This article only covers the THIRD of the three topics due to the amount of information presented for each topic. We will link all three topics in the same post on social media as they are presented.
The Jasper County Board held a special meeting on Tuesday, January 27th in the County Board Meeting Room to discuss multiple incidents involving County Clerk, Amy Tarr and the January 15th regular County Board meeting. Chairman, Jason Warfel, opened the meeting and outlined the topics of discussion including:
- Neglect of Statutory Duties
- Destruction of Public Records
- Making False Statements
Chairman Warfel outlined the proceedings stating he would give an overview of each topic, provide background contents for each matter and then the board would have questions for each topic. He invited board members to add any pertinent information or relative context as needed.
Making False Statements
In Illinois, knowingly making false statements by an elected official can constitute official misconduct.
The County Clerk was attending the Winter Conference for IACCR (Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders) in East Peoria at the time of the January 15, 2026, Jasper County Board Meeting. At the exact time of the meeting, she was at Jim’s Steakhouse as a guest of an election supplier vendor.
*Editor’s note: Clerk Tarr was not attending via Zoom to take the official minutes for the meeting. Board Member Jessica Schackmann was taking the meeting notes, noting who made motions,and taking roll call for the January regularly scheduled meeting due to Tarr’s absence and lack of a deputy present.
In addition to the Jasper County Clerk, a number of other guests were present. A fellow attendee who was unaware of the other issues (addressed previously) reached out the following day. The Jasper County Clerk was making accusatory statements that this individual felt warranted knowledge of the Jasper County Board.
The County Clerk claimed openly to a group of attendees that rampant “fiscal abuse” was occurring in Jasper County, in particular within the Sheriff’s office and Ambulance Service, and the County Board was turning a blind eye to it.
Chairman Warfel stated, “I take accusations of fiscal abuse seriously, and this board should investigate any claims made by the clerk. Both the Sheriff and the Ambulance Manager are here this evening to address the accusations made by the Clerk.
I have also checked with both the Auditor and County Treasurer to see if the Clerk had brought any concerns to them.
The Auditor had not been contacted by the Clerk and pointed out that the FY2024 audit had an unmodified opinion where the financial statements were presented fairly and free from MATERIAL misstatement. Meaning there were no findings. The Auditor did say they would speak to the Clerk and look into any “issues” she was concerned about.
The Treasurer issued the following statement: “As Treasurer of the County, any abuse of County Funds would be immediately reported to the County Board and the State’s Attorney. Concerning the term “Rampant Financial Abuse,” by definition, this refers to abuse in a county government, specifically referring to the widespread, systematic, and intentional misuse, misappropriation, or theft of public funds, assets, or resources by officials, employees, or contractors for personal gain or unauthorized purposes. I am not aware of any rampant financial abuse in the County based on the definition described above.”
The County Clerk is a representative of the County of Jasper at all conferences/meetings that she attends. The County Board controls the budget for conferences, meetings, travel, and lodging. If the Clerk is unable to conduct herself in a manner befitting the County and office she represents, the County Board may take corrective action to limit travel expenditures in the future.
Additionally, as a duly elected official of County Government, if the County Clerk has questions about the Sheriff’s office, she can contact him and address those questions.
Any “fiscal abuse” can be addressed with both the Sheriff and the Ambulance Manager who are present here this evening.
Clerk Tarr responded with, “I don’t remember even talking about anything like that Jason. I mean, I’ll be honest I mean… there’s nothing that I ever said that part. I mean we were just trying to talk about, you know, the best ways to, you know, communicate different things. I think that’s one of the things we were hopefully going to have next meeting cause, you know, a lot of us have issues with, you know, either employees or board members, you know, we have several county clerks out there, you know, resigning because of board members or you know, or hostile environments in their, you know, buildings. I think we were hoping to bring that up at our next conference to figure out a way to, you know, help with that communicational, you know, hostile environment.
I don’t remember ever saying anything about that Jason, whatsoever. I don’t know who you would have even talked to that would have said..
Chairman Warfel said the person who contacted the county board wanted to let the county board that the accusations of fiscal abuse were made the ambulance and sheriff’s offices were specifically made.
Clerk Tarr denied the allegations of comments made but did mention she talked about ”the pay and different things” she mentioned paying freezes but nothing about fiscal abuse. When directly asked if she had any concerns about fiscal abuse in either the sheriff’s office or the ambulance service she stated no and “that’s throwing me off way big time.”
