[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",6238926,"mediaKeyId","3340550-f45525a8cd8519bb91089801cd02425c","parentId",3340550,"title","Livingston County board approves consent items, rural transportation amendment and surplus property disposal","audioSeconds",98,"startMs",1222000,"endMs",1320000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340550-f45525a8cd8519bb91089801cd02425c&start=1222&end=1320","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340550-f45525a8cd8519bb91089801cd02425c/thumbnail_1222000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6238926/Livingston-County/Illinois/Livingston-County-board-approves-consent-items-rural-transportation-amendment-and-surplus-property-disposal","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6238926-87d3cb7b5d8662de4d805300407aa37a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141044&Signature=QBudcP4WyPkVMgNliYJDilEjCgL3PmUxp8p~YftGr5cKxX6sOmPEGKa18kqJIcmr7BtVYJy8ZYp3bJehBB4egFar-SKi-cbLlcL22LazQN-25reqqlcM9eSpGOQcHvmQ5WcFhawdxssUCjl9pt0iko-lnysk0TpCCquDAhJHwRwyVVXZkunRq1wwcQJxWbGebMYZEXqgYmhPC0cKaG1WR2DaBRvygMb7diTV~lMLtdIZAMw5SCap4a9jMliYQHkqXj5eNF-2sg9aloZz5PKNDrM-IfLt828JUUsZSA3PYCrkNwB6LEEJWK4Yu5vOM6rkOV-MC41Nn3qOSKdkCb7VLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Livingston County, IL","date","2025-05-16T11:49:11Z","article","The Livingston County Board approved several routine and committee items at its May 15 meeting, including reappointments to fire protection districts, a rural transportation budget amendment for FY2025 and disposal of excess county property via auction.

On the consent agenda the board approved three appointments: Sue Bergen to the Reddick Community Fire Protection District, Marlon Donnelly to the Kempton Community Fire Protection District and Dennis Wenger to the Fairbury Fire Protection District; the consent agenda also included approval of bills. The board approved the consent agenda by roll call vote.

The finance committee brought forward the FY2025 rural transportation budget amendment, which the board approved following a motion by Marty Fannin and second by Ritter; the item passed on roll call.

The property committee reported excess equipment and bricks from a demolished building; the board approved a motion to dispose of the excess property and move it to auction. The committee also noted a discussion about inspecting and possibly repairing the clock mechanism while the courthouse roof work provides scaffold access.

Administrative committee members presented FY2025 strategic plan goals; the board voted to adopt the goals following a motion and second. The sheriff’s committee reported departmental activity and approved one raffle license for Futures Unlimited; committee reports and committee-voted items were finalized by roll call or voice votes as recorded.

At the start of the meeting the board also approved a certificate of appreciation recognizing volunteers who contributed to a drug take-back event; the certificate was approved by motion and voice vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Livingston County Board 5-15-25","oneSentenceSummary","At its May 15 meeting the Livingston County Board approved consent appointments, a FY2025 rural transportation budget amendment, surplus property disposal for auction and a FY2025 strategic plan goals package; motions passed by roll call or voice vote as recorded.","taxTitle","Livingston County, Illinois","taxId",67085,"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},6238931,"Residents split as Panther Grove 2 wind project draws praise and allegations of preferential treatment",760,1701000,2461000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340550-f45525a8cd8519bb91089801cd02425c&start=1701&end=2461","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340550-f45525a8cd8519bb91089801cd02425c/thumbnail_1701000.jpg","/articles/6238931/Livingston-County/Illinois/Residents-split-as-Panther-Grove-2-wind-project-draws-praise-and-allegations-of-preferential-treatment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6238931-d1547e8cf3eb50a227a51cf30bce2392/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141044&Signature=Ya0w9r25dXdBGWOu3zShEzEW-wVpAigJSTz9M8gCKtXW34TdNTOMiaC8FzaC87bbQqKxulgT7GxY1WJ2-bH0PKa-zjdyG5gng9xHI5aaeGyTMBmO~Au78iVvyflpx5FxPXuIzrENF8ooSQ9Xhnbb1ZRX9FSq5bb6GvkZBRhSzhocnZ6fzWUZdEekEZALUZFm-2SjYqc8k5ACQKlc2ZuDEOe3rVzT5RzOSc5Gll2-XwLtJbhIVdneBc-BBnnhHHscEOhgJOsv1oW40lb4D4SgKYnCf1ywjAOeMD7cgXhmMEW79Lt8vTb6E4lOmjBjOB5BtUL3FRQBTrl5uE33WwqN5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several Livingston County residents addressed the county board during the public comment period on May 15 about the proposed Panther Grove 2 wind project, offering both support and complaints about county processes surrounding recent Zoning Board of Appeals hearings.

Charles Hicks of Greenmont urged the county to adopt a rule barring replacement of a Zoning Board member during an active hearing, saying the replacement of a zoning board president during a wind-farm hearing created an appearance of political manipulation.

Tom Klassick of Dwight told the board he had observed what he described as “special access” granted to Panther Grove 2 personnel, including use of county building space, equipment and staff after hours. Klassick asked the county board to direct the State’s Attorney to investigate whether public facilities and personnel were improperly used to benefit the private applicant. “These actions of preferential treatment leaves one to ask, what is the county board or employees getting from or benefiting from these actions?” he said.

