[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,86,98],{"_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",6213084,"mediaKeyId","3681279-a73dabba0c94fb6e51371251369805ff","parentId",3681279,"title","Edgar County treasurer reports tort fund shortfall after insurance spike; jail fund payments noted","audioSeconds",151,"startMs",2019000,"endMs",2170000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3681279-a73dabba0c94fb6e51371251369805ff&start=2019&end=2170","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3681279-a73dabba0c94fb6e51371251369805ff/thumbnail_2019000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6213084/Edgar-County/Illinois/Edgar-County-treasurer-reports-tort-fund-shortfall-after-insurance-spike-jail-fund-payments-noted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213084-731a1191ad77a13a2f8772644d3924ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157442&Signature=VMhCn2yBVgGXRSy~yqIwDJPYtXXy7jtU5jD2vw83mbu3ddZSUQfCMqvv8FfBc0TYDNnFAAxTTPKGcmqts2k2G8wv3l2haht2KJGOVj5tpiKQevlL3QkOkCCRhdMf0ktW7GwfUbyWq4wcfO95La98K-mjnezMwflJ~AzelLmQJx3q6iFJI74CFUa9AnNs9FAYtrgIFMUJYKCNuCRxV-9ZgdQFyXW3Ea3ybGzPebFpJ4ao0fe26F7fURcUS~tWSZRh3cBuic0C49BuSJ32albWSNDjQ4itOw~6PmY02-PPfOH5aoyn92CgA-42r5O9Shqch2epJGL44w8DGVZ6JjBZHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Edgar County, IL","date","2025-06-04T18:22:53Z","article","Edgar County board members heard a financial update reporting a negative balance in the county tort fund tied to higher insurance premiums and a timing mismatch with tax receipts.

A county finance speaker reported the tort fund showed a deficit of about $137,900; the speaker attributed the shortfall to a recent jump in insurance costs and noted that the county’s routine tax receipts that fund tort operations are typically delayed until around July 1. The speaker said the county previously drew on reserves to cover increases but that reserves have been depleted by recent premium hikes.

Board members discussed that insurance costs for several local taxing districts have increased substantially; the speaker said the county’s insurance went from roughly $300,000 to almost $600,000 (the comment in the meeting was numerically imprecise and described a large increase). Several members noted some districts had triggered Truth in Taxation hearings because of insurance‑driven levy increases.

On the jail project, a board member said two payments totaling roughly $400,000 were due in May and had been paid, and that the jail project fund is tracking as expected. The board also touched on proceeds from a recent annex sale but did not reach a clear, agreed figure at the meeting; multiple, differing numbers were mentioned and the board did not confirm a final amount during the discussion.

No new appropriations or tax levies were approved at the meeting. Board members requested staff to provide clarified, documented figures for the annex sale proceeds and to present a plan for addressing the tort fund deficit before any budget amendments are considered.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tuesday May 27 2025","oneSentenceSummary","County officials said the tort fund showed a deficit linked to a large insurance premium increase and delayed tax receipts; the jail project fund has had recent payouts, and the board discussed unclear figures reported from an annex sale.","taxTitle","Edgar County, Illinois","taxId",67050,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6213089,"County officials say jail wall panels arriving next week; contractors will erect structure rapidly",0,2574000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3681279-a73dabba0c94fb6e51371251369805ff&start=2574&end=2574","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3681279-a73dabba0c94fb6e51371251369805ff/thumbnail_2574000.jpg","/articles/6213089/Edgar-County/Illinois/County-officials-say-jail-wall-panels-arriving-next-week-contractors-will-erect-structure-rapidly","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213089-12d969a52d53a32515365b7df297d5f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157442&Signature=ES7A~waq8QvvfQrRa3xZm8-mHaNo10VHWTmQM-EZaS7V8gfozOfJWjpM~bNtlLEVY1QbYLQGZBLXpZtw0xflxFo-zspRi7ahMBnWaCJ5mrDz5GqCRr-4UeQUufETAcTN1C0fYyox8DPADjWxMarmUfRgiXmUsTed4VKq9ZcDeiW~egf4WRzyWTuwG7XquJsNG38mGDu7Hgd7485O452YQGQPRrJLzRCoCIhmvTU-NBMAdJEWE91BZ0RgIPEuhkyP2sWyLlCq67btVPmD4PQ6ZYAgNj0DPXzZopv9CSo6H2LK7fG77c9YYybyiql8SIrh2SVq9Gwep1Soi-7bTZPdhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County officials received a construction update on the jail project: contractors plan to start bringing wall panels to the site the week of June 2, and crews expect to assemble and raise the exterior walls within about a week to 10 days.

