FULTON COUNTY BOARD MINUTES
REGULAR SESSION
February 14, 2023
Chairman Spangler called the Regular Session, February 14, 2023, meeting to order at
6:30 p.m. in Courtroom 201 at the Fulton County Courthouse in Lewistown, IL.
County Clerk Patrick J. O’Brian called the roll and found the following members present: Quorum was present. (Present-P; Absent-A)
James Barclay – P Daniel Kumer – P Lauren Southwood – P
Barry Beck – P BJ McCullum – P John Spangler – P
Stan Berry – P Joe Murphy – P Lisa Thompson – P
Jared Heller – P Brian Platt – P David Widger – P
Laura Hepp Kessel – P Ryan Sloan – P Karl Williams – P
Elected/Appointed Officials: Staci Mayall- Treasurer, Patrick O’Brian – County Clerk, Julie Russell – Supervisor of Assessment, Keith Munter – Fulton County Engineer, Justin Jochums – States Attorney, Charlene Markley – Circuit Clerk, Jon Webb – Fulton County Sheriff, Steve Hines – Coroner
Staff – Audra Miles – Comptroller, Cindy Simpson – Fulton County Board Administrative Assistant
Guests – Austin Rhodes
Media- John Froehling – Fulton Democrat
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
A. Regular Session – January 10, 2023
Member McCullum moved to accept the minutes and place on file the regular session January 10, 2023 minutes with a second from Member Beck. Motion carried by roll call vote (15-0).
B. Special Session – January 31, 2023
Member Beck moved to accept the minutes and place on file the special session January 31, 2023 minutes with a second from Member McCullum. Motion carried by roll call vote (15-0).
ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO AGENDA
Member Kessel moved to approve the agenda with a second from Member Thompson. Motion carried by roll call vote (15-0).
ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE – None
PROCLAMATIONS:
A. Discussion/Action: Resolution: Fulton County Disaster Proclamation
Member Kessel moved to approve the resolution with a second from Member Thompson. Motion carried by roll call vote (15-0).
B. Discussion/Action: Resolution: Steve Hines – Retirement as Coroner
Member Kumer moved to approve the resolution with a second from Member Kessel. Motion carried by roll call vote (15-0).
APPOINTMENTS
A. Discussion/Action: Resolution: Austin Rhodes – Appointment to Fulton County Coroner
Member Kessel moved to approve the resolution with a second from Member Beck. Motion carried by roll call vote (15-0).
PUBLIC REMARKS: None
CONSENT AGENDA
Member Thompson moved to approve the consent agenda with a second from Member Southwood. Motion carried by roll call vote (15-0).
A. CLAIMS
1. Claims- Sheriff, Jail, Board of Review, Zoning, County Board, Miscellaneous, County Administrator, Public Defender, Property, Supervisor of Assessments, ESDA, Animal Control, Highway, VAC, Clayberg, Camping & Recreation, Spay/Neuter Program, ARPA, Capital Improvements
B. REPORTS
1. Reports- Animal Control, Treasurer, FCCRA POS Report, VAC, Zoning, 2Q SFY23 PCOM
2. Other Reports- Public Defender, State’s Attorney/Circuit Clerk, Sheriff, County Clerk
C. APPOINTMENTS
D. PROPERTY, COURTS, PUBLIC SAFETY & CAMPGROUND
E. FINANCE, INSURANCE, PERSONNEL, LEGISLATIVE
a. General Fund Transfer
i. Resolution: $35,000.00 From: #001-048-595114 Transfer to Cap Improvement
Fund To: #001-048-570102 Real Estate Purchase
ii. Resolution: $158.00 From: #001-016-510100 Salary – Deputy/Clerk/Secretary
To: #001-016-535100 Office Supplies & Expense
b. Other Funds Transfers
c. General Fund Immediate Emergency Appropriations
i. Resolution: Create Expenditure line item in the General Fund #001-060-585141 for
Reimbursable grant Polling Place Accessibility Expense $31,259.00 from
Unappropriated funds
d. Other Fund Immediate Emergency Appropriations
i. Resolution: Fund 020: Create Expenditure line item #020-070-575303 for County Health Department Fund $70,176.00 Retention Bonus from Unappropriated Funds
ii. Resolution: $1,196.00 Immediate Emergency Appropriation from Unappropriated Funds in camping and recreation Fund #046-102-565200 Utilities
e. Insurance for FCRT Vehicles
f. Resolution: Authorizing Execution and Amendment of Section 5311 Grant Agreement
F. COUNTY HIGHWAY
a. Resolution: Acceptance of 2023 Maintenance Quotations
G. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ZONING, 200th ANNIVERSARY
H. EXECUTIVE
I. HEALTH
J. MISC.
ACTION AGENDA
TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer Mayall reported for January 2023, County General expenditures were $1,346,520.53 and revenue was $1,379,441.93. The surplus for January 2023 is $32,921.93.
