Fulton County Board Committee Minutes
Fulton County Board Office, 257 West Lincoln Street, Lewistown, IL 61542
Phone 309-547-0901 email csimpson@fultonco.org
Committee: Property, Courts, Public Safety & Campground
Meeting Place: Jane Boyd Building, 260 West Lincoln St., Lewistown, IL
Time: 6:30 pm
Date: August 1, 2023
1. Call to Order
Time: 6:33pm
2. Roll Call
MEMBERS:
Jim Barclay (present/xxxxxx)
Stan Berry (present/xxxxxx)
Dan Kumer (present/xxxxxx)
Joe Murphy (present/xxxxxx)
Ryan Sloan (present/xxxxxx)
David Widger (present/xxxxxx)
Karl Williams (present/xxxxxx)
Other Board Members: John Spangler
Elected & Appointed Officials: John Young – Campground Superintendent, Chris Helle – ETSD/ESDA Director, Jon Webb – Sheriff
Staff: Cindy Simpson – Fulton County Board Administrative Assistant
Guests: None
3. Call for Additions/Deletions To and Approval of the Agenda
Member Williams moved items 16, 17, 18a and 19 after #6 public remarks.
Member Murphy moved to approve the amended agenda with a second from Member Widger. Motion carried by voice vote with all voting ayes.
4. Approval of Previous Minutes – July 5, 2023
Member Kumer moved to approve the Minutes from July 5, 2023 with a second from Member Berry. Motion carried by voice vote with all voting ayes.
5. Announcements, Communications and Correspondence
Member Williams discussed the electric bill for the old Dollar General building. The county received another high electric bill for the building. Member Williams will check with the previous maintenance person about electricity for the building. The internet service for the Old Dollar General there is one provider and the estimate was very high. Member Williams suggested the county do security cameras without live feed since paper is the only item being stored at the building.
The mowing at the old Dollar General will be done by a third party.
6. Public Remarks
Name: Dan Veneconia
Address:
Topic: Campground rates
Mr. Veneconia stated the rates for his camp site were raised 20% in 2023. The campsite’s rate for 2024 will increase to $3,250.00 per year. Dan asked why gas golf carts are not allowed. Member Williams stated this is not allowed by MWRD (Metropolitan Water Reclamation District) as stated in their lease with the county.
Name: Mark Reed
Address:
Topic: Campground rates
Mr. Reed stated his current rate at the campground is $880.00. Mr. Reed feels everyone should share the rate increase. The rates should not differ from $100.00 to $1,200.00 increases. The drinking water is not good at the campground due to the sulfur content and the fishing is not the best.
Name: Ronald Menard
Address:
Topic: Campground Rates
Mr. Menard discussed when he first moved into the campground he inquired about an electric site. Currently, it costs Mr. Menard approximately $400.00 to operate his generator at the campground and there is no water to the campsite, or sewer. Mr. Menard stated every November, all the campers worry if their leases will be renewed for the following year. Mr. Menard stated the campground is their second home and his getaway from the traffic. The rate increases do not make sense and are very unfair to everyone at the campground. If there are problems with the funds, then an audit needs to be done. John is there by himself to do all the work at the campground.
Name: James Strode
Address:
Topic: Campground rates
Mr. Strode questioned why the rates went up so much since he has been there for the past 2 years. Mr. Strode stated his campsite is on the lake and he has cleaned the site up by removing garbage and dead trees to make the site nice. Mr. Strode takes his kids to the campgrounds and does not have to worry about them being hit by a car and they can be kids.
Mr. Strode enjoys the campground without the amenities.
Name: Robert Pfeiffer
Address:
Topic: Campground rates
Mr. Pfeiffer stated he does not use the water at the campground even though his camper is next to the water hydrant, he brings his own water. Improvements to the campground are not happening and he is not sure why.
Superintendent Young stated the playground is happening, there have been issues with the mulch for the playground to complete the pods.
Member Williams asked the campers what they want at the campground and what type of increase would be acceptable and fair to all.
Many campers stated a flat rate would be fair to everyone.
Member Williams stated he will visit the campground to look around and talk with the campers. Member Williams stated the county is not allowed to make any profit on the campground or the county pays rent to MWRD.
7. Campground
a. Campground Claims
Superintendent Young reported the Campground claims were $4,310.69 and $11,756.94. Member Murphy moved to approve the claims with a second from Member Berry. Motion carried by roll call vote (7-0).
8. Old Business – None
9. New Business
a. Discussion/ Action: FY24 Campground Budget — Tabled
Superintendent Young stated the biggest increase to the budget is the deputy clerk position.
