Menard County Board of Commissioners met Aug. 12

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

By Angelica Saylo Pilo

Sep 6, 2025

Menard County Board of Commissioners met Aug. 12

Here are the minutes provided by the commissioners:

The Menard County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 6:00 PM 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 Coordinator Dara Worthington, State’s Attorney Gwen Thomas and County Treasurer Molly Bettis were also present. Chairperson Lott, Commissioner Whitcomb, and County Clerk Gum were 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 the Executive Session Minutes from July 31, 2025, meeting. Commissioner Whitley seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Scheduled/Unscheduled Guests

Terry Casey from the Menard County Cooperative Extension was in attendance and presented the commissioners with an overview of the extension’s activities within the last year. Casey presented those attending with the Illinois Extension Impact Report for 2024 for Logan, Menard, and Sangamon counties. It was reported that a new Ag Advisor had been hired for coverage of all three counties and that Sangamon County was funding a Local Foods and Small Farms Extension Program Coordinator for all three counties. She voiced her appreciation to the board for the work being completed at the Menard County Annex where the local office is located. Ms. Casey presented the commissioners with the extension’s levy request for the upcoming FY2026 budget year.

The Eighth Judicial Circuit Judge Candidate, Tim Bass, was not present, having rescheduled his attendance for the August 28 meeting.

County Engineer’s Report/Request for Board Action

Engineer Dowd was in attendance and requested approval of Resolution 18-25

Appropriating Funds for the Payment of the County Engineer’s Salary. Commissioner Whitley made a motion to approve the resolution as presented while Commissioner Brauer seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. This shall be known as

Resolution 18-25.

Engineer Dowd provided an update on his departmental activities which included: Athens Blacktop Segment F, opening of the Sangamon Valley Trail, information on White’s Crossing work, the Montgomery bridge, the conclusion of the 2025 oiling season, and bridge inspection work.

County Sheriff’s Report/Request for Board Action

Sheriff Mark Oller was in attendance and reported that the current jail census stood at nine inmates with those inmates being from Cass, Sangamon and Menard Counties. Oller provided a brief overview of ongoing remodeling projects at the Menard County Courthouse and Menard County Courthouse Annex, and the planned demolition of the house that his department was willed from an estate.

Chief Deputy Hollis informed the board of new flock safety cameras that would be going up around the county. Hollis provided an explanation of how those cameras were used by law enforcement.

County Treasurer’s Report/Request for Board Action

County Treasurer Bettis was in attendance and gave a brief overview of her office activities. Bettis reported that payments for the second installment were picking up again and that she was busy sending out letters regarding incorrect payments that have been made. Bettis is looking into a module that will allow taxpayers to make only correct payments online. Bettis reported that the FY26 budget worksheets should be ready for distribution and expressed her thanks to Kolbe Huss and Ben Hollis for their help with IT.

County Clerk’s Report/Request for Board Action

In County Clerk Gum’s absence, Coordinator Worthington presented a liquor license from the Menard County Fair, Inc. for the Fall Fair to the commissioners for their approval. Commissioner Brauer made a motion to approve the license and Commissioner Whitley seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

County State’s Attorney’s Report/Request for Board Action

State’s Attorney Gwen Thomas was in attendance and provided an overview of her department’s current activities. Included within that discourse was information on the August and November jury trials, the status of two inmates requiring mental fitness exams, the Victim Witness Coordinator grant, and proposed meetings about modification of the intergovernmental agreements for the provision of animal control services.

County Coordinator’s Report/Requests for Board Action

Coordinator Dara Worthington was in attendance. She presented the September 2025 billing for the provision of public health services for approval. Commissioner Brauer made a motion to approve payment and Commissioner Whitley seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Worthington presented executive session minutes for review with recommendations as follows: Remain Closed – January 30, 2025, July 9, 2024, and June 27, 2024; and To Be Opened – January 9, 2024, June 27, 2023, and July 30, 2019. Commissioner Whitley made a motion that the minutes be handled as proposed. Commissioner Brauer seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

An overview was provided on the following: IDPH July 8, 2025 survey with complaints found to be invalid, the DCEO grant revision, the new Animal Control wheelchair ramp, elected officials’ salaries, union negotiations for EMS and the Teamsters, the 2023 audit, and the fall conference for Snedekers.

Individual Board Members - Report/Requests for Board Action

Commissioner Brauer provided an overview of the Menard County Health Department Board meeting and Commissioner Cummings discussed the setting of salaries for the difference elected officials by resolution and the timeline for setting them.

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