned October 2024 to become Bond County Highway Engineer.
- Marion County Board Road & Bridge Committee Chair: Timothy McCance.
- Prior R&B Chair / Personnel Committee Chair: Adam Smith.
- County Board Chair: Steve Whritenour.
- Highway Dept phone: (618) 548-3887 · 1014 W Main St, Salem.
FEDERAL FUNDING CONTEXT
- IIJA / Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Illinois receives $1.5B in bridge formula funds over the life of IIJA. As of June 2025, Illinois has access to $1.2B; has committed $632.8M to 228 projects.
- Bridge Investment Program (BIP): Competitive FHWA grants in three tracks — Large Bridge Project Grants (≥$100M projects, min $50M award); Bridge Project Grants (≤$100M, min $2.5M award, max 80% federal share); Planning Project Grants (max 80% federal share).
- Township Bridge Program (TBP): IDOT-administered annual allotment to township road districts. Circular Letter 2025-13 (Sept 2, 2025) opened FY 2026 TBP allocations. Submissions via form BLR 09210 to IDOT District office. Unused FY 2023 TBP funds lapse September 15, 2026.
- Highway Bridge Replacement & Rehabilitation Program (HBRRP): Legacy program, superseded but residual obligations apply.
PUBLIC SOURCES — bridge-by-bridge inspection records
For specific bridge inspection data, condition ratings, and load ratings:
- IDOT Bridge Information System — search by route, structure number, or location. Inspection date, condition ratings, load ratings, photos. Official Illinois state source.
- FHWA LTBP InfoBridge — National repository, all NBI data 1993–present. Map + tabular search; export to spreadsheet.
- FHWA NBI Bridge Condition by County — county-level summary tables. Updated annually by June 15.
- BridgeReports.com — Marion County, IL — community-maintained NBI database with maps + photos.
- BridgeStats.com — Illinois / Marion — most user-friendly summary view; sortable by condition / age / traffic; lists all 294.
- HistoricBridges.org — older / historic structures; pre-1950 bridges with preservation considerations.
- Bridgehunter.com — Marion County, IL — historic bridge documentation; useful for the Skillet Fork bridge and other century-plus structures.
Bridge writeup current as of May 2026. The CH-30 over Skillet Fork bridge (built 1915, Fair condition) is the 111-year-old structure that has been the focus of the county's most pressing replacement work and is likely the single highest-priority asset to monitor in the EMA Sub-Committee context.
11. Marion County Highway Department Fleet
FLEET INVENTORY — 56 unit numbers · current as of May 2026
Authoritative inventory provided directly by the Marion County Highway Engineer's office. Snow / ice equipment, dump trucks, tractors, graders, loaders, mowers, and specialty attachments — all assets that support ESF-1 (Transportation) and ESF-3 (Public Works & Engineering) under the EOP. VINs are retained internally and gated behind Cloudflare Access; this public view shows unit number, type, make, model, and year only.
