Southern Illinois News

Union County Board of Commissioners met May 23.

Here is the agenda provided by the board:

Roll Call

I. ROLL CALL

Commissioners in attendance were Max Miller, Kent Pitts and David Gould. Commissioners absent were Darryl Harvell and Brandon Bierstedt

II.

CALL MEETING TO ORDER

The Union County Board of Commissioners met for a regular meeting in the Union County Courthouse Community Room at 08:30am. County Chairman Max Miller called the meeting to order.

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Commissioner David Gould made a motion to approve the regular meeting minutes from 05.09.2025. Kent Pitts seconded the motion.

Darryl Harvell Absent

Kent Pitts Yes

Max Miller Yes

Brandon Bierstedt Absent

David Gould Yes

Motion Passed

IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS

No public comments were made.

V. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Commissioner Pitts reported numbers are steady at the Animal Control facility and a ribbon cutting will be held on Saturday, June 21" from noon - 3pm. He said they are always in need of monetary items.

VI. BUILDING PERMITS

No building permits presented.

VII. OLD BUSINESS

a. Ordinance Amending Article 1 of Chapter 18 of the Union County Code of Ordinances regarding Food and Sanitation

This item is tabled at this time pending further review.

VIII. NEW BUSINESS

a. Approve Payment of Bills

Commissioner Kent Pitts made the motion to Approve Payment of Bills and David Gould seconded said motion.

Darryl Harvell Absent

Kent Pitts Yes

Max Miller Yes

Brandon Bierstedt Absent

David Gould Yes

Motion Passed

b. Intergovernmental Agreement By & Among the County of Union, the City of

Anna, the City of Jonesboro, the Village of Alto Pass, the Village of Cobden, the Village of Mill Creek and the Village of Dongola relating to the funding of the Union County Animal Control Program

These get sent out once a year and normally at the time of the budget. Administrator Johnson stated all parties have signed the agreement as requested.

Commissioner Chairman Miller made a motion to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement By & Among the County of Union, the City of Anna, the City of Jonesboro, the Village of Alto Pass, the Village of Cobden, the Village of Mill Creek and the Village of Dongola relating to the funding of the Union County Animal Control Program as presented. Commissioner Pitts seconded the motion.

Darryl Harvell Absent

Kent Pitts Yes

Max Miller Yes

Brandon Bierstedt Absent

David Gould Yes

Motion Passed

c. Intergovernmental Agreement by and between the County of Union, Illinois and the Village of Alto Pass, Village of Cobden, and the Village of Dongola regarding the Hotel Operators Occupancy Tax

This agreement simply states these municipalities will not charge the H.O.O.Tax. It is not allowable to have more than one party charge the tax. Anna has removed themselves from this agreement because they charge their own.

Commissioner Chairman Miller made a motion to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement By & Among the County of Union, Illinois and the Village of Alto Pass, the Village of Cobden, and the Village of Dongola regarding the Hotel

Operators Occupancy Tax as presented. Commissioner Gould seconded the motion.

Darryl Harvell Absent

Kent Pitts Yes

Max Miller Yes

Brandon Bierstedt

David Gould Absent Yes

Motion Passed

d. Acceptance of the FY2024 Union County Audit

A representative from SIKICH presented these draft audits to the board; and added that they do not foresee any changes to come when preparing the final reports. The audits went well and he complemented County Administrator Johnson for getting information to them quickly and efficiently. No major incidents found to report. No extension will be required to be filed this year with the Illinois Comptroller's Office. Commissioner Miller stated he is very proud of the departments for working together to obtain the great results we have gotten the third year in a row, with a special "Thank you" to Angie Johnson.

Commissioner Chairman Miller made a motion to accept the FY2024 Union County Draft Audit Report as provided by SIKICH. Commissioner Pitts seconded the motion.

Darryl Harvell Absent

Kent Pitts Yes

Max Miller Yes

Brandon Bierstedt Absent

David Gould Yes

Motion Passed

e. Acceptance of the FY2024 Union County Circuit Clerk Audit

Commissioner Chairman Miller made a motion to accept the FY2024 Union County Circuit Clerk Draft Audit Report as provided by SIKICH. Commissioner Pitts seconded the motion.

Darryl Harvell Absent

Kent Pitts Yes

Max Miller Yes

Brandon Bierstedt Absent

David Gould Yes

Motion Passed

f. Ordinance Governing Commercial Solar Energy Facility Siting

SA Tripp stated this is not for the average homeowner but farms of 1 acre up to 10 acres. There will be a $1,500.00 permit fee per megawatt to a maximum of $200,000.00. There will also be a building permit fee of $5,000.00 per megawatt. Must have a 6-foot fence around the facility for protection. This will be handled in the same manner as building permits; therefore, would be managed by the assessor's office.

Commissioner Chairman Miller made a motion to approve the Ordinance Governing Commercial Solar Energy Facility Siting as presented. Commissioner Pitts seconded the motion.

Darryl Harvell Absent

Kent Pitts Yes

Max Miller Yes

Brandon Bierstedt Absent

David Gould Yes

Motion Passed

g. Approval of Road Use Agreement

Commissioner Chairman Miller made a motion to approve the Road Use Agreement as presented. Commissioner Pitts seconded the motion.

Darryl Harvell Absent

Kent Pitts Yes

Max Miller Yes

Brandon Bierstedt Absent

David Gould Yes

Motion Passed

IX. EXECUTIVE SESSION

Commissioner Chairman Miller made a motion to leave the regular meeting to go into executive session at 9:10am. Commissioner Pitts seconded the motion.

Darryl Harvell Absent

Kent Pitts Yes

Max Miller Yes

Brandon Bierstedt Absent

David Gould Yes

Motion Carried

Executive Session began at 9:14am after guests left the room. Executive Session adjourned at 9:38am.

Regular Session resumed at 9:40am.

X. OTHER BUSINESS

Cody McMahan mentioned this is Happy EMS Week and the week started with Heather Jeffrey coming down to the office.

Tomorrow, May 24, 2025, will be the 3rd annual marathon at Giant City State Park beginning at 7:00am and Cody will be donating his time to the event with some first aid, if needed.

Commissioner Miller questioned the effectiveness of the helipad and the ambulance service which it does seem to have helped with calls to the ambulance service.

It was mentioned that taxes will be done in the County Clerk's Office on June 2nd and will be passed on to the Treasurer's Office that day. The taxes are on track to be sent out the same as the previous years.

XI. ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Pitts made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:43am. Commissioner

Gould seconded the motion.

Darryl Harvell Absent

Kent Pitts Yes

Max Miller Yes

Brandon Bierstedt Absent

David Gould Yes

Motion Passed

https://www.unioncountyil.gov/agenda-minutes/minutes-2025-05-23/