Hancock County Board

Hancock County Board Delays Vote on Solar Farm Permit; Hires Forensic Auditor

Joy Swearingen, The Quill Correspondent

 A public hearing was held during the Hancock County board meeting July 21, to allow comment on  special use permit requests for two solar projects near Augusta.

Following the hearing, the board voted to send the application back to committee for clarification.

Board president, Mark Menn reminded the board that they have 60 days to act after the request is submitted, and the August meeting will be two days before that deadline.

Alex Farkas of Cornview Development (formerly known as 22c Development) explained steps he has taken with these requests. Farkas currently has several solar projects in progress in Hancock County.

Farkas said he submitted a permit request for these projects earlier in the year. In April, the county revised its solar ordinance to be in compliance with new state regulations. Farkas submitted  amended requests in June that complied with the new county ordinance and incorporated feedback from Bellwether, based on the first applications. (Bellwether is the consultant hired by the county to review applications for solar projects.)

Farkas gave the board a report from Bellwether indicating he had met the county requirements.

Board member Tom Rodgers pointed out discrepancies in the application, related to dates and physical location of the projects.

Board member Steve Finney expressed concern for the road use description, and the differences in access between a similar project on Rt. 96 and the proposed projects on Rt. 61.

David Finney, who farms next to the project, noted that high quality farmland is being taken out of production. He urged the county not to approve the project unless they hire an engineer and an attorney qualified to review the plans.

Larry McElroy, owner of the land being leased for the project, spoke saying he is a landowner and has the right to do as he wants with his land.

Those voting in favor of sending the application back to the Building and Grounds Committee for clarification were Mark Hanson, Harry Douglas, Josh Turner, Steve Finney, Steve Lucie, Jason Jacquot, Mark Harrison, Wayne Bollin, Michelle Merritt and Lee Ann Lambert. Those voting no were Tom Rodgers, Dennis Castlebury, and Mark Menn.  Board members Alex Blythe and Joe Boyles were absent.

Forensic Auditor

A special meeting was held at 6 p.m. prior to the regular board meeting, for a remote interview with a possible forensic auditor, to review credit card statements and receipts related to a card used by the sheriff’s office.  

During the meeting the board approved hiring Clifton Larson Allen LLP as a forensic auditor, with yes votes from Hanson, Douglas, Turner, Rodgers, Castlebury, Menn, Finney and Bollin; no votes from Harrison, Jacquot and Lucie; and votes to abstain from Merritt and Lambert.

 It was noted that if any sign of fraud is found, it will be turned over to the Illinois State Police.

The board heard from several visitors at the start of the meeting.

Kamryn Schrepfer of Gray Hunter and Stenn gave the audit review for the fiscal year ending Nov. 30, 2025.

The report for the overall audit was “unmodified,” having no qualifying concerns. Within the audit, a qualifier was applied to their review of the Health Department. An issue with new software used to restart  the dental clinic would not print reports needed for the audit. All accounts were in order, but did not have required documentation, according to Schrepfer.

She noted that the general fund balance had increased in the past fiscal year.

Tasha Speer and Jessica Croy from the Health Department were present.

Tommy Buckert from Hamilton City Council spoke about problems he had recently, delivering recyclables to the WIRC collection site for electronics and paint, housed at the county Highway Department garage.

As a service to their residents, Hamilton collects these items and delivers them to Carthage on the day the center is open.

Since the county only provides the site, Buckert was advised to talk directly with Tri-County Recycling in Macomb that runs the program.

Brandon Wilson, also of Hamilton City Council, asked for clarification on what to do regarding animal control. The city has taken over the work and the cost to make sure their citizens are protected, he stated.

Harry Douglas, chairman of the Health and Miscellaneous Committee, explained that the county responsibility only has to do with rabies control. He suggested Wilson meet with the committee for more information.

The board approved hiring Alex Keyt for legal advice on energy issues. His payment will come from fees paid in the energy application process.

In other business, the board:

• Discussed the idea of creating a green energy committee to specialize in current and future energy projects and issues in the county, removing this responsibility from the Building and Grounds committee;

• Approved the purchase of two Stryker lift cots and two power load systems for ambulances;

• Agreed to hire Sidwell to provide GIS maps for the Office of Assessment;

• Appointed Jason Jacquot as noxious weed superintendent;

• Authorized approval of election judges for the county;

• Approved a tax deed resolution for a property in West Point;

• Set the county employee holiday schedule for 2027;

• Accepted bids from Bob Steinman for two bicentennial banners;

• Approved declaring specified EMS equipment as surplus and putting it up for bid;

• Approved the five-year waste management plan for the county.