New Addition to the Blog

At the request of several constituents, I am adding a new page ("Board Packets") to my blog that will give you direct access to the Board Packets we receive for our monthly meetings. While there are times that the Board will not take final action on materials contained in the packet (for various reasons), I want to share what I get with you.

We typically receive the packet a few days before the meeting, and I will do my best to get them posted to the blog as soon thereafter as possible.

Please let me know if you ever have any questions or comments on anything you see in a packet.

January 2015

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!  With the new year upon us, the monthly meetings of the Tazewell County Board have begun...

The January 28, 2015, meeting of the Tazewell County Board started with the wonderful tradition of handing out service awards to our dedicated teammates from our many county departments.  From 5 to 35(+) year awards, it was a great opportunity for all of us in attendance to listen, honor, and congratulate our friends who work tirelessly for all of us.  I would like to again thank all of them for what they do.

In terms of action items, the County Board approved (among other things):

1) Intergovernmental agreements with numerous cities and villages for Animal and Rabies Control Services;

2) Lease renewal agreements with numerous tenants in the Monge Building; and

3) Numerous appointments to local and area agencies, including the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission.

If there are any issues or concerns you would like to see us consider or address at future board meetings, please let me know.

The End of 2014

It is hard to believe we are less than three weeks from the start of 2015!  Over the last two months, the Tazewell County Board met at regular and special meetings to address numerous items, including:

-  Passing the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget (October 29th Meeting)

-  Approving the purchase of a storm siren replacement (Oct. 29)

-  Approving a new County Administrator Employment Agreement (Oct. 29)* 

-  Receiving an update on the status of the Pekin Landfill Cap (November 19th Meeting)

-  Receiving a presentation from NOAA certifying the County as "Storm Ready" (Nov. 19)

-  Passing a Resolution Supporting New State Transportation Capital Program (Nov. 19) 

On December 1, the Board gathered at the special time of 9:00am for its re-organizational meeting.  This meeting is required to seat those members elected at the November 4, 2014, General Election.  At that meeting, new County Board Member Mary Jo Holford of Washington was seated along with several of us who were on the previous Board, but were up for election.  I greatly look forward to working with her.

Last night, the County Board gathered to (among other things) hear a report on the safety of the Arcade Building in Pekin.  This report is related to a study the Board commissioned on the County's space needs.  The Board agreed that an immediate plan for the continued safety of the public and the tenants will take a priority while staff will look at the preservation of County records housed in the basement of the building.

* We welcomed Wendy Ferrill as our new County Administrator at our meeting on December 10, as she started on December 8.