Meeting Place: Fulton County Courthouse, 100 N. Main St., Room 313, Lewistown, IL 61542
Time: 5:45 PM
Date: September 8th, 2026
1. Call to Order
Time: 5:45 PM
2. Roll Call
Roll call was taken, quorum was present.
MEMBERS:
Laura Kessel (Present)
Brian Platt (Present)
Chris Southwood (Present)
Lauren Southwood (Present)
Matt Vogel (Present)
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS: John Spangler
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: Whitney Strohmeyer – President of Joseph E. Meyer and Associates
3. Call for Additions/Deletions To Agenda
Member C. Southwood moved to approve the agenda, with a second from Member Kessel. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
4. Announcements, Communications and Correspondence – None
5. Public Comments – None
6. Claims
a. Discussion/Action: Claims
Member Kessel moved to approve the claims, with a second from Member C. Southwood. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (5,0).
b. Discussion/Action: Claims ARPA
Treasurer Mayall expressed there are two ARPA claims totaling $30,000 to Rocket Communications for the Fairview Tower project.
Member C. Southwood moved to verbally approve the ARPA claims, with a second from Member Vogel. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (5,0).
c. Discussion/Action: Claims CEJA – None
7. Transfer of Funds
a. General Funds Transfers
b. Other Funds Transfers
i. Discussion/Action: Resolution: $6,500.00 From: #101-157-510100 SALARY-DEPUTY/CLKER/SECT, To Newly Created #101-157-505101 SALARY-PUBLIC DEF ASST
Comptroller Audra Miles expressed that this is a transfer of $6,500 from salary deputy line to the newly created public defender assistant line to fund the recently hired assistant public defender position.
Member C. Southwood moved to send to the full board, with a second from Member Platt. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (5,0).
8. Immediate Emergency Appropriation(s) – None
a. General Funds Immediate Emergency Appropriations
b. Other Funds Immediate Emergency Appropriations
9. Old Business – None
10. New Business
a. Discussion/Action: Property Tax Code Changes
Treasurer Mayall introduced Whitney Strohmeyer, President of Joseph E. Meyer and Associates, Fulton County’s contracted agent for 30 years. Treasurer Mayall expressed that she will provide a full presentation at the board meeting later that evening covering the historical context, current status, and financial impacts of the property tax code changes. The State’s Attorney will provide insight and present a county board resolution, followed by a Q&A session. The committee agreed to defer detailed discussion to the board meeting to avoid redundancy.
b. Discussion/Action: Resolution: Updating Percentage of Building Permit Fee Revenue Allocated to the Zoning Vehicle Fund
Assessor Julie Russell expressed that the zoning office requested reducing the percentage of building permit fee revenue allocated to the zoning vehicle fund from 10% to 2% with a cap of $2,000 per year. The increase in building permit fee revenue brought in by the Zoning Officer has successfully funded the zoning vehicle fund to purchase a new vehicle. After the vehicle purchase, approximately $19,000 will remain in the fund. Fuel and maintenance line items have been moved out of the general fund to the zoning vehicle fund. The reduction will channel more money back to the general fund where it is needed. With the reduced contribution, the fund should remain solvent for approximately seven years before needing adjustment.
Member Kessel moved to send to the full board, with a second from Member Platt. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (5,0).
c. Discussion/Action: DCEO Disaster Grant Application
Chris Helle led discussion of a $250,000 DCEO disaster grant application to cover disaster-related costs for the county and municipalities. The County Highway has approximately $50,000 in out-of-pocket expenses, and the City of Canton has approximately $50,000. The grant application fee is $5,000, which can be covered by grant funds. Under new DCEO rules, each county must apply for the grant rather than individual jurisdictions, with only one grant per county available. A special meeting is scheduled for September 22nd with Josh Mercer to discuss the application. Jennie Grove and Josh Mercer from WIRC will assist with the application and reporting requirements. The primary goal is to recover the Highway Department’s $50,000 in expenses, with remaining funds distributed equitably among municipalities including Canton, Cuba, Dunfermline, and townships.
Member Kessel motioned to move forward with the process, with a second from Member C. Southwood. Motion carried by roll call vote (5,0).
11. Safety – Liability Insurance Risk Management – None
12. Budget
a. Discussion/Action: FY27 General Fund updates
Comptroller Miles reported that two items were sent out via email after the previous meeting: the 9th Judicial Court Services budget for the general fund and the EMA tax levy request for other funds.
b. Discussion/Action: FY27 Other Fund updates – None
13. Transit
a. Discussion/Action: Approval of Fulton County Rural Transit Financials – July 2026 REVISED
Comptroller Miles expressed that the revision was made because legislation signed by the governor in July allows advertising revenue ($985.20) to be counted as match funding rather than income, which increases reimbursable expenses.
Member Kessel moved to send 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: Approval of Fulton County Rural Transit Financials – August 2026
Member C. Southwood moved to send to the full board, with a second from Member Vogel. Motion carried by roll call vote with all ayes (5,0).
14. Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Mayall expressed that she will give the report during the Fulton County Board meeting at 6:30 PM.
15. Assessment Report
Assessor Russell reported that field work is nearly complete and they are working their way through the southern part of the county. Work is ongoing on land use analysis and commercial appraisals for the previous assessment year. One property tax appeal board case was filed for the Canton Crossing Shopping Center (Canton City Realty, BBA, Kroger). The county submitted evidence on behalf of the Board of Review, and the City of Canton’s attorney filed as an intervener. An appraisal has been completed and discussions are underway with the opposing side to reach an amicable agreement.
16. GIS Department Report
Assessor Russell reported that the GIS department is creating a separate commercial solar energy facility layer for the GIS system to properly implement assessments for farmland and solar facilities. This work has been challenging due to the transition to the new version of ArcGIS software. Additionally, the GIS team will meet with the county highway engineer this month. The Highway Department has successfully used GIS to inventory road signs throughout the county, grading them by condition and scheduling replacements. They have also tracked guardrails, graded their condition, and documented needed replacements and linear footage. The Highway Department is preparing to inventory additional items to further streamline operations.
Personnel, Legislative
17. Appointments
a. Discussion/Action: Resolution – Appointment – Scott Bonney – Liverpool Drainage & Levee District
Member C. Southwood moved to send to the full board, with a second from Member Kessel. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
b. Discussion/Action: Resolution – Re-Appointment – Scott Bonney – East Liverpool Drainage & Levee District
Member C. Southwood moved to send to the full board, with a second from Member Platt. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
18. Old Business – None
19. New Business – None
20. Executive Session – None
21. Misc. – None
22. Adjournment
Member C. Southwood moved to adjourn at 6:04 PM, with a second from Member Vogel. Motion carried by voice vote with all ayes.
