Chairman Spangler called the Regular Session, October 13th, 2026, meeting to order at 6:31 PM in Courtroom 201 at the Fulton County Courthouse in Lewistown, IL.
Fulton County Clerk O’Brian called the roll and found the following members present: (Present-P; Absent-A):
| David Barbknecht – P |
Daniel Kumer – A |
John Spangler – P |
| James Barclay – A |
Brian Platt – P |
Andy Steck – P |
| Barry Beck – P |
Landon Smith – A |
Matt Vogel – P |
| Susie Berry – P |
Chris Southwood – A |
David Widger – P |
| Laura Hepp Kessel – A |
Lauren Southwood – P |
Karl Williams – P |
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION
STAFF: Halle Tindall – FCB Admin, Audra Miles – Comptroller
ELECTED/APPOINTED OFFICIALS:
Patrick O’Brian – Clerk
Staci Mayall – Treasurer
Julie Russell – Sup of Assessment
Justin Jochums – State’s Attorney
Chris Helle – ESDA – ETSB
Kim Mayberry – Zoning Officer
GUESTS: None
MEDIA: : J.T Doubet– Fulton Democrat
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
A. Regular Session – September 8th, 2026
Member Beck moved to approve the previous minutes from September 8th, with a second from Member Steck. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
B. Regular Session Special – September 22nd, 2026
Member Steck moved to approve the previous minutes from September 22nd, with a second from Member Vogel. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
C. Informative Health Insurance Meeting – September 28th, 2026
Member L. Southwood moved to approve the previous minutes from September 28th, with a second from Member Berry. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO AGENDA
Member L. Southwood moved to approve the agenda with a second from Member Beck. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND CORRESPONDENCE – None
PROCLAMATIONS – None
PUBLIC REMARKS:
Jody Vannattan expressed that she has been a camper since late 1990s and newly formed campers committee, addressed the board regarding billing issues at Fulton County Campground. First, utility invoices for March-May 2026 were mailed in June and correctly calculated at 15 cents per kilowatt hour. Some campers received a second bill with a 25 cents per kilowatt rate with no explanation for the rate difference. August statements for June-July usage were incorrectly calculated with a multiplier and mailed. Even though incorrect bills were rescinded, some campers paid to avoid late fees. Corrected August bills were received around September 5th, but some were still incorrect with March-May statements recalculated at 16 cents instead of the original 15 cent rate. Freedom of Information Act was filed to verify rates charged. More concerns included were incorrect credits on statements, lack of notification about mailed statements, and the campground Facebook page and website have been unavailable since August. Campers who overpaid have not received correspondence about refunds or credits and FOIA information requested via email has not been received. The campers committee expressed frustration with billing mishandling over the last two years, inability to contact the office or get timely responses, and lack of communication. Many campers are considering leaving the campground. The committee requested working with board members on an acceptable resolution before end of year statements are mailed.
Susan Stuckel, camper for four years, addressed communication issues. With the website and Facebook page down, campers struggle with text message returns, doors being answered, and phone calls being answered, eliminating all lines of communication. She raised concerns about the bidding process for in-house campers. The process requires that when a lot comes open, campers in-house get to bid on that lot. However, campers are being moved without the bidding process. A few examples provided were that there was a new camper on Meadows in July that was given a spot over a senior camper from 2023 who was told they would have it, a camper on HTW Lane moved to Red Barn without bidding (confirmed by text), and a new camper moved from Devil’s Hole to a highly sought-after lakefront C spot (Chicago) within the last week without any bidding opportunity. Current campers are not receiving communications of open spots, with nothing posted on Facebook or in notifications. The committee questioned this, noting that when rules and processes are disregarded, it destroys the campground’s community.
