Jasper County Board Minutes
COUNTY OF JASPER NEWTON, ILLINOIS
County Office Building 204 W Washington St, Newton, IL 62448
April15th, 2021
The County Board met in regular session on Thursday, April 15th, 2021. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by proclamation according to law by Sheriff Francis. Sheriff Francis led a moment in silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members present were Bollman, Fehrenbacher, Geier, Hall, Heltsley, Hickox, Leffler, Pickens, Swick, Warfel, and Weddell. Kerner was absent.
Public comments:
Katie Turkel, Alex Osborn and Taylor Slough spoke representing Jasper County 4-H. Alex Osborn, President of 4-H Federation, talked about how she has been involved in 4-H. Taylor spoke about how 4-H has helped her to grow personally. Katie handed out a hand out and spoke of the activities that have been completed this year and hopefully, next year she will be able to bring back other activities.
Bernard Boyd wanted to thank everyone to be a board member. Talked about the significance of the amount of money spending on the jail project and doing without a jail for a year.
Warfel asked all board members to review the items on the consent agenda, if any one member wishes to have an item removed from the consent agenda to discuss and vote on separately, they may request it.
Swick made a motion to approve the agenda. Bollman seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote.
Committee Reports: Standing Committees
Ambulance Department: The Jasper County Ambulance Committee met on Wednesday, April 7th, 2021. Equipment updates: The fuel neck on the fuel tank on unit 2357 was repaired. The ABC360 conference will be done remotely this year on April 28th, and 29th. This again will save all travel expenses. The conference must be attended to maintain our coding and compliance certification. Josh Welling has accepted a full-time firefighter’s position at Mattoon Fire and has turned in his resignation, Caleb Delks has accepted Josh’s position, Caleb will be moving from part-time to full-time so no training will be needed. Daniel spoke to the committee about the financial status of the service and a possible option.
Buildings: The Building Committee of Jasper County met on Monday, April 12th, 2021 at 7:00 pm. Tom’s Report: Tom’s Report: The reader boards for the county building have been installed. The county has been billed for the use of a side by side for the removal of snow. The courthouse exterior light bulbs have been changed to blue light bulbs for Autism Awareness Month. The committee discussed buying LED light changing bulbs, but no decision has been made. The new trash cans from DM Welding have been installed. The wash out in the county building drive through has been fixed by the city. The courthouse surveillance system is partially complete. A camera is to be installed in the county building basement. New blinds have been installed at the county clerk’s office that were paid out of the clerk’s budget. Mowing season has started. Signs reminding community members to pick up after their pets will be placed around the courthouse lawn. The possibility of buying concrete pads to go under the picnic tables on the courthouse lawn was discussed, but no decisions have been made. Tom will bring quotes to the next meeting. Old Business: The committee had further discussion on the possibility of a pavilion on the courthouse lawn. No progress has been made on the courtroom wall or the assessor’ office wall. A deadline of May 1st was set, and another carpenter will be located if Ronnie Diel fails to complete the project. Probation office leaks will be monitored. The possibility of an emergency exit in the boardroom of the county building has been disregarded. The materials for record protection in the county building basement are ready, but the logistics is still undetermined. The sheriff’s department project was discussed; the planning committee will stay intact for now. New Business: Discussion was held about fertilizer and weed control on the courthouse lawn. The committee decided to discuss it at a later date. Discussion was held on the possible renewal of the county’s CINTAS rug cleaning contract. Leffler made a motion to not renew the agreement with CINTAS for rug cleaning, and Geier seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote. A quote for purchasing rugs from Progressive was reviewed. Hickox made a motion to purchase rugs from Progressive for $1,416.32. Kerner seconded the motion, and the motion carried on a voice vote. Pickens reviewed the next two years of the five-year plan. Next meeting May 10th at 7:00 pm.
