[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6117435,"mediaKeyId","2730298-f336766a16cc0cb5bafc9c60122d26bd","parentId",2730298,"title","Circuit clerk and IT manager secure $363,184 grant for county technology upgrades","audioSeconds",173,"startMs",1934000,"endMs",2107000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730298-f336766a16cc0cb5bafc9c60122d26bd&start=1934&end=2107","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730298-f336766a16cc0cb5bafc9c60122d26bd/thumbnail_1934000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6117435/Stephenson-County/Illinois/Circuit-clerk-and-IT-manager-secure-363184-grant-for-county-technology-upgrades","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117435-d06fab8f3e7fe7800716c9623132acd7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183889&Signature=b5pfYeuLNJQICrBA~Xhw8VhKU9C1ay1wEoxQlZni6C5HqUvOgLDj-nouf84GmDJKcFfFC3ktCwUVUBTAu8KMMRy1jUUw~GEBjuyMF2UeBKe11ol9XZ1TWSlUsI3EyP-iCsf4DSj85XCxllr2whoQCCfgONX7mhdolwMSoqIjuNhFpF-Osv3ZRLXTRe5N~ZbBSDRgJSNXG2MxpQHu6WuAwb6zsZEqQnfQ9x57~OaPHykalha8tELGNG79G-ggRnlnHGpMFDB2bDoSAkaXD0oFoWXqUCuxxGEoySRHFEL9We2jijDLAKWh0-pGq21-VCue1WepVu2uvrHkmPgm4l-heQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Stephenson County, IL","date","2025-03-21T12:10:22Z","article","Court Services and county IT staff told the board on April 7 that the county secured a state grant for technology upgrades across departments, including the circuit clerk's office and probation.

Nate Louie, Stephenson County’s IT manager, said the county was approved for a large sum and that the circuit clerk, Chanel Bardell, managed grant details on the county’s side. Louie said the county will use the funds for hardware, infrastructure and departmental projects and that deployment will touch “just about every department.”

“I will just say that the grant was $363,184.40,” Louie told the board.

The board heard that grant-funded projects typically follow a submitted plan approved by the state and that the state takes about 90 days to process and approve final steps. Louie described ongoing installations and equipment updates across departments, including completed or near-complete projects for probation and the circuit clerk.

Ending: Departments will continue implementing projects under the grant; departmental staff will report progress to the board and close out projects as they are completed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Stephenson County Board Meeting - 03/20/25","oneSentenceSummary","Court Services reported that Circuit Clerk Chanel Bardell and IT Manager Nate Louie were awarded a large state grant — recorded as $363,184.40 — to upgrade courthouse technology and infrastructure across multiple departments.","taxTitle","Stephenson County, Illinois","taxId",64464,"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},6117440,"Chairman warns budget proposal could dissolve some townships; calls it an unfunded mandate",129,1270000,1399000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730298-f336766a16cc0cb5bafc9c60122d26bd&start=1270&end=1399","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730298-f336766a16cc0cb5bafc9c60122d26bd/thumbnail_1270000.jpg","/articles/6117440/Stephenson-County/Illinois/Chairman-warns-budget-proposal-could-dissolve-some-townships-calls-it-an-unfunded-mandate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117440-6e413dca63586d80182c0d24ec93df64/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183889&Signature=GjMWxkgv--gBST132c6YcfL--s4cMLAGwAUiZRSlSEFD-RzTHMD3IzG2fpaDyuNczMfn2axqBn7StyQ-hzTo7ibiZPwvUAq5hzJ~ikHeDLIQULakzrGUOcLn-HXXb7T4tw6EvjpRRUp~AscGOuAiMths4cB536rWXUGU-X2jb~dOJNl0JCMNpFZZBXxfk3CJnh1zoFTSOVUwovifBwGhlMEI6ed3ZdiB87jCErkKZbRnJr99bzmYBah2oKmHVy8ebEusw-fPp6AbkSIbw0MaFZxdlNZG0Fk28UYkYdeLNR6vfvjXZ8SOLBQFBPuUvtV2JphWLHNLnRZOjA8-DS4K~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Stephenson County Board Chairman Scott Helms reported out of Springfield and told the board on April 7 that two bills under consideration — incorporated in Governor J.B. Pritzker’s budget proposal as presented to the board — would dissolve townships in counties with populations under 50,000 and transfer township responsibilities to the county.

