MINUTES
FULTON COUNTY BOARD
SPECIAL SESSION
September 26, 2022
Chairman Roger P. Clark called the Special Session, September 26, 2022, meeting to order at
6:03 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)
| Cindy Arnett – P |
Vicki S. Hoke – P |
Brian Platt – P |
| Barry Beck – P |
Donna Hudson – P |
John Spangler – A |
| Stan Berry – P |
Laura Hepp Kessel – P |
John E. Taylor – P |
| Steve Bohler – P |
Dan Kumer – P |
Lisa Thompson – P |
| Roger Clark – P |
Nestor Madson – P |
Karl Williams – A |
| Mary Deushane – P |
BJ McCullum – A |
Heidi Wilner – P |
| Susan Duquenne – P |
Craig Medus – P |
|
Elected/Appointed Officials Staci Mayall- Treasurer, Patrick O’Brian – County Clerk
Staff – Cindy Simpson – Fulton County Administrative Assistant
Guests – None
Media- None
ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO AGENDA
Member Duquenne moved to approve the agenda with a second from Member Kumer. Motion carried by roll call vote (17-0).
ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE – None
PUBLIC REMARKS: None
ACTION AGENDA
MISC.
1. Discussion/Action: “An Ordinance providing for the issue of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2022, of the County, for the purpose of purchasing voting equipment for the County and for the payment of the expenses incident thereto, providing for the levy and collection of a direct annual tax sufficient for the payment of the principal and interest on said bonds, and authorizing the sale of said bonds to the purchaser thereof.”
Member Duquenne inquired how long the new voting machines last. Clerk O’Brian stated the current voting machines are 22 years old. The purchase of new voting machines the county would own the machines in 10 years and would be debt free for approximately 10 additional years.
Member Duquenne is this type of voting machine trustworthy and what research was conducted on the voting machines.
Clerk O’Brian stated as an election authority, he cannot purchase election machines that have not been certified by the State Board of Elections. The certification process takes about 6 to 8 months to complete.
Member Taylor inquired about the maintenance on the new voting machines. Clerk O’Brian stated the new voting machines typically come with a yearly maintenance contract. Clerk O’Brian stated the current voting machines have a maintenance contract and the cost is approximately $18,000.00 to have the machines serviced prior to an election. The maintenance person is certified and deputized to work on the voting machines. Clerk O’Brian stated the voting machines are never connected to the internet. Fulton County will not have a vote by mail drop box at the courthouse.
Chairman Clark inquired how many voting machines would be purchased. Clerk O’Brian stated 40 voting machines are needed and this includes extra machines in case of a malfunction.
Member Berry inquired what the difference is between the old machines and the new machines. Clerk O’Brian compared the old voting machines to a Ford Pinto. Member Berry asked why the county needs to purchase new voting machines. Clerk O’Brian stated the new voting machines are needed due to obsolete replacement parts for the current voting machines. The new voting machines generate reports and make the audit process much easier. The current machines reports look like a cash register tape and are sometimes difficult to read. Clerk O’Brian stated the new voting machines are the latest technology and would service Fulton County for many years.
Member Beck asked what the county plans to do with the old voting machines. Clerk O’Brian stated some of the machines would be sold for parts but most of the machines will be destroyed.
Clerk O’Brian reviewed the bond payments that are due each December 1 from 2023 to 2032.
Member Bohler moved to approve the Ordinance providing for the issue of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2022 for purchasing voting equipment with a second from Member Taylor. Motion carried by roll call vote (16-1) with Member Platt voting nay.
ADJOURNMENT
Time: 6:28pm
Member Duquenne made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:28pm with a second from Member Beck. The motion carried with all present voting ayes (17-0).
_________________________________
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, Roger P. Clark, Chairman of the Fulton County Board, State of Illinois, do hereby certify that I have examined the record of the September 26, 2022 Special 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 15th day of November 2022.
_________________________________
Roger P. Clark
Fulton County Board Chairman
Minutes Board Sept 26 2022
