Thank you Brooke Wolf and Angela Fehrenbacher for taking photos!
Jasper County Board Minutes
COUNTY OF JASPER NEWTON, ILLINOIS
County Office Building 204 W Washington St, Newton, IL 62448
June 9th , 2022
The County Board met in regular session on Thursday, June 9 th , 2022. 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, Kerner, Pickens, Swick, and Weddell. Warfel, Leffler and
Hickox was absent.
Public comments: Ron Heltsley presented a Proclamation in recognition of the Newton
Community High School Boys Track 4×400 Relay Team State Champions. Newton Community
High School Boys Track 4 x 400 Relay Team Owen Mahaffey, Ben Meinhart, Evan Schafer and
Parker Wolf posted a time of 3:23.24 to win the state title in addition to setting a new Newton
Community High School Record.
Geier made a motion to approve the agenda. Hall seconded the motion. Motion carried on a
voice vote.
Committee Reports: Standing Committees
Ambulance Department: No official meeting, not enough in attendance. Jennifer Hargrave
commented: Changes have been made / or changes to look into. Increased loading rate.
Schedule changes anticipated to decrease overtime. Jeremy is going to talk to hospitals on the
availability of taking transfers and will talk to local hospitals first then reach out to hospitals
farther out to increase transfers. Next meeting July 6 th at 8:30.
Buildings: The Building Committee of Jasper County met on June 6 th at 7:00 pm. Tom’s Report:
Tom has finished building the door in the county treasurer’s office. Tom plans to paint and finish
plastering the door. The record storage from the county clerk’s office will be broken down and
moved to the basement. Wayne’s Tree Service planted 4 hard maple trees on the courthouse
lawn. The community members that water flowers in town plan to water the newly planted
trees. Old Business: Greg McCoy visited the courthouse to look at heating and cooling units.
Pickens has yet to receive a quote from McCoy. Pickens has yet to hear from Carpenter about
repairing the leaks in the courthouse office roof and window. The committee discussed the
cracks in the concrete on the south porch of the courthouse. The committee discussed the
parking blocks project for the county building parking lot. New Business: Tom received a quote
from Newton Animal Health for new picnic tables for the courthouse lawn. The committee
discussed this. Kerner made a motion to purchase a picnic table for $529 from Newton Animal
Health. Leffler seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote. Tom expressed
interest in purchasing a new battery-operated sprayer. Kerner made a motion to purchase a
battery-operated sprayer for $299 for Tom’s use. Geier seconded the motion. The motion
carried on a voice vote. Next meeting July 11 th at 7:00 pm.
Finance: The Jasper County Finance Committee met on June 6 th. Treasurer’s Report: Bigard
reported the general fund income of $461,071.19 and the expenses of $409,014.10. Fiscal year-to-date totals are State/General Fund Income $1,568,795.13, Personal property income is
$450,715.03, total income $2,019,510.16. Personal property income is double this year, money
comes from the state from corporations and utilities. 2/3 of the sheriff salary will come out of personal
property not sure before or after. Expenses to date $1,566,666.40 with a net profit of
$452,843.76. Fiscal year totals are mid-year. Kemper wants the working cash account cleaned
up which includes excess money. Close the working cash account and reopen general fund
savings account. Bollman made a motion to close the working cash account and reopen a
general fund savings account. Swick seconded the motion. The motion passed on a voice
vote.New Business: The County owes the CEO program $2,000 for 2021 and 2022. The county
gives the CEO program $1,000 per year. The county was not billed because of change with the
CEO program, but they will bill the county. Fehrenbacher made a motion to extend the county
paying the CEO program $1,000 yearly for another 3 years. Bollman seconded the motion.
Motion passed on a voice vote. Multi township districts have to be reviewed every 10 years to
see if aligned with the population. Woods explained the time frame of process. Woods handed
out maps with population and the Multi Township districts. Woods suggestion is to leave the
districts alone. The Ambulance Department had a shortage of the payroll fund of $38,880.93, an
inter fund loan came out of the general fund. Payroll will not be covered this payroll, there are 6
more payrolls until distribution. The department has increased rates and some cutting of
expenses, but salaries $800,000. United Life Care has not billed for the $15,000, will come from
the general fund. Last year took the inter fund loan out before distribution. Swick made a motion
for ambulance department to pay inter fund loan after 1 st tax bill distribution. Fehrenbacher
seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote. James Treccia will write a resolution on
repayment of inter fund loan. Old Business: UCCI pointed out the state, if Juneteenth Holiday
falls through the week off. Fehrenbacher said the Secretary of the State will have Saturday off
for the holiday. Court will be closed the Monday. The sheriff department union contract has if
court is closed for a holiday they will get the holiday. Francis wants clarification if Sunday or
Monday holiday pay for the department. Fehrenbacher made a motion if Juneteenth Holiday
falls on a Saturday or Sunday get the Monday off. Hall seconded the motion. Motion passed
with Bollman voting no and Swick not voting. ARPA Funds, equipment has been ordered for the
drive up at the treasurer’s office and Blake digitalization. The second ARPA Funds will be
received sometime in June. Start budget work next month and 6 month reports. Jail project
change order no bill has been turned in but architect bill has been. A punch list needs to be
created for the jail project, a lot of little stuff. The doors are not detention grade, Francis does
not feel like it is the county’s responsibility. Next meeting Monday, July 11 th at 8:30 am at the
County Building.
