Jasper County Board
September 12, 2019
These are the unofficial minutes of the Jasper County Board meeting for September. These minutes will not be official until approved at the next county board meeting.
The County Board met in regular session on Thursday, September 12, 2019. Members present were Bollman, Leffler, Fehrenbacher, Hall, Heltsley, Hickox, Kerner, Pickens, Swick, Warfel, and Weddell.
Michl was absent. 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.
Public comments:
Jesse Bond with Illinois Separation would like to be on the agenda at a future date and to be voted on by the board. It would be good to have the board with vote to have the referendum on the November 2020
ballot. They have collected 280 signatures in the county and will get enough to put all the ballot also.
They can find them on line at www.illinoisseperation.com and on FaceBook. Loret Newlin said with a passing of the referendum, it does not make the split happen right away. It will allow the possibility of the
split happening.
Warfel made a motion to approve the agenda. Bollman seconded the motion. Motion carried a voice vote.
Committee Reports:
The Road and Bridge Committee met on September 9 th at the Highway Office. Foreman’s mileage for August was 1,812 miles.
The Sheriff’s Committee met on August 28 th . Deputy Garrett Finn graduated from the U of I Police
Training Institute on August 22 nd . Deputy Finn has begun a 4 week FTO program that should be complete in mid-September. The Kansas Highway Patrol on Monday advised that they should have a squad ready
for us any day. Patrol unit that Deputy Swick drives is at McClane Motors and is believed to have transmission problems. I Touch Biometrics has installed the new live scan machine in the booking room.
We can now digitally fingerprint individuals as well as store data and send data to the state without mailing. Francis is planning on attending Trooper Nick Hopkins funeral in Waterloo on Sunday September 1 st . Trooper Hopkins started his career working in District 12 and lived in Casey at that time.
Francis and some of the Deputies have worked with Trooper Hopkins. Francis was contacted by Gary Brian with WTHI News on Monday. Brian was inquiring about the Jail Project and was wanting to do a story on the Project. On Wednesday August 28 th Brian came to the Sheriff’s Office. Brian asked some questions about the project and Sheriff’s Francis showed him around the Sheriff’s Office and County Jail.
Radio communications have gotten worse recently. Sheriff Francis will be speaking with Barbeck communications about the possibility of purchasing Starcom radios. They have tested these radios and
they have worked very well. The committee discussed ways to pay for the radios. Leffler asked if there were any areas of the budget that we could cut back on to afford the radios. Sheriff advised he would
look over the budget. Francis has some concerns about the jail project affecting his Correctional Officers.
Sheriff Francis advised that if the project requires inmates to be housed out of county that he would like to keep the Correctional Officers employed full-time during this project.
The Finance Committee met on September 9 th . Amber Volk spoke about her position as the Economic Development Coordinator for the county and the City of Newton. Mark Bolander spoke on his request to
have an additional $10,000 and that he would like to have the position of Economic Development Coordinator be moved to the Chamber Building. It is currently in the building next to the Jasper County Health Department, which is owned by the county. There was discussion on funding an extra $10,000 for the Economic Development Coordinator position.
Fehrenbacher made a remark the building could use
some through cleaning and possibly the building committee could see a cleaning is completed to make it a better building for the Economic Development Coordinator’s office. No motion was made for an extra
$10,000. The committee met with Daniel Alzate, Ambulance Department, Brandon Francis, Sheriff’s Department, Jamie Blake, Circuit Clerks Office, Paul Woods, Assessor’s Office, Jason Meyer, Coroner,
Chad Miller, States Attorney’s Office, Denise Meinhart, Highway Department, Amy Tarr, Clerk/Recorder’s Office, and Deborah Riddle, Health Department and spoke on their budget changes.
The committee continued work on the FY 2020 budget on September 11, with Dora Griffith, Probation and Clinton Bigard, Treasurer presenting and reviewing their department budgets. Bigard also reviewed a
number of General Fund line items with the committee.
