Meeting Summary and Briefs: Montgomery County Board for February 10, 2026

Montgomery County Board Meeting | February 10, 2026

The Montgomery County Board met for its regular session on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at the Historic Courthouse in Hillsboro. Chairman Doug Donaldson called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. with 14 members present. The board approved a heavily debated 54% salary benchmark for three elected officials and authorized a $300,000 internal loan from the Coal Royalty Fund to purchase a new tandem dump truck for the Highway Department. The board also moved forward with significant renovations to the Historic Courthouse and approved a tax consulting contract to pursue federal renewable energy credits. The meeting adjourned at 7:12 P.M.

Board Member Andy Ritchie Resigns
Chairman Doug Donaldson read a formal letter of resignation from County Board member and Finance & Budget Committee Chairman Andy Ritchie. Ritchie is resigning his elected position effective February 27, 2026, due to the upcoming sale of his home and a relocation out of state. Donaldson noted that Ritchie has been a significant asset to the board and presented him with an award in gratitude for his leadership and service. The board unanimously voted to accept the resignation.

County Farm Lease Awarded to Kasten
The board unanimously approved a new three-year cash-rent lease for the Montgomery County Farm, consisting of approximately 119.9 acres. Following a live bidding process where the top bidders raised their offers five times, the lease was awarded to Arlen and Allen Kasten for $450 per acre. The new lease will begin February 15, 2026, and run through November 30, 2028, generating an annual fixed cash rent of $53,995 for the county.

Schoolhouse Avenue Culvert Funded
The board unanimously approved Resolution 2026-04, appropriating $12,000 from the County Aid to Bridge Fund to assist the Fillmore Road District with a 50/50 culvert replacement project. The funds will cover half of the estimated $24,000 total cost to replace a 66-inch by 70-foot polycoated pipe culvert on Schoolhouse Avenue in Fillmore Consolidated Township.

City-Wide Clean-Up Grants Renewed
The board voted unanimously to continue the City-Wide Clean-Up grant program for 2026. The popular program provides financial assistance to local municipalities and townships to help offset the landfill and dumpster fees associated with hosting community clean-up days. Eligible units of local government can be reimbursed up to $750 per year, paid through the Montgomery County Board Trustee Fund.

HELP Safety Committee Formed
Under the Coordinating Committee report, the board approved the creation of a new HELP Safety Committee aimed at reducing the county’s Workers’ Compensation premiums by 10%. The board unanimously appointed Sheriff Tyson Holshouser, Treasurer Nikki Lohman, County Board Administrator Mike Plunkett, County Engineer Cody Greenwood, and Maintenance Director Phil Ernst to the committee. The group’s first meeting is scheduled for March 10.

Nextlink Broadband Deployment Reaches 71 Percent
The board received a written update regarding the ongoing rollout of Nextlink broadband internet services across the county. Nextlink currently has 13 towers in place in Montgomery County, with three additional towers ready for deployment this calendar year. With the current infrastructure, the company reported that it is covering 71% of its obligated locations with gigabit speeds.

Travel Voucher Approved Over GSA Rate
The board unanimously approved an overnight travel voucher for Veterans Assistance Commission Superintendent Cassandra L. Hampton following a roll call vote. The voucher, totaling $358.69 for a two-day IACVAC Winter Conference in Peoria, exceeded the standard GSA lodging rate by $49.78, thereby requiring explicit full board approval to process the reimbursement.

PETA Consulting Contract Concludes
Stan Jenkins of Property Evaluation & Tax Advisors (PETA) addressed the board to report on the conclusion of his firm’s six-month consulting contract with the Supervisor of Assessments (SOA) office. Jenkins noted that the office has made considerable progress, praising employee Michaela Gray for keeping the office operating while understaffed. He reported that new Supervisor of Assessments Tysha Mullen has now successfully staffed the office and completed the necessary training and certifications.