A county speaker said crews will deliver roughly 10–15 truckloads a day depending on staging and will weld and brace panels as they are set. The contractor and the county construction manager (Core and Michael’s firm were named in the meeting) plan to provide online updates so the public can follow progress.

The board described the next phase as largely exterior framing work and said it anticipates visible progress on the building once the panels are set. This was provided as an informational update; no contract changes or additional board action were taken at the meeting.","Board members received an update that wall panels for the county jail will arrive in early June and crews expect to set walls quickly over about a week to 10 days.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_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},6213094,"Edgar County Board reviews building safety, storm shelter and courthouse security needs",806,955000,1761000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3681279-a73dabba0c94fb6e51371251369805ff&start=955&end=1761","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3681279-a73dabba0c94fb6e51371251369805ff/thumbnail_955000.jpg","/articles/6213094/Edgar-County/Illinois/Edgar-County-Board-reviews-building-safety-storm-shelter-and-courthouse-security-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213094-3f278cf6224bf6ce04b922bddb64dbf6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157442&Signature=beqAXF~gx6D4fxsZMuKHTMT2h9ELbUKZCm1nbqX0Tw~PjU7ulz6dU5ArRwwDOCrY8pKA8~lW8H8ocP-4rF90aYV7Sa3HK5cF58Dieuu4kjtUjz~2jVZXEGBfRzzpMYdT91hrOfhouUo4rfQxI5UG4GdT1tNMIPLH6EItLU1KK~8W99vCujV0FhrObvbEZdhyMse2XSbWqHkIzg4EmMpdxnVqDsdbuBLL7Kd2PxCTzlfizEWvBfhFlG-WVZtJ82HdE1MlyPybBUbGe4xU2Nl3Vj4SXOlB5BXCyrg8SJyboOAxIR84eKOH-QuuXsbvuksoEgElNOUb0OS0C7haCid0mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Edgar County Board members and staff reviewed physical and digital security at county facilities and flagged several follow‑up items, including meeting with the state’s attorney and judges to discuss courtroom security changes.

During a staff briefing, participants identified the government center’s storm shelter as the only nearby designated safe space for several neighboring properties and recommended completing the shelter work so employees and the public have an accessible option. Board members said the basement of the Methodist Church in Christman has been used as a shelter in the past and discussed whether it or the underpass is a safer choice for neighborhood sheltering.

Staff reported that some departments do not need panic‑button hardware; the highway department said the single employee typically locks the front door and uses a cell phone for emergency contact. The animal shelter uses cameras and the old concrete building there was considered relatively secure; airport staff said they would use the vault if necessary. The board asked staff to confirm which departments need panic buttons and whether any budget was included for panic hardware.

Members also discussed the county’s emergency notification and siren network. Several outdoor sirens in Paris and nearby villages are inoperable; alerts are currently handled through a subscription notification system that receives National Weather Service warnings and delivers messages by phone/text to enrolled subscribers. Board members asked staff to confirm how the subscription system is managed and why a particular tornado alert did not reach some locations.

IT and cybersecurity were raised: Ross reported it is time to upgrade Microsoft software, which may require replacing some machines. The board noted that some of the IT recommendations did not have line‑item budget amounts and asked departments to work with IT to identify costs and potential timing.

