Meeting Place: Fulton County Board Office, 257 West Lincoln St., Lewistown, IL 61542
Time: 6:00 PM
Date: May 5, 2026
1. Call to Order
Time: 6:04 PM
2. Roll Call
Roll call was taken, quorum present.
MEMBERS:
Laura Kessel (Present)
Brian Platt (Present) – Arrived at 6:07
Chris Southwood (Present)
Lauren Southwood (Present)
Matt Vogel (Present) – Arrived at 6:07
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS: John Spangler, Karl Williams, Andy Steck, Barry Beck
STAFF: Halle Tindall – FCB Administrative Assistant, Audra Miles – Comptroller
ELECTED & APPOINTED OFFICIALS: Staci Mayall-Treasurer, Julie Russell – Assessments
GUESTS: None
Media: None
3. Call for Additions/Deletions To and Approval of the Agenda
Comptroller Miles called to pull item 11. c. from the agenda. Member Kessel moved to approve with a second from Member C. Southwood. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
4. Approval of Previous Minutes – April 7 & 14, 2026
Member C. Southwood moved to approve with a second from Member Kessel. 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 with a second from Member Kessel. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (3,0)
b. Discussion/Action: Claims ARPA
Member Kessel asked to table ARPA Claims and go over them at the Tuesday May 12th meeting.
c. Discussion/Action: Claims CEJA – None
8. Transfer of Funds
a. General Funds Transfers
Resolution $70,000 From: #001-021-590100 CONTINGENCY
To: #001-036-580105 CARE OF CHILDREN
Audra Miles expressed the Supervisor of Probation requested the increase because of 2 juveniles in detention and it costs around $6,750 per month per juvenile.
Member C. Southwood moved to send to the full board with a second from Member Kessel. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (3,0)
b. Other Funds Transfers
9. Immediate Emergency Appropriation(s) – None
a. General Funds Immediate Emergency Appropriations
b. Other Funds Immediate Emergency Appropriations
10. Old Business – None
11. New Business
a. Discussion/Action: FY2025 Fulton County Financial Statements
Treasurer Mayall got Auditor Christina Robb on a phone call and she went over the DRAFT Report and the changes that were made in the report this year. Robb expressed the biggest changes were on the first statement on the report (IMRF and OPEB). She also explained how and why the rates change over the year. Treasurer Mayall went over the campground revenue of the last year and expressed concern over the Sherriff Commissary account. Member L. Southwood expressed setting up a meeting with Sherriff Webb to set up a plan. Member Vogel moved to send the DRAFT version of the Audit to the full board with a second from Member C. Southwood. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes. (5,0)
b. Discussion/Action: FY2025 Fulton County GASB 74&75 Actuary Report – Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB)
This item was discussed in item 11. a. Member Kessel moved to send the DRAFT version of the Actuary Report (OPEB) to the full board with a second from Member Platt. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes. (5,0)
c. Discussion/Action: Approve Settlement of Lawsuit (Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, and Judiciocracy LLC, v. D #5 Fulton County), $1,422.60
Member L. Southwood expressed that the lawsuit was over a FOIA request that was not completed. Member C. Southwood moved to send to the full board with a second from Member Kessel.
12. Budget
a. Discussion/Action: FY27 Budget, Step 2 General Fund Goals
Comptroller Miles discussed the current years budget, making adjustments to known salaries that have been set by Resolution and the general fund tax levy reduction. Comptroller Miles discussed budget goals with Member L. Southwood and actions that have been taken in previous years. Assessor Russell expressed how solar farms and tax levies will affect the budget year. Member L. Southwood went over 2 options/recommendations that could be changed in future. The committee discussed leaving the contingency rate at 1% and capital improvement rate at 3.5%.
Member Platt moved to recommend to increase union wages by 2.5% for budget estimation purposes and a 15% increase for healthcare with a second from Member C. Southwood. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes. (5,0)
13. Safety – Liability Insurance Risk Management – None
14. Transit – None
15. Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Mayall reported forward progress with the Audit and that it is going well. She is working on potential options on how to handle auction lots in a trustee program with Habitat for Humanity that will be gone over more in-depth next month’s meeting. Tax bills are almost ready to be sent out, but they have run into a delay with the software company that should be resolved in 24 hours.
16. Assessment Report
Assessor Russell reported being concerned with an inaccurate social media post that was spreading false information on property taxes, she requested that the committee re-direct people to her or the assessment office to get correct information. She encouraged the committee members to attend the Buckheart Solar Conditional Use Hearing would take place at Spoon River College on Wednesday, May 6th.
17. GIS Department Report
Assessor Russell reported that Keith Munter, Highway Engineer, emailed a report to show changes and set up a spread sheet to show visual representation of the road sign replacement plan. Keith’s next step is to get the guardrails on a replacement plan.
Personnel, Legislative
18. Appointments
a. Discussion/Action: Resolution: Appointment of Bryson Bunch, Cuba Fire Protection District
Member C. Southwood moved to approve the appointment with a second from Member Platt. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
19. Old Business
20. New Business
21. Executive Session – 5 ILCS 120/2 (11) Pending Litigation
Member Kessel moved to enter closed session at 7:22 PM with a second from Member C. Southwood. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (5,0).
Member C. Southwood moved to exit closed session at 7:30 PM with a second from Member Platt. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (5,0).
22. Misc.
a. Discussion/Action: Approval to Split Cost of a Commercial Appraisal with the City of Canton for PTAB Docket #25-02776 “Canton City Realty, LLC”
Member C. Southwood moved to approve to pay up to $4,000 to Split Cost of a Commercial Appraisal with the City of Canton with a second from Member Platt. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes. (5,0)
23. Adjournment
Member Platt moved to adjourn at 7:31 PM with a second from Member Kessel. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
