FULTON COUNTY BOARD
REGULAR SESSION MINUTES
June 13, 2023
Chairman Spangler called the Regular Session, June 13, 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 – A
Stan Berry – P Joe Murphy – P Lisa Thompson – A
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, Charlene Markley – Circuit Clerk, Jon Webb – Fulton County Sheriff, Chris Helle – ESDA/ETSB Director, Tammie Denning – Clayberg Nursing Home Administrator, Austin Rhodes – Coroner, Katie Lynn – Health Department Administrator
Staff: Audra Miles – Comptroller, Cindy Simpson – Fulton County Board Administrative Assistant
Guests: Cole McDaniel & Matt Fick – Hometown Consulting
Media: John Froehling – Fulton Democrat, News 25
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
A. Regular Session – May 9, 2023
Member McCullum moved to accept and place on file the regular session May 9, 2023 minutes with a second from Member Murphy. Motion carried by voice vote with all voting ayes.
ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO AGENDA
Vice Chair Kessel pulled from the consent agenda, the ARPA claim for Merit Construction for $74,450.00 due to incomplete work.
Member McCullum moved to approve the amended agenda with a second from Member Widger. Motion carried by voice vote with all voting ayes.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE
A. Fulton County Emergency Medical Association, Inc. Financial Statements and Auditors Report June 30, 2023 2022
PUBLIC REMARKS:
Name: Geneda Bauman
Address: St. David, IL
Topic: Save the Clayberg
Geneda Bauman stated she has petitions with 219 signatures to save the Clayberg. Geneda stated the Clayberg survived one of the worst plagues in history COVID, This is due to the dedicated staff who gave love and care to all the residents who make Clayberg their home. Geneda’s parents were at the Clayberg during this plague and survived Covid, due to the great nursing staff. Geneda is very proud of the Clayberg staff and thanked everyone and “God Bless them all”. The county should be proud of the staff at the Clayberg and stand behind them and commend the staff. A person cannot put a dollar amount on valor. If the county sells the Clayberg, they sell the residents of Clayberg.
The county needs to stand behind the people of Fulton County, when so many nursing homes have closed. A few of the closures are Lewistown, Farmington and Astoria.
Geneda stated the county should be advertising the working benefits the county offers.
Geneda stated Heritage Group is interested in purchasing the Clayberg. Heritage had 44 skilled facilities of their own and 22 have been closed.
Name: Darcie Taylor
Address: Lewistown, IL
Topic: Permit fees
Darcie Taylor stated that at the May Fulton County Board meeting, Member Murphy asked why Fulton County would waive the building permit fees for storm victims from the storms of April 4, 2023. The person’s home owner’s insurance should cover the building permit fee.
Darcie inquired what the benefit is from collecting the building permit fee from people who lost everything or need to rebuild. The waiving of the fees might be an incentive to citizens to stay in Fulton County. Darcie stated there are other issues to consider, the deprecation of the home or structure and the deductibles being paid.
Darcie stated Murphy did not question the fee for the vehicle destroyed due to the April 4, 2023 storms for the Sheriff’s office.
Darcie discussed the Timeclock plus being implemented and the morale factor at the Sheriff’s office with this change. Darcie stated the Sheriff’s department pay is in the top 65% of the State of Illinois.
Darcie discussed the Fulton County committee meetings, and a citizen cannot attend all the meetings as two meetings are at the same time in different buildings.
The meals for the Jail inmates was discussed on how it was to be done by the Clayberg and then had to be bid by someone else.
CONSENT AGENDA
Vice Chair Kessel pulled the claim from ARPA for Merit Construction for $74,450.00 due to incomplete work.
Member Murphy inquired about the $141,678.00 roof debit certificate. Treasurer Mayall stated this is the payoff for the roof debt bond for the courthouse that was approved in May at the Fulton County Board meeting.
Member Platt moved to approve the amended consent agenda with a second from Member Beck. Motion carried by roll call vote (13-0).