CONSENT AGENDA
A. CLAIMS
Claims – Sheriff, Jail, Zoning, Board of Review, County Board, Miscellaneous, County Admin, Public Defender, Merit, Property, Supervisor of Assessments, ESDA, Animal Control, FC Consolidated Comm Center, Highway, VAC, Clayberg, Camping & Recreation, Spay & Neuter, Public Transportation, ARPA, Capital Improvement, CEJA
B. REPORTS
a. Reports – Animal Control, Treasurer, VAC, Zoning, Campground
b. Other Reports – Public Defender, State’s Attorney/Circuit Clerk, Sheriff, County Clerk
C. APPOINTMENTS
a. Resolution: Appointment – Aaron Thum to Fulton County Board of Health
b. Resolution: Appointment – Patrick Renick to Fulton County Board of Health
c. Resolution: Re-Appointment – Mike Specketer – West Matanzas Drainage And Levee District
d. Resolution: Re-Appointment – Mike Specketer – Kerton Valley Drainage And Levee District
e. Resolution: Re-Appointment – Mike Specketer – Lacey Drainage And Levee District
D. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ZONING
a. Resolution: FY27 Tourism Funding to the Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development (SRPED)
E. COUNTY HIGHWAY
F. EXECUTIVE
G. FINANCE, INSURANCE, PERSONNEL, LEGISLATIVE
a. General Funds Transfers
b. Other Funds Transfers
c. General Funds Immediate Emergency Appropriations
d. Other Funds Immediate Emergency Appropriations
e. Trustee Resolution
f. Resolution: Authorizing Execution and Amendment of Federal 5311 Grant Agreement
g. Approval of Fulton County Rural Transit Financials – September 2026
h. FY2026 FCRT Audit
i. Resolution: FY2026-2027 Attorney Appellate Prosecutor
H. HEALTH
I. PROPERTY
J. PUBLIC SAFETY & CAMPGROUND
K. LIQUOR
a. Class C – Brew N Cue
Member L. Southwood moved to approve the consent agenda with a second from Member Vogel. Motion carried by roll call vote. (10,0)
ACTION AGENDA
A. TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer Mayall reported that $57.9 million has been distributed out of an estimated $60 million in property tax collections. The county is sitting at over 95% collected and distributed, which is right on trend with previous years. The tax sale is scheduled for the end of October. All delinquent notices, delinquent publications, and applications have been processed. Judgment will occur the last Monday of the month. Chairman Spangler and Treasurer Mayall will do a final list exchange for parcels and real estate going to the trustee program. Mobile homes will still have a live verbal auction, though no tax buyers have registered and no tax buyer has purchased a delinquent mobile home in the last 11 years. The final distribution of all collected property taxes will occur at the end of next month, closing out the collection year. For September, the county collected $1,339,674.64 in revenue and expenditures totaled $1,234,986.99, resulting in a surplus of over $104,000 in the general fund. Two more months remain in the fiscal year. Treasurer Mayall noted that some departments are front-loaded with expenditures while others spend more toward the end of the fiscal year.
B. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ZONING – None
C. COUNTY HIGHWAY
Member Beck reported that the County Highway has been busy with hot patching on roads and replaced culverts on County Highway 27 and 2. They have been tree clearing and trimming and grading gravel roads. A soil boring semi damaged the road in Buckheart. The county will be reimbursed $18,000. Future projects include County Highway 38 Bridge, Bethel Bridge and Liverpool Township, and County 11 Isabel Township bridge.
D. PUBLIC SAFETY & CAMPGROUND
a. Discussion/Action: FY27 Jail Meal Bid
Member Williams reported that Sheriff Webb received a bid for jail meals, with Clayberg as the only bidder. There was a slight increase.
Member Williams moved to approve the Jail Meal Bid from Clayberg, with a second from Member Beck. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes. (10,0)
Member Williams addressed campground issues raised by public speakers. The committee had a meeting at the campground on Sunday with low turnout and no quorum, so it was not an official meeting. Member Williams explained that during the Sunday meeting, a list of priorities for the campground was created. Rod Lynch will go through the shower house as soon as weather permits. A young man who works for MSD is willing to fix roads and other infrastructure when MSD shuts down, though it will not be free. All spending goes back to the campground budget.
