The County Board met in a special session on Thursday, February 1, 2024. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 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, Deckard, Geier, Heltsley, Judson,
Pickens, Spiker, Weddell and Warfel.
Judson moved to approve the agenda. Geier seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote.
Chairman Warfel gave the history of Jasper County. The county was created on Feb. 15, 1831, county
government organized. 1835 Sheriff Louis W. Jourdan’s house served as government meeting location.
1836 a log courthouse erected on southwest corner of Washington and Jackson. 1841 a 2 story 5 room
brick courthouse 40’ x 32’ 35 years of constant repairs. 1877 a committee was appointed to develop
plans for a new courthouse. The committee wanted a courthouse modeled after the newly constructed
Richland County Courthouse in Olney.
A. History of the courthouse –The courthouse was built 1876-1878. The first floor was 6 large
rooms. The second floor was the court room and 6 large rooms. Key elements have been
removed from the courthouse; fireplaces in chief apartments and heavy corner pier, four large
windows in second story hall, tower, dome covered with tin and galvanized iron work, dome is
crowned with life size statue of the “Goddess of Liberty”, slate roof is ornamental French slate in
different colored slates and patterns, floor of stone on front porch along the entire front of the
building. Statue, dome, and tower removed due to early repairs of stop leakage weakened the
supports. Renovations in the 1950’s and 1960’s the pediment, chimneys, and hip roof removed.
During the renovations on the 1960’s additional office space on the first floor was added and the
west stairway was added later. Large exterior windows have been replaced with smaller ones and
some windows have been completely bricked up.
Judge Miller spoke on the purpose of the courthouse.
B. Purpose/use of the courthouse- The judicial branch of local government is part of the part of
Illinois 4 th Judicial Circuit; the local judicial offices include the Resident Judge, Clerk of the Circuit
Court, State’s Attorney, Probation, and Public Defender.
The States Attorney James Treccia spoke on the Illinois Compiled Statutes County Code 55 ILCS
5/5-1106. Duty of the county board to erect or otherwise provide a courthouse. The courtrooms
and furnishings thereof shall meet with reasonable minimum Standards prescribed by the
Supreme Court of Illinois. Minimum Courtroom Standards Supreme Court of Illinois – American
with Disabilities Act Compliant (ADA); Jury Deliberation Room; Jury Assembly Area – Restrooms
and Vending Area; Judge’s Chambers – Private Restroom & Access; Lactation Room; Court
Offices; Emergency Courtroom; Courtroom Standards – Sizes, Entrance & Exits, Judge’s Bench,
Attorney Stations; Witness Stand, Jury Box, Court Reporter Station, Clerk Station, Security
Station When a major renovation or new construction the county will have to follow what is
outlined by compliances.
County Government non-judicial offices – County Office Building has the offices the County Board,
County Clerk, County Treasurer, Regional Office of Education and Supervisor of Assessments; Sheriff’s
Office and Jail; County Highway Department; Ambulance Service; County Health Department;
Behavioral Health Department
Shannon Woodard, Connor & Conner spoke on the current condition of the courthouse.
C. Current condition of the courthouse – Report Findings: The exterior of the courthouse appears to
be in poor condition with areas requiring tuckpointing. The interior items of concern include ADA
upgrades and additional storage. The floor plan efficiency is poor. The HVAC units and ductwork
are exposed to the public. Signs of roof leaks and prevalent throughout the building. Report
Conclusion: The facility has been occupied for almost 150 years and is near its maximum
lifespan. Needed remodeling and proper upgrades may equal or exceed the cost of a new
structure. A new facility could incorporate a stronger design/layout, efficient use for the County
Departments and a landmark at the heart of town for future decades. Woodard spoke on how we
got here and the historical value of the building what was once there is no longer there.
D. Possible Options- Geier spoke on the possible options. Good evening, everyone, thank you for
attending. Considering all the information that has been presented, we are now faced with two
options, because doing nothing is no longer an option. We are required to maintain a courthouse
that is functional and a safe place for the citizens and the employees to conduct business. Just
one example of a safety issue, there has been plaster falling from the ceilings in the office areas.
