White County Board met June 14.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
At a regular meeting of the White County Board begun and holden this 14th day of June, 2023, in the Courtroom of the White County Courthouse, Carmi, Illinois.
Vice Chairman Usery called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM. Clerk Heil took roll call with Spencer, Cannon, Usery, South being present and Pigg absent.
Vice Chairman Usery led everyone with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Vice Chairman Usery stated the first item on the agenda was to approve the minutes from the previous board meeting. Mrs. Cannon made the motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Mr. South. Motion carried 4-0 on roll call vote, with Pigg absent.
Vice Chairman Usery stated the next item on the agenda was to approve payments of the County’s bills. Mr. Spencer made the motion to approve the payments, seconded by Mrs. Cannon. Motion carried 4-0 on roll call vote, with Pigg absent.
Vice Chairman Usery asked if any County Officers had anything to report. County Clerk, Kayci Heil, stated that her office has moved into the building and there is still books that need to be moved over. She mentioned that she got an additional $10,000 in her IVRS grant that is left over from the other Counties that don’t use all their grant money. County Treasurer, Mike Baxley, gave his report to the board. A copy can be found in the County Clerk’s Office. Circuit Clerk, Kelly Fulkerson, stated that she didn’t have anything to report. Ambulance Director, Adam Allen, submitted his report in writing. Sheriff Weiss stated that they got a new walk-in freezer, and they are donating their stand-up freezers. He talked to the board about a shooting that occurred in the neighboring town that his deputies were at, and they got a life saving award from the Sheriff’s Office. Gary Baxley, Supervisor of Assessments, talked about getting the abstract sent to the Illinois Department of Revenue and starting Board of Review. Mr. Ray, County Engineer, stated that they have started the resurfacing project on Epworth Road. The other project up by Chuck Wagon Charlies is about done. He wanted to thank Invenergy for helping with the funds to get that road done. EMA, Jim Bolin, stated that there is a hazardous mitigation meeting July 17, 2023, at 6 PM at the Floral Hall. Sara Hon, TB Officer, stated that it was a quiet year.
Visitors: None
Communications: Mr. Usery stated that the cameras are up at the dog pound and the City of Carmi Police are able to see what is going on at the location. He also stated that they have extended the fence so no one should be able to throw dog over the fence.
Vice Chairman Usery stated the next item on the agenda was a to consider the discussion about UTV/ATV permitting for the County, which was tabled from last meeting. Mrs. Cannon made the motion to table the item again until the State’s Attorney was present, seconded by Mr. South. Motion carried 4-0 on roll call vote, with Pigg absent.
Vice Chairman Usery stated that they next item on the agenda was Rice and Sullivan to discuss the audit that was done for White County. Sarah Kary, with Rice and Sullivan came and gave the presentation on the audit. She stated that jail audit is complying as well as the Circuit Clerk audit. The general county audit issued an unmodified opinion on the audit. She stated that they did enclose a finding, but it is the same finding that they issue each year. The finding is that the County is not adequately staffed in the financial department. She also stated that with the ARPA funds that we had to issue a single audit.
Vice Chairman Usery stated the next item on the agenda was Jeremy Billington to discuss the pharmacy member benefit contract with possible approval and discussion on a new TPA. Mr. Billington stated that currently we are using Express Scripts and our contract needs to be renewed or finding a new PBM. He suggested either signing with them again or moving to Script care. He stated that nothing should change with the employees’ price that they pay for prescriptions. He also stated that every company that has been switched over they have found savings. Mrs. Cannon made a motion to sign a new pharmacy member benefit, seconded by Mr. South. Motion carried 4-0 on roll call vote, with Pigg absent.
Vice Chairman Usery stated the next item on the agenda was the discussion and approval of the decommissioning agreement and plan with Boomtown Solar. Maeve McCloskey with Invenergy was in attendance and gave an update on the Boomtown Solar project. She said that they are going to start construction next month. The project is going to be smaller than what was sent through the application process. She said that they kept the form the same as the Enfield project. She stated that there was the potential for expansion if they needed it too. Mr. South made the motion to approve the decommissioning agreement and plan, seconded by Mr. Spencer. Motion carried 4-0 on roll call vote, with Pigg absent.
Vice Chairman Usery stated the next item on the agenda was to consider the approval of Greenkey Solar’s application and permit. Mr. Grandon was in attendance and explained to the board that his project is smaller than what we have currently in the County. It is only a 30-acre project, and it is a 5-megawatt project. Mr. Ray stated that there were some changes that he would like to see made with the application and that a public hearing needs to take place. He said that they are on the distribution side of Solar projects. He said that it is only one landowner. Mr. Spencer made the motion to table the approval until a public hearing can be held and some more request was made for the permit, seconded by Mrs. Cannon. Motion carried 4-0 on roll call vote, with Pigg absent.
