[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6292723,"mediaKeyId","2525534-da58ee09939b0abb6cfdb0422a321495","parentId",2525534,"title","Edgar County board hears sheriff staffing update, votes to enter closed session for personnel","audioSeconds",1845,"startMs",727000,"endMs",2572000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2525534-da58ee09939b0abb6cfdb0422a321495&start=727&end=2572","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2525534-da58ee09939b0abb6cfdb0422a321495/thumbnail_727000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6292723/Edgar-County/Illinois/Edgar-County-board-hears-sheriff-staffing-update-votes-to-enter-closed-session-for-personnel","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6292723-80fc99453031d2b5fbcb90d8abf4035c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643034&Signature=W2~5QRTfDh0kUbFntVm-0wmeBH7CV-gOxeBe6IBspS7vO~VVWCh~UpsRibUELh7WMrftgDJbeK97QnvqWoyGQUywFwHHZS7MYEta9n7tutBzvzbnXf3UiySQUNdkh9ZMWLEwQchIElinH6sZaut7cZj49OmELmamX7KLgSc4Mo8FvOsFaEItvnete9jhAWjsXKuxlU5mQzeT8lP2h0lek4HLYWbgge13C2tbOlI2-IC1X9L~j837SA4caF2tXIe8Cl2FX1nSQbAN3-5lvndSt7zMEK2Td9OaaY9qQHXilTWfhzuxMvJw1Op0AFjwEm1AIJOBHrq034MhbjWw5OoJeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Edgar County, IL","date","2025-03-07T20:48:03.143Z","article","Edgar County board members discussed recent staffing changes in the sheriff's department and voted to go into a closed session to discuss personnel matters.

During a multi‑minute conversation about department staffing, a board member said the county had authorized eight deputy positions and that the department recently hired a deputy who started last week. The same discussion noted one deputy has been on workers' compensation since last spring and that, with that absence, the department currently has seven deputies in the field. A board member estimated the fully loaded cost of a new deputy — salary, benefits, vehicle and equipment — at more than $100,000.

\"When you look at the salary, benefits, all the insurance, vehicles, equipment, just everything, you know. So, you know, when we make these decisions, it's not just, it's no big deal. Well, it is a big deal,\" one board member said while summarizing the budgetary impact of adding deputies.

The board agreed the new hire will improve shift coverage and officer safety once staffing stabilizes. \"With this extra hire ... most of the shifts now, they have 2 on every shift, but that that'll make it where they can have 2 on every shift 24/7,\" a board member said, describing expected coverage improvements.

Later in the meeting the board voted to go into closed session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters related to the sheriff’s department. A motion to move into closed session was made by Russ, seconded by Andy. The board voted aloud; all present answered \"aye.\" The minutes record the motion passed and the board went into closed session.

After the closed session motion and other business, the board adjourned; the meeting record did not include additional public actions regarding sheriff personnel in open session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Monday February 24 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Board members discussed sheriff's department staffing, including a recently hired deputy, a deputy on workers' compensation, and the cost of adding deputies. The board voted unanimously to enter closed session to discuss personnel matters related to the sheriff's department.","taxTitle","Edgar County, Illinois","taxId",67050,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6292728,"Edgar County broadband meeting hears NextLink fixed‑wireless proposal; board discusses tower contract evergreen clause",297,1068000,1365000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2525534-da58ee09939b0abb6cfdb0422a321495&start=1068&end=1365","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2525534-da58ee09939b0abb6cfdb0422a321495/thumbnail_1068000.jpg","/articles/6292728/Edgar-County/Illinois/Edgar-County-broadband-meeting-hears-NextLink-fixedwireless-proposal-board-discusses-tower-contract-evergreen-clause","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6292728-99aee5c124052859fcef6054ed75461f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643034&Signature=EVHp1rd1r7wNPgHGJk40KD5oO6LiLHLi6M26v7d1ABrJZDfy9JJuoCfImCNoFQwQisRuU5ZLYTfEYvX33J5GalLeMeYuuyCvxvd62CIso6hKcbkb7mtSS7ybh3Wrsxx1mZKnxSDOBs4jfOq2UfD4d4dYZF5a~3YodzSr5O-pPlYj4QNVw~bgUERutfLr8NRSazCqfUnzGtuKICMjLCn72W~EHqovXEhHtab1iYmnYJ8RtHqyWMGsXm55iuQNogdi42CAwFxMRchUFgo1ixv5pglvTAJ95Dnsbe2qKu0qmO5jXA7dntjqKrFcuNR9JJVcwaQA3kakF3-S4XqW75GMig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Edgar County Board and the county broadband committee discussed broadband expansion options and a county tower contract during the meeting.

Jeff, a county board member who also serves on the broadband committee, said the committee met remotely with a NextLink representative to discuss fixed‑wireless service proposals after the county failed to qualify for the state’s round‑1 fiber funding because the mapping did not meet the state’s 10% hard-to-reach threshold. \"We did not get awarded round 1 for broadband expansion because we did not have the 10% hard to reach that was required,\" Jeff said. He said the county will consider a letter of support for NextLink in the next application round, expected to open in about three months.

Jeff described NextLink’s proposed service as fixed‑wireless with a low-end plan of about 100 megabits per second for roughly $50 per month and a higher tier up to 1 gigabit for about $100 per month in private-use configurations. Jeff said NextLink expressed interest in using the county tower as either an in‑kind contribution to strengthen an application or a revenue source for the county.

The board also discussed the county's communications‑tower contract and a potential deadline to provide notice to the company. One member recalled the contract contains an evergreen provision that renews for multi‑year terms and then annually unless notice is provided. \"That contract had an evergreen provision that it would constantly renew itself,\" a board member said, noting the board needs to provide the notice if it intends to end the agreement.