The Building Committee met on September 5 th . Jeff Long will be refinishing the floors of the courthouse and the county building at the end of September. Roy is trying to get things ready at the courthouse for
the Fall Festival and the Corvette Fun Run. Circuit Clerk’s floors are coming up in the main room.
Discussion of what would work, laminate, carpet, etc. Roy can work on an estimate for flooring but will wait till next year’s budget. Roy will go Kichner’s for the flooring estimate and samples but let Jamie
pick out. The installers of the flooring need to know this might be a night and weekend project.
GIS committee.
The Ambulance Committee met on September 4 th . Maintenance has been done to the parking lot. Alzate reviewed the 2020 budget.
The Insurance Committee did not meet, but will have a meeting October 28 th at noon at Parklanes.
EMA did not meet, but will meet in October before the board meeting at 6:00 pm.
The Animal Control did not meet.
JEDI met on September 3 rd . Monthly updates were given by Amber Volk, Executive Director, Mark Bolander, Mayor of Newton, Ron Heltsley, County Board Chairman, Andy Johnson, and Superintendent
of Jasper County Unit #1.
Personnel Committee met on September 4 th . Add Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. 5.10, no discussion on the clarification on how sick days are used when resignation, termination or retirement, can be used
120 days for IMRF or 20% paid. 5.11, no discussion on bereavement time. Extreme weather conditions for the Ambulance and Sheriff’s Department wording updated. Family Medical Leave Act has been
added. 11.20, meals allowance will be an increase from $30 to $40. Social media policy added to the
policy. Whistleblower policy added, no changes. A day of vacation a year after 15 years up to 5 weeks’ vacation. Michl made a motion to give thirty-five cent longevity, 2 extra holiday’s, cap vacation
at five weeks, social median and other items discussed for the updated Personnel Policy. Pickens seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote. The Investment Policy had not been updated since
1998. After States Attorney Miller and the suggestion of the auditors, the policy has been updated.
Kerner made a motion to implement the Investment Policy changes. Michl seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote.
Health Department report is in the board packet, next meeting September 23 rd . Swick moved to approve the County Clerk’s report. Hall seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Old Business:
Sheriff’s Department Project hold over to after closed session.
New Business:
Warfel made a motion to Approve County Treasurer’s Updated Investment Policy. Kerner seconded the
motion. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Fehrenbacher made a motion to appoint John Miller to replace Dale Hasket to a 2 –year term on the
Board of Review (2019-2020 assessment year). Pickens seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Fehrenbacher made a motion to reappoint James Nix as Commissioner of the Sainte Marie Drainage and Levee District with a term expiring on the first Tuesday in September 2022. Leffler seconded the motion.
The motion carried on a voice vote.
Swick made a motion to reappoint Donald F. Clark as Commissioner of the Mint Creek Drainage District with a term expiring on the first Tuesday in September 2022. Fehrenbacher seconded the motion. The
motion carried on a voice vote.
Southeastern Illinois Economic Development Authority is available for board members interested to be appointed with a term expiring the third Monday of January 2022, one individual is needed. Next meeting
a decision can be made. Weddell moved to approve the minutes. Bollman seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice
vote.
County Board Comments:
No County Board Comments.
Chairman’s Comments:
Brad Wastson from Vistra addressed the power plant plans. Pending legistation all coal plants will be closed by 2025. Starting 2021 the converting of the power plant to solar will be started. Down side is
there will be less employees. A big outage is planned for spring of 2020.
No action will be held after closed session.
Hall made a motion to go into closed session at 7:37 pm. Kerner seconded the motion. The motion passed on a roll call vote with Bollman, Leffler, Fehrenbacher, Hall, Heltsley, Hickox, Kerner, Warfel, Swick, Pickens and Weddell voting yes. Michl was absent.
8:04 pm came out of closed session.
Hickox clarified the building committee is not responsible for the Health Department. They only take care of the courthouse, county office building and the sheriff department.
Kerner moved to allow the claims. Hickox seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote.
The next board meeting is October 10 th , 2019 at 7:00 pm.
Leffler moved to adjourn at 8:09 pm. Kerner seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Amy Tarr, Jasper County Clerk