Austin Francis spoke about his concerns regarding the conversation she and Board Member Francis had in a meeting a week prior to the conference where the two of them discussed the same two departments. While the discussion was not about fiscal abuse it was about the same two subjects mentioned at the conference. He does believe something was said since it lined up with the two departments. He noted the claims line up with the conversation he and the clerk had. Eric agreed that he and Clerk Tarr had also had conversations about the same two departments. Board Member Schackmann had similar conversations about the two departments with Clerk Tarr.
Clerk Tarr’s response: “Yeah, I mean I know I talked about them I’m sure I did but I don’t think I ever said they were fiscally, you know.”
Board Member Geier, states that the statement she made, whatever it was, was egregious enough for them to contact someone from Jasper County was his concern. He also reminded her that she’s a representative of this county and noted that all of the issues were explained at the department head meeting and that wasn’t enough so she contacted her contacts. He notes that the department heads have to get along and it’s not up to the board to consistently mediate the small issues between departments.
Board member AC Pickens addressed the situation noting the Clerk got recorded saying something she would never say in person and he understands the embarrassment. She admitted her bad decisions and he hopes better communication can come from this instance.
Chairman Warfel’s concluding thoughts: “The actions by the County Clerk are severe enough that they warrant a Special meeting here this evening. I feel that neglect of Statutory duties that the Clerk was elected to fulfill; unauthorized destruction of public records; and making false statements may even be considered on a level of official misconduct and that’s something that the board would weigh regardless, depending on how the situation proceeds forward I feel.
If the Clerk feels she is capable of turning her actions around and ensuring that her conduct and the conduct of the employees of the office reflect the trust and integrity needed to fulfill the required duties of that office, the board, as AC, Mr. Pickens mentioned in his comments, should be willing to make an effort in good faith to work to ensure an incident like this does not occur again.
I will say that I second AC’s concern about communication, but a lot of this goes to the judgment and in the moment those decisions that led to this, and it was a series of decisions leading up to the meeting. Not being here in person, not sending someone to fill in, all of the steps that went into the taking down of the video. I mean that was, (interjection from Doug Weddell: “That was the nail in the coffin right there.”) it was a premeditated, systematic takedown of that video and then withholding it for a week and a half before putting it back up, and then the comments, regardless of what was spoken, again the person that reached out to me has no stake in any of this, no reason to lie to us just wanting the board to be aware that these comments are being said out there and I think as Mr. Geier pointed out, it’s unbecoming of us as elected officials of Jasper County it’s not something we want out there and I know the sheriff and ambulance manager have both expressed concern to the clerk that if she has problems or issues that she wants to address with them they would be more than happy to talk about those but airing those out in a public setting at a conference is not the time or place to do so.
Board Comments:
AC Pickens: Board members and elected officials are citizens of the county and it’s ok to have differing opinions but communication is essential.
James Judson: Noted all of the board members heard it but didn’t think anything of it but she was wrong to delete it and he would like to hear from her that she apologizes for that and did the county board wrong.
Clerk Tarr did apologize and admit she was wrong and noted she is human.
Doug Weddell commented that everyone makes mistakes and it’s time for the department heads to get along and it’s time for the drama to stop. There’s no reason for the drama. Everyone was hired or elected for the job and knew what the requirements were and it’s time to work together. He did note the sheriff’s pay is determined by the state.
Mike Geier: Noted his respect for showing up to the meeting even if he wasn’t satisfied with all of her answers. He also noted the department head meeting happened for a reason and offered the advice to her of going to each of the department heads and figuring out what the issues are with each department and working the issues out.
Eric Spiker: wants the meeting to be a learning opportunity and wants communication early and often. If he had communicated earlier the issue may have been resolved sooner. Before saying what’s on your mind, think about how it could be construed. He also wanted to make sure the files are secured safely in case of issues.
Ron Heltsley noted he has lost a lot of trust in the clerk but it can be built back over time. He noted things aren’t adding up but despite that there is trust lost with some of the members of the board.
Jessica Schackmann thanked Amy for coming and hopes in the future that if a mistake happens it isn’t hidden but brought out in the open so it can be corrected. Doug seconded thanking her for coming.
Chairman Warfel also thanked Clerk Tarr for coming and mentioned the chamber annual banquet is Thursday night. The doors will open at 5pm.