On courthouse security, the board agreed to arrange a meeting with the state’s attorney and judges to review proposals for changes in the lower courtroom—items discussed included possible jury box removal and other separation measures. Members said state grant money had funded some camera work previously and they will investigate whether court security fund resources can support further changes.

No formal security purchases or policy changes were approved at the meeting; board members asked staff to return with cost estimates, confirm grant availability, and set up the meeting with judicial and legal stakeholders.","Board members discussed employee safety, panic buttons, storm shelter access, siren/networked alerts, courtroom security changes and IT/cybersecurity upgrade needs.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6213099,"Edgar County Board schedules public hearing on draft solar ordinance as utility-scale projects draw interest",695,141000,836000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3681279-a73dabba0c94fb6e51371251369805ff&start=141&end=836","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3681279-a73dabba0c94fb6e51371251369805ff/thumbnail_141000.jpg","/articles/6213099/Edgar-County/Illinois/Edgar-County-Board-schedules-public-hearing-on-draft-solar-ordinance-as-utility-scale-projects-draw-interest","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213099-bbface78cad50623ba694a229236a47f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157442&Signature=ZCWPOLWDIChNhJHce~1HtiOgLWxo2XXXa7Y~4kW~ye6sLbvZNDiYDG0ePadeTuOS3Y9kYKXCvm1I1GqlC5a5FQRTvNEXwvSFy1-M-yz98ln2Tdj586opOkK-gboox9rrU4wn307c3HrCVdVbY4ypo8YDnKOTX4CfltUIGLdsy-u58vYXJb4~qVS7O02BJY1-WUhcItE3YOQJ1uDSZq9ECGcDUCW-3lYMf3Xb9PetEOHZIMRfAUdHuqUYiuUilF6NzPFUkzmk5TX591bNIS3laZf~CFNiL9OJklodj5zxGrGMEZA8udQPOMaBy3GBtcYJdKwV0yx~lAxoxyFySZE09w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Edgar County Board reviewed a draft solar ordinance Thursday and said it will hold a public hearing for comment at 8:30 a.m. before the next board meeting to consider public feedback and company input.

Board members and staff discussed multiple proposed utility-scale solar projects near the county, including projects that would cross the Illinois–Indiana border and firms that have identified thousands of acres. A speaker who described conversations with out‑of‑state developers said one firm (Ranger Power was named) has about 2,000 acres on the Indiana side and has been working to add acreage on the Illinois side, and that others have signed up farmland in southern Edgar County to connect to the county’s southern transmission line.

The board also discussed battery energy storage systems (BESS). Members said battery installations tied to solar will be included in the solar ordinance, but that standalone battery facilities may require a different, separate ordinance and hearing. The board asked county staff and counsel for clarification on portions of the draft ordinance that could be interpreted multiple ways; they said they will seek the attorney’s interpretation before final action.

Members said they had publicly posted the draft and promoted it on Facebook but had received little written feedback; several asked whether more public outreach or a newspaper notice might help. Board members said company representatives indicated they would attend the hearing to introduce themselves and answer questions.

The discussion identified two items the county will pursue before the hearing: (1) ask the county attorney to clarify ambiguous language in the draft ordinance, and (2) collect any prehearing feedback from local residents and the companies proposing projects so the board can adjust the draft if needed.

No ordinance was adopted at the meeting. The board set the public comment session at 8:30 a.m. at the government center and said the matter would return to the board after the hearing for any formal action.","The Edgar County Board reviewed a draft solar ordinance and discussed several proposed utility-scale solar projects, battery storage, cross-border acreage, and outreach ahead of a scheduled public hearing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Edgar County treasurer reports tort fund shortfall after insurance spike; jail fund payments noted

County officials say jail wall panels arriving next week; contractors will erect structure rapidly

Edgar County Board reviews building safety, storm shelter and courthouse security needs

Edgar County Board schedules public hearing on draft solar ordinance as utility-scale projects draw interest