Peoria Standard

Woodford County Board met Dec. 7

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Board met and was called to order by County Clerk Dawn Kupfer.

Clerk Dawn Kupfer administered the Official Oath of Office to the newly elected County Board Members. The newly elected Members were: Richard Hill, Jonathan Schertz and Donald Tolan District 1; Albert Durst and David Meinhold for County Board District 2; and Autum Jones, Jerry Smith and Dan Steffen for County Board District 3.

Roll call by the Clerk. Present: Albert Durst, Justin Faulk (Zoom), Richard Hill, Autum Jones, John Krug, Barry Logan, David Meinhold, Charles Nagel, Blake Parsons (Zoom), Jonathan Schertz, Jerry Smith, Jason Spence, and Donald Tolan. Absent: Joshua Davis; and Dan Steffen, excused. Also present was County Clerk Dawn Kupfer.

Clerk Kupfer called for a motion on a temporary Chairman.

Mr. Spence moved to nominate John Krug as Temporary Board Chairman, which motion was seconded by Mr. Nagel.

Mr. Logan moved to close nominations for a Temporary Board Chairman Mr. Krug be nominated by acclamation, which motion was seconded by Mr. Nagel and was unanimously carried.

Temporary Board Chairman Krug announced the Board in session.

The next item on the agenda was the election of the County Board Chairman.

Mr. Spence moved to nominate Mr. John Krug as County Board Chairman, which motion was seconded by Mr. Smith.

Mr. Logan moved to close nominations, which motion was seconded by Mr. Schertz and was unanimously carried.

Temporary Chairman John Krug called for a vote concerning the nomination of John Krug County Board Chairman; motion unanimously carried.

Chairman John Krug proceeded with the election of County Board Vice Chairman. Mr. Nagel moved to nominate Mr. Barry Logan as County Board Vice Chairman, which motion was seconded by Mr. Spence and was unanimously carried.

Chairman Krug asked if there were any other nominations.

Mr. Spence moved to close nominations for County Board Vice Chairman, which motion was seconded by Mr. Nagel.

Chairman Krug called for a vote concerning the nomination of Barry Logan as County Board Vice Chairman. Motion unanimously carried.

Chairman Krug declared Mr. Barry Logan as County Board Vice Chairman.

Chairman Krug spoke to the members stating the County Board does have a seating arrangement that allows members to sit where they would like to, and roll call would be in alphabetical order, unless someone present wanted to change those rules it would remain open seating.

Chairman Krug inquired about Public Input, hearing none.

Chairman Krug reported on the selection of the standing Committees, as well as those whom will be serving on other assignments. Chairman Krug stated there are 5 standing Committees and the first Member named on each Committee will be the Chair of that particular Committee. Chairman Krug also stated on each Committee there are alternates and at this point in time Jerry Smith will serve as the alternate on all Committees. Chairman Krug went on to say when a Member finds they are unable to attend a meeting they should please contact Mr. Smith as early as possible.

Chairman Krug called for a motion to approve the Standing Committees and the Alternate.

Mr. Hill moved to approve the Standing Committees and Alternate, which was seconded by Mr. Smith. Motion carried.

Vice Chairman Logan stated the Public Safety Committee would be meeting directly after the Re organizational meeting.

Mr. Hill stated the Road and Bridge Committee would be meeting on Tuesday December 8, 2020 at the Woodford County Highway Department in Roanoke, Illinois at 8:00 A.M.

Mr. Nagel stated the Finance Committee would be meeting on December 8, 2020 in the Woodford County Board Room on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 6:00 P.M.

Mr. Parsons stated Conservation, Planning and Zoning would not be meeting this evening as originally planned.

Mr. Spence stated the County Offices Committee would be meeting December 8, 2020 in the Woodford County Board Room at 4:30 P.M.

All of the Committee Chairman stated that any of the Members who wished to attend via the Zoom platform were able to do so by following the link on the agendas for those meetings.

Chairman Krug called for the need to adopt Board rules for the ensuing term, inquiring on if there needed to be any changes made to the current set of Board rules.

Mr. Spence made a motion to approve the Board rules, which motion was seconded by Mr. Schertz. Chairman Krug called for any discussion on the Board rules.

Chairman Krug stated the rules can be easily amended this evening by a majority vote, but if amended in future sessions it would be by a 2/3 majority, so if we find something later to be revised we can address it at that time.

Mr. Logan inquired with Mr. Spence as to whether or not it was in the current Board rules for County Board Members whom attended (2) meetings within the same day would they be paid for both Per Diems, and if not should the Board rules be amended to allow Members to do so.