It is only a matter of time before a piece falls and hits someone. So, like I said, we have two
options….(1) A total renovation of this building. What does that mean? There is a lot of work that
would have to be done to do that. Ripping out walls, tearing up floors and ceilings, an elevator
that is 33 years old that would need to be replaced, and so forth. Aside from that, any standards
and codes that are not in compliance but are grandfathered in due to the building’s age would
now have to be updated to make them comply. We are talking about the complete gutting of this
courthouse. And the things I’ve mentioned are just the problems with the inside. The outer walls,
roof and porch pose a significant undertaking. And like any major renovation, it is safe to say
that unforeseen issues will be discovered, raising the cost of the project beyond the expected
budget. We understand the concerns regarding the historical aspect about keeping the
courthouse intact. But it is no longer the building it once was. And a complete renovation would
substantially alter it even more from its current look. The second option would be a demolition of
this building and the construction of a new courthouse. A new structure would be in full
compliance with any standards and codes, built to suit the needs of the citizens and county
government officials, and need only routine maintenance for years to come. Since 2016, we have
spent a quarter million dollars on repairs to this courthouse. That is a quarter million dollars that
could have been utilized elsewhere in this county. Or, better yet, we could not have had to utilize
anywhere near that amount at all. After the assessment was completed on the courthouse, it was
the opinion of the engineers that a renovation of the building could equal or exceed the cost of a
new structure. The fiscally responsible thing to do for Jasper County is to stop the hemorrhaging
of money from trying to continually repair this courthouse. Now is the time to act because Jasper
County has been awarded grant money from the Energy Transition Community Grant. This grant
is an offshoot of the Illinois Energy Transition Act, which mandates that all coal fired plants must
be closed by 2045. The grant’s purpose is to help communities that have been “economically
disadvantaged” from the closure of a local plant. Like I said earlier… We all understand the
emotional tie to this building. But during early conversations regarding this project, I often used
this real-world example. If you have a home and your roof will need to be replaced in about 5
years. And someone came to you today and said they’ll pay for much of it, but you need to
replace it now, or pay the full amount in 5 years… The responsible thing to do is do it now. The
board is in solidarity with that thinking. And honestly, with an issue this understandably
contentious, that is uncommon. As Mr. Woodard mentioned, everything has a life expectancy.
This courthouse is well beyond its life expectancy. The purpose of this grant is to help this
community, and we believe this is the best way to do just that. Thank you.
County Board must do something. They are required to provide and keep in repair a courthouse;
safety and health concerns to public and employees; current structure poses a potential liability.
Major Renovation of Existing Courthouse- Full compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act;
Full Compliance with minimum courtroom standards; Address safety and health issues of existing
structure; Unknown issues; Parts of structure will be 150 years old. Replacement of Courthouse –
Full compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act; Full compliance with minimum courtroom
standards; Incorporate a stronger design/layout; Landmark at the heart of town for future
decades; Incorporate historical components.
E. Energy Transition Grant- Communities impacted by plant closures. Ongoing grant program and
eligible yearly 6 years prior to closure (2023) and eligible yearly 6 years after closure (2033).
$565,615 was awarded in 2023, if yearly award amount stays the same $5,656,150 over 10
years. The grant has to be used toward public infrastructure investment for public facilities and to
enhance public space.
Warfel spoke on taxes. 50 separate taxing bodies of Jasper County. The county government makes up a
small amount of the taxes. 68% of taxes goes to the school district. The county has lowered our county
taxes for the last 8 years.
Elected Officials/Department Comments- Dora Griffith, Probation spoke about what it means for
everyone showing up and the history of her family working for the county and county board. She spoke
about when she started and the condition of her office of how they had to cover up equipment when it
was going to rain. Tuck pointing was completed but the south wall was never able to fully seal the wall.
The east wall has much degrading issues. She spoke on her health issues and other employees also
have health issues. She spoke about how she was once an advocate of saving the courthouse but no
longer feels this way.
Warfel spoke of the rules of public comments and guidelines. We will make a formal decision at the next
meeting.
Public Comments-
The following words in blue are not part of the unofficial minutes and have been expanded on for clarity and informative purposes
Brad Shull asked about how much the cost would be to build a new building, how likely is the grant to continue providing funds, and what are the odds the grant monies will be available in future years. Warfel spoke about being in the process of filing for the second round of the grant and the application period is six years before and six years after the power plant closing.
Woodard added there is an inability to properly project costs for a new building without a clear idea of what would be built. Other factors to consider would be supply chain issues, weather-related delays, and the timeline of the build along with the cost of the materials which fluctuates and many other factors. To build an equal building, Shannon’s rough estimate would be around five million dollars.