Trucks & Light Vehicles
| Unit | Type | Make | Model | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | SUV | Chevrolet | Tahoe | 1999 | — |
| 7 | Mechanic Truck | Ford | F-250 | 1994 | New equipment 2025 |
| 15 | Pickup | Ford | F-550x | 2019 | — |
| 16 | Pickup | Ford | F-250XL | 2019 | — |
| 17 | Pickup | Ford | F-250 | 2010 | — |
| 18 | Pickup | Ford | F-150 | 2011 | — |
| 19 | Pickup | Chevrolet | Silverado | 2017 | — |
| 35 | SUV | Ford | Explorer | 2010 | — |
Dump Trucks & Tractors (Class 8)
| Unit | Type | Make | Model | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Dump Truck | Sterling | LT9500 | 1994 | Auctioned off |
| 9 | Dump Truck | Sterling | LT7500 | 2007 | — |
| 10 | Dump Truck | International | 7400 | 2005 | — |
| 11 | Dump Truck | Freightliner | FL70 | 2002 | — |
| 12 | Single-Axle Tractor | Mack | Pinnacle | 2016 | — |
| 13 | Dump Truck | Freightliner | — | 2001 | — |
| 14 | Dump Truck | Sterling | LT7500 | 2006 | — |
| 20 | Dump Truck | Freightliner | M2 106 | 2014 | — |
| 21 | Dump Truck | Freightliner | M2 106 | 2014 | — |
Trailers
| Unit | Type | Make | Model | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20A | Trailer | TrailKing | TR40LP | — |
| 20A | Trailer | Fontaine | — | 2006 |
| 23 | Enclosed Trailer | Carry On | 6×12 LCGRECBN | 2025 |
Heavy Equipment — Graders, Loaders, Backhoes, Trackhoe
| Unit | Type | Make | Model | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Front Loader | John Deere | TC44H | 2003 |
| 2 | Motor Grader | CAT | 140G | 1991 |
| 4 | Motor Grader | CAT | 140G | 1991 |
| 25 | Backhoe Loader | John Deere | 310SG | 2004 |
| 25B | Backhoe Loader | John Deere | 410 | — |
| 32 | Loader Bucket | CAT | 920 | 1985 |
| 51 | Trackhoe | Doosan | DX 140 | — |
Tractors & Attachments
| Unit | Type | Make | Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Tractor | John Deere | 6120E | — |
| 27A | Tractor | Kubota | M108S | — |
| 27D | Tractor | John Deere | 6120E | Lease tractor |
| 28 | Tractor | John Deere | 6330 | — |
| 28A | Rotary Attachment | Rhino | FL10 | — |
| 28B | Ditcher | Diamond | — | — |
| 28C | Boom Mower | Diamond | — | — |
Snow & Ice Equipment (ESF-3 winter ops)
| Unit | Type | Make | Model | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Salt Spreader | Flink | VCT II | 1989 |
| 31 | Salt Spreader | Flink | VCT II | 1989 |
| 36 | Snow Plow | Good Roads | 120M | 2007 |
| 36A | Snow Plow | Flink | 11PA-38-APW | 2001 |
| 37 | Snow Plow | Flink | 11PA-38-APW | — |
| 37A | Snow Plow | Flink | 11PA-38-APW | 2001 |
| 38 | Snow Plow | Flink | 11PA-38-APW | — |
| 38A | Snow Plow | Flink | 3066 | 2006 |
| 41 | V-Plow | Balderson | BV-11 | — |
| 42 | V-Plow | Balderson | BV-12 | — |
Mowers & Vegetation
| Unit | Type | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | Mower | John Deere | HX-15 |
| 40 | Mower | John Deere | HX-15 |
| 40A | Mower | John Deere | HX-15 |
| 50 | 3-Point Blade | — | — |
Specialty & Maintenance
| Unit | Type | Make | Model | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Chip Spreader | Flink | HD43 | 1977 |
| 26 | Roller | CAT | 130 | 1989 |
| 29 | Soil Stabilizer | Raygo Gator | 08-A-0278 | — |
| 33 | Soil Stabilizer | Raygo Gator | 08-A-0278 | — |
| 34 | Sweeper Broom | MB | Model-53T | — |
| 44 | Total Patcher | — | T7500 | — |
| 49 | Pressure Washer | Landa | OHW 4-20021A | — |
| 52 | Generator | Onan | 705JB-3RV/13J | — |
2025 RENTAL RATES (per-hour) — selected high-value equipment
Inter-agency / inter-governmental rental rates published by the Highway Engineer's office. Use these for ESF-3 / ESF-1 mutual-aid cost recovery, FEMA Category B / G reimbursement, and intergovernmental loan paperwork. All rates are 2025 figures; multiply by 1.9394 escalation factor where noted.
