East Central Reporter

Jasper County Board met July 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Jasper County Board met in regular session on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Jasper County Building, Board Room, 204 West Washington Street, Newton, Illinois. The meeting was called to order by proclamation according to law by Sheriff Francis. Sheriff Francis led a moment in silence and the Pledge of Allegiance The following board members were present: Chairman Jason Warfel, Vice-Chairman Ron Heltsley, A.C. Pickens, Doug Weddell, Michael Geier, James Judson, Eric Spiker, Jessica Schackmann and Austin Francis.

FY2024 Audit meeting was held at 5:00 pm prior to the county board meeting. AnnMarie gave highlights of the FY2024 Audit. A single audit was performed due to federal grants; the Major Program audited was the Highway Planning and Construction program. When discussing the County Courthouse project, it was recommended that the County explore options, budget accordingly and have a detailed plan in place when considering significant projects.

Public Comments: None

Adoption of the agenda. There was no objection, the agenda was adopted as distributed.

Reports:

County Departments:

Ambulance Department - 911 transport- 62; Transfer- 41; Accidents- 10; Refusals- 29; Discharges 1; Mutal Aid Standby- 27 Geier wanted to thank manager Lori for doing an excellent job and the ambulance department are better financially. She goes up north for the month of July. She drove down and did paperwork. A Jasper County resident needed a transport and was able to get an ambulance to transport. Communication has been good.

Highway Department – The first mowing of county highway right of ways are complete. Crooked Creek Township is requesting the County Highway to go half on (1) 60” X 40’ steel pipe with the cost being to the County Bridge Fund for $4,111.00. This location is approximately 1 mile SW of Hidalgo on 2050N & 300 ft east of 1100E. The Bridge Aid Petition will be presented to the Full Board for approval. Jason Keller is asking for a variance to the County Set-Back Ordinance along County Highway #9 (1900E – Ste. Marie North). He is requesting a variance of 60’ setback instead of 80’. County Engineer visited the site and recommended a 70’ variance with the full County Board for their approval. A location map is attached.

Health Department – Finished east end of the building and has started moving. Invited board members to stop in. Activity sheets in packet. Next board of health meeting will be July 28th 5:30.

County Positions/Services:

Building Maintenance – Ameren installed gas service to the county storage building this month. Wabash Valley will install the tube heater soon. The ambulance service asked about storing the extra ambulance in the building until it was needed for the courthouse items. Pickens asked Ed Francis if he had any items from EMA for temporary storage in the building. He said they had a few items. He also inquired about using the office area permanently. The office is a small area and there would not be much storage. It would be good to have someone in and out of the building. Board members were in favor of storing the ambulance and EMA items. Board members Jeremy Haycraft purchased a sprayer and a hedge trimmer for the county for a total cost of about $700 out of the courthouse repair fund. Possibly oiling the south parking lot of the county building next week. Sweep off and strip the parking lot. The south parking lot of the county building is finished. Tarr added the ADA parking spots, and the ramp has been utilized since the tax bills went out and taxpayers have been coming to pay their taxes.

Jasper County Courthouse – Stone Waggoner and ADG met with the States Attorney and Circuit Clerk to go over floorplans. Still going through the administration process with Historical preservation office.

Information Technology – Spiker will be speaking with Magoo on items that need to be addressed.

Animal Control – Alisha Wise is acting animal control.

Elected Officials:

Treasurer- Reports from Bigard were sent in the board packet. The total income for June was $223,442.51. The expenses for June were $468,429.14. Total income less expenses for June a net loss of $244,986.63. Fiscal year 2024/2025 income was $1,9,89,154.31. Less Expenses were $2,644,310.15 with a net loss of $655,155.84. Taxes were sent out two weeks earlier. The first part of August budgets will be sent out to departments.

Other Elected Officials/Offices –

County Clerk – In Packet

Consent agenda. The following items were on the consent agenda this evening: Approval of County Board Jume 19, 2025 Minutes; Accept FY2024 County of Jasper Audit; Adoption of Bridge Aid Petition Resolution – Crooked Creek Township; File County Reports and Allow Claims. There was no objection, the Consent Agenda was adopted.

Old Business:

Item A. – Jasper County Flag

The Jasper County Flag was adopted at the March 20, 2025, County Board Meeting. Flag quotes have been obtained from Judy McClure’s Sign and Graphics, Inc., and Borgic Designs. As with any flag flown outside, they will need to be replaced, probably yearly. The County has server locations: County Building, Courthouse, Sheriff’s Office, Highway Department, and Health Department, where a Jasper County Flag could be flown below the American Flag. Knowing the multiple locations, anticipating the replacement of the flag, and counting for some additional flags that may be purchased by residents, the quotes are for a quantity of 25 flags. Quotes were obtained right before the May 15, 2025, the County Board meeting, and Board Members were asked to review the quotes at the June 19, 2025, meeting it was requested that samples of the flag material from the quotes be provided so Board Members could make a more informed decision. McClure did supply a sample of the flag. It shows the stitching of the flags. Borgic said it was the best quality they have. Discussion on the quality and how long they last was a factor in deciding whether to order some from each quote and see how long they last. Pickens moved to approve purchasing the 8 County Flags from each of the quotes, 2 quotes by Judy McClure’s Sign and Graphics, Inc., and 1 quote Borgic Designs pending they can purchase 8 3x5’s flags for the quoted amount. Judson seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote. The Flag production quote of 8 County Flags from each of the quotes, 2 quotes by Judy McClure’s Sign and Graphics, Inc., and 1 quote Borgic Designs pending they can purchase 8 3x5’s flags for the amount quoted has been approved.