Helms said the change would be an unfunded mandate because the bills would not provide additional revenue to cover the added responsibilities, which include road maintenance, ditch mowing and snow plowing. He said Stephenson County has 18 townships; Freeport Township would be an exception because the City of Freeport would assume responsibility there.

Helms said he and other county representatives spoke with state legislators (he named Senator Chesney and House leader McCombie in the meeting remarks) and that those legislators were not in favor of dissolving the townships. He asked citizens and board members to contact their legislators if they oppose the proposal.

“However, this would be an unfunded mandate. There would not be any revenue available to the county to help maintain the miles and miles of roads and bridges,” Helms said. He asked the board to monitor the bills because if the budget in its current form passes, the provision would become effective even if separate bills failed in committee.

Ending: Helms congratulated Samuel Newton on election as vice president of the UCCI executive board and the board discussed outreach to state legislators; no formal county action to change township structure was taken at the meeting.","Stephenson County Board Chairman Scott Helms told the board that proposals in Governor Pritzker’s budget could dissolve townships in counties under 50,000 population and shift their road and bridge duties to counties without providing revenue, and urged contact with legislators.",{"_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},6117445,"Stephenson County awards ADA courthouse restroom contract; $26,000 funding gap noted",72,1792000,1864000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730298-f336766a16cc0cb5bafc9c60122d26bd&start=1792&end=1864","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730298-f336766a16cc0cb5bafc9c60122d26bd/thumbnail_1792000.jpg","/articles/6117445/Stephenson-County/Illinois/Stephenson-County-awards-ADA-courthouse-restroom-contract-26000-funding-gap-noted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117445-eb022517f1e79c8d820ce005c44d79d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183889&Signature=Q4XZ1M290HqVDdcIjkJUXm4m5LDU6ci1jau53GHIx0~YHb503ubZUFx497Ir-DjRjdVUwMku4TCLuvAnAkzVaT~TfTMyKWm0L8mEgoDsHgBiM58tbJIdJtTWTIiYXLjucXj-OGUxWSBzpJNBIJ2D9PyJ6vowcrdY4ZmOb6DkdbS6IV4huy8bbLrbotOmxONRrA5c5obq4SUqzczDUv6gVL3wKyMFkNMf4GlpyARj~Yz25IvcHZoH57xGKCH4pNT52zOtvwp~ggGEbR~rqDObC3JJDjvSvzTxrCwKIlDdoluxg4caKMxaVpFLn-T~AlwNJ2hPx5Z562OozHuo4D84TQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Stephenson County Board voted unanimously on April 7 to award the contract for an ADA-accessible basement restroom in the courthouse to Tiles and Style of South Holland, Illinois. The county received three bids; Tiles and Style submitted the lowest bid at $65,540.

Ronnie Bush, chair of the Public Property & Safety committee, reported the bid results and the committee recommendation. Bush said the county had received a grant of $39,615 toward the project, leaving an approximate shortfall of $26,000. The committee discussed whether to return the grant or keep it and fund the balance; Bush reported the committee decided to keep the grant and move forward with the bid award.

“...the grant was $39,615. So about $26,000 short,” Bush said when presenting the item. The transcript records that the sheriff — identified in the meeting as Sheriff Stovall — told the board he would find a way to make up the difference so the project could proceed.

Motion and vote: Ronnie Bush moved to accept the low bid from Tiles and Style; Luann Hayes seconded. Roll-call vote was 13–0 in favor.