Finance: The Jasper County Finance Committee met on Monday, March 8th, 2021. Treasurer’s Report: Bigard reported the general fund income and the expenses. March’s income $216,605.37 and expenses $221,467.69. Fiscal year to date totals are State/General Fund Income $784,849.19 Personal property income is $54,769.11, total income $841,618.30. Expenses to date $955,361.35 with a net loss of $146,743.05. Bigard stated, he has not moved any money over for the Law Enforcement Center. New Business: Riddle spoke on the IMRF accelerated payment for an employee who has retired. Raises were given to the nurses at the health department to align nurse’s salary, in December. The difference with the raise on employee’s paychecks was $661.50, the amount of extra hours due to COVID for the year was $14,686.15. Total IMRF accelerated penalty is due to excessive work caused by COVID. The health department will be reimbursing the IMRF fund $23,511.24 for June through October paychecks for all employees. There could be more employees retiring which would cause IMRF acceleration payment because IMRF retirement is based on the highest 4 years out of the last 10 years of working. There will be at least 3 employees retiring from the health department. Riddle asked if with COVID money granted to the county could be used to pay the penalties. The health department cannot use grant money to pay penalties to IMRF, she has been working with the auditor. Contact tracing and the vaccination has caused a lot of hours for employees. Miller brought up the sheriff department had lots of hours along with the ambulance due to COVID. It could impact several different departments. Not being able to make a prediction of the cost of IMRF when an employee retires so, maybe put funds back to pay the IMRF penalties. Alzate commented the ambulance has been using part-time employees to staff the vaccination clinics so, they will not have to pay extra. Bigard mentioned the need to consider the one time lump sum of employees retiring. Possibly set up fund to hold the amount of money to pay funds. Alzate, the department head for the ambulance, would like to get advance of funds because the ambulance department may run short until the funds from taxes are disbursed. $100,000 will get the ambulance department through till August. The invoice for the Embarras Water Shed Plan is in the budget so, the bill can be paid. Cintas Facility rental service agreement will go to building committee to make the decision. Woods had a lengthy discussion on the property tax cycle. He discussed what his office does with the taxes. Woods did a presentation of how the address changes have been handled in the county for the past number of years. After discussion with finance committee and the treasurer, the treasurer will make all address changes from here on out. Fehrenbacher made a motion to go into closed session for discussion of Personnel ILCS 120/2(c) (1) and Litigation 5ILCS 120/2 (c) (11) at 10:10 am. Next meeting Monday, May 10th, 2021 at 8:30 am at the County Building.
Highway Department: The Jasper County Road & Bridge Committee met on Monday, April 12, 2021, 7:00 a.m. at the Highway Office. New Business: Bridge Aid Petition with Smallwood Township was presented with County paying half. Kerner made a motion to approve Petition and Leffler seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote. Petition will need Full Board approval. Bridge Aid Petition with Willow Hill Township was presented with County paying half. Kerner made a motion to approve Petition and Leffler seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote. Petition will need Full Board approval. Foreman’s mileage for March 2021 was 2,116 miles. Next Meeting May 10, 2021 at 7:00 at the Highway Office.
Woods spoke about City of Newton to amend TIF to join the existing TIF 2021 and expire 2031. May 5th will have a meeting and want representatives to show support for the TIF
Operations: The Operations Committee of Jasper County met on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 6:00 pm. Raymond Diel reviewed feedback he received from department heads about the current insurance plans. Plans to compare the county’s cost share with that of other counties were discussed. The safety meeting with members of HopeTrust was canceled. Plans to reschedule the meeting were made, but a date has not been set. Heltsley reviewed changes that were made to the County Board Policy. Geier made a motion to take the changes to the full board for approval. Bollman seconded the motion, and the motion carried on a voice vote. Geier made a motion to go into closed session to discuss FOP negotiations. Weddell seconded the motion. The motion carried on a roll call vote. Next meeting is scheduled for April 28th, 2021 at 6:00 pm.
Public Safety: The Public Safety Committee of Jasper County met on Monday, March 15th, 2021 at 6:00 pm. Reports: Bids for the law enforcement center will be opened on March 25th. Contractors came and looked at the current site. Dispatchers will have new training on the 25th of March. Some fax machines have been moved and one has been added at the Wade fire department for dispatch. The possibility of EMA getting a new building was discussed. Possible location and price were two topics of discussion. The committee and EMA agreed that the possibility of renting a building should be investigated. Radios that were received through a grant have been obtained but have yet to be programmed. EMA is on the list to get a car due to a Covid grant they received. A bid to remove a communication tower has come in. 911 will likely take it down and it will be used elsewhere. The current jail generator cannot be used in the new building. A new location and price were discussed. Old Business: The possibility of temporary housing for the sheriff’s office being located in the annex building of the health department was discussed. An issue with connections between the county and state due to boring and a communication error has been resolved. New Business: EMA received a quarterly reimbursement check from the state of Illinois. An animal control issue regarding cats within the city limits will be addressed at the next city meeting. Next meeting will be April 19th, 2021 at 6:00 pm.
Special Committee
Law Enforcement Center Planning Committee: Email was received from Shannon Woodard, how to progress, abandon jail by May 1st. May 31st demolition could begin.
Informative
Board of Health- In Packet- Hall went over some of the numbers of individuals tested for Covid-19 in testing trailer, Covid vaccines given, and fully vaccinated. Purchased SUV through grant funding for EMA.
Chamber of Commerce- Met April 8th and discussed the 618 Tour, Fall Festival, Jeep Run and possible Cruse Night.