E. FINANCE, INSURANCE, PERSONNEL, LEGISLATIVE
a. Discussion/Action: Resolution: Authorizing Payment of Surplus Equity Claims from Tort Liability Fund
Member L. Southwood expressed that the county previously discussed surplus equity claims presented by Treasurer Mayall at the last board meeting. The Finance committee decided the tort liability fund is where these claims will be paid. This resolution formalizes the process to pay surplus equity claims out of the tort liability fund. State’s Attorney Justin Jochums expressed that the tort liability fund (local government liability fund) is used to pay for liability insurance and settlements when the county is sued for employees acting in their official capacity. Due to the property tax law change, homeowners may come back to the county because their property was sold without proper equity distribution. The statute requires homeowners to sue the treasurer as custodian of the surplus equity fund. The surplus equity fund has collected $360 this year from sub-taxes. The statute requires using this fund first, and once depleted, the county must pay claims from another source, which will be the tort liability fund. Treasurer Mayall expressed that the county has a two-year lookback (from July 10, 2024 when the governor signed the law) and two years of open certificates, creating a four-year window where property owners could make claims for surplus equity that private tax buyers received.
Member L. Southwood moved to approve Authorizing Payment of Surplus Equity Claims from Tort Liability Fund, with a second from Member Steck. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes. (10,0)
b. Discussion/Action: FY27 Non-Union Raises
Member L. Southwood moved to approve FY27 Non-Union Raises, with a second from Member Steck. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes. (10,0)
c. Discussion/Action: FY2027 Budget – Approval for Public Review
Member L. Southwood expressed that the board received the draft budget for public review. There will be revisions before the budget is presented again in November. The budget will remain a deficit budget at $805,294. Most department heads kept their budgets similar to last year, though there were some significant increases. Things are more expensive and the county is not bringing in money to cover increased costs. The committee advocated for passing a true budget that reflects the actual financial position rather than a balanced budget that would not be accurate. Discussion addressed future revenue from solar farms. Three solar facilities are anticipated for the 2026 assessment year (one utility scale and two community scale under five megawatts), with taxes paid in 2027. However, the county would not see significant revenue until 2028. Even with large increases in EAV (equalized assessed value/tax base) for the county, there are rate maximums within different funds. The county can only levy to a certain percentage and cannot go above that. Even with EAV increases, the capability of getting tax revenue is limited by law. Julie Russell explained that six construction permits for solar facilities will be heard in a couple of weeks. Even if completed next year, assessments are based on what’s complete on January 1st of the year. Solar farms will not be finished by January 1st, 2027, so they cannot be valued until 2028, payable in 2029. Assessor Russell led discussion clarifying solar farm tax assessment. If land is leased to a solar farm, the landowner’s tax bill shows the leased acres as exempt with zero-dollar value and assessment. The leased acres are wrapped into the commercial solar assessment calculated at $218,000 per megawatt times the trending factor, depreciated, and multiplied by 0.333 to get the EAV. When property is sold to a solar farm, whoever owned it on January 1st is responsible for that year’s tax bill by law. During active construction, if not yet valued as a solar farm, the land is assessed as farmland.
Member L. Southwood moved to approve FY2027 Budget – Approval for Public Review, with a second from Member Steck. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes. (10,0)
F. HEALTH
Member Platt reported that Clayberg has had two surveys from the Illinois Department of Public Health (one scheduled and one complaint). The results potentially carry a $50,000 fine.
G. PROPERTY
Member Kessel reported that the Sally Port project is in process with hopes to be done before the end of the year. The Dollar General project is still ongoing.
H. EXECUTIVE – None
I. EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5ILCS 120/2(c)(1) – Personnel – None
J. MISC.
a. Discussion/Action: Clayberg Business Office Manager Raise
Member Beck moved to approve the Clayberg Business Office Manager Raise, with a second from Member Widger. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes. (10,0)
K. RECESS
Member L. Southwood moved to recess at 7:18 PM, with a second from Member Beck. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