A. CLAIMS
a. Claims- Sheriff, Jail, Board of Review, Zoning, County Board, 2nd Q FY23 County Board Mileage & Per Diem, Miscellaneous, 2nd Quarter FY23 Wellness Benefit, Public Defender, Merit, Property, Supervisor of Assessments, ESDA, Animal Control, Highway, VAC, Clayberg, Camping & Recreation, Spay/Neuter Program, Fulton County Public Transportation, ARPA
B. REPORTS
a. Reports- Animal Control, Treasurer, FCCRA POS Report, VAC, Zoning
b. Other Reports- Public Defender, State’s Attorney/Circuit Clerk, Sheriff, County Clerk
C. APPOINTMENTS
a. Resolution: Donald Taylor – Re-appointment Trustee – Fairview Fire Protection District
b. Resolution: Keith Garlish – Trustee Appointment – Farmington Community Fire Protection District
c. Resolution: Dr. Ben Phillips – Re-appointment – Fulton County Board of Health
d. Resolution: Kay McKinley – Re-appointment – Fulton County Board of Health
D. PROPERTY, COURTS, PUBLIC SAFETY & CAMPGROUND
a. Resolution: Board of Review Testing
E. FINANCE, INSURANCE, PERSONNEL, LEGISLATIVE
a. General Fund Transfer
i. Resolution: Create Expenditure line item Utilities-201 E Lincoln #001-048-565204 for $10,000.00 from Contingency #001-021-590100
ii. Resolution: Create Expenditure line item Water-201 E Lincoln #001-048-565302 for $350.00 from Contingency #001-021-590100
iii. Resolution: $30.00 From: 001-021-590100 Contingency
To: 001-014-560100 Mileage & Travel Expense
iv. Resolution: $3,500.00 From: 001-021-590100 Contingency
To: 001-035-575205 Psychological & Polygraph Exams
b. Other Funds Transfers
c. General Fund Immediate Emergency Appropriations
i. Resolution: $141,678.00 Immediate Emergency Appropriation from the General Fund to Miscellaneous Fund, Roof Debt Certificate Payment #001-017-595802
d. Other Fund Immediate Emergency Appropriations
i. Resolution: $3,000.00 from Unappropriated in the Courthouse Security Fund to #031-089-550100 Equipment
ii. Resolution: $12,000.00 from Unappropriated in the Camping & Recreation Fund to #046-102-565424 Campground Maintenance & Management
e. Resolution: Trustee Parcel
f. IPRF Safety Grant $38,904.00 – allocated 50% Sheriff and 50% Highway
g. Renewal Franchise Agreement Nova Cablevision, Inc. – Wee Ma Tuk
F. COUNTY HIGHWAY
a. Ordinance: Local Government Property Transfer Highway Department 430 East Oak St., Canton, IL
G. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ZONING, 200th ANNIVERSARY
a. Resolution: Jed Rhoades petition to Rezone parcel #09-08-28-100-014 from AC to B
H. EXECUTIVE
I. HEALTH
a. Ordinance: Part III Food Sanitation Ordinance
J. MISC.
ACTION AGENDA
TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer Mayall reported for May, County General expenditures were $1,071,817.31 and revenue was $1,874,853.36. The surplus for May is $803,036.05. The current yearly surplus in County General is $1,130,777.78.
Treasurer Mayall stated if property taxes are not paid on time, the interest charge is 1 and 1/2% per month until the tax sale.
The FY22 audit was approved in May and the annual financial report was filed with the State Comptroller’s office.
Treasurer Mayall stated this is the last year for the current auditor’s contract. An RFP will be worked on for audit services for Fulton County.