- Motor Grader (Unit 2, CAT 140G) — $78.06/hr
- Dump Truck (Unit 8, Sterling LT9500) — $77.54/hr
- Dump Truck (Unit 14, Sterling LT7500) — $74.24/hr
- Roller (Unit 26, CAT 130) — $69.37/hr
- Backhoe Loader (Unit 25, John Deere 310SG) — $66.52/hr
- Front Loader (Unit 1, John Deere TC44H) — $59.35/hr
- Dump Truck (Unit 11, Freightliner FL70) — $55.23/hr
- Loader Bucket (Unit 32, CAT 920) — $44.97/hr
- Mower (Unit 40A, John Deere HX-15) — $46.25/hr
- Tractor (Unit 28, John Deere 6330) — $40.01/hr
- Total Patcher (Unit 44, T7500) — $37.82/hr
- Mowers (Units 39, 40, John Deere HX-15) — $24.82/hr
- Snow Plow (all Units 36–38A) — $18.42/hr
- SUV / Pickup (Units 3, 17, 35) — $18.23/hr
- Boom Mower (Unit 28C) / Ditcher (Unit 28B) — $17.65/hr
- Rotary Attach (Unit 28A, Rhino FL10) — $13.67/hr
- Pickup (Unit 15, Ford F-550x) — $12.99/hr
- Pickup (Unit 16, Ford F-250XL) — $12.02/hr
- Sweeper Broom (Unit 34, MB) — $12.41/hr
- Salt Spreader (Units 30, 31, Flink VCT II) — $6.98/hr
- Chip Spreader (Unit 22, Flink HD43) — $5.53/hr
- Pressure Washer (Unit 49, Landa) — $4.73/hr
Fleet inventory authoritative as of May 2026, sourced directly from the Marion County Highway Engineer's office (Equipment List spreadsheet). New equipment for 2025: Unit 7 Ford F-250 mechanic truck; Unit 23 Carry On enclosed trailer. Auctioned off: Unit 8 Sterling LT9500 dump truck (1994). VIN list retained internally and available to authenticated EMA staff via Cloudflare Access.
12. Marion County Highway Department Personnel
STAFF ROSTER — 11 personnel · current as of May 2026
Authoritative staff roster provided directly by the Marion County Highway Engineer's office (Personnel List, dated 2026-05-12). All positions are full-time, AFSCME-covered (except the elected/appointed Engineer). Roster represents the active complement; compensation schedule is a separate public record available via FOIA to the County Clerk.
Leadership
| Name | Position | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex R. Kreke | County Highway Engineer | Sworn in late April 2025 | Previously engineer with City of Wentzville, MO; from Dieterich, IL. Replaced Mike McCormick (resigned Oct 2024). |
Senior & Administrative Staff
| Name | Position | Hire Date | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chuck Crain | Senior Tech | 1994-03-09 | 32+ years (longest-tenured) |
| Chris Guy | Foreman | 2019-03-18 | 7+ years |
| Marilea Snow | Administrative Assistant | 2006-09-05 | 19+ years |
Laborers & Mechanic
| Name | Position | Hire Date | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ernie Hanks | Laborer | 2011-05-23 | 14+ years |
| Jared Szopinski | Laborer / Mechanic | 2019-03-04 | 7+ years |
| Steven Thompson | Laborer | 2014-05-19 | 11+ years |
| Bill Marcum | Laborer | 2020-09-28 | 5+ years |
| Doug Linder | Laborer | 2021-09-27 | 4+ years |
| Travis White | Laborer | 2024-08-26 | 1+ year |
| Blaze Courson | Laborer | 2025-11-03 | New hire (Nov 2025) |
DEPARTURES — flagged in source for the record
Two personnel were marked off the Highway Dept's roster as of the May 2026 list and are no longer part of the active complement:
- Jim Butler — Laborer (hired 2020-06-22).
- Rusty Jourdan — Laborer (hired 2024-04-01).