What happens next: The county will finalize the contract with the selected contractor and identify funding for the shortfall. Public Property & Safety reported the courthouse front elevators are near completion and additional courthouse improvements (benches, carpet) have been made, per committee remarks.

Ending: The board approved the contract and directed follow-up to secure the remaining funding and complete contracting steps.","The county awarded a $65,540 contract to Tiles and Style for a basement ADA restroom. A grant of $39,615 covers part of the cost; the sheriff indicated he would find a way to cover the approximately $26,000 shortfall.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6117450,"Board member raises questions about past hoop-house purchase during minutes approval",346,515000,861000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730298-f336766a16cc0cb5bafc9c60122d26bd&start=515&end=861","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730298-f336766a16cc0cb5bafc9c60122d26bd/thumbnail_515000.jpg","/articles/6117450/Stephenson-County/Illinois/Board-member-raises-questions-about-past-hoop-house-purchase-during-minutes-approval","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117450-f6bde1293b0898fb19b321059abf30e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183889&Signature=FKf7rIEpUsKICE~QthMlMSBWgE6dd8v67IswjdrO1FZ9beksa6odhK4WmcNlrxH~oGs2FP~xLPN88rpaMJDwkPvHAL82e3kBSwy6psSzm7sAA7z6Dl1jg~hcuiEAK25tkyRBCiioQTkTXayaOiczMl2KUt1IJlRSK4Zw~r01OJGpWtUvMe3D4DWfcmKsCYFzAIB3kDyhCbH~NG-LY4gOH9GMsDQPmHopGHOjrl1U4B~JeH4dSXqNssfIsqs4ORMBIXy6DfYSVOfwkDCccAPZpIwgVfRifGnS1VnXiVG5pUSyqbmVFn8f-D1wLa1ke44Z0OLkZUtfXob~Y4empe1I0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","William Hadley, a member of the Stephenson County Board, raised concerns during the April 7 meeting about documents and the timeline surrounding a hoop-house purchased years earlier and reported as stored at the county highway department.

Hadley said he had reviewed archived documents and found inconsistencies between a 2015 purchase and subsequent committee reports. He told the board the purchase was described in some minutes as having been authorized after committee action, and he questioned a reference in meeting notes to a “handshake agreement,” which he characterized as improper and “illegal” for county business.

“I cannot do handshakes with anybody on any type of agreement,” Hadley said, adding that county contracts must go through committee and then to the full board. Hadley said the hoop house had been connected to a Freeport Area Church Co op project and that he found an October 2016 director’s report indicating the project was on hold while the hoop house was already at the highway department.

Hadley asked to meet with the state's attorney and the sheriff to review discrepancies and said he would pursue that follow-up outside the board meeting.

The board proceeded to vote on letter A (which included the minutes and those documents). The clerk recorded a roll-call vote of 12–1 to approve letter A; Hadley cast the lone “no” vote.

Ending: Hadley’s request for a meeting with the state’s attorney and sheriff was recorded on the meeting record for follow-up; no additional county action or investigation was announced during the meeting.","Board member William Hadley said documents and timeline for a previously purchased hoop house and related community garden project contain discrepancies and requested a meeting with the state's attorney and sheriff to review the matter.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6117454,"Stephenson County board approves consent items, ADA restroom bid and agricultural resolution; schedules special meeting",0,2238000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730298-f336766a16cc0cb5bafc9c60122d26bd&start=2238&end=2238","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730298-f336766a16cc0cb5bafc9c60122d26bd/thumbnail_2238000.jpg","/articles/6117454/Stephenson-County/Illinois/Stephenson-County-board-approves-consent-items-ADA-restroom-bid-and-agricultural-resolution-schedules-special-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117454-d3d368a479a2e687ad5d616a3264dea2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183889&Signature=mG0PTYVWQbQoJw4nZpEG79qXkUSYvWXVDCS4F~9Aiu9HgUGfFNP5yvO2N-~8QFMcRRbpjqk8GSue427O2zUSnyuNfkWQwrI1IVUTs7atEKGUkdsg-wG54kAS2NBlQc6h3dcT3qBNhzOrP-9PsZxepWGyDjlokblfVAmZTO7sHMWesBa6q-aBRp4xjg8fijFfv4hvR083rwaEEZq7QE39QRHwe5rJJeK653okim2FqI8cNT89yyAAzXjZY9GGPDu0u~7zL79IjcZaZg0VmxD9K7UNXAwAIqPNfklH6VLMnGdnaOb3vhWfC7kHzKVD9kX5NEqXtpyttk5-QEtvmWK6TA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Stephenson County Board on April 7 approved several agenda items, awarded a contractor for an ADA-accessible courthouse restroom, renewed a tourism funding agreement and adopted a resolution supporting agriculture. The board also set a special meeting for one week from the session.

