Meeting Place: 257 W Lincoln, Lewistown, IL 61542
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Date: August 4th, 2026
1. Call to Order
Time: 5:05 PM
2. Roll Call
Roll call was taken, quorum was present.
MEMBERS:
Susie Berry (Present)
Landon Smith (Present)
Andy Steck (Absent)
Matt Vogel (Absent)
David Widger (Present)
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS: None
ELECTED & APPOINTED OFFICIALS: Kim Mayberry – Zoning Officer, Julie Russell – Assessments
STAFF: Halle Tindall – Fulton County Board Administrative Assistant
GUEST(S) – None
3. Call for Additions/Deletions to and Approval of the Agenda
Member Widger moved to approve the agenda, with a second from Member Berry. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
4. Approval of Previous Minutes from July 7th, 2026.
Member Berry moved to approve previous minutes, with a second from Member Widger. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes
5. Announcements, Communications and Correspondence – None
6. Public Comments – None
7. Claims/Financial Report
Member Smith moved to approve, with a second from Member Berry. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes. (3,0)
8. Zoning Office Report
Zoning Officer Kim Mayberry reported that the month has been slower, which allowed time to catch up on work. On July 29th, the Zoning Board of Appeals approved a 5-megawatt community solar facility, Haven Solar One. This will be the first conditional use permit issued under the newest ordinance. Two developers have recently reached out about obtaining six commercial solar facility construction permits in the near future, which is estimated to bring in approximately $127,400 in permit fees. These are projects that already have conditional use permits and need to return for construction permits. The developers hoped to complete applications by the end of the month with a two-week notice but did not make that timeline. They will likely appear in September or October. Copperas Creek One and Two are shooting for the September County Board meeting for decommissioning agreement approvals. This would get them to the September Zoning Board of Appeals hearing for permits at the earliest. The other four projects are experiencing delays. Member Widger expressed his concern about the number of solar facilities being approved and their visual impact on the landscape. Assessor Russell explained that when solar facilities generate electricity and it goes on the grid, the energy cannot be controlled or directed to specific locations. Once electricity hits the point of interconnection, it enters the grid and could go to any community. Community solar projects allow Ameren subscribers to elect to subscribe to community solar through their Ameren account, which would pull electricity from a local source, but this requires individual subscription. Zoning Officer Kim Mayberry expressed that the electricity grid operates on a unit-by-unit basis with different rates paid depending on whether power comes from solar or traditional power plants. Assessor Russell explained that this helps determine billing rates for all customers. State law has stripped the county of the ability to deny solar applications that meet all qualifications under the ordinance. The Zoning Board of Appeals has been delegated authority to hold hearings and must approve projects that qualify under state law and meet ordinance requirements. The Zoning Board of Appeals previously denied one poorly prepared application for a project behind WVYS in Canton, demonstrating that they take their review role seriously. However, denying properly prepared applications that meet requirements would result in appeals and court challenges that the county would lose, wasting taxpayer dollars. Zoning Officer Mayberry added that there are no protections limiting the number of solar facilities per square mile radius. Requirements include a willing landowner and close proximity to transmission lines and substations. Outside legal counsel facilitates conditional use permit hearings and works to get solar companies to agree to conditions above and beyond state statute requirements. Fee revenue has been implemented to ensure no general fund or tax levy dollars go toward the upkeep, legal costs, or review of these facilities. The costs should not be on the backs of taxpayers.
9. Old Business – None
10. New Business
Discussion/Action: Six (6) Month Extension for Previously Passed “Ordinance Establishing a Temporary Moratorium on Data Center & Commercial Crypto Mining Operations Applications for Development in Fulton County”.
Assessor Russell explained that the county has a base ordinance for data centers. Staff are in the process of reviewing that ordinance along with additional research from a working group that was put together. The next steps include compiling a list of what is not addressed in the current ordinance, determining where to work it into the ordinance, and reconvening with the committee to put it back out for public comment. The reason for doing six-month extensions at a time is because passing an indefinite moratorium would be challenged. Six-month extensions are temporary and provide time to reach a point where, in the absence of state legislation, the county and taxpayers are protected from these types of applications. Without a moratorium, if someone applies for a data center or crypto mining operation and the county has nothing that specifically addresses it, the county would have to hear the application. The Zoning Board of Appeals will vote later this month to send it back to the committee, and then it will go to the full board because it is an ordinance.
Member Berry moved to send to the Zoning Board of Appeals, with a second from Member Widger. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes. (3/0)
11. Executive Session – None
12. Misc. – None
13. Adjournment
Member Widger moved to adjourn at 5:19 PM, with a second from Member Berry. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