Highway Department: The Road & Bridge Committee met on June 6, 2022. Old Business:
Discussion was held on IEMA Trailer Storage and Dog Pound Building. Shannon Woodard is
requesting a 75’ setback instead of the 80’ setback required by the County. The County
Engineer has looked at the location and finds no issue with building at 75’ setback. Motion was
made by A.C. Pickens to approve building at 75’ setback and seconded by Danny Kerner.
Motion carried on a voice vote. New Business: County Engineer presented the committee with
the Joint Funding Agreement and Resolution for the Guardrail Project – Section 18-00136-00-
GR. Motion was made by A.C. Pickens and seconded by Danny Kerner to approve the Joint
Funding Agreement and Resolution. Motion carried on a voice vote. The Agreement and
Resolution will need Full Board Approval. County Engineer presented the committee with the
Compliance Review from IDOT on County MFT, Township MFT, and Township Bridge Program
for the Year 2021. IDOT found no issues. These will be filed at the County Highway Office. The
next regular Road & Bridge Meeting will be held on Monday, July 11, 2022, at 7:00 a.m. at the
Highway Department.
Operations: The Operations Committee of Jasper County met on May 16th at 7:00 pm. Old
Business: Fehrenbacher updated the committee about the Snedeker’s Cyber Security
survey. The committee discussed the county’s personnel policy. Because of the addition of
Juneteenth as a county holiday, the committee decided to review the policy and speak about
things that should be amended in the policy during next month’s meeting. Next meeting: June
20, 2022 at 7:00 pm.
Public Safety: The Public Safety Committee of Jasper County met on May 16 th at 6:30 pm. Old
Business: The committee discussed the animal control and EMA buildings. Francis spoke about
possible grants for the EMA structure. The committee discussed this and other possibilities for
the building. New Business: The committee reviewed information about Security Assessment at
First Entry, also known as SAFE. Geier motioned to contact SAFE to schedule a walk-through,
where SAFE would evaluate the county’s buildings and identify possible threats. Fehrenbacher
seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote. Next meeting June 20 th at 6:30 pm.
Informative
Law Enforcement Center Pay/Progress: Waiting on materials last Wednesday doors need to be
changed and other items. Consoles furnish will be delivered June 13 th , Midwest Tractor
volunteering to unload to save county $14,000.
Board of Health- Gave statistics and excepted bids for the behavioral building.
Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development – Next quarterly meeting will be July 28 th at
7:30 am at Peterson Park Pavilion. A new restaurant Town Talk located in Sainte Marie opened
for business. CCI Redi-Mix & Family Life Center Chamber after Hours June 22, 5-7 pm. Jasper
County Fair will be June 19 th -25 th . RPI (Rehabilitation Performance Institute) will have ribbon
cutting June 28 th , 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. Cork & Pork will be July 9 th . Little Eagles Learning Center
(former Kids Kingdom) will be opening August 1 st .
Fehrenbacher made a motion to approve the consent agenda containing the following items:
Approval of County Board May 12, 2022 Minutes; Approval of May and June Standing
Committee Minutes; Approval for 3-Year Renewal [2025] as Investor of Jasper County CEO
Program [$1,000 Yearly]; Adoption and Approval of Joint Funding Resolution and Agreement for
Guardrail Project; File County Reports; Allow Claims. Bollman seconded the motion. Motion
carried on a voice vote.
Old business:
At the May County Board meeting, the Juneteenth Holiday (June 19 commemoration of the
emancipation of enslaved African Americans) was approved as a County Holiday. The Court
Offices including State’s Attorney, Circuit Clerk, and Probation are closed for this Holiday, and
the Sheriff’s department per its contract because it is a court holiday would be a holiday for that
department as well. It was discussed that the State of Illinois only made it a paid holiday if it fell
between Monday-Friday however the Federal government late last year made it a Federal
Holiday and the Court offices would get June 20 th this year off for the holiday. Since the Court
Offices and Sheriff’s Department would be getting this as a holiday it was recommended at the
Finance Committee on Monday that when the holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday the holiday is
observed on Monday. If the board agrees this would give all County Offices/Employees this
holiday on June 20, 2022, this year. The board voted in May to make it a holiday this is just a
clarification on what happens when this day falls on a Saturday or Sunday such as this year.
There was discussion on the topic. Fehrenbacher made a motion to approve that the
Juneteenth Holiday be observed on the following Monday when the holiday falls on a Saturday
or Sunday. Geier seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote. Bollman voted no.
New Business:
In May the Ambulance Department borrowed $38,880.93 to pay payroll. On the
recommendation of the auditor, the borrowed money needs to come from the County’s General
Fund not working cash. This resolution drafted by the State’s Attorney would allow the
Department to borrow money to pay payroll and bills with the understanding that this money will
be paid back to the County’s General Fund when the Ambulance Department’s Tax Levy money
is received. Weddell presented some information. United Life Care suggested some items: to
increase load rates $200. A schedule template to help reduce overtime. Supplier change has
produced savings. Third party is billing has been implemented, 30 days will have money coming
in. Area hospitals called to let them know of transfer availability. Weddell made motion to Adopt
the Resolution for the Ambulance Department Inter Fund Loan from the County’s General Fund.
Geier seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote.
Board Comments: Pickens said resident was concerned of out of county dumping. Andrew
Deters said there are cameras. Francis did say there were some who were stopped from
dumping in the past.
Chairman’s Comments: UCCI Annual Conference in Galena July 24-26 – Contact the Clerk if
you plan to attend.
Geier moved to adjourn at 7:36 pm. Hall seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote.
The next regular Jasper County Board meeting will be held on Thursday, July 14 th at 7:00 p.m.
Amy Tarr, Jasper County Clerk
