Fulton County Board- Finance & Insurance Committee Meeting Minutes
Fulton County Board Office, 257 West Lincoln Street, Lewistown, IL 61542
Phone 309-547-0901- email csimpson@fultonco.org
Committee: Finance, Insurance, Personnel, Legislative Committee
Meeting Place: Fulton County Courthouse, 100 N. Main St., Room 313, Lewistown, IL 61542
Time: 5:45 pm
Date: August 8, 2023
1. Call to Order
Time: 5:45pm
MEMBERS:
Barry Beck (present/xxxxxx)
Jared Heller (present/xxxxxx)
Laura Kessel (xxxxxx/absent)
BJ McCullum (xxxxxx/absent)
Brian Platt (present/xxxxxx)
Lauren Southwood (present/xxxxxx)
Lisa Thompson (present/xxxxxx)
Other Board Members: None
Elected & Appointed Officials: Charlene Markley – Circuit Clerk, Justin Jochums – States Attorney, Nick Cotta – Public Defender, Julie Russell – Supervisor of Assessment
Staff: Audra Miles- Comptroller, Cindy Simpson – Fulton County Board Administrative Assistant
Guests: None
Media: John Froehling – Fulton Democrat
2. Roll Call
Roll call was taken, quorum present
3. Call for Additions/Deletions To and Approval of the Agenda
Member Southwood moved to approve the agenda with a second from Member Beck. Motion carried by voice vote with all voting 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 Southwood. Motion carried by roll call vote (5-0).
b. Discussion/Action: ARPA Claims – None
7. Transfer of Funds
a. General Funds Transfers
i. Discussion/Action: Resolution: Create Expenditure line item Fuel #001-005-560300 and transfer $1,500.00 from #001-021-590100 Contingency to
#001-005-560300
Member Southwood moved to approve the resolution with a second from Member Beck. Motion carried by roll call vote (5-0).
ii. Discussion/Action: Resolution: $250.00 From: #001-016-510100
Deputy/Clerk/Secretary
To: #001-016-535100 Office Supplies & Expenses
Member Southwood moved to approve the resolution with a second from Member Heller. Motion carried by roll call vote (5-0).
iii. Discussion/Action: Resolution: $300.00 From: #001-021-590100 Contingency
To: #001-005-565100 Telephone
& Expenses
$3,500.00 From: #001-021-590100 Contingency
To: 001-005-580100 Indigent Burial
$10,000.00 From: #001-021-590100 Contingency
To: #001-005-580101 Autopsy Expense
Member Heller moved to approve the resolution with a second from Member Beck. Motion carried by roll call vote (5-0).
iv. Discussion/Action: Resolution: Create Expenditure line item Retiree Recognition for $500.00 from Contingency #001-021-590100 to #001-016-585200 Retiree recognition
Member Platt moved to approve the resolution with a second from Member Heller. Motion carried by roll call vote (5-0).
8. Other Funds Transfers
9. Immediate Emergency Appropriation(s)
a. General Funds Immediate Emergency Appropriations
i. Discussion/Action: Resolution: Create Expenditure line FCEMA FEMA Allotment #001-064-585143 for $59,096.00 from unappropriated funds
Member Beck moved to approve the resolution with a second from Member Southwood. Motion carried by roll call vote (5-0).
b. Other Funds Immediate Emergency Appropriations
10. Old Business
a. Discussion/Action: Opioid Settlement Fund $80,129.00 recommendation
Member Southwood moved to approve the Opioid Settlement Fund $80,129.00 be split with Drug Court and North Central Behavior Systems in Fulton County with a second from Member Beck. Motion carried by roll call vote (5-0).
11. New Business
a. Discussion/Action: Resolution: Trustee Parcels
Member Platt moved to approve the resolution with a second from Member Heller. Motion carried by roll call vote (5-0).
b. Discussion/Action: Assistant Public Defender Salary
Nick Cotta, Public Defender discussed, the salary for the Assistant Public Defender. The salary is too low to attract an Assistant Public Defender, as many nearby counties have had jobs posted for months with no responses to the job openings with a higher salary.
Member Thompson stated the average salary being offered by nearby counties is upwards of $65,000.00.
Mr. Cotta is looking for a salary range that will get an Assistant Public Defender hired. Mr. Cotta discussed the case load is very high for one person. The 711 license is this a possibility in hiring an Assistant Public Defender. The person with a 711 license does not have a law license to practice but, they can work for an attorney to assist. Mr. Cotta stated he sells the person he is interviewing.
Member Thompson feels the fair range is from $60,000.00 to $75,000.00.
Member Heller moved to approve the salary to hire an Assistant Public Defender with the salary range of $60,000.00 to $75,000.00 based on experience, with a second from Member Southwood. Motion carried by roll call vote (5-0).
12. FY2024 Budget – Nothing to report
13. Safety – Liability Insurance Risk Management – None
14. Transit – None
15. Treasurer’s Report – None
16. Assessment Report
Julie Russell Supervisor of Assessment, reported Vistra and the commercial properties assessments are finished.
Personnel, Legislative
17. Appointments
a. Discussion/Action: Resolution: Berwyn Robert Phipps Jr. – Trustee Appointment Copperas Creek Fire Protection District
Member Platt moved to approve the resolution with a second from Member Southwood. Motion carried by voice vote.
18. Old Business – None
19. New Business – None
20. Executive Session – None
21. Misc. – None
22. Adjournment
Time: 6:22pm
Member Heller moved to adjourn at 6:22pm with a second from Member Beck. Motion carried by voice vote with all voting ayes.
