Kankakee Times

Iroquois County Board met Oct. 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Iroquois County Board met in Recessed Session at the Administrative Center in Watseka, IL on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 9 A.M. Chairman Ducat called the meeting to order and asked County Clerk Breein Suver to call the roll.

STATE OF ILLINOIS

IROQUOIS COUNTY

Roll call and votes in Iroquois County

Recessed Session, October 14, 2025

Chairman Ducat

On motion to call the roll

Aye: Alt, Bakken, Bard, Behrends, Bence, Crow, Ducat, Geiger, Huse, Munsterman, Perkinson, Watts, Whitlow, Williams

Absent: Grant, McGinnis

PRAYER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Austin Pendry from Trinity Church in Watseka and Ashkum, IL gave the opening prayer after which the Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.

AGENDA

It was moved by Mr. Alt and seconded by Mr. Huse to approve the agenda. The motion carried by a voice vote.

MINUTES

It was moved by Mr. Huse and seconded to approve the minutes from September 9, 2025, Annual Session County Board meeting. The motion carried by voice vote.

PAYROLL

It was moved by Mr. Williams and seconded to approve the September payroll. The motion carried by a roll call vote.

STATE OF ILLINOIS

IROQUOIS COUNTY

Roll call and votes in Iroquois County

Recessed Session October 14, 2025

Chairman Ducat

On motion to approve the September payroll

Aye: Alt, Bakken, Bard, Behrends, Bence, Crow, Ducat, Geiger, Huse, Munsterman, Perkinson, Watts, Whitlow, Williams

Absent: Grant, McGinnis

COUNTY BOARD SERVICES

Charles Alt - 340.00

Jamie Bakken - 119.32

Roger Bard - 150.00

Lyle Behrends - 173.08

Mitchell Bence - 150.00

Donna Crow - 423.60

Paul Ducat - 923.20

Doug Geiger - 211.20

Chad McGinnis - 364.50

Steve Huse - 305.00

Jody Munsterman - 125.46

Kathleen Perkinson - 236.10

Scott Watts - 259.32

Gerald Whitlow - 284.00

Raymond Williams - 237.36

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Alan Harwood informed the County Board that Greg Perkinson, the Ford County Engineer is retiring. The Ford County Board has reached out to Alan to ask if he would be interested in taking over Greg’s position in the interim until they hire a full-time engineer. Alan attended a meeting in Ford County to get more acquainted with how the highway department runs in their district.

Odette Hyatt Watson with East Central Illinois Community Action, informed the County Board of their new programs that they have available for the community. LIHEAP season is taking applications until October 31st, 2025. Warm Neighbors Cool Friends program provides energy assistance grants for moderate-income individuals and families during financial hardship. The Snap Employment Barrier Reduction Program is taking applications to assist customers. This program will help SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid recipients who reside in Ford, Iroquois and Vermilion counties with rental assistance, utility- bill payment assistance, personal hygiene, car repairs, and a lot more services.

CHAIRMAN COMMENTS

County Board Chairman Paul Ducat spoke about the need to work with Ford County with their need for a County Engineer as they stepped up when we needed the help. He also stressed the need for the Board to follow the language laid out in the wind and solar ordinances.

OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION REPORTS

Angel Crawford with Iroquois Economic Development Association spoke to the County Board about the United Migrant Opportunity Services Program (UMOS). Crawford also went over upcoming activities and happenings in our area.

MANAGEMENT SERVICES &

LEASE AGREEMENT WITH SENATOR BALKEMA

(The lease agreement with Senator Balkema has been recorded and placed on file in the County Clerk’s Office.)

Mrs. Perkinson, Chairman of the Management Services Committee, gave the report of her committee and presented the lease agreement with Senator Balkema. There were some questions regarding the legalese in the lease for Senator Balkema. It was noted that the format of the lease was approved by the State’s Attorney. It was moved by Mrs. Perkinson and seconded to approve the Management Services Committee report and lease agreement with Senator Balkema. The motion carried by a roll call vote.

