Citizen Portal News Indiana

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1 week ago

Madison County council hires consultant to model property-tax changes and rejects immediate hiring freeze The council approved a $15,000 contract for a vendor to run parcel-level modeling of Senate Bill 1’s effects on county property-tax revenue, while rejecting a proposed hiring freeze after debate about which departments could absorb staff cuts.

Madison County Council just approved a $15,000 contract to predict how new tax laws could impact property revenue—while a heated debate led to the rejection of a hiring freeze!

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#MadisonCounty #IN #MadisonCountyPropertyTax #CitizenPortal #GovernmentAccountability

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1 week ago

Madison County adopts ordinance to set rules for opioid settlement spending and green-lights related jail funding Madison County commissioners adopted an ordinance establishing procedures for appropriation, expenditure and reporting of opioid settlement funds and approved early 2026 funding tied to criminal-justice and jail-treatment services, including a new jail navigator, peer recovery support and expanded behavioral-health contracting.

Madison County is taking a bold step in fighting the opioid crisis by adopting a new ordinance to ensure settlement funds directly support jail-based treatment services.

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#MadisonCounty #IN #CitizenPortal #MentalHealthSupport #AddictionRecovery #MadisonCountyOpioidSettlement

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2 weeks ago

Madison County accepts $1.55 million in CDBG‑CV CARES funding and $400,000 SAMHSA drug‑court grant; SIUE to assist with contact tracing The County Board authorized a substantial amendment to accept $1,548,957 in CDBG‑CV CARES Act funds, adopted an immediate $400,000 SAMHSA drug court appropriation, and the Madison County Board of Health approved a sub‑grantee agreement with SIUE for contact tracing; votes were unanimous on the listed items.

Madison County is set to receive over $1.5 million in federal funds to support low-income residents and expand drug-court services, marking a significant step in community health and recovery efforts.

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#MadisonCounty #IL #DrugCourtExpansion #MadisonCountyLowIncome #PublicHealth

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2 weeks ago

Madison County Board postpones 'Stepping Up' jail-diversion resolution, forms subcommittee County Board members supported the goals of 'Stepping Up' but voted 25–3 on Sept. 16, 2020 to postpone adopting the resolution and asked a subcommittee to return with a concrete plan and benchmarks within 60 days.

Madison County is taking a crucial step toward reforming mental health treatment in jails, but can they agree on the right plan to make it happen?

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#MadisonCounty #IL #CriminalJusticeReform #CitizenPortal #MadisonCountyMentalHealth #MentalHealthDiversion #CommunityCollaboration

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2 weeks ago

Madison County Board postpones decision to place PTELL referendum on November ballot After hours of debate and submitted public comments opposing PTELL, the Madison County Board voted 18–6 on Aug. 10, 2020 to postpone for 60 days a resolution that would have placed the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) question on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The Madison County Board's recent decision to postpone the PTELL referendum has sparked intense debate about property taxes and voter choice.

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#MadisonCounty #IL #MadisonCountyPropertyTax #CitizenPortal #LocalGovAI #PublicSafety

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2 weeks ago

Madison County Board approves 2.25% raise for nonunion staff and re‑appropriates $15.4 million after heated debate The County Board adopted a 2.25% pay increase for non‑bargaining employees effective Dec. 1, 2018, and approved $15,404,625 in re‑appropriations from remaining FY2018 funds to FY2019 budgets after a lengthy floor dispute about personnel and IT line items and auditor remarks.

The Madison County Board has approved a 2.25% pay raise for non-union staff and reallocated over $15 million after a contentious debate—what does this mean for the county's budget?

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#MadisonCounty #IL #MadisonCountyBudget #CitizenPortal #EmployeeCompensation

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2 weeks ago

Madison County Board unanimously approves 3% one‑time bonus for county employees The Madison County Board voted Nov. 30 to adopt two measures granting a one‑time, 3% off‑schedule lump‑sum payment to AFSCME 31 General Unit members and to non‑bargaining county employees; the payments are based on base pay as of Dec. 1, 2020 and slated for the Dec. 10, 2021 paycheck.

The Madison County Board just approved a 3% one-time bonus for employees, ensuring a little extra cheer in their December paychecks!

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#MadisonCounty #IL #CitizenPortal #WorkforceSupport #MadisonCountyEmployees #PublicSafety

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2 weeks ago

Madison County Board does not move forward with advisory referendum on cutting board size A presented resolution to ask voters whether to reduce the County Board from 29 members after the 2020 census did not receive a motion and therefore was not placed on the April 6, 2021 ballot; board members debated procedure and whether to draft a plan instead. The board recessed to Jan. 20, 2021.

