Saline County clerk honored for preserving 190+ years of historical records

Jimi Williams-Cox, Saline County Clerk and Recorder, was recognized at the recent Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders Conference in Peoria for her efforts to continue to preserve and protect historical county records.

A key milestone for Saline County, Williams-Cox has made it possible for staff and the public to have secure, remote access to data and images 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Offering online access to records eliminates the need to travel to the office, helping to protect constituents during public health emergencies.

Digitizing also provides a valuable public service by providing convenient access to the information without needing to handle the original documents that are often fragile. By digitizing these documents, the Saline County Clerk and Recorder is also ensuring that the county's valuable records are preserved and backed up electronically in case of disaster.

The Saline County Clerk and Recorder's office worked in partnership with Cott Systems to scan and organize the records.

"When I talk to county clerks and recorders, they typically share that the most important activity that they can do is to preserve and protect what their predecessors created before them," according to Donald R. Beussink of Cott Systems, Inc. "Ms. Williams-Cox has taken great care to preserve and protect the historical records of Saline County.

"Additionally, providing online records for constituents reduces potential COVID-19 exposure and creates remote access for those who are immune-compromised or may have disabilities."