Boone County Board Meeting
Jul 16, 2026
The lede
- Courthouse door debacle: Approved $10,863 change order for missing jury room door that wasn’t in original plans; passed 8-3 despite concerns about markup costs and who should pay for the oversight.
- Advisory ballot questions: Approved three separate advisory questions for November ballot on property tax relief, local control of solar/data centers/ag land, and school district administrative spending.
- Bridge replacements moving forward: Selected Willett Hofmann Associates for engineering on three bridge replacements (Squaw Prairie, Marengo, Lawrenceville Roads), 100% funded by RTA grant.
- City-county coordination revived: Chairman announced reconstitution of city-county coordinating committee with three board members to improve communication and collaboration.
Attendance & housekeeping
- Present: Carl Johnson, Josh Shoemaker, David Cordrey, Ryan Snyder, David Wiltse, Ryan Curry, Alyssa Patterson, Tom Walberg (arrived 6:32 PM), Rodney Riley, Dana Logsdon, Marion Thornberry
- Meeting time: 6:30 PM - 6:58 PM (28 minutes)
- Invocation by Mr. Shoemaker
- June 18, 2026 minutes approved
Decisions & votes
Appointments approved (unanimous voice vote)
- Rachel Sanford to Boone County Conservation District
- Dr. Bohlmann, Dr. Jokers, Dr. Sridhar, and Tara Branom MSN-FNP to Board of Health
Consent agenda approved (unanimous voice vote)
- Fund transfers, road projects, donations, raffles
Change Order #28 - Courthouse door (8-3, passed)
- Approved not-to-exceed $10,863.19 for missing jury deliberation room door
- Dissenting votes: Walberg, Riley, Thornberry
- Discussion highlights: Door was removed during demo but not included in restoration plans. Judge discovered missing door after room completion. Requires custom installation in narrow original courthouse wall. Board members questioned why contractor/architect error should be county’s expense and requested breakdown of $8,042 labor estimate. Staff noted it’s time-and-material, likely to come in under budget, and door hardware already owned.
- Johnson abstained from related claims as usual
Resolution 26-18 - Election judges appointment (unanimous voice vote)
Claims totaling $2,127,579.81 (11-0 with Johnson abstention on specific items)
- Johnson abstained on William Charles, Northern Illinois Service Co., Core & Main, Highway Department, and sewage/construction claims
MOU with Landfill #2 Solar Project Owners (11-0)
Bridge engineering contract - Willett Hofmann Associates (11-0)
- Phase I & II engineering for three-bridge bundle on Piscasaw Creek
- 100% funded by RTA grant
- Snyder abstained (customer relationship with O’Brien Civil Works)
Hunter Road culvert extension - O’Brien Civil Works ($216,530, 10-0 with 1 abstention)
- Low bid accepted
- Snyder abstained due to business relationship
Resolution 26-22 - Property tax relief advisory question (unanimous voice vote)
Resolution 26-23 - Local control advisory question (unanimous voice vote)
- Covers commercial solar, battery storage, data centers, agricultural land use
Resolution 26-24 - School district administrative spending advisory question (unanimous voice vote)
Resolution 26-19 - State’s Attorney COLA (11-0, effective July 1, 2026)
Resolution 26-20 - Public Defender COLA (11-0, effective July 1, 2026)
Resolution 26-21 - Sheriff COLA (11-0, effective July 1, 2026)
Discussion items (no vote)
Community Agency Reports:
- Senior Connections: Several staff retirements, comprehensive plan underway with facility improvements coming, enhanced marketing/outreach efforts across county
- Growth Dimensions: 58 active prospects, 44 business retention projects, 28 enterprise zone projects. Notable: DMD Investments annexing land east of Genoa Road/US 20; automotive supplier considering 17 acres; manufacturer eyeing 40-60 acres with tollway visibility. Welch Brothers and Rush Power Systems breaking ground. Growth Dimensions selected to coordinate I-39 Logistics Corridor Association and nominated for Midwest USA Organization of the Year.
- CASA: Cars for CASA event Sept 27 at RBC ATC, sponsorships and vendor spots available, 50/50 raffle active
Landfill groundwater monitoring contract: City to reject all bids due to high prices; current vendor (Pace) will honor previous contract pricing after bid notification issue. Contract expected next month.
City-County Coordinating Committee: Chairman announced three board members appointed (Logsdon, Patterson, Shoemaker - one per district). Quarterly meetings on Tuesdays (pending mayor confirmation). Goal: improve city-county communication and coordination on shared projects.
Meeting location change: August finance committee meeting (Aug 10, 6:00 PM) moved to McKinley facility for tour of recent improvements. Administrative committee Aug 6 stays at courthouse. Regular board meeting Aug 20, 6:30 PM.
Public comment
None
Notable moments
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The missing door: Light moment when staff explained the jury deliberation room door was demolished but never planned for replacement—judge walked in and asked “Where’s the door?” Board members expressed frustration over paying for what appeared to be architect/contractor oversight, with one member joking “I can do it for a third [of the cost].”
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Johnson’s abstention ritual: Regular recitation of Carl Johnson’s extensive list of abstentions on claims due to business relationships (William Charles, Northern Illinois Service Co., Core & Main, Highway Department, sewage/construction work)
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Snort during invocation: Brief audio interruption during prayer
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Rapid-fire advisory questions: Three separate ballot questions handled in quick succession, all passing unanimously with minimal discussion
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UCCI conference travelers: Brief exchange confirming Tom and Dave attending next week’s annual conference
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McKinley meeting shuffle: Scheduling discussion revealed chairman will be on vacation Aug 6, prompting switch from administrative to finance meeting for facility tour. Fair timing also factored into decision (“You can run across the street”).
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28-minute meeting: Efficient meeting despite courthouse change order debate and multiple resolutions