The Madison County Board's bid to let voters decide on reducing its size to streamline governance fell flat after a procedural stalemate.

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#MadisonCounty #IL #ElectionParticipation #CitizenPortal #LocalGovReform

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2 weeks ago

Madison County Board appoints Adam Walden as county engineer amid dissent over process and cost The Madison County Board voted 20–7 on Feb. 17 to appoint Adam Walden county engineer for a six-year term at $129,400, prompting objections from several board members who said a more experienced candidate was bypassed and questioned the timing given fiscal pressures.

The Madison County Board's controversial appointment of Adam Walden as county engineer has sparked a fierce debate over experience, timing, and taxpayer costs.

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#MadisonCounty #IL #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #GovernmentTransparency

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2 weeks ago

Madison County board adopts FY2023 budget and levy, keeps property-tax rate unchanged; approves vehicle and capital purchases The board approved the FY2023 budget and a tax levy package for Dec. 1, 2022–Nov. 30, 2023 while not increasing the county’s property-tax levy, and approved a set of capital purchases and committee resolutions including vehicle buys and highway project funding.

Madison County's board has adopted a budget that keeps property taxes flat for the fifth year in a row while addressing critical needs in public safety and community services.

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#MadisonCounty #IL #MadisonCountyBudget #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #TransportationFunding

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2 weeks ago

Madison County Board approves major ARPA funding package for stormwater, water and local infrastructure The Madison County Board on Sept. 21 approved a suite of immediate emergency appropriations and ARPA-funded payments totaling millions for stormwater, drinking water, sewer, public safety radios and community services, with unanimous roll-call approvals reported by committee chairs.

Madison County is investing millions in vital infrastructure projects, ensuring cleaner water and better storm management for its residents!

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#MadisonCounty #IL #MadisonCountyInfrastructure #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #WaterResources #EmergencyFunding

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2 weeks ago

Chair Prenzler unveils proposed Madison County board map reducing districts from 29 to 25; public hearing set Chairman Kurt Prenzler presented a proposed county board redistricting map on May 11 that would reduce districts from 29 to 25; the University of Illinois Springfield prepared the plan using American Community Survey data and a public hearing was scheduled for Tuesday at 5 p.m.; maps are posted online and paper copies are available.

Madison County is reshaping its political landscape by proposing a new district map that reduces representation from 29 to 25, prioritizing community integrity and minority neighborhoods.

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#MadisonCounty #IL #RedistrictingReform #CitizenPortal #MinorityNeighborhoods

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2 weeks ago

Madison County Board adopts resolution opposing Illinois HB5855, sends copies to Springfield By a 22–4 vote, the Madison County Board passed a resolution opposing Illinois HB5855 (Protect Illinois Communities Act) and called on the governor to veto similar measures and for repeal of certain state statutes; debate included appeals to constitutional rights and calls for a ballot measure.

The Madison County Board has taken a bold stand against the controversial Illinois HB5855, raising concerns over Second Amendment rights and the potential criminalization of law-abiding citizens.

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#MadisonCounty #IL #CitizenPortal #ConstitutionalRights #PublicSafety

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2 weeks ago

Madison County uses ARPA funds for IT security: Cisco DUO and Arctic Wolf contracts approved The county approved an ARPA-funded emergency appropriation for IT security and authorized purchases of Cisco DUO multi-factor authentication and Arctic Wolf monitoring services to bolster cybersecurity.

Madison County is taking a bold step to enhance cybersecurity by approving over $163,000 in emergency funding for advanced protection measures against ransomware threats.

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#MadisonCounty #IL #CybersecurityInitiatives #CitizenPortal #RansomwareProtection #MadisonCountyIT

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2 weeks ago

Madison County board allows Granite City to pursue expanded enterprise‑zone incentives, approves ordinance to seek state sign‑off The County Board voted Nov. 17 to approve an amended intergovernmental agreement and Ordinance 2021‑09 allowing the City of Granite City to seek state approval to expand incentives in the Southwestern Madison County Enterprise Zone. The board clarified it was not approving immediate county tax abatement and passed the package 20–3.

Granite City is on the brink of unlocking new economic potential with expanded incentives, but what does this mean for local taxpayers?