COVERAGE BY FUNCTION (operational read)
- Engineering oversight: 1 (Engineer Kreke) — bridge inspections, project design, permits, federal grant administration.
- Senior tech & foreman: 2 (Crain, Guy) — field-side supervision, crew assignments, project coordination.
- Administrative: 1 (Snow) — payroll, purchasing, FOIA intake, Board reporting.
- Mechanic capacity: 1 (Szopinski) — in-house repair/maintenance for the 56-unit fleet.
- Field laborers: 6 (Hanks, Thompson, Marcum, Linder, White, Courson) — plow operators, equipment operators, road crews. Critical for ESF-1 winter ops.
Personnel roster authoritative as of May 2026, sourced directly from the Marion County Highway Engineer's office (Personnel List dated 2026-05-12). Compensation schedule is public record under Illinois law (FOIA-available); intentionally not published on this page to keep the roster operationally focused.
13. Marion County Coroner's Office
MISSION & AUTHORITY
The Marion County Coroner's Office is the statutory authority for death investigations in the county under the Illinois Coroner's Act (55 ILCS 5/Div. 3-3). Independent elected office. Jurisdiction includes: officer-involved deaths, in-custody deaths at the County Jail and Centralia Correctional Center (CCC), unattended deaths, suspicious deaths, traffic fatalities, industrial accidents, sudden infant deaths, and any death where the cause is not clearly natural or attended by a physician. Under the EOP the Coroner is the lead for fatality management within ESF-8 (Public Health & Medical) and operationally coordinates with hospitals, MCSO, fire / EMS, and the State's Attorney.
▸ Full Inquest Record — /coroner.html
▸ Full Inquest Record — /coroner.html
Personnel Roster
| Callsign | Name | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 79-1 | Claude Howell | Coroner | Elected position; agency lead; statutory custodian of all death-investigation records. |
| 79-2 | Feron Ice | Chief Deputy Coroner | Operational #2; coverage when Coroner unavailable; primary investigator lead on complex cases. |
| 79-3 | Lisa Morris | Deputy & Office Secretary | Dual-hat — death-investigation deputy + administrative / records / FOIA intake. |
| 79-4 | Todd Schultze | Deputy Coroner | Field response; on-scene investigation; transport coordination. |
| 79-5 | Chad Morris | Deputy Coroner | Field response; on-scene investigation; transport coordination. |
CONTACT & ACCESS
- Office: Marion County Coroner's Office (co-located with County offices, Salem)
- Phone: (618) 548-3870 · After-hours via Marion County 9-1-1 dispatch.
- Radio:
79-Xseries callsigns on MCSO talkgroup; STARCOM21 patch available during multi-agency incidents. - Records: Death certificates filed with the Marion County Clerk; investigation reports retained per ILSOS-RMS retention schedule.
Mass-Fatality Capacity & Surge
⚠ KNOWN CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS — for sub-committee planning
- No county-owned morgue. Marion County does not operate a dedicated morgue facility. Decedents are held at SSM St. Mary's Centralia or Salem Township Hospital pending autopsy / transfer; both are general acute-care hospitals with limited cold-storage capacity (typical: 3–6 decedents each).
- Autopsy referrals: Forensic autopsies are referred to a contracted forensic pathologist — typically through SIU School of Medicine (Springfield) or St. Louis-area providers. No on-site autopsy capability in Marion Co.
- Mass-casualty trigger: Single incident producing 5+ fatalities should immediately activate IEMA Region 9 mortuary support, MABAS Mortuary Strike Team request, and IDPH Region 5 RHCC notification. Refrigerated-truck deployment may be needed via Illinois National Guard.
- Funeral-home partner network: Five funeral homes within the county provide private cold-storage capacity that can be activated under MOU during multi-decedent events.
