Jasper County Board Minutes
COUNTY OF JASPER NEWTON, ILLINOIS
County Office Building 204 W Washington St, Newton, IL 62448
March 16, 2023
The County Board met in regular session on Thursday, March 16 th , 2023. 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, Heltsley, Judson, Pickens, Spiker, Warfel, and Weddell. Geier
was absent.
Public comments:
Donna Coad, park light sponsor asked about code of conduct and ethics for county board members. She
spoke of Willow Hill receiving a grant for the park and wondering if could find a grant to be able to have
ADA bathrooms for the courthouse during events.
Andre Leachman, part of the lights in the park, spoke about a concern he had with a board member who
had made a post on Facebook. Not a board issue but involves a board member.
Deckard made a motion to approve the agenda. Pickens seconded the motion. Motion carried on a
voice vote.
Reports:
County Departments
Ambulance Department – 133 runs for month of February, 911 – 79, Refusal’s – 25, Transfer – 20,
Mutual Aid – 9; IDPH and Sarah Bush Inspection was March 8. Jennifer Hargrave was not aware they
were coming so she was not at station, however, passed inspection. There needs to be an approval of
the new ambulance, quote was given to Adam and Mike. A new medic will hopefully start soon, and she
is a Jasper Co resident, which is very beneficial to the community. 2358 is out of service. It is currently
having repair work done, had to be towed turbo went out. Unsure of when it will be back in service as of
right now. Ferno (company for stretchers) will be at the station for a demo on the 21 st at 11AM. Stryker
just did their presentation; Mike was able to listen. All unpaid accounts are at Collections, totals around
$310,000 from 2015-2022. Unfortunately, there was quite a few accounts that were wrote off in the
process due to timely filing limits. That amount was difficult to get due to the old, antiquated billing
program.
Highway Department – The Electronic Recycling Event is scheduled for Saturday, March 25, 2023, 7:00
a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Highway Department. Request for bids for the chipper were received on Friday,
March 10, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. E.D. Etnyre & Co. submitted a bid of $361,326.00. The Highway
Department received a letter from IDOT concurring to our request to utilize Day Labor procedures for
Section 20-00139-00-PP for chip and sealing of 20.5 miles. The Oil Letting for Jasper County and
Townships is scheduled for Tuesday, March 28, 2023.
Board of Health – Behavioral Health will be closed for moving into the new building March 27 th – 30 th and
will reopen April 3 rd . Main part of the health department will remain open. The next health department
board meeting will be March 27, at 5:30.
County Positions/Services
Building Maintenance – Matt Tarr, City of Newton Electric Department would complete all the labor and
more than half for materials only costing the county around $1,000 for improvement around courthouse
outer sidewalks. Potential projects from Tiffany Keller, looking at a grant 80% $500,000 project and
Melissa Brown quotes on pavilion for courthouse lawn, might look in the future. Circuit Clerk would like
new counter and security door. First National Bank in Olney needs agreement for courthouse sign.
Plaster fell in Circuit Clerk’s office. An informal tour of the courthouse was taken amongst board
members. The proposed work will not be completed on walls. Judson and Pickens will put together a 5-
year plan. Jeff Long gave a quote to price the refinishing and waxing the floors in the courthouse and
county building. Judson feels the county is behind on 5-year plan. He went over list and would like to see
if other contractors would be able to complete work. Judson would like to see the board to get on board
with the plans. $30,000 and over projects need to be bided out.
County Jail and Sheriff Office – Francis stated a lot has happened in the last month. We have been
dispatching out of new building for the last few weeks. The offices have been moved this week. The jail
portion is getting very close for being completed. The radio booster has been installed. Jailers will
hopefully be in the next week. The dispatchers are very proud of the space they have, and it is a nice
structure. The extension office is moving into of the building the sheriff department was in.
Information Technology Consultant – Cory gave report on the fiber infrastructure with the jail project. Jail
project is moving right along, help from Clay Curtright and Mike Ochs. Travel time will be billed for
mileage at or below federal rate. Probation office has a computer that could not be repaired, and a
purchase needs to be made.
Supervisor of Assessment Office – Matson is at training tonight so; he is not in attendance.
Animal Control – Report in Packet
Elected Officials
Treasurer: Reports from Bigard was sent in the board packet. The income for state/general fund income
of $ 217,848.12, and the personal property income of $0 with a total income for February of $217,848.12.
