Meeting Place: Fulton County Courthouse, 100 N. Main St., Room 313, Lewistown, IL 61542
Time: 5:45 pm
Date: July 14th, 2026
1. Call to Order
Time: 5:46 PM
2. Roll Call
Roll call was taken, quorum present.
MEMBERS:
Laura Kessel (Present)
Brian Platt (Present)
Chris Southwood (Absent)
Lauren Southwood (Present)
Matt Vogel (Present)
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS: John Spangler
STAFF: Halle Tindall – FCB Administrative Assistant, Audra Miles – Comptroller
ELECTED & APPOINTED OFFICIALS: Staci Mayall – Treasurer
GUESTS: None
Media: None
3. Call for Additions/Deletions To Agenda
Member C. Southwood moved to approve the agenda with a second from Member Platt. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
4. Announcements, Communications and Correspondence – None
5. Public Comments – None
6. Claims
a. Discussion/Action: Claims
Member Platt moved to approve the claims, with a second from Member Kessel. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (4,0)
b. Discussion/Action: Claims ARPA
Member Platt moved to approve the ARPA claims, with a second from Member Kessel. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (4,0)
c. Discussion/Action: Claims CEJA – None
7. Transfer of Funds
a. General Funds Transfers
i. Discussion/Action: Resolution: $5,000.00 From: #001-048-565402 COURTHOUSE REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE
To: #001-048-570102 REAL ESTATE PURCHASES
Member L. Southwood explained that this is for ETSB closing costs for the purchase of land from Canton for the dispatch consolidation building.
Member Platt moved to send to the full board with a second from Member Kessel. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes.(4,0)
b. Other Funds Transfers – None
8. Immediate Emergency Appropriation(s)
a. General Funds Immediate Emergency Appropriations
i. Discussion/Action: Resolution: $3,459.00 From Unappropriated Funds To: #001-007-500107, State’s Attorney- Salary; $3,112.00 From Unappropriated Funds To: #001-022-500122, Public Defender- Salary; and $2,916.00
From Unappropriated Funds To: #001-008-500108, Sheriff –Salary
Comptroller Audra Miles and Treasurer Mayall explained that this appropriation is required by state statute to accommodate a 4.1% COLA increase for the state’s attorney effective July 1st. Pursuant to state statute, the public defender salary is 90% of the state’s attorney and the sheriff is 80% of the state’s attorney, so both positions receive raises when the state’s attorney receives a state-mandated increase. The state reimburses the county for 66 and two-thirds of the public defender and sheriff salaries, and also reimburses for the majority of the state’s attorney’s salary.
Member Kessel moved to send to the full board with a second from Member L. Southwood. Motion carried by roll call vote with 3 ayes and 1 nay from Member Vogel. (3,1)
b. Other Funds Immediate Emergency Appropriations – None
9. Old Business – None
10. New Business
a. Discussion/Action: County Audit Contract Extension for 1 year
Treasurer Mayall presented a recommendation to extend the contract with Gray Hunter Stenn for the FY26 audit. The original RFP from 2023 allowed for fiscal years 23, 24, and 25 with the possibility of extending into 26 and 27. The auditors agreed to the one-year extension. Treasurer Mayall noted that continuity is beneficial given they are familiar with issues and her upcoming departure on December 1. She also noted that it is very challenging to find auditing firms willing to audit local government due to an industry shortage. When the RFP was conducted in 2023, Gray Hunter Stenn was the only firm that submitted a bid. Treasurer Mayall recommended that her successor conduct another RFP for auditing services in the future to get a fresh set of eyes.
Member Kessel moved to send to the full board with a second from Member L. Southwood. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (4,0)
11. Safety – Liability Insurance Risk Management – None
12. Budget
a. Discussion/Action: FY27 General Fund Budget
Comptroller Audra Miles presented the first draft of the FY27 general fund budget showing a deficit of $1.176 million on the back page, which is better than previous projections. The budget reflects a 15% insurance estimate increase, 2.5% union raise estimates, and a transfer to capital improvements of 3.5% of total expenditures (currently almost $600,000). The budget includes almost all department requests. The dispatch consolidation budget was revised based on the signed IGA and initial meeting with ETSB, though numbers remain estimated. When dispatch consolidation begins, the employer’s portion of health insurance premiums for 13-14 employees will shift from the insurance fund to the dispatch fund and ETSB’s budget. Comptroller Miles and Treasurer Mayall reviewed general revenue updates, gaining a couple hundred thousand dollars more in estimated revenue. PPRT estimates will come from the state in August. The tax levy amount has not been examined yet. Overall revenues increased less than 1% while overall expenditures increased about 3%, resulting in larger deficits than last year. The budget process includes seven steps: Step 1 is last year’s passed budget, Step 2 is goal setting (completed in May), Step 3 is department meetings, Steps 4-5 are committee changes, Step 6 is public display in October, and Step 7 is final adoption in November. Member L. Southwood emphasized that department heads did not ask for excessive amounts and that many budget increases are due to mandated raises or necessary operating costs. Asking departments to cut 3-5% would require eliminating personnel. The committee will continue to look at the pending items.
13. Transit
a. Discussion/Action: Approval of Fulton County Rural Transit Financials – June 2026
Member Kessel moved to send to the full board with a second from Member Vogel. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (4,0)
14. Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Mayall expressed that she would give the report during the Fulton County Board meeting at 6:30 PM.
15. Assessment Report – None
16. GIS Department Report – None
Personnel, Legislative
17. Appointments – None
18. Old Business – None
19. New Business– None
20. Executive Session – None
21. Misc. – None
22. Adjournment
Member Kessel moved to adjourn at 6:10 PM with a second from Member Platt. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