Treasurer Melissa Andrews stated she had a note pertaining to this which read that (1) Per Diem shall be paid for consecutive meetings at the same location. She went on to say this rule would continue until the first Monday in December when the County Board adopts new rules. Ms. Andrews said to her knowledge that was still the rule unless the Board wanted to change it tonight.

Mr. Spence motioned to amend the Board Rules under Section (7) Claims, subparagraph (E) to add at the end of the paragraph, a Member is entitled to a per diem for each Committee meeting or Board meeting that they attend.

Chairman Krug read Section (7) Claims, subparagraph (E) as it reads now, and then you can explain to the Members how that would be amended. Going on to read, Per diem compensation shall be paid to each Member for attending Committee meetings of the Board of which they are a Member. Members shall be paid the same per diem for attendance at other meetings and functions which the member is invited by the Committee Chairman or directed to attend by the Board or the County Board Chairman. A Member may elect to forego their per diem. Chairman Krug inquired with Mr. Spence as to how he would be amending that paragraph.

Mr. Spence said he was amending it to state a Board Member is entitled for a per diem for each meeting that they attend. He went on to say this will be added to the end of what is presently in the Board rules. Mr. Spence stated there had been discussion with previous Boards where they have decided to change of impose rules regarding the per diem. Mr. Spence stated he felt if the Board Members were putting the time in to attend more than one meeting on the same day they should be paid for that time. He went on to say as Board Members there are a lot of things done on our own time and in the background therefore the Board Members should be compensated for their time when attending back to back meetings.

Mr. Spence stated Section (7) Claims, subparagraph (E) should read as follows:

E. A Per Diem compensation shall be paid to each Member for attending Committee meetings of the Board of which they are a member. Members shall be paid the same per diem for attendance at other meetings and functions which the member is invited by the Committee Chairman or directed to attend by the Board or the County Board Chairman. A Member may elect to forego their per diem. A Board member is entitled to a per diem for each Committee/Board Meeting they attend, with the exception of a Committee meeting held within 1 (one) hour of a scheduled Board meeting.

Chairman Krug called for a second to the amendment, which was seconded by Mr. Logan. Chairman Krug called for any discussion on the amendment.

Mr. Tolan asked if anyone has given any thought to any exemptions to this amendment. Going on to ask if there were a Committee meeting before the County Board meeting.

Mr. Nagel said Mr. Tolan made a good point about meetings held prior. Going on to say if you are coming to (2) meetings on the same day, you would only charge mileage on one trip. Mr. Nagel stated personally if it is right before the County Board meeting because of the need for the Committee to meet prior to the Board meeting then he felt that would not apply.

Chairman Krug stated it will probably be more of a let your conscious be your guide. He went on to say he does not believe in the past Members felt it was necessarily a meeting.

Mr. Logan proposed to make an amendment to the original amendment, further saying this would not include any special meetings immediately before the Board meeting of less than one hour.

Chairman Krug inquired if Mr. Spence would be willing to amend his amendment to include the amendment proposed by Mr. Logan.

Mr. Spence stated the new amendment would be that a Member of the Board would be entitled to a per diem for each meeting they attend, except for those meetings in which would be within an hour of the typically scheduled Woodford County Board meeting, which was seconded by Mr. Logan.

Mr. Durst asked for some clarification of when this would apply.

Mr. Logan stated sometimes there is cause for a Committee to have to meet 15 minutes prior to the regular Board meeting in order to take care of a situation that may not be put off until the next month. He went on to say during those type of meetings you would then not get that per diem as the Committee was only meeting to settle one or two items.

Chairman Krug called for a vote on the amendment. Motion carried.

Chairman Krug called then for a vote on the approval of the Board rules as amended. Motion unanimously carried.

Chairman Krug moved onto the appointments of the other Committees, further some of the assignments meet monthly and others are at different times of the year.

Mr. Spence moved to approve the appointments to the various Committees, which was seconded by Mr. Smith. Motion carried.

Chairman Krug noted there were no appointments, resolutions or motions to be made. Chairman Krug asked if any of the Members had anything to discuss.

Mr. Hill inquired as to the lectern height as some of the Members had commented on how its height had obstructed the view of the audience.

Chairman Krug assigned the topic to Mr. Logan, Chairman of the Public Safety Committee.

Mr. Spence moved for a motion to adjourn this Organizational meeting, which motion was seconded by Mrs. Jones and unanimously carried.

Chairman Krug announced the Board adjourned at approximately 7:20 P.M.

https://www.woodford-county.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_12072020-1132