Menard County Board of Commissioners met July 25

Menard County is named for Pierre Menard, who was the first Lieutenant Governor of Illinois | http://www.courthouses.co/

By Angelica Saylo Pilo

Aug 21, 2024

Menard County Board of Commissioners met July 25

Here are the minutes provided by the commissioners:

The Menard County Board of Commissioners met on Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. at the Menard County Courthouse, 102 S. Seventh Street, Petersburg, Illinois.

Commissioners Bob Lott, Ed Whitcomb, Troy Cummings, Jeff Fore, and Rich Brauer were physically present. A quorum was present. County Clerk Martha “Marty” Gum, County Coordinator Dara Worthington, and Sheriff Mark Oller were also present.

Treasurer Molly Bettis and State’s Attorney Gabe Grosboll were absent.

Chairperson Bob Lott called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

Commissioner Cummings moved to approve the Regular Minutes and Executive Session Minutes from July 9, 2024, with commentary being made that the June 2024 departmental expense reports should be available from the Menard County Treasurer next week. Commissioner Brauer seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Joe Crowe – Menard County Zoning Officer

Zoning Officer Crowe was in attendance and presented the Board with an update on the department’s current projects. Crowe provided the Board with a spreadsheet which shows each permit that has been issued for 2024 which to date, totals 103 permits. He also provided the Board with a spreadsheet regarding the ChangeFinder Program which shows each property owner that added structures to their property without applying for a permit. Crowe is sending letters to those property owners so that building permits can be obtained for those new structures identified. Officer Crowe also advised the Board that there will be an Ordinance Committee Meeting on July 29, 2024.

Highway Department’s Report/Request for Board Action

County Highway Engineer Dowd was in attendance and presented the Board with an Intergovernmental Agreement Addendum with Cass County as well as Intergovernmental Agreements with Athens CUSD #213 and the Menard County Fair, Inc. Commissioner Whitcomb moved to approve all three Agreements. Commissioner Fore seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Dowd also presented the Board with an Engineering Agreement for Plan Completion for Section 24-03117-00-BR (Montgomery Ave. Bridge). Commissioner Brauer moved to approve the Agreement. Commissioner Fore seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Engineer Dowd then presented the Board with an update on his department’s current projects.

Sheriff’s Report/Requests for Board Action

Sheriff Mark Oller was in attendance and updated the Board on the following: current jail census at a total of four inmates with one of those inmates being the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department deputy; the courthouse doors and fob system have been completed; the 2024 Menard County Fair went well for the Sheriff’s Department.

Treasurer’s Department Report/Requests for Board Action

County Coordinator Dara Worthington, in the absence of Treasurer Bettis, relayed Treasurer Bettis’s report as follows: real estate tax collection is going well; the local banks have been very helpful and the sum of $15.7 million has been collected so far in real estate tax payments.

County Clerk’s Report/Requests for Board Action

Nothing to Report.

State’s Attorney Report/Requests for Board Action

Assistant State’s Attorney Gwen Thomas, in the absence of State’s Attorney Grosboll, was in attendance and advised that in Grosboll’s absence things are going well and they are staying busy. The Board inquired what the status was of the acquisition on Athens Blacktop. Thomas advised that there is no agreement to be had and therefore, such would be set for trial.

Assistant State’s Attorney Gwen Thomas advised that with regard to the potential sale of two parcels owned by the County just north of the Menard Medical Center there needs to be a new appraisal prepared. Coordinator Worthington advised that the last appraisal on the properties was prepared by Barry Taft in 2017. Discussion ensued.

Commissioner Fore moved to approve Barry Taft preparing a new appraisal for said properties. Commissioner Whitcomb seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

County Coordinator’s Report/Requests for Board Action

Coordinator Worthington was in attendance and presented the Sangamon County Department of Public Health bill for August 2024 for payment approval. Commissioner Fore moved to approve the request. Commissioner Whitcomb seconded the motion.

The motion carried unanimously.

Worthington requested that Executive Session Minutes from July 30, 2019, January 12, 2021, July 12, 2022, January 12, 2024, and January 9, 2024, remain closed.

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

Coordinator Worthington discussed items such as: Sunny Acres Nursing Home sign; Sunny Acres Nursing Home van wrap and resident transport usage; Property Maintenance Specialist; need for a Republican to fill a vacancy on the Board of Review; Intergovernmental Agreements with Animal Control; fire hydrants at Sunny Acres Nursing Home; paint colors for Courthouse dome; Courthouse dome spire; Sangamon County Department of Public Health community meeting; FY22 audit update; FY25 budget; DCEO grant; ARPA funds; Health Insurance Conference and Ethics Committee.

Dawn Kelton – Supervisor of Assessments

Assessor Kelton was in attendance and advised the Board that they have obtained a candidate for the Board of Review, and she will get the interested person’s information to the Board. Kelton also advised that her office has been working very well with the Treasurer’s office this tax season.

Individual Board Members – Report/Requests for Board Action

Commissioner Brauer provided the Board with his proposed letter with regard to the condition of Route 97 through Petersburg that will be published in The Petersburg Observer and Menard County Review. It was the consensus of the Board that the letter looked good and that it should be posted on Facebook as well.

Sangamon Sun