Treasurer Mayall reported the audit will be completed in May 2023.
The Workers’ Compensation Audit is completed.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ZONING & 200TH ANNIVERSARY
Member Kessel reported the Zoning Board of Appeals will have a public hearing for a conditional use permit for Leeward Energy regarding a big solar project in Fulton County. The public hearing will be held at the Fulton County Farm Bureau building in Lewistown, IL on March 1, 2023 at 6:00pm.
The committee is also discussing smaller events around Fulton County for the 200th Anniversary celebration.
COUNTY HIGHWAY
Member Heller reported the Fulton County Highway Department is doing tree and gravel work throughout Fulton County. Currently there is a surplus of salt and the Highway Department is looking to store the excess salt for the 2023 winter use.
HEALTH
Member Platt reported management is checking the area for wages for RNs as a comparison on wages being offered at other facilities.
FINANCE, INSURANCE, PERSONNEL, LEGISLATIVE
a. Discussion/Action: Amendment to Rules of Order 2022-2024
Member Thompson moved to approve the Amendment to Rules of Order 2022-2024 with a second from Member Beck. Motion carried by roll call vote (13-2) with Members Murphy and Widger voting nay.
b. Discussion/Action: Amendment Bereavement Leave Policy (PA 102-1050)
Member Murphy inquired if the bereavement policy is in the bargaining unit contract and is the county breaking any union contracts. Member Thompson stated there is a Bereavement Policy in the union contract. The amended Bereavement Policy is for all non-union employee without contracts, as union employees follow the union bargaining agreement.
Member Thompson moved to approve the Amendment Bereavement Leave Policy (PA 102-1050)
with a second from Member McCullum. Motion carried by roll call vote (15-0).
c. Discussion/Action: Spyglass agreement
Member Thompson discussed that Spyglass is an outside company that audits Fulton County’s internet, phone and wireless bills for overage charges. Spyglass stated when errors are found in the bills, Spyglass would receive half of the recovered money. For yearly bills with service savings, Spyglass would receive 12 times any fees recovered and the same would apply to cost reduction savings on yearly bills.
Fulton County can choose to accept the savings or not for no charge. The only change to the Spy glass agreement is the billing from 10 days to 30 days.
Member Thompson moved to approve the Spyglass agreement with a second from Member Kessel. Motion carried by roll call vote (15-0).
d. Discussion/Action: Cyber Liability insurance renewal
County Clerk O’Brian discussed the Cyber Liability Insurance renewal was done on February 12, 2023 to avoid the county being without insurance. If the committee does not approve the renewal, the county will receive a full refund for the Cyber Liability Insurance. The Cyber Liability Insurance increased $7,516.00 due to the county not having multi factor authentication for the county’s email. The County Clerk is working on some software changes that include a different email system and Office 365.
Member Heller inquired how many licenses the county has. Clerk O’Brian stated the Clerk’s office is in the process of auditing the county’s emails for the number of licenses that would be needed. Member Heller inquired if the insurance would go down when the county email changes to Office 365. Clerk O’Brian stated there is potential for a refund on the insurance premium for the Cyber Liability Insurance.
Member Thompson moved to approve the Cyber Liability insurance renewal with a second from Member McCullum. Motion carried by roll call vote (15-0).
e. Discussion/Action: Ordinance: Open meeting multimedia
Member Thompson discussed the ordinance for multimedia is to ensure everyone is aware of the Open Meetings Act. This is to ensure the Fulton County Board and the public are aware of the rules for the Open Meetings Act. States Attorney Jochums stated a person cannot be restricted to a certain area of the meeting for recording. Member Williams inquired if an area can be suggested to be in the meeting room.
