Sangamon Sun

Menard County Board of Commissioners met Sept. 12.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Menard County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at the Menard County Courthouse, 102 S. Seventh Street, Petersburg, Illinois. Commissioners Bob Lott, Jeff Fore, Troy Cummings, Ed Whitcomb, and Rich Brauer were physically present. A quorum was present. County Clerk Martha “Marty” Gum, County Coordinator Dara Worthington, and State’s Attorney Gabe Grosboll were also present. Sheriff Mark Oller and Treasurer Pam Bauser were absent.

Chairperson Bob Lott called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

Commissioner Brauer moved to approve the Regular Minutes and Executive Session Minutes from August 29, 2023. Commissioner Whitcomb seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Highway Department’s Report/Request for Board Action  

Highway Engineer Corey Dowd presented the Board with Resolution 34-23 for Improvement under the Illinois Highway Code for Section 20-00056-08-PV (Athens Blacktop Road) to allow Rebuild Illinois Funds to be expended for construction. Commissioner Cummings moved to approve. Commissioner Fore seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. This shall be known as Resolution 34-23.

Highway Engineer Dowed presented the Board with Resolution 35-23 for commitment of local match to State and Federal Funding for Section 20-00056-08-PV (Athens Blacktop, Segment D). Commissioner Fore moved to approve. Commissioner Whitcomb seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. This shall be known as Resolution 35-23.

Corey Dowd, County Highway Engineer, also presented a Joint Funding Agreement with IDOT for Section 20-00056-08-PV (Athens Blacktop, Segment D) for use of Menard County’s State and Federal Grant Funds. Commissioner Brauer moved to approve. Commissioner Cummings seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Dowd presented the Board with an update on his department’s current projects. Menard County Zoning 

Joe Crowe, Menard County Zoning Officer, was in attendance and presented the Board with a Special Use Permit to operate a Companion Animal Crematory Service on property located at 17456 Old Fairgrounds Road, Petersburg, Illinois. Commissioner

Cummings moved to approve. Commissioner Fore seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Joe Crowe then presented the Board with an update on his department’s current projects.

County EMS/EMA Report/Requests for Board Action 

Kolbe Huss, EMS/EMA Chief, was in attendance and presented the Board with the FY23 Emergency Management Performance Grant for approval. Commissioner Fore moved to approve. Commissioner Whitcomb seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Kolbe Huss then presented the Board with his department’s earnings report and an update on his department.

Sheriff’s Report/Requests for Board Action  

In the Sheriff’s absence, Chief of Corrections Kevin Standley was in attendance and updated the Board on the current jail census at a total of eight inmates and the SAFE-T Act and how it will affect the population at the jail.

Treasurer’s Department Report/Requests for Board Action 

In the Treasurer’s absence, Coordinator Worthington presented the Board with a Letter of Engagement with Mike Feriozzi for FY24 Non-Audit/Accounting Services. Commissioner Cummings moved to approve. Commissioner Brauer seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

County Clerk’s Report/Requests for Board Action  

County Clerk Gum was in attendance and advised the Board that there are monies available in the FY23 Budget under “Cost of Conduction Election” and she is looking to purchase 34 new voting booths for all of the polling places.

Clerk Gum also advised that Board that her Deputy Clerk, Carol Schafer, will be retiring before the end of 2023 and that she is actively looking to hire her replacement.

State’s Attorney Report/Requests for Board Action 

State’s Attorney Grosboll was in attendance and provided an update to the SAFE-T Act that is to go into effect on September 18, 2023 and a training has been held with the deputies.

County Coordinator’s Report/Requests for Board Action  

Coordinator Worthington was in attendance and presented the Board with a Sangamon County Department of Public Health bill for payment. Commissioner Fore moved to approve the payment of the bill. Commissioner Brauer seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Coordinator Worthington requested that Executive Session Minutes from February 23, 2021 and August 10, 2021 remain closed and that the Executive Session Minutes from August 13, 2019, August 11, 2020 and March 4, 2023 be opened. Commissioner Whitcomb moved to approve the request. Commissioner Cummings seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Coordinator Worthington discussed items such as: ARPA Funds, Public Building Study Group update; 2023 First Citizen named; update on in house IT needs; DCEO grant budget modification, business cards for Animal Control, IPMG building depreciation hold back check for Countryside Estates, Intergovernmental Agreements between Animal Control and Municipalities, Federal Aviation Administration response to wind turbines in Logan County, FY22 Audit update, Courthouse blueprints, Health Insurance premium responsibilities for FY24, update on Heritage Agreement, Snedeker Conference RSVP, Central Illinois Services payment of $30,000.00, and Special Board Meetings for FY24 Budget preparation are scheduled for October 17th and October 24th.

Individual Board Members – Report/Requests for Board Action 

Commissioner Brauer complimented Gwen Thomas for the article she prepared with regard to the HB4412 and Commercial Solar and Wind Ordinances.

Commissioner Fore advised that he has received several calls about individuals speeding on the newly repaired roads in Road District 9 and requested the presence of the Sheriff’s Department.

Executive Session 

Commissioner Cummings moved to go into Executive Session, for the purpose of potential litigation at 6:52 p.m. Commissioner Fore seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Adjournment  

With no other business coming before the Board, Commissioner Whitcomb moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:58 p.m. Commissioner Brauer seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

https://menardcountyil.com/files/3416/9702/9839/09_12_23_Board_Minutes.pdf