The expenses for February $330,594.89. Total income less expenses for February a net loss of
$112,746.77.
Other Elected Officials/Offices
Judson made a motion to approve the consent agenda containing the following items: Approval of County
Board February 9, 2023, Minutes; Appointment of Bruce Elliott as Trustee for a Three-Year Term on the
Montrose Fire Protection District; Approval of Discover Downstate Illinois Tourism as Jasper County’s
“State Certified Tourism Bureau”; File County Reports and Allow Claims. Weddell seconded the motion.
Motion carried on a voice vote.
Old Business: VISION 2031 – Jasper County Government Strategic Plan Warfel mentioned last meeting,
February 15, 2031, will mark the 200 th anniversary of Jasper County and Newton. Vision 2031 is
designed to develop a Jasper County Government Strategic Plan for where we want to be in 2031.
Warfel encourages all departments, offices, and elected officials to be thinking about strategic planning.
Over the next few months, Warfel wants to work toward developing a comprehensive Jasper County
Government strategic plan. This plan would address assessments, vision, goals, and action plans at the
department/office level but also be formulated together for a larger-scale vision for the entire County
Government. “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” – Yogi Berra
New Business:
Courthouse Square Project – Light Poles & Sidewalk on County Property Last Fall – Tiffany Keller came
to a Building Committee meeting to address some proposals for improvements around the Courthouse
Square on County Property. Tiffany handed out papers of plans and estimate. The awarding of a grant
would be by September to 2024 not start to 2026, so would have time to come up with funds. County
received a grant so maybe this could help.
At the January County Board meeting, a need for a new Chip Spreader for the Jasper County Highway
Department was discussed. The Board instructed Highway Engineer Deters to proceed forward with
bids for a new chip spreader. The Jasper County Highway Department’s chip spreader (originally
purchased in 1995) has for the last few years had several issues that have required extensive repairs. A
chip spreader’s primary use is to distribute chipping material over asphalt layers uniformly for road
maintenance. Chip spreaders help extend a road’s lifecycle by filling in the gaps and giving it more
traction and binding to withstand heavy traffic loads and harsh weather conditions. Chipping spreaders
help do a job that otherwise cost a fortune with asphalt or concrete overlay. The County uses its chip
spreader for all county highways as well as used in conjunction with all 11 Jasper County townships and
small municipalities (the City of Newton and Villages in the County). One bid was received and opened
on Friday, March 10, 2023. The Bid was in the amount of $361,326 from E.D. Etnyre & Co. The motion
Warfel was looking for this evening was the acceptance of that bid and approval to loan the Highway
Department an Inter-Governmental Loan for the purchase of the Chip Spreader $216,326, they have
funds for the balance amount. The State’s Attorney is working on the Inter-Governmental loan
agreement that was included in the board packet. The agreement outlines the loan amount and
obligation to repay the County’s, General Fund. Pickens made a motion accept the bid from E.D. Etnyre
& Co. for $361,326 and the adoption of the inter-governmental loan agreement resolution between the
County and the Highway Department for the purchase of the Chip Spreader for $216,326. Spiker
seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote.
At the January County Board meeting the Board approved the allocation of $138,000 of ARPA Funds for
an Ambulance Service Remount on Jasper County Ambulance Service Rig 2358. The Ambulance Service
needs a remount or a new ambulance purchase for another rig in the fleet. A proposal for a new rig from
American Response Vehicles is attached in the amount of $227,924. Warfel was looking for a motion this
evening for the acceptance of that proposal and approval to loan the Ambulance Service an Inter-
Governmental Loan for the purchase of a new Ambulance Rig in the amount of $227,924 from American
Response Vehicles with delivery between 540 and 720 days. Treccia has not wrote the agreement at this
point because the amount needed to be borrowed. Geier emailed Warfel about the chassis for a concern
on a truck chassis and it would cost $50,000 more than a van chassis because of to work on a van
chassis is much more expensive to work on. Deckard also pointed out that driveways in the county are
small and the difficulty of getting in and out of the driveways with a larger ambulance. The box size is not
much of a difference between the chassis. This will be a gas ambulance. Deckard made a motion to
accept the proposal from American Response Vehicles and the adoption of the inter-governmental loan
agreement resolution between the County and the Ambulance Service for the purchase of the Ambulance
in the amount of $227,924. Weddell seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote.