Role Under the EOP
| Function | Trigger | Coroner Role |
|---|---|---|
| Officer-involved death | OIS, in-custody, in-pursuit fatality | Lead investigator; scene control alongside ISP DIDU; report to State's Attorney |
| Traffic fatality | Fatal MVA on county / state roads | Scene response with ISP / MCSO; cause-of-death determination; transport authorization |
| Sudden / unattended death | Residence, public space, no attending physician | Investigation; family notification; transport to funeral home or hospital pending autopsy decision |
| Mass-casualty event | ≥3 fatalities single incident, or disaster | Activates fatality-management component of ESF-8; requests IEMA/MABAS surge; coordinates with hospitals + funeral homes |
| In-custody death | Jail or Centralia Correctional Center | Mandatory independent investigation; reports to State's Attorney + Illinois DOC |
| SUID / SIDS | Infant death | Scene investigation per IDPH SUID protocol; coordination with IDPH Office of Maternal & Child Health |
EQUIPMENT & VEHICLES — inventory request pending
The Coroner's Office equipment inventory (transport vehicles, scene-investigation kits, body-bag stock, PPE / BBP cache, evidence-collection supplies) is not yet recorded on this page. Coroner Howell — please send the current inventory list and we'll mirror the Highway Dept fleet treatment (unit / type / make / model / year). Use crose@marionco.illinois.gov with the spreadsheet attached.
Coroner's Office writeup current as of May 2026. Personnel roster sourced from the Marion County Agencies radio-callsign roster cross-referenced with the County Coroner's office directory. Statutory citations: 55 ILCS 5/Div. 3-3 (Coroner's Act); 410 ILCS 535 (Vital Records).
14. Open Action-Item Tracker
EMA SUB-COMMITTEE TRACKER
Living list of capability gaps, security tasks, content gaps, and one-time deliverables. Designed for the Board EMA Sub-Committee — print this section as an executive summary or pull individual rows into grant narratives. Updated whenever the underlying state changes.
| Pri | Item | Category | Status | Owner | Funding / Path | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRIT | Cloudflare Access deployment /staff, /personnel, /annexes, /equipment, /admin, /api/admin/* |
Security | Done | Cody Rose | $0 — Cloudflare free tier · email-PIN OTP via marionco-ema.cloudflareaccess.com | Completed 2026-04-29 |
| CRIT | Marion County MHMP currency check Past 5-year window = HMGP ineligible |
Mitigation | Open | EMA Coordinator + Cody Rose | SCIRPDC phone call · update via FEMA HMA grant if expired | Q2 2026 |
| CRIT | Highway Dept SAM.gov — Entity Admin recovery UEI WG3GZ5A5E2MM6 · IMMEDIATE expiration · County does not have current login credentials. Must file SAM.gov FSD "Entity Administrator Role Request" (notarized letter on letterhead). 3-4 week recovery window. Skillet Fork bridge grant draws paused until resolved — coordinate with IDOT to hold/process invoices in interim. |
Federal funding | FSD process | Steve Whritenour (signs notarized letter) + Alex Kreke (proposed new Entity Admin) + Cody Rose (files FSD ticket) | $0 + ~$10 notary fee · fsd.gov ticket + GSA review 7-15 business days | 3-4 weeks total recovery |
| HIGH | Consolidate Highway Dept under MCOEMA UEI Add Highway Dept as covered department in MCOEMA SAM record (UEI PC72DEBA5DQ8). All NEW grants apply under MCOEMA UEI; existing Highway grants migrate per-grant via funding-agency reissuance. |
