Macon Reporter

Moultrie County Board met Feb. 1.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Moultrie County Board met in Courtroom B, Third Floor, Moultrie County Courthouse. Chairman Larry Baker called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

Opening Prayer by Larry Baker.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Roll Call was taken, with the following Board members present Larry Baker, Billy Voyles, Marsha Kirby, John Fayhee Arlene Aschermann, John Vander Burgh, Todd Maxedon, Tyler Graven. Absent: Elizabeth Houser

There were 49 people in attendance, which included eight Board members and County Clerk Georgia England.

Mission Statement: read by Todd Maxedon

Minutes: Aschermann moved to approve the January 13, 2022 County Board meeting minutes. Graven seconded said motion, which passed by roll call vote. (8 yes, 0 no)

Guest Speaker: John Althoff was scheduled to give a report on Central Illinois Public Transportation but was unable to attend. CIPT had forwarded the Ordinance to Provide for Public Transportation and Intergovernmental Agreement for submission to the Board for approval. Aschermann moved to approve said Ordinance and Agreement. Kirby seconded said motion, which passed by roll call vote. (8 yes, 0 no) Ordinance 22-02; Book 2, pages 2-3

Unfinished Business: None.

Appointments by County Board Chairman: Baker gave the first reading for the appointment of Daniel Cotner as trustee of the Bethany Fire Protection District, term to expire April 30, 2023.

Baker gave the first reading for the appointment of Don Humphrey as Trustee of the Lovington Fire Protection District, term to expire May 2025.

NEW BUSINESS:

STANDING COMMITTEE

BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE (Chair: Baker)

Committee met February 7, 2022.

Voyles moved to approve the Treasurer’s report for January 2022. Vander Burgh seconded said motion, which passed by roll call vote. (8 yes, 0 no)

Maxedon moved to approve all claims as presented. Voyles seconded said motion, which passed by roll call vote. (8 yes, 0 no)

BUILDING AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE (Chair: Graven)

Building and Grounds committee did not meet.

Graven gave an update on the Courthouse roof project, stating that on March 18 there would be a pre-construction meeting, March 22 would be set-up and blocking off areas for preparation of the start of the project, with a sunset date for the project to be finished being June 20, 2022.

ROAD AND BRIDGE COMMITTEE (Chair: Voyles)

Committee meeting scheduled for February 3, 2022 was cancelled due to several cases of Covid in the Courthouse.

Voyles moved to approve the Local public Agency Engineering Service Agreement to Cummins Engineering for the County Guardrail project, Section 21-00081-00-GR. Not to exceed $90,685.40. Graven seconded the motion, which passed by roll call vote. (8 yes, 0 no)

PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE (Chair: Maxedon)

Committee meeting scheduled for February 4, 2022 was cancelled due to inclement weather.

Maxedon moved to approve the application by Bernell Martin for a rezoning from AG-1 to C-2 on PIN #08-08-12-000-215, 1123 CR 1275N, Sullivan, IL for a car dealership. Aschermann seconded said motion. Discussion followed. Former Planning and Zoning Director Jan Haegen stated that a meeting with the Zoning Board needed to take place in the township 15 days prior to the motion going before the Board. Upon State’s Attorney Tracy Weaver and Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Dobson suggestion, this matter was set aside while review was being done. After review, it was the opinion of the State’s Attorney that this matter be tabled until the March Board meeting. Maxedon moved to table the motion to approve the application by Bernell Martin. Aschermann seconded said motion, which passed by roll call vote. (8 yes, 0 no)

Baker stated that the application by Lonnie Gingerich for a special use permit would not be addressed at the February Board meeting but would be carried over to the March meeting.

PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY & WELFARE COMMITTEE (Chair: Aschermann)

The committee did not meet. No motions.

AS NEEDED COMMITTEES

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE (Chair Kirby)

The committee did not meet. No motions.

INSURANCE COMMITTEE (Chair: Houser)

The committee did not meet. No motions.

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE (Chair: Baker)

The committee did not meet. No motions.

AD HOC COMMITTEES

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) (Chair: Stephanie Helmuth) Committee did not meet.

