Menard County Board of Commissioners met March 27

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

By Angelica Saylo Pilo

Apr 24, 2025

Menard County Board of Commissioners met March 27

Here are the minutes provided by the commissioners:

The Menard County Board of Commissioners met on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 9:00 AM at the Menard County Courthouse Annex, 101 E. Jefferson Street, Petersburg, Illinois. Commissioners Bob Lott, Ed Whitcomb, Troy Cummings, Rich Brauer, and Dalton Whitley were present. A quorum was present. County Coordinator Dara Worthington, County Clerk Martha “Marty” Gum, County Treasurer Molly Bettis, Sheriff Mark Oller, and States Attorney Gwen Thomas were also present.

Chairperson Lott called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM.

Commissioner Cummings moved to approve the Consent Agenda which included the Regular Board Minutes from the March 11, 2025, meeting along with the February 2025 monthly department expense reports. Commissioner Whitley seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Scheduled/Unscheduled Guests

Sunny Acres Nursing Home Advisory Board member Steve Territo was present to provide an overview of the Illinois Department of Public Health’s recent survey and citing.

Zoning Officer Report/Requests for Board Action

Zoning Officer Joe Crowe was in attendance and made a report on his office activities which included building permits, inspections, the new on-line payment system, and the progress and projections on the draft zoning ordinance. Discussion was held on the merits of possibly combining the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Commission into one board.

County Highway Report/Requests for Board Action

Highway Engineer Corey Dowd was in attendance and updated the Board on current projects within his department.

Approval of Road-Use Agreement with TowerNorth for the Cell Tower Construction at Gudgel Avenue and Boy Scout Trail. Commissioner Whitcomb made a motion to approve the agreement and Commissioner Brauer seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

County Treasurer’s Report/Requests for Board Action

County Treasurer Molly Bettis was in attendance and provided an update on her department’s activities which included information regarding the collection of mobile home taxes, the upcoming audit meeting, and county investments.

EMS/EMA Chief’s Report/Request for Board Action

Chief Kolbe Huss was in attendance and provided an update on his department’s activities. Included in that presentation was information regarding the progress with inhouse billing, working with the Sangamon County Department of Public Health’s Emergency Preparedness program, the union’s request for amendments to the current collective bargaining agreement, and the delivery of the new ambulance.

County Clerk’s Report/Request for Board Action

County Clerk Martha “Marty” Gum was in attendance and provided an update on her office activities which included statistics on early voting for the April Consolidated Election. Additionally, two liquor licenses were presented for board approval by Hamilton’s Catering for April 5 and April 12 at The Homestead. Commissioner Brauer made a motion to approve the licenses and Commissioner Whitcomb seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Supervisor of Assessments Report/Request for Board Action

Supervisor of Assessments Dawn Kelton was in attendance and provided an update on the recently convened Board of Review. That board heard four different appeals with two being commercial and two residential. Commissioner Whitley provided the name of a possible candidate to sit on that board.

States Attorney Report/Request for Board Action

States Attorney Gwen Thomas was in attendance and provided an update on her office activities. Thomas commented that she was impressed with all the agencies within the county and how well they worked together.

County Coordinator’s Report/Requests for Board Action

Coordinator Dara Worthington was in attendance. She requested that Executive Session minutes September 24, 2024 remain closed. Commissioner Cummings made that motion and Commissioner Whitley seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Worthington also provided the board with an update on the following: ARPA and DCEO bidding, reporting, and funding, the Courthouse truss work, the Courthouse Dome PreBid meeting, property tax bill inserts, insurance coverage for the annex, EMS’s request for collective bargaining, and the resignation of the Menard County Victim/Witness Advocate.

Sheriff’s Report/Requests for Board Action

Sheriff Mark Oller was in attendance and introduced Cass County Sheriff Devron Ohrn to the commissioners for his explanation of how the Cass County Sheriff’s office methods of operation due to not having a county jail. Discussion ensued.

Sheriff Oller provided an overview of his study conducted regarding potential relocation of departmental offices to the annex. Discussion ensued.

Individual Board Members - Report/Requests for Board Action

Commissioner Cummings gave an update on Countryside Estates and Sunny Acres Nursing Home.