Federal funding | Open | EMA Coordinator Andrew Strong + Engineer Alex Kreke + Cody Rose | $0 — sam.gov record edit + per-grant agency coordination | Within 30 days (after Highway renewal completes) |
| MED | MCHD SAM.gov POC email update Change POC email on UEI MDK1K6479YXI / CAGE 61LD1 from legacy mmallow@ussonet.net to current mmallow@marionco.illinois.gov. 22 active grants tied to CAGE. |
Federal funding | Open | Melissa Mallow (MCHD Administrator) | $0 — sam.gov profile email update · verification link sent to both addresses | Q2 2026 |
| HIGH | Dive / swift-water rescue capability Multiple lakes + Forbes State Park + Skillet Fork drainage uncovered |
Capability — Fire | Open | SCIRPDC regional | FEMA AFG · IEMA HMP · regional cost-share via SCIRPDC | 2-3 yr — regional plan |
| HIGH | MCSO K-9 unit Currently no MCSO K-9 — county relies on Centralia PD, Salem PD, ISP |
Capability — LE | Open | Sheriff Cripps + Board | Byrne JAG · COPS · private donor (K-9 sponsorships common) | FY27 budget |
| HIGH | Countywide CIT / co-responder program No dedicated mental-health crisis response unit; TASC Deflection only |
Capability — LE | Open | MCSO + Centralia PD + Salem PD + MCHD | SAMHSA grants · IDHS · 988 / Behavioral Health Workforce | FY27 design phase |
| HIGH | Tier I HAZMAT team capability Salem has Ops trailer only; Tier I via MABAS Region 9 |
Capability — Fire | Regional | Region 9 / MABAS | Regional pursuit via MABAS Div 47 + IEMA-OHS | Long-horizon |
| HIGH | Replace 16 contact-page placeholders Mayors, board members, fire chiefs, pipeline phones, small village PDs |
Data quality | In progress | Cody Rose | $0 — phone calls + edits | Rolling |
| HIGH | MCOEMA SAM.gov renewal UEI PC72DEBA5DQ8 (★ surviving "Marion Co general govt" UEI per consolidation plan) · expires 2026-06-27 · required for EMPG / AFG / SAFER / BRIC / SLCGP federal disbursements |
Federal funding | Open | EMA Coordinator Andrew Strong + Cody Rose | $0 — sam.gov renewal · renew by 2026-05-27 to leave buffer | Before 2026-06-27 |
| MED | MCHD SAM.gov renewal UEI MDK1K6479YXI · CAGE 61LD1 (since 2010) · 22 active grants · expires 2026-10-16. MCHD stays separate from County general consolidation. |
Federal funding | Open | Melissa Mallow (MCHD Administrator) | $0 — sam.gov renewal | Before 2026-10-16 (renew by 2026-09-16) |
| HIGH | Verify mass-transit & warming/cooling placeholders ~15 numbers added 2026-05-01 marked PLACEHOLDER: SCIMTD dispatch, 10 school district transportation supervisors, SPARC + Salem Senior, IDOT Public Transit Bureau direct line |
Data quality | Open | Cody Rose · Marion 911 · school district admin offices | $0 — phone calls + edits | Q2 2026 (before next severe-weather season) |
| HIGH | Skillet Fork Bridge replacement (CH-30 / IL-161 ext.) 1915 structure between Salem & Iuka; 10-ton limit; loaded trucks prohibited |
Infrastructure | PE phase | Marion Co Hwy Dept (Kreke) + R&B Cmte (McCance) | 100% federal grant secured · RFQ for PE issued Dec 2025; SOQs due Jan 23, 2026 · ~4 yr to completion | ~2030 completion |
| HIGH | Racetrack Road Bridge — east Centralia Wooden pilings failing; replacement chosen over repair |
Infrastructure | Closed | Marion Co Hwy Dept | 4-year funding/engineering/construction cycle | ~2030 completion |
| MED | Lost Creek Bridge — Old US-51 N of Sandoval Reconstruction approved; 8-month total closure chosen over 15-mo staged |
Infrastructure | Approved | Marion Co Hwy Dept | R&B Cmte selected shorter-duration full-closure | 8-mo closure window |
| MED | FY 2026 Township Bridge Program (TBP) submissions Circular 2025-13 opened FY26 allocations; FY23 unused funds lapse 9/15/2026 |
