Meeting Place: Fulton County Board Office, 257 West Lincoln St., Lewistown, IL 61542
Time: 5:45 pm
Date: July 7th, 2026
1. Call to Order
Time: 5:52 PM
2. Roll Call
Roll call was taken, quorum present.
MEMBERS:
Laura Kessel (Present)
Brian Platt (Present)
Chris Southwood (Present)
Lauren Southwood (Present, on phone)
Matt Vogel (Absent)
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS:
STAFF: Audra Miles – Comptroller, Halle Tindall – FCB Admin Assistant
ELECTED & APPOINTED OFFICIALS: Staci Mayall-Treasurer, Julie Russell – Assessment, Charlene Markley –Circuit Clerk
GUESTS: None
3. Call for Additions/Deletions To Agenda
Member C. Southwood moved to approve the agenda, with a second from Member Platt. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
4. Approval of Previous Minutes: June 2 & 9, 2026
Member C. Southwood moved to approve the previous minutes, with a second from Member Platt. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
5. Announcements, Communications and Correspondence – None
6. Public Comments – None
7. Claims
a. Discussion/Action: Claims
Member C. Southwood moved to approve the claims, with a second from Member Platt. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (4,0)
b. Discussion/Action: Claims ARPA
Member C. Southwood moved to approve the ARPA claims, with a second from Member Platt. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (4,0)
c. Discussion/Action: Claims CEJA – None
8. Transfer of Funds – None
a. General Funds Transfers – None
b. Other Funds Transfers – None
9. Immediate Emergency Appropriation(s) – None
a. General Funds Immediate Emergency Appropriations – None
b. Other Funds Immediate Emergency Appropriations – None
10. Old Business – None
11. New Business
a. Discussion/Action: Trustee Resolutions
Multiple trustee resolutions were reviewed. Discussion with Assessor Russell and Treasurer Mayall, focused on a property at 201 North Custer Street in London Mills. Member Platt had concerns, as the property initially did not appear in the GIS system but was confirmed to exist through property tax inquiry. Treasurer Mayall expressed that taxes have not been paid for the last three years and the trustee has petitioned for deed.
Member C. Southwood moved to send to the full board with a second from Member Kessel. Motion carried by roll call vote with 3 ayes and 1 nay from Member Platt. (3,1)
b. Discussion/Action: Renewal of Contract with Hometown Consulting
Member Kessel explained the renewal contract with Hometown Consulting. She expressed the amount remains the same as last year at $50,000 for the year.
Member Platt moved to send to the full board with a second from Member C. Southwood. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (4,0)
12. Safety – Liability Insurance Risk Management – None
13. Budget
Comptroller Audra Miles expressed that she will present the first draft of the General Fund Budget at the July 14th meeting.
14. Transit
Comptroller Audra Miles reported that the State Fiscal Year 26 ended June 30th, and quarter and year end reports are in progress. FY27 applications were approved on June 29th and contracts need to be signed. IDOT conducted its first risk assessment questionnaire for the state grant for FY27. The county initially came out as low risk based on the submitted assessment, but IDOT reclassified the county as medium risk, which they indicated is standard for most grantees in this first year. A corrective action plan is required to be submitted by August 10th. Comptroller Miles expressed that IDOT’s requirements present challenges for a small unit of government. The August 10th deadline is for submitting the plan, not for completing the corrective actions.
15. Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Mayall expressed that she would present the treasurer’s report at the July 14th meeting.
16. Assessment Report
Assessor Russell reported that she has received four applications for exempt status from different entities. One application is approximately three inches thick with over 300 pages for Section 515 housing in the city of Avon that should not be exempt. This entity has already obtained exempt status in Bushnell and Macomb through McDonough County. Granting the exemption would remove over one hundred thousand dollars from the tax rolls. Assessor Russell plans to fight the exemption with a legal basis and will develop a legal brief with assistance from the State’s Attorney. On July 7th, a job offer was made to a candidate who accepted and will start training in two weeks.
17. GIS Department Report – None
Personnel, Legislative
18. Appointments – None
19. Old Business – None
20. New Business – None
21. Executive Session – None
22. Misc. – None
23. Adjournment
Member Platt moved to adjourn at 6:05 PM, with a second from Member C. Southwood. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