Other speakers supported the project. Dwayne Otto, a landowner near Gridley, told the board the people most affected live inside the project footprint and, he said, those residents overwhelmingly support the project. “What matters most is that you honor the convictions of the people most impacted by the project,” he said.

Greg McKinley of Nebraska Township described his family’s multi-generation experience with wind projects and said prior projects had paid on time and addressed issues such as tiling damage. He urged the board to approve Panther Grove 2, calling it an opportunity for renewable energy and local tax benefits.

Randy Bounds, who said he farms in Pike Township and is within the project footprint, said all 32,000 acres in the proposal are “signed up” and claimed each acre would receive a per-acre payment “based on roughly 5% of royalty fee,” which he characterized as “a hundred and $50 an acre plus.” Bounds said the project could substantially increase local tax bases, including producing what he described as a significant boost to school revenue.

No official zoning decision or board motion on Panther Grove 2 was made at the May 15 meeting; the remarks were submitted during the public comment period. Board members did not announce a formal investigation or policy change at the meeting in response to the allegations of preferential treatment.","Multiple residents spoke during public comment about the Panther Grove 2 wind project: several urged the board to approve it for tax revenue and lease payments, while others alleged preferential treatment for the developer, called for procedural safeguards and requested a State's Attorney review.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":44,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6238937,"Livingston County Public Health Department presents 2024 finances, warns of grant uncertainty",787,435000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340550-f45525a8cd8519bb91089801cd02425c&start=435&end=1222","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340550-f45525a8cd8519bb91089801cd02425c/thumbnail_435000.jpg","/articles/6238937/Livingston-County/Illinois/Livingston-County-Public-Health-Department-presents-2024-finances-warns-of-grant-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6238937-1e380df8c1c921abd5dad952d24954c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141044&Signature=VjLm4nI7k1iGjpdbRssbV~maWe3rIn3d3EarQBwZPbO8NyFcTG-7XKsJ8aU2pU6Czq4qTSEhwRkBjwS5IlnLpozR-hCwTisVClKCLTe4r9iXeO5x9pRzLO0vnE8H-tG-jUdhfG-K6INMXsnnMsWTZWFzCqkkYDMXhxF8IVvcvu0JCVlz0t8enJitPtw4MqRyVgOwZ51Dc6vDobhml43GyO5~eiHFTGsyocycEd6D~mGc5Ha61OrdbZClDtcFnZkTicBbVJ2rvDWKKBTNryhw1yw-pFeFj1KcYo~FiL-MnsIPYu7yzw9IdpEHgJnpWYwUbA8bFWA6fwoIgwTe5MSNJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Erin Fogarty, public health staff for the Livingston County Public Health Department, presented the department’s 2024 annual report at the county board meeting on Thursday, May 15, outlining fund balances, revenue sources and program expenditures.

Fogarty told the board the tuberculosis fund had a beginning balance on Dec. 1, 2023, of $65,890; revenues of $27,352 and expenses of $26,502 left a balance of $66,740 on Nov. 30, 2024. The department’s tax levy beginning balance at Dec. 1, 2023, was $1,772,976 and stood at $1,735,951 in 2024. Total 2024 revenues were reported as $2,810,604 and total expenditures as $2,771,228, leaving a year-end balance of $1,775,328.

Fogarty said tax-levy dollars were spent largely on senior services (36 percent), environmental health services (20 percent) and maternal and child health services (18 percent). She said fees and grants accounted for roughly 81 percent of revenue in 2024, and the tax-levy share declined from about 19 percent in FY23 to about 17 percent in FY24.

“Personnel and insurance account for 77 percent of our total expenditures,” Fogarty said, adding that fees for service have increased, in part because of Medicaid billings for senior services, while donations were down because the department did not request certain trust funds during a year with COVID-related funding available.

Board member Bob Weller asked for clarification on what the department logs as tobacco complaints. Fogarty said complaints arise both from public reports and from the department’s routine enforcement work under the Smoke Free Illinois Act, explaining that complaints can include missing signage or smoking in prohibited areas and that the department initially offers supportive resources before taking further enforcement action when necessary.

Marty Fannin asked about the county’s international travel consultation service; Fogarty said the department provides immunization consultation for travelers (for example, mission trip immunizations) and that not all local health departments offer that service.

Fogarty told the board she expects staffing shifts after a retirement in environmental health. She said Donnie Simmons, a 36-year county employee, planned to retire, and the department had promoted internally: an environmental health sanitarian position was accepted by Amy Necklace and Katie Hallmark from the senior services program will move into a sanitarian role. Fogarty said some duties were reallocated within the senior services case coordination unit to absorb staff shifts.

Fogarty also warned of “a lot of uncertainty” tied to grants and possible Medicaid changes that could reduce fee-for-service revenue; she said department leadership is tightening budgets and reallocating duties where possible.

Board member Gina Manker moved to accept the public health annual report; Monson seconded the motion, and the board approved the report by voice vote.","Erin Fogarty presented the Livingston County Public Health Department's 2024 annual report, outlining fund balances, revenue and expenditure breakdowns, staffing shifts in environmental health, and possible future grant and Medicaid revenue impacts; the county board voted to accept the report.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Livingston County board approves consent items, rural transportation amendment and surplus property disposal

Residents split as Panther Grove 2 wind project draws praise and allegations of preferential treatment

Livingston County Public Health Department presents 2024 finances, warns of grant uncertainty