Mobile home bills are in the being generated and will be mailed in the next two weeks.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ZONING & 200TH ANNIVERSARY
1. Discussion/Action: Resolution: Building Permit Fees waived for Fulton County Disaster Victims of April 4, 2023
Vice Chair Kessel discussed that States Attorney Jochums, Zoning Officer Emmons and Supervisor of Assessment Russell worked on the resolution. The resolution gives residents 2 years to obtain a building permit from the April 4, 2023 storms. Vice Chair Kessel stated there is a state statute that allows counties to waive fees. A list of impacted parcels for residents that have been affected is included in the information. If someone was missed, they can call the Assessment office to be added.
Vice Chair Kessel moved to approve the resolution with a second from Member Southwood. Motion carried by voice vote with all voting ayes.
2. Discussion/Action: Resolution: Dollar General Avon Subdivision
Supervisor of Assessment Russell discussed that the Village of Avon has been trying to annex the property the Dollar General has been constructed on. The steps were not completed at the county level prior to constructing the building. Russell stated when Dollar General came to get the building permit, they stated the property used to construct the building was inside the Village of Avon city limits, thus Fulton County did not have jurisdiction. Russell stated the property has not been annexed from Fulton County and the county does have jurisdiction. This started the process to rectify the issues. The consensus and first step from the State’s Attorney is the subdivision plat needs rectified. The Subdivision plat needs to be approved and Dollar General is in compliance with the Fulton County plat act. Russell agreed the plat needs signed.
Member Murphy moved to approve the resolution with a second from Member McCullum. Motion carried by voice vote with all voting ayes.
COUNTY HIGHWAY
Member Heller reported Route 27 drainage is finished.
The Highway crews are doing very little mowing due to the dry weather.
HEALTH – Nothing to report
FINANCE, INSURANCE, PERSONNEL, LEGISLATIVE
1. Discussion/Action: Local Tribal Consistency fund $50,118.00 recommendation K9
Vice Chair Kessel discussed the funds will be used to purchase a K9 dog, and to cover all expenses associated with the K9 for the Sheriff’s department.
Member McCullum moved to approve the resolution with a second from Member Southwood. Motion carried by voice vote with all voting ayes.
2. Discussion/Action: Hometown Consulting
Cole McDaniel discussed the proposal in broad in nature due to the unknown consulting project work. Cole discussed where the trends are and the analysis needed to work together and identify potential projects for the county.
Hometown consultant Matt Fick stated his past work experience. Matt started with Tazewell County as a land use planner, and wrote the land use plan and updated Zoning ordinances. Matt was the City Administrator for Peoria Heights.
Member McCullum moved to approve the 1 year contract for Hometown Consulting for $50,000.00 with a second from Member Beck. Motion carried by voice vote with all voting ayes.
LIQUOR
1. Discussion/Action: Class A, B and C Liquor Licenses
Member Kumer moved to approve the Class A, B and C Liquor Licenses with a second from Member Murphy. Motion carried by voice vote with all voting ayes.
PROPERTY, COURTS, PUBLIC SAFETY & CAMPGROUND
Member Williams discussed the estimate for the Sally Port at the jail has not been received.
The estimate for the window project for the front of the courthouse has not been received.
The estimate for the courthouse front gate was received and is $10,534.00. The committee discussed the funds can be spent better for other uses.
The smoke detectors installation has been completed at the courthouse.
The courthouse Life Safety Study will be done on June 19, 2023 by Graham and Hyde.
Member Williams will check with TrueGreen about mowing the property at 201 W Lincoln, Lewistown, IL.
No issues at the campground.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: None
MISC
Vice Chair Kessel discussed the 200th Anniversary Celebration will be September 3, 2023 at the Lewistown Fairgrounds.
A mailing with information will be sent out to business and schools in Fulton County. The information will be emailed to all Fulton County Board members.
ADJOURNMENT
Time: 7:06pm
Member Berry made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:06pm with a second from Member Murphy.
Motion carried by voice vote with all voting ayes.
_________________________________
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 June 13, 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 11th day of July, 2023.
_________________________________
John Spangler
Fulton County Board Chairman