The actions below reflect motions, movers/seconders when recorded, and roll-call tallies from the meeting transcript. Where a motion referenced a document or grant amount, that amount is noted as stated during the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of consent agenda items B and C: Motion by Adam Madero, second by Dale Diddens; roll call 13–0 in favor; outcome: approved.

- Approval of letter A (minutes and related materials that included a discussion about a hoop house): Motion by Tim Whalen, second by Larry Jogers; roll call 12–1 (William Hadley voted No); outcome: approved. (Discussion: William Hadley raised discrepancies regarding a hoop house and said he would meet with the state's attorney and sheriff about it; see separate article.)

- Award contract for ADA courthouse basement restroom (Public Property & Safety committee): Motion by Ronnie Bush to accept Tiles and Style (lowest bidder) for $65,540; second by Luann Hayes; roll call 13–0; outcome: approved. The project had a grant of $39,615, leaving an approximate shortfall of $26,000; the sheriff said he would find a way to cover the difference.

- Renewal of tourism agreement with Rockford-area partner (Greater Freeport Partnership / Rockford Area CVB): Motion by Ronnie Bush, second by Steve Frick; voice vote in favor recorded as unanimous; outcome: approved. The county representative said the partnership helped bring roughly $58,000 back to Stephenson County this year.

- Proclamation: National Public Health Week (April 7–13, 2025) proclaimed by Chairman Scott Helms: Motion by Luann Hayes, second by Larry Jogers; voice vote carried.

- Resolution approving Allies in Agriculture program (Farm Bureau partnership): Motion read and moved by Steve Frick, second by Larry Jogers; voice vote carried.

- Motion to adjourn/set special meeting for one week from the session at 6:30 p.m.: Motion by Ronnie Bush, second by Luann Hayes; voice vote carried.

What this means

Several items approved are implementation or contract actions that authorize staff to proceed (for example the restroom bid award). Others were formal acknowledgments (proclamation, resolution, tourism agreement renewal). The ADA restroom award includes a stated funding shortfall; the transcript records the sheriff saying he would find the difference.

Sources and context

All vote tallies, motions and seconds are taken from the meeting transcript roll calls and statements recorded on April 7. Where the transcript names a mover or seconder, that name is listed; where only a voice vote is recorded, the article notes the vote as carried as stated.

Ending: The board noted a special meeting will be held one week from April 7 at 6:30 p.m. for additional business.
","At its April 7 meeting the Stephenson County Board approved consent items, awarded a bid for an ADA courthouse restroom, renewed a tourism agreement, adopted an allies-in-agriculture resolution and set a special meeting. Roll-call votes were recorded for each formal motion.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Circuit clerk and IT manager secure $363,184 grant for county technology upgrades

Chairman warns budget proposal could dissolve some townships; calls it an unfunded mandate

Stephenson County awards ADA courthouse restroom contract; $26,000 funding gap noted

Board member raises questions about past hoop-house purchase during minutes approval

Stephenson County board approves consent items, ADA restroom bid and agricultural resolution; schedules special meeting