[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6200858,"mediaKeyId","3805451-dab3807fd958b334158ce798c2010e89","parentId",3805451,"title","Public Works Committee enters executive session on collective negotiating matters and salary schedules","audioSeconds",47,"startMs",1505000,"endMs",1552000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3805451-dab3807fd958b334158ce798c2010e89&start=1505&end=1552","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3805451-dab3807fd958b334158ce798c2010e89/thumbnail_1505000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6200858/Stephenson-County/Illinois/Public-Works-Committee-enters-executive-session-on-collective-negotiating-matters-and-salary-schedules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6200858-9904b8e409e317e89ef032c86f07a94c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770553345&Signature=HaqUI0EngKizJ3itazAPsRtVd6Ov9uB74~6N-GwGFUhkVrm0W0bJ11n7XRm0l9FkFdtK2YcAwyKvKHDxipU91ELypjeBS7ug9Xkh7-D1~UWp2K3HKQz3xwH7JCZnbbnpwnVhy1eZKs8YNYQ4DpciPdSoDIoGf8XU5sugo~FAa79rReZZwjdrDNnDNt4dk85JU5tKooyOEUcX4yHfBfQ8AVsTJEpBUDJ4CLjFdjXhqJ7-5uMpLQxq9TU-GvxTHmXFlI7wOgA7pXpktTLOrAlSeUcl3Udesp3C0NCnYgZ0dyVc7~phJvZ3CnQ9NqMOnItbWUnv09OKdlr3941QQmnL3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Stephenson County, IL","date","2025-06-13T10:29:08Z","article","At the end of the June 12 meeting, the Stephenson County Public Works Committee voted to enter executive session to discuss collective negotiating matters and salary schedules for one or more classes of county employees.

Mr. Williams moved to enter executive session under the Illinois Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2), and Mr. Newton seconded the motion. The committee approved the motion by unanimous voice vote and paused the public meeting video feed. A staff member noted, “We will be turning off the camera and turning it back on after we leave the executive session.”

No substantive closed-session deliberations were disclosed in the public record during the meeting; the committee returned to open session at a later time outside the public record of the meeting minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Stephenson County IL Public Works Committee Meeting - 06/12/25","oneSentenceSummary","The committee voted to go into executive session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2) to discuss collective negotiating matters and salary schedules for county employees; the meeting camera was turned off for the closed session.","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},6200863,"Committee authorizes USDOT-funded freight rail crossing mitigation planning grant",168,1118000,1286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3805451-dab3807fd958b334158ce798c2010e89&start=1118&end=1286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3805451-dab3807fd958b334158ce798c2010e89/thumbnail_1118000.jpg","/articles/6200863/Stephenson-County/Illinois/Committee-authorizes-USDOT-funded-freight-rail-crossing-mitigation-planning-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6200863-1634d89e2ff91fe11bc714030b641ace/orig.mp4?Expires=1770553345&Signature=cgTMY6hSf-GCVTkZK9j66cOWfjTKOYFp~Ei4~Gv0hfjurK3w4pio~5WIg6FgoyvdO8-USenhwqVoCe3iWKCU3xAsxn5EAG~IGHlDmofIOsYC-EBYXGjm8~1jj5BvJ9drUwd2SPrZS-~5W1GxLE1uxOrJsERSS8wfzyh4siwLhA4W5IDrYFCzzsSgIsuNaD~bHJfla0RksI5MV1InBZhctePrO-Dn~1Anz2T6RANw5FUmGEL~1luF14rBU0x4J9yOmsNcAJ7qaof2bjXKKqoNLELkQDtaBUixS-yGtJd87DS-NsZPi89mURV3q6uRJradkQt5c2nKrdKYPBeXKuw~Gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the June 12 meeting, the Stephenson County Public Works Committee authorized county staff to sign a grant agreement to fund a freight rail crossing mitigation plan through a USDOT/Federal Railroad Administration program.