Anthea Zumbahlen read a letter from Jennifer Hinterscher “Since 2021, I have committed to revitalizing the Jasper County Museum, currently located in the Newton Public Library District. I began a task of moving overflow items into temporary storage on the second level of the building and taking inventory of the current exhibits on display. I quickly realized that not only has the current Museum collection outgrown the space, the Library would also like to utilize the room for their own projects and endeavors. There has not been a consistent caretaker of the Museum since approximately 2013. I am currently in the process of establishing a 501(c)3, developing a board to oversee the Museum and all other tasks associated with these endeavors.
When I first heard that the County was questioning the viability of the Courthouse, I reached out to Jason Warfel for more details. At that time he indicated that the County planned to either make updates to the building or demolish it and rebuild on the existing site. Depending on the County’s current stance on those issues, I want to suggest using the building as a new home for the Newton- Jasper County IL Museum.
I would suggest the Effingham County Cultural Center and Museum as an example of what can be done to not only save an historic building, but also promote the rich and prosperous history of a community. The individuals involved with the ECCCM raised funds to restore the building to its historical condition. They organized a group of community members to undertake the work associated with restoration, aside from work that required a license, to significantly reduce their costs.
Today the Effingham Museum has been in operation for more than a decade, receiving membership
dues to cover expenses and offering tours, as well as space for small meetings. I’m confident that we
could refer to them as a resource to get a jump start on creating a similar museum. I’m sure they would
also help navigate areas of the process that we might not know how to approach.
If Jasper County has any interest in preserving the existing courthouse and does not wish to be responsible for restoration and upkeep, I would suggest that gifting it to the Museum would be a great way to help the Museum rebuild. This would be a great resource for exhibits, workshops, classes and programs to invite people (locals and guests) to learn more about our community.”
Pat Clark spoke thanking the county board for the presentation. Pat spoke about her home and her desire to be a preservationist. Pat feels the amount of money spent on the courthouse already is a reasonable amount for a building of that size and age. She spoke about the lack of historic buildings in Jasper County remaining. She believes an old grand courthouse is appealing along with other older buildings. She cited the Effingham Courthouse (museum). She commented about the nostalgia of the current building and the fear of a single level building destroying the ambiance and not providing a view of strength within the community. She spoke that she had heard about another option of rebuilding at another location and utilizing the current building for another purpose.
Warfel spoke on the “third option” and cited the lack of a location being available and the current courthouse is located in the center of town if someone knows of a large plot of ground in Newton a courthouse could be built on the option would be entertained. He also added that when the time comes to discuss more in-depth details they will be discussed at the board meetings.
Susan Iffert Lindley wondering about the cost of renovation. She does not feel there is enough information to make a logical decision. She would like to know the cost of renovating the current courthouse. She believes the taxpayers should have a vote in the decision.
Kathy Wagner worked at this building years ago and it would break her heart to see it torn down. She spoke about the desire to hold onto the past. She would like to see it on the ballot. She stated, “Just put it on the ballot if the people say tear it down I have no problem with it. But for you guys to make that decision That’s ridiculous.”
Raymond Reynolds if the decision to build a new building, he would like to see a classical build and style. He referenced a few county courthouses with a classical look and encouraged the board to consider a classical look.
Max Bunton remembers many structures that are no longer standing in the county he cited a three-story building on the corner of the square, the replacement of old bridges, the removal of the water tower, and other instances, but he also recognizes that people move on when things change. He spoke about the nostalgia factor of the old structures in the community, but now is the time to use money offered by the government and make a decision of what to do. “We can’t keep saying let the next generation handle this.”
Chuck Einhorn spoke about tearing down an old home in his family, however, they were able to reuse some of the key pieces in his home and he hopes that pieces of this historic building would be used in a new building.
Pat Clark said she understands it is a hard decision, she would like to see some of the classic pieces from the old courthouse incorporated into the new building.
Lanette Huddleston appreciated the time to have the meeting but she feels the decision has already been made. She spoke about those who do live in older homes understand the costs associated with maintaining the older structures. She asked about who would bear the tax burden for the building and asked the board to not promise taxes would not go up with this construction.
Tom Jayne asked about the grant, whether financing would be utilized, and where the money would come from to pay the financing. He requested the board work hard to utilize local companies to allow the monies to remain in the community and put the money back into the community.