Vice Chairman Usery stated the next item on the agenda was to consider the appointment of Kenny Usery to the Southeastern Illinois Economic Development Authority Board for a 3-year term effective immediately. Mr. South made a motion to appoint Mr. Usery to the Board, seconded by Mr. Spencer. Motion carried 4-0 on roll call vote, with Pigg absent.
Vice Chairman Usery stated the next item on the agenda was to consider the approval of an Ordinance to pay Slay’s Restoration LLC for water leak clean up in the Ambulance Annex out of the ARPA funds. Mrs. Cannon made the motion to pay the vendor out of the ARPA funds for the work provided, seconded by Mr. South. Motion carried 4-0 on roll call vote, with Pigg absent.
Vice Chairman Usery stated the next item on the agenda was to consider the approval of an Ordinance to pay Veteran Exterior Construction LLC for work on the Ambulance Annex out of the ARPA funds. Mrs. Cannon made the motion to pay the vendor out of the ARPA funds for the work provided, seconded by Mr. Spencer. Motion carried 4-0 on roll call vote, with Pigg absent.
Vice Chairman Usery stated the next item on the agenda was to consider the approval of an Ordinance to donate $10,000.00 to the VFW Post #3851 for a new sign out of the ARPA funds. Mr. South made the motion to approve the payment, seconded by Mrs. Cannon. Motion carried 4-0 on roll call vote, with Pigg absent.
Vice Chairman Usery stated the next item on the agenda was to consider the approval of an Ordinance to pay Midwest Telecomm for fiber, internet, and telephone installation in the former Carmi Times Building and Courthouse out of the ARPA funds. Mrs. Cannon made the motion to approve the payment, seconded by Mr. Spencer. Motion carried 4-0 on roll call vote, with Pigg absent.
Vice Chairman Usery stated the next item on the agenda was to consider the approval for Greater Wabash Planning Commission to administer the Energy Grant. Mr. South made the motion to approve Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission to handle the ETC Grant administration, seconded by Mrs. Cannon. Motion carried 4-0 on roll call vote, with Pigg absent.
Vice Chairman Usery stated the next item on the agenda was to consider the approval of a Resolution of support and commitment of funds to the Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission and the payment of dues. Mr. Spencer made the motion to approve the resolution and payment, seconded by Mrs. Cannon. Motion carried 4-0 on roll call vote, with Pigg absent.
Vice Chairman Usery stated that the next item on the agenda was to consider the discussion of the City of Carmi giving the E.M.A. services to the County. Mr. Bolin stated that he already had enough on his plate, and he would not be able to do the job. He said that since the Fire Chief has retired, they need someone to take over. The Board, Jim Bolin, Adam Allen and Sheriff Weiss talked about a couple different options that could happen with this. They decided that they need to speak with Denton Aud and get a list of the items that are being kept by the City. Mrs. Cannon made a motion to table this item till more information could be gathered, seconded by Mr. Spencer. Motion carried 4-0 on roll call vote, with Pigg absent.
Vice Chairman Usery stated the next item on the agenda was to consider the purchase of new firearms out of the ARPA funds. Mr. South made the motion to approve the use of ARPA funds to buy new firearms, seconded by Mrs. Cannon. Motion carried 4-0 on roll call vote, with Pigg absent.
Vice Chairman Usery stated the next item on the agenda was to consider the discussion and resolution for renewal of Senior Citizen Homestead Exemptions Property tax code 200 in Chapter 35-ILCS. Mr. Baxley stated that this is basically making it so that the senior citizens don’t have to renew their application every year. Mrs. Cannon made the motion to approve the resolution, seconded by Mr. Spencer. Motion carried 4-0 on roll call vote, with Pigg absent.
Vice Chairman Usery stated the next item on the agenda was to consider the discussion for FEMA-flood insurance 3.5 million in polices in White County. Mr. Baxley is stating that he is going to have to be a flood plain coordinator and it is going to increase his workload.
Vice Chairman Usery stated the next item on the agenda was to consider the approval of obtaining a cost analysis by ADG Architect for the construction of a new courthouse versus fixing the current courthouse. Mr. Spencer made the motion to approve the cost analysis, seconded by Mr. South. Motion carried 4-0 on roll call vote, with Pigg absent.
Other Business: Mr. Usery mentioned that since the VFW received money from the County out of the ARPA funds that the American Legion Post was going to request funds as well.
Mr. Spencer made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. South. Motion carried 4-0 on roll call vote, with Pigg absent.
https://www.whitecounty-il.gov/county-board
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