County staff said the total project budget is $300,000 and that the federal grant covers $240,000 of the cost. “This is a grant we received… from the federal railroad agency,” a county representative said, and the committee voted to authorize signing the grant agreement. Mr. George moved the motion and Mr. Piro seconded it; the committee approved the authorization by voice vote.

Staff also discussed a separate, related notice of funding opportunity (listed in meeting materials as HT25-16) that had a short application window; the county submitted applications on 13 candidate projects to that program. The county noted that HT25-16 required no local match and that staff expected a district meeting in roughly a week and a half to learn how many projects in the district will be funded.

County staff said the federal mitigation planning grant will support study and planning work and that the authorization is necessary to accept and administer the federal award. No additional appropriations or matching funds were required for the grant authorization recorded in the meeting minutes.","Stephenson County authorized execution of a grant agreement for a federal freight rail crossing mitigation plan. The total project budget is $300,000 with a $240,000 federal grant; the committee approved county signature to accept the grant.",{"_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},6200867,"Public Works Committee approves unit-price agreement HD25-14 for roadwork; highway staff report paving and shoulder work",56,969000,1025000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3805451-dab3807fd958b334158ce798c2010e89&start=969&end=1025","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3805451-dab3807fd958b334158ce798c2010e89/thumbnail_969000.jpg","/articles/6200867/Stephenson-County/Illinois/Public-Works-Committee-approves-unit-price-agreement-HD25-14-for-roadwork-highway-staff-report-paving-and-shoulder-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6200867-b75a7f1045a99c167befc59a71fc9f88/orig.mp4?Expires=1770553345&Signature=Vjtg5CjOSFgMkJls8v8ntMlLL76hkpepAgMlBqz1JKytYdbdHQPABrMpwNPYVsGCXl7yUiBYEBva8EFXiQhUR-LTtBBtUBH0TiTZmqE9dEhZdcRAwSAW0h71uUyYe5NBDe1uROUrnCBpIKZUMQRAgERSXpTOAqAgMvMp1AznQl~xlOeRAxD2b2VbQAuwrk3sY3AD3Mw6vMxLGXalg8EPmrDFWzbcTrQY0z6XBTQG0uPKIee0slRR153~drP-L6MlLsbDXjtzij7E~pMlJKg2T9fv1-QXzlE4Id8fRl9yqZZ3beSqAeOBdJovRid2gQi0INCFfH7BQLsyM2OGUCTFRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Stephenson County Public Works Committee on June 12 approved a unit-price agreement, HD25-14, for county roadwork and heard a highway department update detailing paving, shoulder work and preliminary plans for a shared radio tower.

“Is there a motion to approve HD25-14?” asked a committee member; Mr. Madero moved the motion and Mr. Jogress seconded it. The committee approved the unit-price agreement by voice vote. County staff said the agreement reflects budget adjustments made after bids came in and that a notice to proceed has been received.

Dale (Highway Department) summarized recent work: shoulder stone and patching on Cedarville, Winneshick and McConnell roads; paving on Dakota Road, McConnell Road and Damascus Road; and a small paving spot on Rock Grove Road. He said a moisture test for the Land Road work passed and that the contractor can proceed with seal-coating once scheduling and curing windows are met.

Dale also said the county held a pre-construction meeting for a Kent Township project and that the highway department is coordinating with emergency management, the sheriff’s office and 9-1-1 on a potential joint-use radio tower and budgeting for it in the next fiscal year.

Committee members asked about repair options for holes on Cedar Hill Road; Dale recommended a hot-mix lift in areas with deeper depressions and chip seal-type repairs for smaller openings. The department said the seal-coating operation itself could be completed in a day for shorter stretches but that crews may allow surfaces to settle and then return for a follow-up lift.

