Board to consider proclamation making Clinton County a purple heart county

    Clinton County Board member Greg Riechman asked the board to consider making a proclamation designating Clinton County as a purple heart county during the board meeting on Monday, July 20.
    Riechman said Carl Huels and Larissa Monken at the Standin' Proud Veterans Tribute Museum in Bartelso have gone to great measures to recognize local veterans.
    "On behalf of Carl Huels, the founder and owner of the museum, and Larissa Monken, who is the museum administrator, and myself, an active museum volunteer, we would like to respectfully request the board's consideration of a proclamation designating Clinton County as a purple heart county," Riechman said.
    The designation would provide a meaningful opportunity to publicly recognize and honor the many courageous men and women who were wounded or made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
    By adopting the proclamation, Clinton County would join St. Clair County as one of only two counties south of Springfield and nine other counties in Illinois designed as purple heart counties.
    Should the proclamation be adopted, they are requesting the county's support in installing purple heart county signs at the major entry points into Clinton County. Recommended sign locations would be at about 12 primary entrances into Clinton County along state and county highways. Final locations would be determined in coordination with the Clinton County Highway Department and the Illinois Department of Transportation.
    August is Purple Heart Month, and Riechman said he would like to see the board make the proclamation effective at the Aug. 17 board meeting.
    Clinton County Board chairman Brad Knolhoff said they are requesting some funding possibly from the tourism board. Knolhoff asked the tourism committee to review the request and make a decision on the tourism funding for the proposed proclamation.
    During the zoning and subdivision portion of the meeting, the board approved a special use family split for Neal and Reed Timmermann in Wheatfield Township. The property is on Spring Road and is zoned agricultural. The Timmermanns own almost 100 acres, and Neal would like to allow Reed to build a shed and eventually a house on three acres.
    The board approved the Kluemke-Timmermann First Subdivision. The subdivision was prepared by Netemeyer Engineering and is a one-lot subdivision in Wade Township, west of Carlyle on Varel Road. The property is zoned agricultural and consists of about 130 acres. They want to split 4.51 acres with the vineyard from the house and farm ground.
    The board approved Huels Hills Subdivision as a one-lot subdivision in Carlyle Township. The property is on Sand Ridge Road southeast of Carlyle. The one lot subdivision for a family split was approved by the zoning board in May. The city of Carlyle reviewed and approved the plat on July 14.
    During the insurance portion of the meeting, Nelson Heinz-mann said some bigger claims have come in and they are currently, without the reimbursements, about 20% over budget. They listened to some concerns from department heads during the executive committee meeting, and there was a meeting to address some of those concerns on Friday, July 24, at the Clinton County Courthouse.
    During the road and bridge portion of the meeting, county engineer Dan Behrens updated the board on some projects. They spent $116,700 for hot mix asphalt to level some roads with hot mix. They spent $128,600 on oil and chipping the roads. The Highway Department spent $40,000 on striping roads. They also repaired a couple of bridge railings.
    The board approved a resolution regarding public defender and sheriff's compensation.
    Health Department administrator Chris Liedel said the Health Department had a back-to-school clinic on July 23 and will have another on July 30.
    The department sent in ticks to be tested after two were found around the Carlyle Lake area. They were both Lone Star ticks.
    Danielle Solis was approved as a trustee of the Germantown Rural Fire Protection District.
    A motion for the adjournment of the Board of Review or the 2025 tax year was approved. Tax bills should be going out in mid August.
    The next board meeting is 7 p.m. on Aug. 17.