Boone County Board Meeting
Jan 22, 2026
The lede
- County Board approved three change orders totaling $56,723 for courthouse/health department projects, including winter construction measures to accelerate completion by two months to August 2026
- Board approved new three-year IT services agreement with City of Belvidere for $110,000 annually with annual increases of 3% or CPI (whichever is greater)
- Residents urged immediate action on dangerous Orth and Calonia Roads intersection, requesting four-way stop after recent serious accident; matter referred to February 5 administration committee
- Circuit Clerk collective bargaining agreement approved (December 2025–November 2028); negotiations concluded quickly with wages as primary issue
Attendance & housekeeping
Members present: Karl Johnson (Chair), Josh Shoemaker, Brian Schneider, Ryan Curry, Alisa Patterson, Rodney Riley (Vice-Chair), Matt Ragano, Marion Thornberry. Members participating remotely (approved by board vote): Tom Walberg, Dave Wiltse (experienced technical difficulties, joined late). Members absent: Dave Cordray, Dana Logsdon.
Meeting called to order at 6:32 p.m. Agenda amended to remove item 11.2 (courthouse change order) and add 9.2 (project update). Minutes from October 16 and November 20, 2025 approved.
Decisions & votes (each with vote count and notable discussion or dissent)
Appointments (all approved unanimously on consent)
- Norman Stimes appointed to Capron Rescue Squad
Collective Bargaining Agreement - Circuit Clerk’s Office (Dec. 1, 2025–Nov. 30, 2028)
- Approved unanimously (10-0 on roll call)
- Circuit Clerk noted negotiations concluded quickly in December; wages were primary negotiation topic
IT Agreement with City of Belvidere
- Approved unanimously (10-0)
- $110,000 annually; 3-year term; annual increases of 3% or CPI (whichever greater)
- Board members expressed support for cooperation with city; agreement goes to Belvidere City Council on Monday
Ordinance 26-03 - Property Tax Abatement of Alternate Bonds Series 2015A
- Approved unanimously (10-0 on roll call)
Claims Approval - $1,990,192.57
- Approved unanimously (10-0 on roll call)
- Chairman Johnson abstained from claims by William Charles, Northern Illinois Service Co., Core & Main, Highway Department, and county departments regarding sewage/storm water/construction/excavation
- Finance noted $1,162,000 of total was annual Surma liability/workers comp insurance
Change Order 12 - Scandroli Construction ($10,246.92)
- Winter conditions for Health Department south addition
- Approved unanimously (11-0 on roll call)
- Discussion: Would reduce construction timeline by approximately 67 days (2 months) if approved with Change Order 13; allows August completion vs. October/November
- Cost offset by approximately $5,000/month savings on Midland rental space
Change Order 13 - Scandroli Construction ($14,678.84)
- Winter conditions for Administration Building east addition
- Approved unanimously (11-0 on roll call)
- Works in conjunction with Change Order 12; contractor advised both needed to achieve full 2-month timeline reduction
Change Order 14 - Scandroli Construction ($31,797.88)
- Health Department roof work, storm water drainage, exterior wall repairs
- Approved unanimously (11-0 on roll call)
- Addresses water infiltration causing masonry deterioration on north wall
- Solution: Remove two interior roof drains, repitch 16 feet of roof to drain to existing gutter
- Replace deteriorated concrete masonry units and damaged window
- Total project cost $43,797.88 less $12,000 masonry restoration allowance already in contract = $31,797.88
CCS 2026 Owner’s Rep Services Proposal
- Approved unanimously (11-0 on roll call)
Ordinance 26-05 - Animal Services Fee Schedule Update
- Approved unanimously (11-0 on roll call)
Motion to Enter Executive Session (litigation)
- Approved unanimously (11-0 on roll call)
Discussion items (no vote)
Courthouse/Building Projects Update
- Dan Seedra and Randy Darnell (CCS) provided progress report
- Courthouse: Front entrance arches now visible; interior departments (probation, CASA) moved into new spaces; EOC nearing completion; Courtroom #1 ready for walkthrough Monday
- Transit building: Construction documents submitted to IDOT; awaiting approval to release for bids
- McKinley Avenue project: Final piece completes end of January when coroner moves in
- Public Safety Building basement remodel: Nearing completion, on track for next month
- All five projects on schedule, within budget, quality exceeds industry standards
Community Agency Reports
- Council on Aging/Senior Connections: Name change reminder; closed Friday due to weather; transportation services for dialysis only Friday-Saturday
- Growth Dimensions: 2025 had 1,200 business engagements, 150 active projects, 2.5M+ sq ft development, 3,600+ new jobs, $4M+ investments; 76 projects for 2026; enterprise zone had 13 new projects ($2.3M investment); website engagement up 60%
- CASA: Training for new advocates starts in coming weeks; donated 1,900 diapers plus supplies from giving tree; currently serving 55+ children
- Region 1 Planning Council: Meeting scheduled for next Friday; passenger rail project moving forward with anticipated groundbreaking this year
R1/Land Bank Property Issues
- Chad Parlich and Gary Combes addressed board regarding tax-delinquent lots purchased through R1 that cannot be sold due to title issues
- Stated county did not clear titles before selling lots through R1
- One lot has foundation already poured; construction halted on attorney advice
- Clarified issues are unrelated to Candlewick Lake despite prior board member statements
- Board Chairman noted issue would be addressed outside public comment; Board member Wiltse indicated R1’s recollection differs from what was stated
Public comment
Intersection Safety Concerns - Orth and Calonia Roads
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Juliet Pinkston (12805 Prairie Meadow Way): Requested four-way stop at Orth/Calonia intersection; travels it 4+ times daily for school runs; nicknamed “Dead Man’s Crossing” as teenager; cited recent serious accident Friday evening with jaws of life extraction, helicopter transport, driver who caused accident suffered severe brain injury; noted population growth (ISC tournaments, new subdivisions: Prairie Meadow, Newberry Place, Prairie Lane, Cross Creek Estates)
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Kelly Clark (12784 Vestus Place): Echoed safety concerns; personally slows when approaching from north/south despite no stop sign due to safety fears; intersection angle creates blind spots making gap judgment difficult; argues four-way stop wouldn’t meaningfully burden traffic; noted speed feedback signs recently installed don’t address stop sign compliance; emphasized duty of care, requested action before next fatality
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Board discussion: Member Shoemaker noted intersection has steep incline on one side creating traction issues in wet/icy conditions; drivers commit to crossing while still gaining traction; compared to Worth Road which has multiple stops along North Road; suggested greater need than Dawson Lake/76 intersection which received stop sign; noted Van Lars grocery store development will increase traffic; urged action without lengthy study process; Chairman referred matter to February 5 administration committee meeting
Notable moments (anything colorful, tense, or unusual)
- Meeting started 2 minutes late (6:32 p.m.) with Chairman apologizing for delay due to pre-meeting discussions “trying to get things squared away”
- Two board members (Walberg, Wiltse) experienced significant technical difficulties joining remotely; Wiltse “disappeared” and reconnected multiple times, prompting board member to note “he just disappeared again”
- Light banter during Scandroli discussion about building “Space Needle” and “rocket launching pad”; suggestion to “have the fair in the parking lot”
- Finance Chair good-naturedly joked about claims total being high because Tolman “was on QVC”
- Board member Wiltse attempted to dispute public commenter’s statement about R1 land bank properties during public comment period; Chairman appropriately redirected: “Mr. Wiltse, this is part of public comment…we can talk about that later”
- Member Shoemaker referenced teenage nickname “Dead Man’s Crossing” for Orth/Calonia intersection, underscoring long-standing safety concerns