The unit-price agreement was presented as the vehicle to convert bid prices into a signed contract and to move the approved roadwork forward this construction season.","Stephenson County approved a unit-price agreement (HD25-14) to carry out seal-coating and related work on county roads and heard a department update about paving, shoulder stone, moisture testing and a proposed shared radio tower budget for next year.",{"_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},6200872,"Stephenson County animal control reports spike in cat intakes, staffing and shelter updates",323,143000,466000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3805451-dab3807fd958b334158ce798c2010e89&start=143&end=466","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3805451-dab3807fd958b334158ce798c2010e89/thumbnail_143000.jpg","/articles/6200872/Stephenson-County/Illinois/Stephenson-County-animal-control-reports-spike-in-cat-intakes-staffing-and-shelter-updates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6200872-d14db6249454e320796cc0d35ae8e320/orig.mp4?Expires=1770553345&Signature=C2Ekbjjy5o6aBppm46oUDVtQNqUECtbh9e240PUohuXkdVcnE8HaPvvuIBX8d8PDXWvXG-T7-0KBB1-juAO38qPJpW5GNMeZ9xK5wHqCZjrWBSVocc7GQQ4zvPL8ZAkrSo0Dvm9o7sevK0wob22XA30Yw7qzgE4pcg5C75RtRhx4dBopLtCL~whLYAhYVfFLhBySgpacU~00zVENlLLXPFoPfEDVBkDf6WTEUp1qQHLxDyiSWMZwbrBkvuPAM-SXHZxjD5yJxtW3wZi~jMwUJ0kjQanMQoWdeD7qnxER6g8cuOlsxjFTASa92ZVXjZ1rfqXJnQuccUVN9M3FUVoVsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its June 12 meeting, the Stephenson County Public Works Committee heard an animal control update reporting a recent increase in cat intakes and several operational notes about staffing, shelter inventory and finances.

Kirsten (Animal Control officer, Stephenson County) told the committee the department took in 45 cats in the reporting period and has been assisting a Freeport resident who had an estimated 38 cats; “So far, we've taken 22 of them in,” she said. She added three of the animals are young and that the shelter is working to have them spayed or neutered before they reach breeding age.

The department reported transfers and outcomes: 17 cats were transferred to other rescues and one cat was adopted during the reporting period. For dogs, the department took in 21 animals — 12 were county strays and nine were city strays; three dogs were identified as adoptable, 16 were reclaimed and two were sent to rescue organizations. The shelter’s inventory at the time of the report included 12 adoptable cats, 17 cats on hold, 11 adoptable dogs and seven dogs involved in court cases.

Kirsten said microchip payments and related entries had been caught up after a billing discrepancy with the sheltertrack vendor; “We're all caught up,” she said. She also reported routine vehicle maintenance (oil change, brake work covered under warranty) and said tires and other items would be completed next month.

On staffing, Kirsten said the department is reviewing resumes and identified one promising candidate with experience at a local grooming/daycare business; she also noted a candidate who is a full-time 9-1-1 dispatcher could not be hired because that would create an overtime conflict with the county’s payroll rules. Committee members asked for a follow-up on what the budget impact would have been if the assistant position had been filled; Kirsten said she would research and report back.

Kirsten also reported that two buyers of a county building have an attorney, Anthony Kuhn, who is preparing a draft contract and that the county may consult its liability insurer or counsel before finalizing terms.

The report closed with the animal control officer saying the department is making steady progress on intakes and operations and will continue to update the committee at future meetings.","At the June 12 Public Works Committee meeting, Stephenson County animal control reported increased cat intakes, ongoing transfers and adoptions, staffing recruitment challenges, vehicle maintenance, and that microchip and other payments are now up to date.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public Works Committee enters executive session on collective negotiating matters and salary schedules

Committee authorizes USDOT-funded freight rail crossing mitigation planning grant

Public Works Committee approves unit-price agreement HD25-14 for roadwork; highway staff report paving and shoulder work

Stephenson County animal control reports spike in cat intakes, staffing and shelter updates