Quincy Reporter

Adams County Board Finance Committee met July. 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Mee#ng Convened at 6:00PM on Monday, July 14, 2025.

Members Present: Travis Cooley, Tim Finlay, Ryan Hinkamper, Brad Poulter, Marvin Kerkhoff

Members Absent: None

Others in AMendance: Ryan Niekamp (County Clerk), Todd Eyler (State’s AMorney), F. Bryden Cory (Treasurer), Bret Aus#n (Chairman)

The minutes from the June 9, 2025 were approved unanimously as wriMen. The mo#on was made by Mr. Finlay and seconded by Mr. Kerkhoff. Approved with unanimous consent.

The CommiMee discussed Ordinance Number 2025-07-001-024 regarding the increase in salaries for the State’s AMorney, Public Defender, and Sheriff. Ryan Niekamp explained that these adjustments are required annually to align with state-mandated cost-of-living increases and ensure proper reimbursement rates: 100% for the State’s AMorney, 90% for the Public Defender, and 66.66% for the Sheriff. Todd Eyler and Bryden Cory added context on how these adjustments #e into the reimbursement system. Mr. Kerkhoff asked if the County Clerk and County Treasurer were seeing this same precent increase in their salary. Mr. Niekamp thanked Mr. Kerkhoff for asking and advised they were not – they (Treasurer and Co. Clerk) have not had a pay increase since December 1, 20222 and are unable to receive one un#l December 1, 2026. Bryden Cory advised that the salaries for himself and the County Clerk have not seen a pay increase and noted that the cost of living has increased and so has the cost for health insurance so the take-home is less now than it was three years ago. A_er discussion, the ordinance was approved on a mo#on by Mr. Finlay and seconded by Mr. Kerkhoff. The ordinance passed unanimously.

Next, the CommiMee considered an addi#onal fund appropria#on for County Clerk Ryan Niekamp in the amount of $6,500, related to a state s#pend which is now to be processed through the county. Niekamp explained this as a pass-through appropria#on requiring no net impact to the county budget. The appropria#on was approved on a mo#on by Finlay and seconded by Kerkhoff. The appropria#on passed unanimously.

A transfer of fund appropria#on for the Veterans’ Assistance Commission Superintendent, Paul Havermale, was also reviewed. The transfer reallocated $2,000 from U#li#es to Office Supplies to beMer align with actual spending needs. This transfer was approved on a mo#on by Poulter and seconded Finlay. The appropria#on passed unanimously.

Cooley outlined the updated 10-year term structure and detailed the nego#a#on process with Under old business, the CommiMee discussed financing op#ons for the HVAC Project Bonds. Travis Bank of Springfield and First Bankers Trust, ul#mately securing a combined financing rate of 3.88%, which was below the current market rate of 4.19%. Both banks agreed to the terms, and a future mee#ng with representa#ves of Bank of Springfield was planned to discuss poten#al deposits. Cooley thanked those involved in nego#a#ons, including Bret Aus#n, Ryan Niekamp, Tim King, and Bryden Cory, for their efforts.

In new business, Ryan Niekamp presented updates regarding Adams County invoices and proposed implemen#ng ACH transac#ons to improve efficiency, reduce mailing costs, and meet the increasing demand for mobile payment op#ons. The commiMee gave endorsement for moving forward with this ini#a#ve.

No items required ac#on in Execu#ve Session. With no further business, the mee#ng was adjourned at 6:40pm.

The next mee#ng is scheduled for August 11, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

https://www.adamscountyil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/11369/638906753196153027