Member Thompson moved to approve the Ordinance with a second from Member Southwood. Motion carried by roll call vote (15-0).
f. Discussion/Action: Ordinance: Bond Abatement
Member Thompson discussed the county levies for the taxes to pay the bond. And the county pays the bond with the taxes that are collected until the bond is paid.
Member Thompson moved to approve the ordinance with a second from Member Platt. Motion carried by roll call vote (15-0).
PROPERTY, COURTS, PUBLIC SAFETY & CAMPGROUND
a. Discussion/Action: Contract for Police Services between Fulton County Sheriff’s Dept. and the County of Fulton and the Town/Village/City of Cuba
Sheriff Webb stated this is a yearly contract for police services between Fulton County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Cuba.
Member Kumer moved to approve the Contract for Police Services between Fulton County Sheriff’s Department and the County of Fulton and the Town/Village/City of Cuba with a second from Member Beck. Motion carried by roll call vote (15-0).
Member Williams discussed the date the committee will tour of the Jail, Courthouse and old Dollar General Store. The committee will have a walking tour on February 21, 2023 at 10:00am.
Member Williams discussed the Life Safety Study and suggested that the insurance liability company should do the Life Safety Study as there if no charge to the county. The insurance company would use the previous Life Safety Study from 2009 to evaluate what repairs have been done and advise of any potential problems that need to be addressed.
Member Thompson inquired with the county’s insurance company doing the Life Safety Study, would this drive the county’s insurance cost up.
Member Williams stated the cost to do the Life Safety Study with Graham & Hyde is approximately $4,800.00.
Member Kessel inquired if the county could do both Life Safety Studies to get the bigger picture of work that needs to be done.
Member Williams stated the insurance company will do a complete Life Safety Study and there is no need to pay for another Life Safety Study.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Real Estate Matters: 5ILCS 120/2(c)(5) Not needed
MISC.
a. Discussion/Action: Purchase of Fred Palin Property (Old Dollar General)
Chairman Spangler discussed a meeting last week with Mr. Palin, and Mr. Palin agreed to the price of the old Dollar General property. The contracts are being completed and the closing of the property will be in May 2023.
Member Spangler discussed the storage building units and currently all of the storage units are rented. Member Spangler inquired if the Board wants to collect the money from the storage units until the leases run out or does the Board want to continue to rent the storage units on a long term basis.
States Attorney Justin Jochums, stated the income per month from the 5 storage units is $315.00. The current leases expire throughout the 2023 year with the last lease expiring in September 2023. If the county would terminate the lease, two of the units have deposits and the deposit of $180.00 would need to be returned to the lessee. Jochums stated he spoke with Julie Russell, Assessor, and if the county collects money on the storage units, the county will need to pay property taxes.
Member Murphy inquired when the lease runs out, the county would not lease the units any longer. Member Spangler stated the board needs to decide this.
Supervisor of Assessment Russell stated she does not know what the current property tax is on the storage units as they need to be evaluated.
Clerk O’Brian inquired what the recommendation is from the States Attorney. Jochums stated according to the Assessor, the county will have to pay the property tax on the units this year and suggested letting the leases run out.
Jochums stated if the county wants to break the leases, there would be court costs, so it would be more feasible to the county to let the leases run out.
Member Kessel stated other county business ventures are challenging and asked if the Fulton County Board wants to get into the storage unit business.
Member Williams inquired who will collect the rent. The treasurer will collect the funds from the storage units.
Member Heller discussed the insurance on the building and what will the insurance cost the county.
Member Kessel inquired if the States Attorney would send letters to the storage units for leases that will not be renewed.
Member Heller moved to approve no leases will be renewed for the storage units at the Old Dollar General property and leases can be terminated early with no penalty with a second from Member Widger. Motion carried by roll call vote (14-1) with Member Platt voting nay.
ADJOURNMENT
Time: 7:47pm
Member Kessel made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:47pm with a second from Member Thompson. The motion carried with all present voting ayes (15-0).
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Patrick J. O’Brian, Fulton County Clerk &
Ex-Officio Clerk of the Fulton County Board
C E R T I F I C A T I O N:
I, John Spangler, Chairman of the Fulton County Board, State of Illinois, do hereby certify that I have examined the record of the February 14, 2023 Regular Session of the County Board of Fulton County, Illinois and find the same to be true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, this day approve the same.
Witness this 14th day of March, 2023.
_________________________________
John Spangler
Fulton County Board Chairman