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#MadisonCounty #IL #CitizenPortal #EconomicDevelopment #TaxIncentives #CommunityReinvestment #MadisonCountyEnterpriseZone

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2 weeks ago

Madison County board adopts ARPA reporting guidelines for $25.5 million first tranche The Madison County Board directed Ernst & Young to prepare Treasury reports and adopted scoring guidelines to prioritize projects for the county's $25,539,031.50 first tranche of American Rescue Plan Act funding, emphasizing broadband, stormwater, sewer and county-owned infrastructure.

Madison County is set to transform its infrastructure and economy with a strategic $25.5 million investment, prioritizing projects that matter most to residents!

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#MadisonCounty #IL #BroadbandAccess #MadisonCountyInfrastructure #CybersecurityInitiatives #CitizenPortal

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2 weeks ago

Pontoon Beach, county leaders and residents praise first responders after the death of Officer Tyler Timmins Pontoon Beach Mayor Mike Pagano described the Oct. 26 shooting that killed Officer Tyler Timmins and thanked Madison County Sheriff's Department and neighboring agencies for support, calling specific officers who tried to save Timmins 'heroes.' The board observed a moment of silence and extended condolences.

In a heartfelt tribute, Mayor Mike Pagano hailed the bravery of first responders during the tragic shooting of Officer Tyler Timmins, calling them "heroes" who displayed extraordinary courage.

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#MadisonCounty #IL #CitizenPortal #MadisonCountyFirstResponders #PublicSafety

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2 weeks ago

Madison County Board approves dozens of ARPA appropriations, including $6 million for Lake Drive and $8.5 million for Bethalto sewer project Madison County Board on Dec. 15 approved a broad slate of immediate emergency appropriations funded by ARPA for county facilities and infrastructure, including $6,000,000 for a Lake Drive stormwater project and $8,500,000 for a Bethalto/Wood River Township sewer interceptor. Committees unanimously recommended the measures.

Madison County is set to transform its infrastructure with a staggering $14.5 million in emergency appropriations, including major stormwater and sewer projects!

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#MadisonCounty #IL #InfrastructureImprovements #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety

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2 weeks ago

Madison County Board of Health adopts resolution recommending phased reopening; vote 26–2 The Madison County Board of Health voted 26–2 on May 12, 2020, to adopt a resolution recommending four phased reopening guidelines for businesses, places of worship and public spaces while noting the guidance is non‑binding and may conflict with the Governor’s executive order; members debated legal, insurance and public‑health risks before the vote.

Madison County's Board of Health has voted 26-2 to recommend a phased reopening plan, igniting fierce debate over the balance between economic recovery and public health.

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#MadisonCounty #IL #EconomicRecovery #CitizenPortal #MadisonCountyPublicHealth #PublicHealthGuidance

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2 weeks ago

Madison County board sends binding tax‑rate referendum to November ballot The Madison County Board voted 25–1 on June 17 to place a binding referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot asking voters whether the county’s maximum general‑fund tax rate should be set at 0.18% (down from 0.20%). Supporters said voters should decide; opponents warned the move could 'handcuff' future boards amid COVID‑19 uncertainty.

Madison County is giving voters the chance to decide if their maximum general-fund tax rate should drop from 0.20% to 0.18%, but some warn this could limit future boards' flexibility during emergencies.

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#MadisonCounty #IL #CivicParticipation #MadisonCountyTaxation

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2 weeks ago

Madison County to deploy mobile COVID‑19 testing unit to underserved communities Chair Kurt Prenzler announced a mobile COVID‑19 testing unit that will travel to underserved and minority communities; the county said partners include SIU School of Medicine, Lewis and Clark Community College and Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation and that testing could begin next week.

Madison County is set to launch a groundbreaking mobile COVID-19 testing unit aimed at bringing essential healthcare to underserved and minority communities starting next week!

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#MadisonCounty #IL #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal #MadisonCountyUnderserved #HealthAccess

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2 weeks ago

Madison County Board of Health withdraws draft reopening resolution and forms committee to rewrite it After hours of public-member remarks and legal concerns, the Madison County Board of Health voted unanimously May 8 to withdraw a draft resolution that would have lifted the county stay-at-home directive and to form a bipartisan committee to craft a revised reopening plan, with the Board to reconvene May 12.

Madison County's health officials have hit pause on their reopening plans, forming a bipartisan committee to address legal and procedural concerns before moving forward.

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#MadisonCounty #IL #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal #MadisonCountyHealth #CommunityReopening

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2 weeks ago

Victim testimony and KTS Predator Hunters prompts pledge of review from sheriff; group says state prosecutor declined evidence Multiple public commenters, including members of KTS Predator Hunters and a sexual‑assault survivor, urged Madison County officials to accept and act on evidence gathered by the group; Sheriff Lakin said the sheriff's office will meet the group and noted 155 cases presented to the State's Attorney since 2015.

