Meeting Place: Fulton County Board Office, 257 West Lincoln St., Lewistown, IL 61542
Time: 6:00 PM
Date: September 1st, 2026
1. Call to Order
Time: 6:28 PM
2. Roll Call
Roll call was taken, quorum was present.
MEMBERS:
Laura Kessel (Present)
Brian Platt (Absent)
Chris Southwood (Present)
Lauren Southwood (Absent)
Matt Vogel (Present)
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS: None
STAFF: Audra Miles – Comptroller, Halle Tindall – FCB Admin Assistant
ELECTED & APPOINTED OFFICIALS: Staci Mayall – Treasurer, Julie Russell – Assessments, Charlene Markley – Circuit Clerk, Chris Helle – ESDA – ETSB
GUESTS: Daniel Kiesewetter – Senior Vice President – Kiesewetter Insurance, Eric Braasch – Sales Executive – Dimond Bros Insurance
3. Call for Additions/Deletions To Agenda
Member C. Southwood moved to approve the agenda, with a second from Member Vogel. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
4. Approval of Previous Minutes: August 4th & 11th, 2026
Member C. Southwood moved to approve the previous minutes, with a second from Member Vogel. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
5. Announcements, Communications, and Correspondence
-
- DCEO Disaster Grant Application
Chris Helle expressed that he is working on a $250,000 disaster grant application from DCEO. The rules changed so that a county or one municipality must apply for the grant to fund critical needs of municipalities. There is a $5,000 fee from Western Illinois Regional Council that can be subtracted from the grant. Member Kessel asked that more information is brought to the committee at the September 8th meeting.
6. Public Comments – None
7. Claims
a. Discussion/Action: Claims
Member C. Southwood moved to approve the claims, with a second from Member Vogel. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (3,0).
b. Discussion/Action: Claims ARPA
Member C. Southwood moved to approve the ARPA claims, with a second from Member Vogel. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (3,0).
c. Discussion/Action: Claims CEJA
Member C. Southwood moved to approve the CEJA claims, with a second from Member Vogel. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (3,0).
8. Transfer of Funds – None
a. General Fund Transfers
b. Other Funds Transfers
9. Immediate Emergency Appropriation(s) – None
a. General Fund Immediate Emergency Appropriations
b. Other Funds Immediate Emergency Appropriations
10. Old Business
a. Discussion/Action: Property Tax Code Changes
Treasurer Mayall requested to table the property tax code changes discussion until next week when more committee members would be present.
11. New Business
a. Discussion/Action: RFP for Liability Insurance Broker
Member Kessel reported two proposals were received for liability insurance broker services. Daniel Kiesewetter from Kiesewetter Insurance explained that there are two ways to secure insurance for public entities: a formal bid for coverages or a request for proposal for the broker. The RFP for broker allows the county to select an agent who then shops the marketplace to find the best coverage. Kiesewetter has provided service to the county for 16 of the last 23 years.
Eric Braasch from Dimond Bros Insurance noted they have 40 offices throughout Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, with the closest offices in Jacksonville and Springfield.
Member Kessel noted that the county has worked with Kieswetter in the past and they are located in the county and has a presence in Fulton County.
Member C. Southwood moved to send the proposal from Kiesewetter Insurance to the full board, with a second from Member Vogel. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (3,0).
b. Discussion/Action: Trustee Resolutions
Sixty trustee resolutions were presented for approval. Treasurer Mayall explained these are resolutions from properties that people have lost due to delinquent taxes following the seal bid auction completed at the end of July. The county trustee agent, Joseph E. Myer & Associates, does all the work for these resolutions. This was noted as a very successful year with many properties sold in the seal bid auction.
c. Discussion/Action: Financial Overview for Fulton County Courthouse Renovations & Grant Overview
Treasurer Mayall expressed that Cole McDaniel was not able to attend, but might be at the September 8th meeting to discuss this item.