STATE OF ILLINOIS

IROQUOIS COUNTY

Roll call and votes in Iroquois County

Recessed Session, October 14, 2025

Chairman Ducat

On motion to approve the Management Services Committee report and lease agreement with Senator Balkema

Aye: Alt, Bakken, Bard, Behrends, Bence, Crow, Ducat, Geiger, Huse, McGinnis, Munsterman, Perkinson Watts, Whitlow, Williams

Absent: Grant

STATE OF ILLINOIS

IROQUOIS COUNTY

County Board, Recessed Session

October 14, A.D., 2025

Mr. Chairman and members of the County Board:

Your Committee to whom was referred Management Services would beg leave to submit the following report on the matters before them:

Your Committee met at the Administrative Center on October 6, 2025 at 9:00 A.M. Members present were Kathleen Perkinson, Jamie Bakken, Donna Crow, Roger Bard and Scott Watts. John Grant was absent. Also present, Finance Manager Jill Johnson, Maintenance Supervisor Chris Drake, County Clerk Breein Suver, ETS Director Eric Raymond and County Board member Charlie Alt.

The meeting was called to order.

It was moved by Donna Crow and seconded by Scott Watts to approve the agenda. Motion carried by a voice vote.

There were no public comments.

Maintenance Supervisor Chris Drake’s report included the following:

• Drake has serviced all boilers for the buildings.

• The State Fire Marshal recommended Drake install a condensate line on the boilers at the Courthouse and Jail prior to their next recertification and inspection.

• A recent lightning strike at the Jail caused damage to the door controllers, an internet switch and the parking lot lights. All invoices for this incident have been submitted to insurance.

• The backflow preventors will receive their annual testing and recertification this month.

• Drake spoke with Hall’s Mowing and they plan to have one final mow for the season.

• Drake purchased two pallets of salt for the upcoming snow removal season. • The hydraulic leak on the Courthouse elevator has been fixed. Otis Elevator will be making a service visit today to address an issue with the door. Drake will keep the committee updated.

Watts provided an update on the County Farm stating work was done on a gas line between County Farm Road and Route 1 and only a small amount of beans were lost. Discussion was held on the use of the boardroom for a Drainage Workshop on December 15th from 8:00 A.M. until 10:00 A.M. County Clerk Breein Suver received the request via email from Patrick McPartlan who has created drainage maps paid for by the Circuit Clerk’s Office. Suver provided the committee with a copy of the request as well as the meeting room use policy. Suver stated she or a member of her staff will be available that morning to ensure they are set up with access to the meeting room. Suver also stated they will not be authorized access to any of our electronics. It was moved by Crow and seconded by Watts to allow Patrick McPartlan use of the County Boardroom on December 15th from 8:00 A.M. until 10:00 A.M. for the Drainage Workshop. A roll call vote was taken. Motion carried. The committee reviewed the Lease for Legislative District Office Space with State Senator Chris Balkema. The lease is dated August 1, 2025 through August 1, 2026 at a cost of $300 per month for 90 square feet of office space. Finance Manager Jill Johnson said she forwarded the lease to State’s Attorney Mike Quinlan, and he has given his approval. The lease has also been reviewed by County Board Chairman Paul Ducat. It was moved by Watts and seconded by Jamie Bakken to approve the Lease for Legislative District Office Space with State Senator Chris Balkema dated August 1, 2025 through August 1, 2026 at a cost of $300 per month for 90 square feet of office space. A roll call vote was taken. Motion carried. Perkinson provided an update on the sound system for the boardroom stating the equipment has been ordered.

The committee reviewed the claims. It was moved by Roger Bard and seconded by Watts to pay the claims, subject to County Board approval. A roll call vote was taken. Motion carried.

During old business, Crow inquired about the Workforce Development lease that was approved last month. The lease has been signed by all parties. Crow also inquired about items taken to the electronic recycling event. Johnson said each department was responsible for taking their items to the event.

There was no new business

The next Management Committee meeting is scheduled for November 3rd at 9:00 A.M.

As there was no further business to come before the committee, it was moved by Crow and seconded by Bakken to adjourn at 9:25 A.M. Motion carried.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

https://irocounty.webfoot-designs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iroquois-CB-October-Minutes-Final-1.pdf