Fulton County Board Committee Minutes
Fulton County Board Office, 257 West Lincoln Street, Lewistown, IL 61542
Phone 309-547-0901 / Fax 309-547-3326 / 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: February 7, 2023
CALL IN INFORMATION:
Call in number: (425) 436-6382
Meeting code: 5189940 #
1. Call to Order
Time: 6:34pm
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:
Elected & Appointed Officials: Chris Helle ESDA Director, John Young – Campground Superintendent, Julie Russell – Supervisor of Assessment, Jon Webb – Fulton County Sheriff
Staff: Cindy Simpson – Fulton County Board Administrative Assistant
Guests: Bill Phillips and Doug Bentzinger –Graham & Hyde Architects
2. Roll Call
Roll call was taken, quorum present
3. Call for Additions/Deletions To and Approval of the Agenda
Member Berry moved to approve the agenda with a second from Member Murphy. Motion carried by roll call vote (7-0).
4. Approval of Previous Minutes – January 3, 2023
Member Berry moved to approve the minutes from January 3, 2023 with a second from Member Kumer. Motion carried by roll call vote (7-0).
5. Announcements, Communications and Correspondence – None
6. Public Remarks – None
7. Claims
a. Discussion/Action: Claims
Member Barclay moved to approve the claims with a second from Member Sloan. Motion carried by roll call vote (7-0).
8. Old Business
a. Discussion/Action: Property tour of Jail and Courthouse
Member Williams discussed new dates for the tour of the Jail, Courthouse and old Dollar General Store. The committee will have the walking tour on February 21, 2023 at 10:00am.
Member Murphy moved to approve the Property tour of Jail. Old Dollar General and Courthouse with a second from Member Berry. Motion carried by roll call vote (7-0).
9. New Business
a. Discussion/Action: Proposal from Graham & Hyde Architects for courthouse Life Safety report – Bill Phillips
Bill Phillip discussed with Chairman Spangler the Life Safety Study on the Courthouse that was done in 2009.
Bill Phillips is proposing a new life safety study to provide an updated list of projects for the courthouse space utilization. This will review the use of space in the courthouse and how the use has changed substantially and review the current code requirements. The Illinois State Preservation Office will be contacted to confirm the preservation status of the courthouse. An update will be provided to the committee on proposed projects and materials cost based on the standard hourly rates using the inflation indexes.
This proposal of services would take approximately 35 to 40 hours and would cost the county no more than $5,000.00.
Member Williams inquired what the projected cost of the previous repairs were from the study in 2009. Mr. Phillips stated the approximate cost of repairs were $15 million. Mr. Phillips stated some of the projects at the courthouse have been completed.
Member Williams inquired what are the next steps are for the courthouse once the study is completed. Mr. Phillips stated planning meetings would be needed to discuss immediate issues and plan for future projects.
Member Williams discussed before the committee moves on the proposal to do a new life safety study the committee needs to review the old study from 2009, and a meeting with Bill Smick, head of maintenance, is needed to know what projects are needed and the priority of the projects.
Mr. Phillips stated there are serious issues with safety on exits in case of fire at the courthouse on the third floor.
Member Kumer inquired with Sheriff Webb about what needs to be done. Sheriff Webb stated Bill Smick is the best person to ask. He know the buildings and deals with daily issues.
Member Williams stated the Fulton County Courthouse is not the best shape or in compliance but the courthouse is far from the worst in Illinois. Member Williams suggested visiting the Warren County Jail as a comparison.
Member Berry inquired what the cost to remodel the courthouse would be. Bill Phillips stated he is not sure the courthouse could be brought up to code due to the new codes that are in effect and stated the courthouse is a 3 story wood building with a wood roof and wooden floors and fire separation is very difficult to do with these factors. Another big issue is there is only one stair in the courthouse to the third floor. If there was a fire, the smoke would filter right up the steps. Sprinklers are needed on each floor.
Member Williams stated there is talk of building a new courthouse but the county cannot afford a new courthouse.
Bill Phillips recommended doing the new life safety study this spring or in the fall.
Member Kumer moved to approve the tabling the proposal for a new life safety study until the March committee meeting with a second from Member Sloan. Motion carried by roll call vote (7-0).
PUBLIC SAFETY
10. Policies – None
11. Declaration of Surplus Property
Sheriff Webb reported the old squad cars have been sold on EBay.
12. Claims
a. Sheriff
Sheriff Webb reported the first Sheriff claims were $28,985.89. Member Murphy moved to approve the claims with a second from Member Kumer. Motion carried by roll call vote (7-0).
b. Jail
Sheriff Webb reported the total Jail claims were 32,425.11. Member Murphy moved to approve the claims with a second from Member Sloan. Motion carried by roll call vote (7-0).
c. Animal Control
Sheriff Webb reported the total Animal Control claims were $4,872.89. Member Berry moved to approve the claims with a second from Member Sloan. Motion carried by roll call vote (7-0).
d. Merit – None
13. ESDA
a. ESDA Claims
Director Helle reported the total ESDA claims were $1,152.66. Member Kumer moved to approve the claims with a second from Member Murphy. Motion carried by roll call vote (7-0).
14. Old Business – None
15. New Business – None
16. Campground
a. Campground Claims
Superintendent Young reported the Campground claims were $6,031.26 and $2,102.65. Member Sloan moved to approve the claims with a second from Member Widger. Motion carried by roll call vote (7-0).
b. Web claims – None
17. Old Business – None
18. New Business – None
19. Fulton County Camping and Rec
a. Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent John Young reported the campground received updated information on the fiber optic installation. A letter received from Mid-century January 31, 2023 outlines the next steps, including the easement documents, all which are being sent to MWRD (Metropolitan Water Reclamation District) for review.
The campground filed a complaint with the Board of Review, which resulted in the reduction of the taxes on the campground property for the lake house. However, in determining the exactly pin number for the complaint, it was discovered there was a long missed error in the taxes on the campground office/house, barn, shower house, pavilion and property. The difference of the campground savings on the lake house and the addition of the main buildings on the property is yet to be determined.
The first camp site installment payments were due by January 22, 2023, and an additional week was given to make the lease payments due to illness of the campground staff. Fifteen individuals missed the first lease payment deadline and have been contacted, nine have updated Superintendent Young on their situations. The campground saw two campers pass-away, and Covid is still impacting campers. The campground is facing the prospect of a new round of abandoned campers. The protocols in place will make the removal of abandoned campers easier and faster.
The campground filled the first site on January 28, 2023, and the wait list is 43 for the upcoming camping season. The campground has seven electric sites and three non-electric sites open to the public and nine electric sites and two non-electric sites available in the 2023 bidding cycle.
As part of the campground’s continuing marketing efforts, FCCRA will be trying radio advertising with Q98.1 Canton where radio ads will run for the next few weeks.
Superintendent Young reported 3 abandoned campsites have been cleared.
20. Executive Session: – None
21. Misc. – None
22. Adjournment
Time: 7:20pm
Member Sloan moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:20pm with a second from Member Murphy. Motion carried by roll call vote (7-0).