Baker moved for the County Board Chairman to execute an Ordinance Authorizing the Moultrie County Treasurer to issue checks to the following entities in their stated amounts for economic recovery and continued community services to Moultrie County residents: Bethany American Legion Post #507 - $14,000; Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity - $46,800; Lovington American Legion Post #429 - $5,000; Mid-Illinois Senior Services, Inc. - $30,000; Sullivan American Legion Post #68 - $25,000; Sullivan Lions Club - $14,000. Kirby seconded said motion, which passed by roll call vote. (8 yes, 0 no) Ordinance 22-04; Book 2, pages 6-7

Baker moved for the County Board Chairman to execute an Ordinance Authorizing the Moultrie County Treasurer to issue checks to the following entities in their stated amounts to enhance Moultrie County residents’ access to mental health services, emergency medical, ambulance and transport care: Lovington Fire Department $89,449; Bethany Fire and Ambulance District - $150,000; Sullivan Fire Protection District - $208,000; Moultrie County Counseling Center - $350,000. Graven seconded said motion, which passed by roll call vote. (8 yes, 0 no) Ordinance 22-05; Book 2, pages 8-9

County Treasurer Stephanie Helmuth stated the County will receive the next disbursement of funds in May or June in the amount of 1.2 million.

COUNTY EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK (Chair: Tracy Weaver)

Committee did not meet. No motions.

Baker stated with the State’s Attorneys increased workload, he was going to place Michelle Liddiard as chair of the employee handbook committee effective immediately. Baker said that the State’s Attorney’s office will remain actively involved with redrafting the handbook and have final approval of all changes.

WECS (WINDFARM) (Chair: Billy Voyles)

Committee met February 8, 2022.

Voyles stated the next WECS meeting is scheduled for March 8, 2022, 3:30 p.m. at the VFW Hall. The public is encouraged to attend.

Baker stated the ad hoc committee and State’s Attorney are reviewing the 2004 Wind Energy Ordinance and the standards of 2022 need compared to 2004 need to be addressed and a new Ordinance will be put before the Board.

Doug Reeder, Jonathan Creek Township Supervisor, stated on November 19, 2021 Jonathan Creek Township passed a Resolution in Opposition to Location of Wind Farms within the Boundaries of Jonathan Creek Township and a similar Resolution was passed by East Nelson Township on February 2, 2022. The Resolutions speak for the citizens of those townships, that they are in opposition of wind farms. [Note: Reeder provided copies of Jonathan Creek Township and East Nelson Township Resolutions in Opposition, which are filed in the Wind Energy files located in the County Clerk’s office.]

OTHER BUSINESS

Baker moved to amend the Ordinance to Circuit Clerk Fees and Assessment Deposits. Aschermann seconded said motion. Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Dobson stated the amended Ordinance clarifies more clearly where the money collected is being placed in the correct line item. Motion passed by roll call vote. (8 yes, 0 no) Ordinance 22—03; Book 2, pages 4-5

EXECUTIVE SESSION 5 ILCS 120/2(e)

No executive session held.

COMMENTS

OFFICE HOLDERS/DEPARTMENT HEADS

BOARD

PUBLIC

Sullivan and Bethany Fire Chiefs thanked the County for the ARPA Funds their respective fire districts would be receiving.

Brian Scroggins spoke as representative of residents of Lakeside Villa regarding a lake that is being constructed behind their homes and how the nature, size and impact of the project would have effect on their community. Scroggins stated a berm has been built that is approximately 550’ to 600’ long and over a story high, causing rainwater runoff on landowners’ property, causing ground saturation and property damage that should not be the responsibility of the landowners. Scroggins asked that the Board get a third party to review the Zoning Ordinance regarding the structure of the berm and lake project. Kyle Lehman stated there were other concerns they would like to address, such as, will the lake be for private or public use, hours of operation, what type of equipment will be on the property, will there be tower lights, will the berm be seeded, will there be food and alcohol, what would the potential noise level be, music playing, cars in parking lot, plans for winter use, skating, sleigh rides, or emergency plans in place.

Meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

https://cms9files.revize.com/moultrie//02%2010%202022%20M.pdf