Before the monthly Hamilton County Board meeting, board members gathered to approve three Class C liquor licenses in the area.
Reegan and Holly Schuster of The Liquor Hut, Ryan Rubenacker of Rube’s Liquor Locker, and Asif Hemdani of Hunts Gas N Go were all issued liquor licenses. These licenses will expire in November 2026. Each individual paid the county $1,750.
After the liquor control meeting concluded, the board transitioned to the regular monthly session, during which member Landon Vaughan provided updates on the courthouse’s second-floor bathroom. The architect will release permits soon, with bids due by June 4th. Three bidders have shown interest, an improvement over previous attempts.
During this session, two approvals were made. The first was a proposal to acquire new GIS aerial drone footage, presented by Supervisor of Assessments Clint Hopfinger. The second was the acceptance of the Fiscal Year 2025 Workers’ Comp Audit and claim totaling $4,442.
Next, a resolution pertaining to Juror pay was tabled to allow board members time to gather more information for a better discussion. Following that, the last item on the agenda was also tabled. Chairman Kelly Woodrow brought up the use of the former Highway Department office. Woodrow stated that he would first discuss with Hamilton County Sheriff Tracy Lakin, though other options were presented by different departments. State’s Attorney Sarah Mead explained that the Pre-Trial Services officer would benefit from using the office, and that relocating the EMA would also be a good fit. The office has been vacant since January, with recent improvements including scraping and repainting, but heat installation would need to be added. Woodrow reiterated that a conversation with Sheriff Lakin was needed first.
Following discussions about the office space, all three highway recommendations were approved. Illini Asphalt’s bid will treat Edgar’s Road and Rural Hills Road. ET Simond’s bid covers the HMA Resurfacing of Dale Road. The board also approved financial responsibility and submission for the Safe Streets and Roads Grant.
Before concluding the meeting, Bellwether Representative Dustin Harmon shared that the Hamilton County Board will need to hold a special meeting before June 1st to approve the new Solar and Wind Ordinance. Additionally, the board will hold a public hearing before the special meeting on May 27 at 6 pm.