d. Discussion/Action: Approval of Decommissioning Agreement between Copperas Creek Solar 1, LLC & Fulton County
Six decommissioning agreements for solar facilities were presented by Assessor Russell, which is unusual as typically only one or two come at a time. The first two agreements (Copperas Creek Solar 1 and 2) had no issues. The only correction needed was to reflect the correct date of the engineer’s plan on page two. Their estimated decommissioning cost is consistent with similar sized facilities throughout the county. The next four agreements (Hickory Road Solar 1 and 2 and Long Lake Solar 1 and 2) are co-located on the same parcel at the southwest intersection of Canton/Cuba Blacktop and County 22 across from Spoon River College. It is three 4.99-megawatt facilities and one 2.5-megawatt facility. Extensive issues were identified with the original plans for the four co-located facilities: Inconsistencies throughout the documents. Plans did not align with agricultural impact mitigation agreements. Wrong megawattages listed (4.99-megawatt facility listed as 4.5 megawatt). Incorrect acreage. Decommissioning estimates of $200,000 when similar plans range from $700,000-$900,000. Some plans did not account for labor costs. No inclusion of prevailing wage requirements. Staff tracked decommissioning costs on a median and average price per megawatt basis and identified that initial estimates were one-fifth of the average cost. After sending the plans back with detailed corrections, the companies revised their estimates and added over $2 million in bonded amounts across the four agreements. Without these corrections, the county could have been short $2 million if the facilities needed decommissioning. All six agreements are now acceptable with corrected dates and proper financial assurances.
Member C. Southwood moved to send all six Decommmissioning Agreeements to the full board, with a second from Member Vogel. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (3,0)
e. Discussion/Action: Approval of Decommissioning Agreement between Copperas Creek Solar 2, LLC & Fulton County
f. Discussion/Action: Approval of Decommissioning Agreement between Hickory Road Solar 1, LLC & Fulton County
g. Discussion/Action: Approval of Decommissioning Agreement between Hickory Road Solar 2, LLC & Fulton County
h. Discussion/Action: Approval of Decommissioning Agreement between Long Lake Solar 1, LLC & Fulton County
i. Discussion/Action: Approval of Decommissioning Agreement between Long Lake Solar 2, LLC & Fulton County
12. Budget
a. Discussion/Action: FY27 General Fund updates
Comptroller Audra Miles reported that the general fund deficit was reduced. The PPRT estimate came in from the state, estimating 2.2 million for the county, up from $1.85 million for the pervious year. Treasurer Mayall recommended adding $350,000 to the general revenue budget number, reducing the deficit to $823,337. The $800,000 deficit is still significant but improved from previous estimates. Pending items include insurance costs, consolidation center numbers, and the property tax levy for the general fund. All sheriff’s vehicles are now deployed on the road. Fuel costs may need adjustment. The court services department budget increased $30,000, which will increase the deficit slightly. Member Kessel expressed that Health insurance rates are typically received in October. The joint advisory health insurance committee works with the broker to get bids, which are usually only good for 30 days. Insurance companies need several months of claims data before providing rates. Treasurer Mayall added, for new county employees, insurance typically starts the following month after they begin paying into it. Some departments have a probationary period of 90 days before insurance takes effect, particularly in departments with high turnover. Comptroller Miles also added that Union contract negotiations are ongoing, which affects budget numbers. Non-union raises will also be discussed soon.
b. Discussion/Action: FY27 Other Fund updates
Comptroller Miles distributed budgets for funds 2 through 104 received to date. All levy requests have been received. Outstanding fund budgets include: EMA, Clayberg, and Campground & Recreation. PSAP fund (pending consolidation completion). Capital improvements (pending general fund decisions). Opioid settlement fund (waiting to finalize amounts). Public defender fund (pending FAIR Act questions). The FAIR Act relates to public defender funding from the state. One of the associations is hosting a seminar the week of September 7th to help clarify the new funding. The budget will be placed on public display after the October 13th Board meeting and adopted in November.
13. Safety – Liability Insurance Risk Management – None
14. Transit – None
15. Treasurer’s Report
The Treasurer will review financials at next week’s meeting. The second installment property tax due date is September 4th. Certified letters will be sent after the due date. Property tax code changes will be discussed next week. The consolidated dispatch center went live with no issues related to time clocks or payroll. The payroll has added complexity to accommodate two different groups’ working methods, resulting in another manual department rather than automated processing. Staff are working to finalize decisions and paperwork before the Treasurer’s departure from office. Items from fiscal years 2023 and 2024, ARPA funds, and LATCF funds are being closed out.
16. Assessment Report – None
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 C. Southwood moved to adjourn at 7:00 PM, with a second from Member Vogel. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
