Sangamon Sun

Menard County Board of Commissioners met March 12

Here are the minutes provided by the commissioners:

The Menard County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 6:00  PM on the second floor of 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, Treasurer Molly Bettis, County Coordinator Dara Worthington, Sheriff Mark Oller, and State’s Attorney Gabe Grosboll were also present.  

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

Commissioner Brauer moved to approve the Regular Minutes from February 27, 2024. Commissioner Whitcomb seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.  

Scheduled/Unscheduled Guests 

Louis Midiri was present to submit a petition signed by neighbors from the Indian Creek neighborhood requesting that the Board deny the Notice of Appeal filed on December 12,2023 by Indian Creek Farmstead. Assistant State’s Attorney Gwen Thomas commented that the commissioners should not accept the petition since it was being  presented outside of the Menard County Planning Commission and Menard County Zoning Board of Appeals meetings. Thomas stated that there was a process to be  follow and Mr. Midiri and the neighbors to Indian Creek Farmstead needed to work within the process that has been set forth.  

Scheduled County Elected Officials & Staff 

Highway Department’s Report/Request for Board Action  

County Engineer Dowd presented the Materials Quotations for CA-16 Gravel (Pea Gravel) for Motor Fuel Tax Expenditure. Commissioners Ed Whitcomb made a motion to approve the vendor, Sharp, as the winning bidder. Commissioner Jeff Fore seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 

Dowd followed by presenting the Board with an update on his department’s current  projects. 

Sheriff’s Report/Requests for Board Action  

Sheriff Oller was in attendance and updated the Board on the current jail census at a total of 12 male inmates. He updated the Board on further expenditures from the grant 

funds awarded to his department from leftover COVID funds. Oller reported that the  body cameras and in-car cameras would begin being used the following week and that  training had been taking place for the deputies utilizing them. An overview of the camera features was provided. Sheriff Oller reported that work should resume on the courthouse doors the following week. 

Treasurer’s Department Report/Requests for Board Action 

Treasurer Bettis was in attendance and advised the Board on her progress with reinvesting the county Certificates of Deposit. Bettis reported that the revision to the ordinance needed for the FY24 budget revision should be ready at the following meeting. Bettis also plans to place a news release in the local papers notifying residents that they can prepay their property taxes. She provided a brief overview of the process for prepaying taxes. A brief update was given on the progress of the audit. 

County Clerk’s Report/Requests for Board Action  

County Clerk Gum was in attendance and advised the Board that her office had  assisted 213 early voters, mailed out approximately 300 vote-by-mail ballots, and had held election judge training the previous week. Gum reported that her office had reached full staffing.  

EMS/EMA Department’s Report/Requests for Board Action 

Chief Kolbe Huss was present for an update on his department. Huss reported that his department was also fully staffed. He provided the commissioners with a handout on CISA resources for cybersecurity. Huss will be following up with additional information  for the county to review. 

State’s Attorney Report/Requests for Board Action 

State’s Attorney Grosboll was in attendance and provided an update on his office  activities concerning the courts. 

County Coordinator’s Report/Requests for Board Action  

Coordinator Worthington was in attendance and presented the Health Department bills for payment approval. Commissioner Fore moved to approve the request. Commissioner Cummings seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 

Worthington reported that payments will be made to ICRMT for property/casualty/liability  and workers’ compensation and to Sangamon County for the Regional Office of Education. A follow-up was provided regarding staffing, services, and a rough timeline for the local Menard County Health Department.

Executive session minutes from February 23, 2021, August 10, 2021, and August 29, 2023 were presented to the Board with the recommendation that they remain closed. Commissioner Cummings made a motion that the minutes remain closed, and Commissioner Whitcomb seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.  

Updates were provided and direction sought on a request from Animal Control, the  courthouse façade, Sunny Acres Nursing Home septic system and handbook, ARPA, and Judge Atterberry’s court technology grant award. 

Individual Board Members – Report/Requests for Board Action 

Commissioner Brauer expressed his appreciation of Emily Schirding’s service to the Sunny Acres Advisory Board. Commissioner Fore expressed his concern over zoning issues within his district.  

Other Scheduled Topics  

Resolution 11-24 – Reappointment of Dr. Brian Miller to the Menard County Board of  Health for a Three-Year Term Expiring March 31, 2027. Commissioner Fore made a  motion to approve the reappointment. Commissioner Brauer seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. This shall be known as Resolution 11-24. 

Resolution 12-24 – National Agriculture Day in Support of Menard County Agriculture. Commissioner Whitcomb made a motion to approve the resolution and Commissioner Brauer seconded. The motion carried unanimously and was presented to Vice  President of the Menard County Farm Bureau, Dan Haynes. This shall be known as  Resolution 12-24. 

Ordinance 13-24 – Revision of FY24 Budget  

This ordinance was tabled. 

Resolution 14-24 - Adoption of Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services  Medicaid Reimbursement Scheduled for Medical and Prescription Drugs. Commissioner Brauer made a motion to approve the resolution while Commissioner Fore seconded. The motion carried unanimously. This shall be known as Resolution  14-24. 

Ordinance 15-24 – Adoption of Menard County Capital Assets Schedule This ordinance was tabled.

Amendment to the Heritage Operations Group, LLC Agreement for Authorization Limits to Capital Purchases and Repairs. 

This amendment was tabled. 

Appointment of Marsha Satorius to the Sunny Acres Nursing Home Advisory Board. Commissioner Cummings made a motion to approve the appointment. Commissioner  Whitcomb seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 

Discussion of Setting Salaries of Elected Officials (Circuit Clerk and Supervisor of  Assessments) for FY25, FY26, FY27, and FY28. 

This topic was tabled. 

Architectural Services of J H Petty. 

Chairperson Lott provided an overview of the recent Public Building Study Group  meeting wherein projects within the courthouse, including the courtroom and jail, were  discussed in depth. It was the consensus of the members of the Public Building Study Group that the county should secure the professional services of the architect who attended their meeting and who was currently involved in projects in both the Pike  County and Logan County Courthouses. Commissioner Lott provided an overview of a proposal he had for funding the project without the need to issue bonds or impact  taxpayers. Treasurer Bettis provided a brief overview of current investments that could  be utilized in stages for possible funding of phased projects. It was the consensus of  the commissioners to move forward with contacting J H Petty regarding engaging his  firm for professional architectural services.  

Executive Session 

There was no need for an Executive Session. 

Adjournment 

Having no further discussion, Commissioner Cummings made a motion to adjourn the  meeting at 7:26 PM. Commissioner Fore seconded the motion. The motion carried  unanimously.

https://menardcountyil.com/files/3217/1164/2350/03_12_24_Board_Minutes.pdf