Warfel spoke about the grant monies from last year and for this year. He cited that the money used for the jail was not from a rise in taxes. He explained how the county tax monies break down from the overall taxes paid. The county levy has been lowered over the past eight years, and monies from the state has increased over the past four or five years. If the county is in the position to need to take out a loan, there is sufficient money to pay for the loan coming from the state to pay for that loan.
Woodard spoke on the restoration of the building. He cited a few issues within just the courtroom that would need to be addressed including door size requirements and the need to reframe the door, the need for fire radiant doors, and the requirement to bring the entire building up to code including ADA requirements. He explained that the request for an estimate to renovate would be a ballpark estimate due to the inability to foresee many of the issues within the building that are not able to be seen until renovations begin.
Sarah Diel Kinkade spoke about having family who worked in the building and recognized the nostalgia the community feels for the building, however, also acknowledges the loss of prestige the building once held. She did ask if the building was to be torn down would the new building incorporate both the courthouse needs and the county building offices to save the money spent on the county building? She also hopes if the building is replaced that the community will be able to utilize the building’s restrooms during events. Judge Miller stated he would not have a problem with all of the offices being in one building, but noted many of the newer ones have two buildings.
Theresa Leohr spoke about the ability to build a new building and make it beautiful and safer. She noted that when she remodeled her 15-year-old house she ran into unseen issues and things she wanted to change. She cited the health issues of the workers, the jury room requirements, and other changes that would need to be made. She said she rode the elevator up and stated she would have rather taken the stairs with the boot on her foot.
Jason Meyer spoke about the need to make a new building as grand as the building once was. He also cited the health issues of the workers and the need for a safe environment. He also spoke about another county that had beams crack in their courthouse and it had to be evacuated. The years have not been kind to the building.
Herb Meeker with the Hometown Register, and he lives in Teutopolis but remembers the courthouse. He discussed his travels to different courthouses and asked if the grant money was/is guaranteed. He also asked, “Is it true they raised chickens on the courthouse lawn in the Great Depression? I’ve heard that story and I just wondered if any you run into that or if there’s anybody who maybe bought some of the chickens?”
Pat Clark asked if a committee would be formed to help decide the plans for the new building.
Answer from Mr. Warfel: The board has the responsibility to provide a courthouse. If the choice is to build new, the plans will be available to the public. The engineers will assess the needs and come back with a floor plan.
Board Comments –
Heltsley – He encourages everyone to see what’s below the building in the basement before they make their final decisions.
Bollman – Thank you to everyone who put the time and effort into making the meeting happen and gathering the information.
Geier – There’s been $250,000 since 2016 and there’s still so much more that is needed and so many problems not addressed. He understands the emotions involved, but there’s a responsibility to future generations to consider and not leave them with the burden of the current building.
Weddell – Thanks to everyone who came and wished there would be more people in attendance. He would like to keep the public participation going.
Judson – He encourages everyone to go on the tour and cited several areas that need to be seen by the public to fully understand the challenges and needs faced. He believes the time to do something in now.
Spiker – He knows there are hard choices that need to be made. He noted the codes hinder the ability to easily renovate the building. The board’s capability to make decisions is not as simple as many believe due to rules and regulations. He believes in being a good steward to the taxpayers and that’s what he is looking at with the building. He doesn’t believe the best choice would be to save the building, despite being a history lover, the numbers lead him towards a different building.
Pickens – Thank you everyone for coming. He noted someone mentioned the position of county board members is a thankless job but he has been thanked and that is what keeps him going.
Deckard – While not a native of Jasper County, he spent a lot of time in the county has memories of the community, and recognizes the importance of history. While he hates to see it go, he knows the need to resolve the issues now and not pass on the issue to the next generations.
Chairman’s Comments – Chairman Warfel appreciates all of the comments and he has a passion for history. He spoke about his experiences giving tours of the Lincoln home and the extensive work to preserve a building such as that and the house was part of a larger story.
He states, “That house was part of a larger story, just as this courthouse is a part of our larger county story. The history of this county does not live solely in this building it lives in our heads, it lives in our hearts and in speaking we pass on that history… When we talk about the story of this building and the history in our community unless we pass that on unless we teach the next generation that gets lost even if there’s a building here.”
Chairman Warfel gave directions on the tours of the building.
Geier moved to adjourn at 8:34 pm. Deckard seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote.
The Next Board Meeting will be on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
Amy Tarr, Jasper County Clerk