A powerful testimony from a survivor of childhood sexual abuse has ignited a call for justice and accountability, as KTS Predator Hunters urge Madison County officials to take action against predators.

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#MadisonCounty #IL #CitizenPortal #MadisonCountyVictims #PublicSafety

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2 weeks ago

Madison County Board votes to terminate County Administrator Doug Hulme and IT Director Rob Dorman After public complaints and debate over due process, the Madison County Board voted April 16, 2020, to terminate County Administrator Doug Hulme and IT Director Rob Dorman and approved written resolutions directing notice and return of county property. Votes were taken after an executive-session review and legal counsel prepared termination notices with 30-day notice language.

The Madison County Board has made a shocking decision to terminate County Administrator Doug Hulme and IT Director Rob Dorman after serious allegations of misconduct surfaced.

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#MadisonCounty #IL #CitizenPortal #TransparencyInPublicService #PublicTrust #MadisonCountyGovernance

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2 weeks ago

Madison County declares COVID‑19 disaster, approves emergency appropriation and pandemic‑related contracts On April 15 the Madison County Board proclaimed a local disaster for COVID‑19, approved a $14,825 emergency appropriation to cover museum utilities, awarded a 36‑month fiber internet contract for $30,600 and approved a one‑year detention‑medical contract for $40,540.92.

Madison County has declared a COVID-19 disaster, unlocking emergency funds and vital contracts to support residents and essential services during the ongoing pandemic.

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#MadisonCounty #IL #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal #MadisonCountyEmergency #EmergencyManagement

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2 weeks ago

Madison County Board rejects proposed COVID‑era comp‑time plan after hours of debate A revised resolution authorizing additional comp‑time and benefits for several county offices during the COVID‑19 response failed on April 15 after members debated whether unions had negotiated alternate agreements and whether the county could afford the $380,599.66 liability the resolution referenced.

Madison County Board members battled for hours over a contentious resolution aimed at authorizing additional COVID-19 benefits, only to see it defeated amid concerns over budget liabilities.

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#MadisonCounty #IL #MadisonCountyCOVID19 #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #LaborRelations

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2 weeks ago

Madison County Board of Health hears outside attorney argue local boards can order reopenings At a May 7 telephonic special meeting, an outside attorney representing business clients told the Madison County Board of Health that, in his view, local boards (not the governor) hold authority to close or reopen businesses if they follow statutory procedures; the county'9s State'9s Attorney asked for the materials and will review before the board acts.

In a pivotal meeting, the Madison County Board of Health learned from an attorney that local boards may have the authority to reopen businesses, challenging the governor's directives during the COVID-19 crisis.

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#MadisonCounty #IL #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal #EconomicImpact

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2 weeks ago

Madison County board proclaims local disaster, authorizes emergency spending and staffing for COVID‑19 response Madison County’s board proclaimed a disaster due to COVID‑19, placed the proclamation on file and approved emergency appropriations and temporary staffing measures to support the county’s pandemic response.

Madison County has officially declared a disaster due to COVID-19, paving the way for emergency spending and staffing to combat the crisis.

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#MadisonCounty #IL #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal #MadisonCountyEmergency #CrisisManagement #EmergencyResponse

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2 weeks ago

Madison County board to put advisory questions on November ballot about rehiring retirees and legislative pay The Madison County Board voted July 15 to place two advisory referendum questions on the Nov. 3 ballot: whether retired county employees should be permitted to draw both pensions and county salaries, and whether Illinois legislators should stop automatic annual pay increases.

Madison County voters will have the chance to voice their opinions on whether retired officials should earn salaries while collecting pensions and if lawmakers should halt automatic pay increases—what will you decide?

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#MadisonCounty #IL #CitizenPortal #VoterParticipation

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2 weeks ago

Madison County board adds $4.9 million for COVID contact tracing and approves several small emergency grants The Madison County Board on Aug. 19 approved an immediate emergency appropriation of $4,905,792 from the Illinois Department of Public Health for local COVID-19 contact tracing and authorized several smaller grants for victim services and the Child Advocacy Center.

Madison County just secured nearly $5 million to boost COVID-19 contact tracing efforts, paving the way for immediate action against the pandemic!

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#MadisonCounty #IL #CitizenPortal #MadisonCountyPublicHealth #CommunitySupport #HealthCrisisResponse #EmergencyFunding