Quincy Reporter

Adams County Board Legislative & Judicial Committee met Aug. 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

PRESENT: Bob Reich, Theresa Bockhold, Marvin Kerkhoff, Todd Duesterhaus, Jon McCoy

OTHER: Ryan Niekamp, Gary Farha, Lori Geschwandner, Anthony Foster

5:45 pm meeting was convened.

Bills

Bills were reviewed by all present committee members, and they appeared to be in order.

Review of Prior Meeting’s Minutes

Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes

Motion to approve made by Marvin Kerkhoff and seconded by Jon McCoy. Motion passed unanimously.

New Business

The committee reviewed revised sections of the Adams County Code: Ch 1, section 4; Ch 7 section 3 & 4; Ch 5 section 6; and Ch 5 section 7; and Ch 5 sec 4.

The committee approved the following ordinances to move to the full board: 2023-08-001-019; 2023-08-001-020; 2023-08-001-022; 2023-08-001-023. A motion to move them to the full board was made by Theresea Bockhold and seconded by Jon McCoy. The committee then discussed what each of these ordinances would do. Dr. Reich described the following:

• Rules of the Board Change: This was to amend the county code to allow for last minute speakers and would eliminate the 24-hour sign-up period prior to a meeting. This change would include committee meetings as well.

• Unlaw Possession of Cannabis: Ryan Parker (Assistant State’s Attorney) was present and advised the committee that this section of the code is outdated, and no officer would write a citation anyways for this violation as they would instead write the citation for a state violation.

• Wind Energy Siting Code: Dr. Reich explained that this amendment would give the control of wind energy back to the State per recently signed legislation.

• Solar Farm Ordinance: Dr. Reich explained that this amendment would give the control of solar farms (commercial) back to the State per recently signed legislation.

• Dr. Reich explained to the committee that the Liquid Pony’s special permit was no accepted at the State due to not having a license (permit) number on the permit. Mr. Niekamp explained that the County does not issue special permits with license numbers on them. Dr. Reich asked if they could assign one on this permit. Mr. Niekamp stated they could, Gary Farha concurred. Dr. Reich made a motion to assign a permit number to the Liquid Pony’s special permit. Seconded by Theresa Bockhold. The committee approved the measure unanimously.

The committee reviewed the appointment of Erik Flesner as a trustee to the Golden Fire Protection District retroactively to the first Monday of May 2023 and to expire the first Monday of May 2026. Dr. Reich explained that this was retroactive as an honest mistake by the district’s attorney. Jon McCoy moved to approve the appointment. Todd Duesterhaus seconded the motion. The motion approved unanimously.

The committee reviewed the purposed Courthouse Electronic Device Policy written by the State’s Attorney’s Office. Mr. Farha explained that what this basically did was give the control of electronic devices usage to each department within their departments and control of the usage of devices in the hallways to the Board. Since the courthouse is public there should not be any issues with the usage of electronic devices in public corridors of the courthouse. Mr. Farha noted that Judge Larson issued an administrative order that revamped the court’s side’s policy a few months ago and this was piggy backing off of that. Jon McCoy moved to approve the new policy. Seconded by Marvin Kerkhoff. The policy was unanimously approved.

Executive Session

There was no executive session.

Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Marvin Kerkhoff and Theresa Bockhold seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Meeting was adjourned at 6:18pm.

https://www.co.adams.il.us/home/showpublisheddocument/8771