Board members agreed to follow up with the state's attorney and to provide the required notice if they decide not to renew. Jeff said he would send the relevant text to the group and pursue coordination with NextLink for the next application window.

No formal votes on broadband grants or tower termination were taken at the meeting; the board discussed next steps and possible letters of support.","County broadband committee talked with NextLink about a fixed‑wireless proposal; county missed round 1 funding due to mapping and will consider supporting NextLink in round 2. Separately, board members discussed a tower contract’s evergreen renewal terms and agreed to take steps to provide notice if they choose to terminate.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6292732,"Edgar County board reviews draft battery energy storage ordinance, asks to place on March agenda",1061,1373000,2434000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2525534-da58ee09939b0abb6cfdb0422a321495&start=1373&end=2434","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2525534-da58ee09939b0abb6cfdb0422a321495/thumbnail_1373000.jpg","/articles/6292732/Edgar-County/Illinois/Edgar-County-board-reviews-draft-battery-energy-storage-ordinance-asks-to-place-on-March-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6292732-267e2faeca221c52883f337aebb69e72/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643034&Signature=oWyMYYOpjUfOT1lpDCEoZoTbdcX~U9nugNmkzTsR7R9qyAFgY6KK9YGr9JUQRVX10eo6I2H4J3qi9kCvCF7zRp7v8n92KQmER2pBP5LBqxcU8ayJYxHAwr9CIgoVeUCn6seAEc8ek5lF1M2lgxmpqvZWQBHY3X3Jeb0qdLqYiwFWMBqDSEIH9cA~CXo0exZhKDOJ2swT9UVPPlXexIgaRMWALe-r1Cm2S8vTjRsv6Qo2KWeTL-rkxki~pX0QS-b4XP-PFxy5lNI1zYqS8WNOpclE3ztC-RRoMWRDLpsSY0m~PeFr52grllVADxop9CDj4Ff7r2KvlQDXTVVMQEkgIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Edgar County board members discussed a draft battery energy storage system ordinance and asked staff to return a revised version for board consideration in March.

The board focused on requirements the draft borrows from a template presented at a UCCI meeting: an irrevocable financial assurance equal to 110% of estimated project costs, a requirement that owners and anyone with 20% or more ownership be listed, a public-notice requirement for landowners and residents within 1.5 miles of the project footprint, and an annual maintenance report filed with the Edgar County Clerk and Recorder.

Board member Jeff, who led the discussion, said the draft borrows heavily from the UCCI template and that he removed zoning language before sharing it with the board. \"This one was that, you know, I went to that UCCI meeting and, specifically because they had the attorney from Heil Roaster, talking about battery energy storage system ordinances,\" Jeff said during the meeting. He noted the template recommends an irrevocable financial assurance set at 110% of estimated project costs.

Members pressed staff on practical items tied to local operations. The draft requires a drain-tile survey and repair of any damage to waterways, drainage infrastructure or field tiles caused by construction or operation. Jeff noted the drain-tile language is broader than the solar ordinance because it is not limited to drainage districts and said the board should review that language carefully. The draft also says warning signs identifying underground wire locations shall be placed at road and water crossings, and that all underground wire locations shall be GPS-mapped and provided to the local GIS office; one member asked whether mapping should instead go to the highway department.

Emergency response and public-safety preparations were recurring themes. The draft calls for coordination with the county emergency management coordinator and local fire and ambulance districts, and sets a requirement that sites be maintained — including snow removal — at a level acceptable to the local fire department. Board members asked for clearer guidance about fire suppression and how local responders would handle a battery fire, and flagged the difficulty of obtaining timely responses from volunteer emergency services.

Jeff said the ordinance also includes a requirement that, if ownership or operation changes, the new operator must apply for a new operating permit and pay a county fee for evaluation. He described this as a change from existing wind and solar practice: \"Some of the other ones just change ownership all the time and there's no requirement laid out like this.\" The draft also establishes an annual reporting requirement: a maintenance report due Feb. 1 each year to the Edgar County Clerk and Recorder.

The draft leaves several numeric fields blank for the board to set, including an initial certified check of $40,000 and an additional per-megawatt fee up to a cap of $250,000; members asked staff to calculate options. The draft also proposes an enforcement fine of $1,000 per day for violations; one member said that amount seemed too low.

The board discussed public-notice and decommissioning rules. The draft requires the applicant to show that a public meeting was held and that all landowners and residents within 1.5 miles of the project footprint were notified; it requires the project site owner or leaseholder to retain responsibility for equipment and components in the event of abandonment. Jeff said such reporting and ownership rules would make it easier for the county to track changes and hold operators accountable.

Board members agreed to gather additional technical information and to continue the matter at the next study session. Jeff said he would try to find objective information on typical BESS composition and risks for the board and asked staff to place the ordinance on the March agenda so that the board can vote before any permit applications are submitted without local rules in place. \"So, if we can have it on that agenda. Thank you,\" Jeff said.

The discussion will continue at a future study session; no final ordinance vote was recorded during this meeting.","County board members discussed a draft ordinance for battery energy storage systems (BESS), including financial assurance, ownership disclosure, public-notice radius and emergency-management provisions, and directed staff to bring a revised draft to the March meeting for further study and possible vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Edgar County board hears sheriff staffing update, votes to enter closed session for personnel

Edgar County broadband meeting hears NextLink fixed‑wireless proposal; board discusses tower contract evergreen clause

Edgar County board reviews draft battery energy storage ordinance, asks to place on March agenda