Member Murphy moved to table the FY24 Campground Budget with a second from Member Kumer. Motion carried by voice vote with all voting ayes.
10. Fulton County Camping and Rec
a. Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Young reported for July 2023, the first few days were busy with clean up from the heavy rains and high winds that passed through Fulton County. The unseasonable weather didn’t help an already historically soft weekend. The campground does not allow fireworks, firearms or swimming, so the the of July holiday weekend was slow. The burn ban impacted the weekend, causing cancellations.
The site inspection and rate notices have been sent out. The vast majority of the sites are in good shape. Superintendent Young did have some issues that are being addressed on several sites. Two families are being expelled for failing to meet the 21-day payment window. A third individual is pulling out voluntarily as they have not made their second installment. A family is in the process of being served their notice.
The campground waiting list for the second half of the 2023 season is seven. The number jumped to 20 in less than a week. Both showings on the 30th resulted in filled sites.
The 2024 waiting list is fourteen. More self-guided tours are being conducted, with people from several surrounding counties and nearby campgrounds looking at campsites. There are four electric and four non-electric campsites open to the public. The next bidding list for campers will be the first week in August, and there are approximately five electric and one non-electric campsite open for bid.
The check for the refund on part of the playground order was received and processed. The playground efforts will begin again with the refund being received.
Cold patching and general maintenance is on-going.
The Phase II Environmental Study was completed, additional samples were taken and were bid, but initially they didn’t think this would cause an additional fees. As of July 26, the campground has not received an invoices and the findings are pending. The last original tank is being removed soon.
A piece of bookkeeping; there is some confusion on the new rate structure for the electric sites. The electricity will be included in your rates. Superintendent apologized for any confusion this may have cause.
11. Claims
a. Discussion/Action: Claims Property
Member Wider moved to approve the claims with a second from Member Sloan. Motion carried by roll call vote (7-0).
12. Old Business
a. Discussion/Action: Capital Projects
The sally port at the jail is needed and should be considered.
Member Widger stated this is a safety issue for the county and its employees. Too much happens in facilities that need a sally port and what is a person’s life worth.
13. New Business
a. Discussion/Action: Internet budget – 201 W. Lincoln St, Lewistown
Member Williams discussed the interned is not needed for 201 W. Lincoln St. Lewistown, IL
The cost is too much for the year and the building is just going to be used for storage of paper.
b. Discussion/Action: House West of Sheriff’s Office – Demolition
Member Williams discussed the green house next to the Sheriff’s office is ready to fall in.
Member Williams received a quote from Kinsel Trucking and Excavating provided an estimate for the demolition of the building and removal of the house, concrete and foundation, fill in basement with dirt and level and seed grass for $14,050.00 plus the asbestos inspection of $900.00. The removal of any asbestos will have an additional charge.
Member Murphy moved to approve the demolition of the house west of the Sheriff’s Office with a second from Member Berry. Motion carried by voice vote with all voting ayes.
c. Discussion/Action: Courthouse Life Safety Study
Member Williams discussed the Life Safety Study from Graham and Hyde was received. The study was emailed to the Property Committee for review.
Chairman Spangler discussed the company that did the Life Safety Study at the Menard County Courthouse and would like a comparison study completed.
PUBLIC SAFETY
14. Policies – None
15. Declaration of Surplus Property – None
16. Claims
a. Sheriff
Sheriff Webb reported the Sheriff claims were $17,126.49. Member Kumer moved to approve the claims with a second from Member Sloan. Motion carried by roll call vote (7-0).
b. Jail
Sheriff Webb reported the Jail claims were $36,520.38. Member Kumer moved to approve the claims with a second from Member Murphy. Motion carried by roll call vote (7-0).
c. Animal Control
Sheriff Webb reported the Animal claims were $2,433.79. Member Murphy moved to approve the claims with a second from Member Widger. Motion carried by roll call vote (7-0).
d. Merit
Sheriff Webb reported the Merit claims were $476.75. Member Berry moved to approve the claims with a second from Member Sloan. Motion carried by roll call vote (7-0).
17. ESDA
a. ESDA Claims
Director Helle reported the total ESDA claims were $531.58. Member Kumer moved to approve the claims with a second from Member Widger. Motion carried by roll call vote (7-0).
18. Old Business – None
19. New Business – None
20. Executive Session – None
21. Misc. – None
22. Adjournment
Time: 8:00pm
Member Widger moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:40pm with a second from Member Kumer. Motion carried by voice vote with all voting ayes.
