Menard County Board of Commissioners met June 26

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

By Angelica Saylo Pilo

Jul 26, 2025

Menard County Board of Commissioners met June 26

Here are the minutes provided by the commissioners:

The Menard County Board of Commissioners met on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at 9:00 AM at the Menard County Courthouse, 102 South Seventh Street, Petersburg, Illinois. Commissioners Troy Cummings, Rich Brauer, and Dalton Whitley were present. A quorum was present. County Clerk Marty Gum, County Coordinator Dara Worthington, County Treasurer Molly Bettis, and State’s Attorney Gwen Thomas were also present. Chairperson Lott and Commissioner Whitcomb were both absent. Acting Chair Cummings called the meeting to order.

Commissioner Brauer moved to approve the Consent Agenda which consisted of the Regular Board Minutes and Executive Session Minutes from June 10, 2025, along with the May 2025 Monthly Department Expense Reports. Commissioner Whitley seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Scheduled/Unscheduled Guests

Danielle Gerndt, Executive Director of the Menard County Housing Authority was in attendance.

Joe Crowe, Menard County Zoning Officer

Zoning Officer Crowe was in attendance and provided an overview on the number of permits he has issued year to date, along with complaints his office has received. Crowe reported that he had been approached by a company seeking information about the permitting process for solar farms. Crowe stressed that the solar company is responsible for clean up of the land upon decommissioning the project and that ultimately the property owner is responsible for clean up if the solar company does not follow through.

Commissioner Whitley made a request for Mr. Crowe to investigate an abandoned vehicle.

Dawn Kelton, Menard County Supervisor of Assessments

Assessor Kelton was in attendance and reported that property tax bills were mailed and that the county’s website is live with that information.

Corey Dowd, Menard County Highway Engineer

Engineer Dowd was in attendance and reported on the following: Athens Blacktop Segments D and F, Sangamon Valley Trail, White’s Crossing, county road work and patching, the pug mill’s seasonal operation, the department’s treatment of the bleeding county roads, clean up from the EF1 tornado which occurred on June 18, his department’s new hire, bridge inspections, the RCM Co-op project, and the oiling of county roads starting July 7.

Kolbe Huss, Menard County EMS/EMA Chief

Chief Kolbe Huss was in attendance and provided an update on his departmental activities which consisted of information regarding the EF1 tornado damage thresholds required to meet requirements for funding, the new ambulance graphics, plans for selling the old ambulance, and ImageTrend billing software.

County Sheriff Report/Requests for Board Action

Sheriff Mark Oller was in attendance and provided an update on his department’s activities. Oller reported that the jail census was comprised of six males and one female with three of the inmates being housed for Cass County. Further information was provided on preparation for the Menard County Fair and the recent ABATE of Illinois State party which was held at the Menard County Fairgrounds.

County Treasurer’s Report/Requests for Board Action

County Treasurer Molly Bettis was in attendance and provided an update on her department’s activities. Bettis stated that tax bills had been mailed out and that the first installment is due July 25 and the second installment is due September 12. Bettis provided the commissioners with a report through May on the different construction projects that are taking place with the county.

County Clerk’s Report/Request for Board Action

County Clerk Marty Gum was in attendance and reported that all registered voters will be receiving new voter registration cards very soon.

States Attorney Report/Request for Board Action

States Attorney Gwen Thomas was in attendance and provided an update on her office activities. Thomas reported that the courts have been very busy and that there are three possible jury trials scheduled for July. She noted that three individuals had been sent to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

County Coordinator’s Report/Requests for Board Action

Coordinator Dara Worthington was in attendance. Worthington presented the July bill for Sangamon County Department of Public Health for payment. Commissioner Brauer made a motion to approve payment and Commissioner Whitley seconded the motion.

The motion carried unanimously.

Worthington reported that the ICRMT premiums should be paid in full for the fiscal year, informed the commissioners of pay increase for the State’s Attorney and Sheriff as set forth by statute, reported on the finial for the dome, windows and flooring ordered for the annex, the additional sign ordered for Sunny Acres Nursing Home, Route 97 resurfacing explanation from IDOT and projects at Sunny Acres. Worthington provided a brief update on the recent compliance review conducted on Menard County Senior Transportation by AgeLinc. She reported that the units of service are being impacted by the fact that Sunny Acres Nursing Home is utilizing their own van for transports which created a shortfall in projections within the grant.

Individual Board Members - Report/Requests for Board Action

Commissioner Brauer asked about striping the courthouse parking lot. Commissioner Cummings reported on the openings for an Administrator and Director of Nursing at Sunny Acres Nursing Home and vacancies at Countryside Estates.

Sangamon Sun