Economic Development (JEDI) – The Chamber 360 Video is complete. Find it here at the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qpSvVOVRbI. The video ended up costing $300. I will be emailing business JEDI Members about who would like to be put on the list for a video. Alissa and Brady Shull will be opening their new business “Flo’s Coffee Shop”. We are helping them with TIF façade grants and the Enterprise Zone. Hog Slat is moving into the old Dollar General Building. Hog Slat, Inc. is the largest construction contractor and manufacturer of hog production equipment in the United States with approximately 1,000 people directly employed and an additional 1,400 subcontractors working on the company’s construction projects. Hog Slat and its subsidiaries have constructed turnkey swine and poultry units for both family farms and large corporate farm entities in the United States. Hog Slat also sells equipment packages to customers who choose to construct their own facilities, both domestically and internationally. In addition to our construction services, we maintain a network of over 80 retail store locations distributed throughout the US to supply local pork and poultry growers with a complete selection of parts and equipment needed to support their operations.
Bollman made a motion to approve the consent agenda containing the following items: Approve of County Board March 11, 2021 and March 31, 2021 minutes, Approve March and April Standing Committee Minutes; Approve Bridge Aid Petition for Smallwood Township on 200N; Approve Bridge Aid Petition for Willow Hill Township on 1200N; Appoint Melvin Birk 2-Year Term Farmland Review Committee; Appoint William Michl 2-Year Term Farmland Review Committee; Appoint Lawrence Pillman 1-Year Term Farmland Review Committee; Appoint Tony Hartrich 3-Year Term Wade Community Fire Protection District Trustee; Appoint Richard Ochs 3-Year Term Wade Community Fire Protection District Trustee; Appoint Kenneth Campton 3-Year Term Dieterich Community Fire Protection District Trustee; File County Reports; and Allow Claims; Weddell seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote.
Old business: No Old Business
New Business:
Approval of Ambulance Department County Inter-Fund Loan – Mr. Alzate addressed the issue at the Ambulance Committee meeting and Finance Committee meeting. The request is for the County to loan the Ambulance Department $100,000, 0% interest by means of an Inter-Fund Loan that would be paid off when the department receives its levied tax money later this year. Swick made a motion to approve County Inter-Fund loan in the amount of $100,000 to the Ambulance Department. Heltsley seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote.
Resolution to Protect Local Control of Zoning and Land Use. Mr. Hickox brought this issue to Warfel’s attention and provided a resolution from DeWitt County. Since that time Warfel has also received a sample resolution from UCCI, which also stands in opposition to this matter and strongly suggest impacted counties to pass a resolution stating their opposition to the pending legislation in Springfield. The county currently does not have zoning, the resolution would be symbolic and would show support of the Opposition of Senate Bill 1602. Leffer made a motion to adopt the Resolution to Protect Local Control of Zoning and Land Use. Geier seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote.
At the request of Ms. Fehrenbacher and a number of concerned citizens including the Farm Bureau we are looking into an ordinance that would require any solar, wind, renewable energy, or public utility before erecting a fixed asset to detail the responsibility of cleanup and removal when the asset is no longer usable. We look to have something for the board to review at either the May or June meeting.
Approval of Amended Rules of the Jasper County Board. The Operations Committee along with the States’ Attorney have recently revisited and amended certain sections of the board rules. Miller cleaned up language in Paragraph I’s and Paragraph N’s and the use of consent agenda. Leffler asked to change open comment to 5 minutes per speaker. Leffler made a motion to adopt changes to the Rules of the Jasper County Board with an additional change to Section II N. ii from 3 to 5 minutes. Geier seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote.
Board Comments:
Hickox said Woodard should not have been allowed to speak as a citizen of the community in open session when he was talking about the jail project at the last board meeting. Heltsley said the Disaster Mitigation Plan has went through.
Chairman’s Comments:
UCCI – Annual Meeting please let the clerk know tonight or at the latest by Monday if you plan to attend.
No action will be taken after the closed session.
Weddell made a motion to go into closed session at 7:50 pm to consider the following Discussion of Personnel 5ILCS 120/2(c)(1) and Discussion of Litigation 5ILCS 120/2(c)(11). Geier seconded the motion. Motion passed on a roll call vote with Bollman, Fehrenbacher, Geier, Hall, Heltsley, Hickox, Leffler, Pickens, Swick, Warfel, and Weddell voting yes. Kerner was absent.
Board adjourned at end of closed session. Leffler moved to adjourn at 8:43 pm. Hickox seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote.
The next board meeting will be Thursday, May 15th, 2021 at 7:00 pm.
Amy Tarr, Jasper County Clerk