This is a revised proposal for the County’s IT infrastructure that was discussed at the February Board
Meeting. The proposal calls for wireless bridges in the amount of $814, Battery Backups, and Switch
updates in the amount of $17,659.77. The total of the proposal is $18,473.77. Spiker says it needs to
bring up to standard because items have not been kept updated. A failure to a sonic wall at the county
building preparation had already been in the plans but not on a Sunday. Spiker made a motion to approve
the proposal for improvements to the County’s Information Technology infrastructure from Kemper’s which
includes wireless bridges, battery backups, and switch updates for a total of $18,473.77. Weddell
seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote.
At the conclusion of 2022, the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce which had combined with the Jasper
County Economic Development, Inc. reseparated to spearhead chamber activities in Jasper County. Prior
to the merger with JEDI, the Chamber received annual donations from the County of Jasper in the amount
of $420. In addition to the annual donation the County Board four years ago voted to allocate 50% of the
hotel-motel tax to the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce. This 50% allocation resulted in nearly
$15,000 in 2022. The other 50% is allocated to the Embarras River Tourism Council. A membership
pledge was dropped off at the County Building. Tier Membership is as follows $2500 and above platinum
plus, $2500 platinum, $2000 Gold, $1500 Silver, $1000 Bronze, $500 Copper, and anything below $500 is
a friend of the chamber. The question before the board is the level of membership support for the
Chamber of Commerce from the County of Jasper. Bollman spoke to Bigard about this he said money
came from miscellaneous contingency fund. Bollman said $1,000. Restrooms for the events is expensive,
the use of restrooms has been prohibited because of security. Bollman made a motion approve a donation
to the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $1,000. Heltsley seconded the motion.
Motion carried on a voice vote.
The County of Jasper has been selected to receive an Energy Transition Community Grant in the amount
of $565,615 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The next step
in this process is to form a stakeholder taskforce that will consist of: regional planning councils, economic
development organizations, low-income or environmental justice communities, educational institutions,
elected and appointed officials, organizations representing workers, and other related organizations, if
applicable. This stakeholder taskforce will be responsible for compiling a plan for the grant funds. The
deadline for submission is May 31, 2023. Warfel asked Michael Geier to lead this Stakeholder Taskforce.
Michael will be reaching out to respective individuals/organizations and coordinating the initial meeting in
the upcoming weeks. Releasing funds start of July.
Board Comments: None
Chairman Comments: Vistra Corp. – Meeting with Community Leaders – Brad Watson and the team from
Vistra will be meeting with community leaders in the County Board room on Wednesday, March 22 @
10:30 a.m. Any board member who wishes to attend is invited as well as County Elected Officials. UCCI
Legislative Conference in Springfield on Tuesday, March 28, and Wednesday, March 29. The Interim
Regional Superintendent of Schools for Region #12 will be Cathy Croy from Clay County. Mrs. Croy will
serve until June 30, 2023. Regional Superintendent Elect Jeremy Brush will take office beginning on
July 1 st . Possible expansion of the Richland/Jasper County Enterprise Zone. Mayor Lambert, Mayor
Kuhl, Village President Thompson, Richland County Board Chair Grave, and I will be meeting soon to
discuss a possible expansion of the existing enterprise zone as allowed by the State. This week the
Governor signed into law the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. The County is already in compliance with
most of the requirements, but I will be asking the State’s Attorney to compare our personnel policy with
the new law and find anything that may need to be amended or corrected prior to the act taking effect on
January 1, 2024. Last year the state passed legislation that requires governmental units including all
units of local government that may levy any tax, expect municipalities and counties to form a committee
to study local efficiencies and report recommendations regarding efficiencies and increased
accountability to the county board in which the governmental unit is located. The committee is to meet
no later than June of this year and is required to meet every 10 years thereafter. This does not impact
the county but any taxing entity other than municipalities are required to report to this board regarding
that local government consolidation and efficiency act. Illinois has nearly 7,000 local taxing bodies
including school districts. Jasper County alone has 55 local taxing bodies. Texas ranks 2 nd a state which
has twice as many people and 4.7 times larger in geographic size and has nearly 2,000 fewer local
taxing bodies. Reminder about the Electronic Recycling Event at the Jasper County Highway Department
on Saturday, March 25 starting at 7:00 a.m.
No closed session
Bollman moved to adjourn at 7:22 pm. Heltsley seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote.
Next Regular Board Meeting will be Thursday, April 13 th at 6:00 p.m.
Amy Tarr, Jasper County Clerk