Funding | Open | Township road districts + Marion Co Hwy Dept | Form BLR 09210 to IDOT District 8 | Before 9/15/2026 (FY23 lapse) |
| MED | Tornado siren coverage map Per 2022 Nixle adoption discussion — siren reliability concerns |
Mitigation / Transparency | Pending | EMA + ETSB | Internal — host once compiled | Q3 2026 |
| MED | Pre-identified shelter PDF Promote shelters.geojson to public-facing list |
Mass care | Pending | EMA + Red Cross MOU list | Internal | Q2 2026 |
| MED | EOP public executive summary 1-2 page sanitized version (full plan stays restricted) |
Transparency | Pending | EMA Coordinator | Internal | Q3 2026 |
| MED | LEPC public meeting schedule + minutes Currently flagged on /about as pending publication |
Transparency | Pending | LEPC chair + Cody Rose | Internal | Q2 2026 (next meeting) |
| MED | AskRail access — Centralia FD + FPD 4 Class I rail lines through Centralia (BNSF, CN, CSXT, NS); 5 carriers county-wide (+UP); rail HAZMAT exposure |
Capability — Fire | Open | Centralia FD + Centralia FPD chiefs | Free — request via AAR | Q2 2026 |
| MED | Staff photos on welcome page 4 placeholder cards on /; each photo + name + role now hover-editable via in-place editor (no code change needed) |
Site polish | Open | Cody Rose + EMA staff | $0 — upload via /admin sign-in then hover photo on / | Q2 2026 |
| MED | Mobile hamburger nav Current CSS hides most links on phones |
UX | Open | Site maintainer | $0 — code change | Q2 2026 |
| LOW | Annual EMA Report to Board Standing artifact — first edition will set the template |
Accountability | Pending | EMA Coordinator + Cody Rose | Internal | Q4 2026 (FY26 close) |
| LOW | LE training facility — countywide Currently recruits travel to Belleville / Champaign |
Capability — LE | Regional | Region / SCIRPDC | Long-horizon · regional capital | Long-horizon |
| LOW | USAR / Tech Rescue Tier I Salem has rope + grain bin only; confined space, trench, structural collapse uncovered |
Capability — Fire | State asset | State / IL TF-1 | Through MABAS state asset | Existing escalation path |
| MED | Earthquake mitigation program NMSZ + WVSZ exposure; PGA 0.15-0.20g (2% in 50yr); coal mine + liquefaction layered hazards. Public guidance + 6 hazard layers + USGS live feed shipped 2026-05-01. |
Capability — Mitigation | Done | EMA Coordinator + LEPC | FEMA BRIC · IEMA EQ Prep · CUSEC · ShakeOut signup link live on /earthquake | Completed 2026-05-01 |
| MED | Critical-facility seismic walk-down EOC, PSAPs, hospitals, fire/EMS stations — ASCE 41 Tier 1 screening |
Capability — Mitigation | Open | Facility owners + structural engineer | FEMA BRIC · HMGP · facility budgets | Multi-year · prioritize hospitals first |
| MED | ISGS authoritative coal mine layer swap-in Replace hand-curated 6-feature placeholder (added 2026-05-01) with full ISGS Coal Mines of Illinois shapefile filtered to Marion Co |
Data quality | Scheduled | Scheduled remote agent (Anthropic Routines) | $0 — fetches ISGS public dataset, returns GeoJSON for drop-in | 2026-05-29 (auto-fires) |
| LOW | Workers Paid plan upgrade Lifts KV 1k/day write quota; protects against editor lockout during heavy admin sessions or live incidents |
Infrastructure | Open | Cody Rose | $5/month flat — Cloudflare Workers Paid | Optional — only required if free-tier limit becomes recurring problem |
Tracker maintained on this page. To propose, retire, or update an item, email crose@marionco.illinois.gov with both Coordinator Andrew Strong and Board Liaison Cody Rose.