New Business:

Item A. – Approval of Variance to County Set-Back Ordinance Along County Highway #9 (1900e – Ste. Marie North)

Jason Keller is requesting a variance to the County Set-Back Ordinance along County Highway #9 (1900E – Ste. Marie North). Mr. Keller is seeking a variance of 60’ setback instead of 80’. The County Engineer visited the site and recommended a 70’discussion with the full County Board for approval. A location map is attached in the board packet. Schackmann moved to approve the variance of 70’ to the County Set-Back Ordinance along County Highway #9. Spiker seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote. Mr. Keller’s variance has been approved.

Action will be taken after the Executive Session on the following Agenda Items:

Item B. - Appointment and Contract Approval of the Jasper County Animal Control Warden

Item C. - Approval to Keep Closed/Executive Session Minutes Confidential

Item D. - Approval to Destroy Verbatim Recordings of Closed/Executive Sessions Prior To January 2024

Board Comments:

Francis mentioned the Newton Public Library hosting the Summer Reading Program at the West End Reception and Events.

Weddell stated Cruise Night and Touch-A- Truck will be August 15th at 5 pm hosted by the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce.

Chairman’s Comments:

Invitations

Equip-It groundbreaking will be July 23rd 4:30-6:30 pm

Local Officials appreciation luncheon at the Illinois State Fair August 16th 12 to 2 pm. Upcoming Meetings

Hope Trust Annual Meeting & Conference July 24-25, 2025 – St. Charles, MO United Counties Council of Illinois Annual Conference July 27-29, 2025 –Galena, IL Property Tax Bills

Property Tax bills have gone out in Jasper County. The Due dates as in years past will be August 15, 2025, for the 1st Installment and September 15, 2025, for the 2nd Installment. While the County is responsible for the Assessment, Calculation, and Collection of Property Taxes, the County is just one of the many taxing entities that receives the funds from property taxes.

Executive/Closed Session - The Board does have an executive/closed session to discuss: Personnel 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) and Minutes of Meeting Lawfully Closed 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21). There will be action taken on Agenda Items B, C, and D under New Business following the executive/closed session. Geier moved for the board to enter an executive session under the following exceptions: Personnel (exception 1) and Minutes of Meeting Lawfully Closed (21). Francis seconded the motion. Francis, Geier, Heltsley, Judson, Pickens, Schackmann, Spiker, Warfel and Weddell voted yes with a roll call vote. The Board entered an Executive Session at 6:36 pm.

Resumed open session at 7:37 pm.

Item B. - Appointment and Contract Approval of the Jasper County Animal Control Warden The Animal Control Warden (Officer) position opening and application were posted on the Jasper County Website on Thursday, June 12, 2025. Applications were due Friday, June 20, 2025, by 4:00 p.m. The County received several applications, and interviews were conducted on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Following the interviews, Alisha Wise was appointed as the interim Animal Control Warden. The Animal Control Warden (Officer) is paid an annual amount for services as well as compensation for mileage and cell phone use.

Duties of Jasper County Animal Control:

· Enforcing County and City Ordinances Pertaining to Animal Control.

· Impounding Animals (Dogs) found to be in Violation of any County or City Ordinance.

· Caring for Impounded Animals (Dogs).

· Maintaining County Animal Control Facilities and Equipment.

· Investigating Bite Incidents.

· Investigating the Inhumane Treatment of Animals.

Heltsley moved to appoint Alisha Wise as the Animal Control Warden for Jasper County and approves the contract outlining compensation $23,000 plus mileage federal rate, and cell phone compensation a $100 per month for the position. Geier seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote. Alisha Wise has been appointed the Jasper County Animal Control Warden.

Item C. - Approval to Keep Closed/Executive Session Minutes Confidential The County Board is required semi-annually to meet to review the minutes of all closed session meetings and determine if confidentiality still exists or if the minutes or portions are no longer required to remain confidential. The County Board must declare these findings in an open session. Spiker moved to Keep Closed Session Minutes Confidential. Geier seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote. Previously Closed Session Minutes will remain confidential.

Item D. - Approval to Destroy Verbatim Recordings of Closed/Executive Sessions Prior To January 2024

After 18 months, assuming a written copy is kept, the County Board can order the destruction of the verbatim record of the closed session meetings. The County Board did this last in February 2025, and thus, all verbatim records have been destroyed before August 2023. Another action this month would allow all records to be destroyed before January 2024. This motion must be carried out in an open session. Schackmann moved to destroy Verbatim Recordings of Closed Sessions Prior to January 2024. Pickens seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote. Verbatim Closed Session Recordings prior to August 2023 will be destroyed.

Geier moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:41 pm. Francis seconded the motion. Motion carried on a voice vote.

The Next Board Meeting will be on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

https://jaspercountyillinois.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/County-Board-July-17-2025-Mins.pdf