South West Illinois News

Monroe County Board of Commissioners met Jan. 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The meeting of the County Commissioners of Monroe County, Illinois was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman George E. Green.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Chairman George E. Green, Commissioner Vicki Koerber and Commissioner Doug Garmer were present

Others present included State's Attorney Ryan Webb, County Clerk Jonathan McLean, Deputy Clerk Kara Etherton, Scot Luchtefeld, Carla Heise, Alicia Emmerich, Mindy Hanna, Chris Voelker, Scott Woodsmall, and Sheila Wetzler.

Commissioner Koerber made a motion to approve the minutes of the January 10, 2025 Board Meeting. Second by Commissioner Garmer. All voting Aye. None Nay. None Absent. Motion carried.

Chairmen Green asked for public comments. There were none.

Commissioner Garmer made a motion to approve the consent agenda. The following items were on the consent agenda:

1. Reappointment of George E. Green to the 457 Advisory Committee for a term of 1 year, to commence on January 21, 2025, and expire on January 20, 2026. Second by Commissioner Koerber. All voting Aye. None Nay. None Absent. Motion carried. Resolution #25-3

2. Reappointment of Robert Schlegel to the Monroe Regional Planning Commission for a term of 3 years, to commence on January 1, 2025, and expire on December 31, 2027. Second by Commissioner Koerber. All voting Aye. None Nay. None Absent. Motion carried. Resolution #25-4

Motion to approve the consent agenda was Seconded by Commissioner Koerber. All voting Aye. None Nay. None Absent. Motion carried.

County Clerk Jonathan McLean presented the Report from the Retirement Advisory Committee to the Board. Commissioner Koerber made a motion to approve said report. Second by Commissioner Garmer. All voting Aye. None Nay. None Absent. Motion carried.

Alicia Emmerich appeared before the Board to present the report from Oak Hill. She stated that they have made several new hires in hopes of continuing to reduce the need for agency staffing. They continue to have COVID cases, which started around Thanksgiving. Currently there are four (4) residents and (4) staff that are COVID positive and the number of cases continues to decrease. There were no resident refunds for this month, and she presented the Accounts payable report for December 2024 and the Financial Report. She also presented a copy of their newsletter and calendar for January 2025. Commissioner Koerber made a motion to approve the Oak Hill Report. Second by Commissioner Garmer. All voting Aye. None Nay. None Absent. Motion carried.

Commissioner Garmer made a motion to approve the following financial reports:

1. The Oak Hill December 2024 Financial Report

2. The Nursing Home December 2024 Accounts Payable Report

3. Approval of invoices $10,000.00 or greater

Motion to approve the financial reports was Seconded by Commissioner Koerber. All voting Aye. None Nay. None Absent. Motion carried.

Treasurer Kevin Koenigstein appeared before the Board to announce that the final Nursing Home Bond Payment of $248,675.00 has been paid.

County Clerk Jonathan McLean submitted an Ordinance to Modify the Predictable Fee Schedule for Recording Documents. The State of Illinois passed a law changing the definitions of some documents. He explained that the fees would not be changing, except for the federal tax liens. The federal tax lien fee would change from $8.00 to $11.00. Mr. McLean explained that the required posting time for this fee schedule change had been observed and therefore was ready to proceed. Commissioner Koerber made a motion to approve. Second by Commissioner Garmer. All voting Aye. None Nay. None Absent. Motion carried. Ordinance #25-2

Commissioner Koerber made a motion to appoint Lauren Voelker to the Monroe County Assessment Board of Review, replacing Marge Francois, who passed, for a term of one year to commence on January 21, 2025, and expire on November 30, 2025. Second by Commissioner Garmer. All voting Aye. None Nay. None Absent. Motion carried. Resolution #25-5

EMS Director Carla Heise appeared before the Board. She stated that the two-year time frame for the cellular phones used by the County was up, and it was time for the old phones to be replaced with newer equipment. She stated that this would be a cost of $10.00 per phone and that the phone contract was not up that this was just an equipment upgrade. No action was taken by the Board. She then requested approval to Attend a Conference in Lexington, KY. Commissioner Koerber made a motion to approve the conference trip. Second by Commissioner Garmer. All voting Aye. None Nay. None Absent. Motion carried.

County Clerk Jonathan McLean made a comment that the County Code regarding per diem travel had not been updated since 2017. He stated that he was working on a proposal to update this code and would like to use the GSA (General Services Administration) Rates, which is a federal agency that develops a per diem rate for travel, meals, and hotel accommodations depending on the city.

Director Heise then submitted a resolution stating the No treatment/Non-Transport ambulance service charges be eliminated for a trial period of six months starting February 1, 2025, and ending on July 31, 2025. Commissioner Koerber made a motion to approve. Second by Commissioner Garmer. All voting Aye. None Nay. None Absent. Motion carried. Resolution #25-6

Zoning Administrator, Chris Voelker appeared before the Board to discuss an Approval of a Wet Floodproofing Variance Application from Gary Vogt, for 2804 Ivy Road, Fults, IL 62244 with Parcel# 15-32-100-002. Mr. Vogt owns 8.1 acres and has a concrete pad on his land and would like to build a 30 x 72 pole barn on as much of that pad as possible. The retention run off would be out to the fields. Mr. Voelker stated that the Board of Appeals recommended approval. Commissioner Koerber made a motion to approve the Variance. Second by Commissioner Garmer. All voting Aye. None Nay. None Absent. Motion carried.

County Engineer Aaron Metzger appeared before the Board to present the 2024 Road District Financial Data Book. Commissioner Koerber made a motion to approve. Second by Commissioner Garmer. All voting Aye. None Nay. None Absent. Motion carried.

Mr. Metzger spoke about the road conditions concerning the recent snow and ice accumulations on January 5, 2025, January 6, 2025, and then again on January 10, 2025. He stated that overall, the roads were in pretty good shape. He wanted to give a report about the materials used during these events. He said County Highway used 417 tons of salt at $77.00/ton which amounts to around $32,000.00 just for materials. That total does not include equipment or labor costs. The Road Districts purchased 460 tons of salt from the Highway Department at $77.00/ton which equates to $35,420.00. Additionally, Road District 7 had both of its trucks break down which required the County to step in to help that district. Mr. Metzger also reported that concerning the Bluff Road over Carr Creek Project. The estimated cost for the project was $2,618,000.00 and there was only 1 bidder for the project. Keeley and Sons bid $2,792,000.00. As the bid was within the awardable range Mr. Metzger saw no reason to throw the bid out and start over. So, he was moving forward with the bid.

Mr. Metzger brought a resolution before the Board for the purchase of a New Stepp Bottom Fired Kettle (Tar Pot) for the price of $10,126.00 which includes a trade-in of the old one. Commissioner Koerber made a motion to approve. Second by Commissioner Garmer. All voting Aye. None Nay. None Absent. Motion carried. Resolution #25-7

As there was no need for a closed session, Commissioner Koerber made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Second by Commissioner Garmer. All voting Aye. None Nay. None Absent. Motion Carried.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 a.m.

https://monroecountyil.gov/departments/board-of-commissioners/county-board-minutes/