Stark County hires architect for new highway building

By JOHN A. BALLENTINE
For The Prairie News

TOULON – After a closed session Tuesday evening to discuss the purchase of real property, the Stark County Board of Supervisors hired the services of an architect firm.

Board Chair Kari Bush said Mackinaw-based Atelier, P.C.was hired to design the new highway building.
No other details on plans for the new building were provided during or after the board meeting.
This was the board’s eighth closed-session discussion on the topic of purchasing real property since May 2024.

In the closed session Tuesday were board members Bush, Vice-Chair Robin Nowlan, Tom Howes, Jamie Schaffer, Adam Wilson, Melissa Shipp, Joe Orwig and Bill Loane. Also in attendance were County Engineer Judd Giffin, State Bank of Toulon Executive Vice-President/Chief Loan Officer Doug Blunier, County Treasurer Paula Leezer and Stark County State’s Attorney Austin King.

Giffin’s highway report informed the board that he is working on the new highway building and a survey. He said he wanted to discuss this in closed session.

Giffin also reported that the highway department has been replacing signs around the county with larger ones. He said road patching has been worked on and bridge inspections and the Castleton Road repair should happen soon, since the county’s Motor Fuel Tax bid was approved as part of last year’s program.

Leezer reported that June 2 was the cutoff date to pay taxes and that the county received $10.2 million that will be disbursed on July 2. She proposed that the board investigate purchasing a generator as a backup for the courthouse and the annex building next to the courthouse. This would prevent closing county offices due to electrical outages.

Sheriff Steven Sloan reported various repairs were accomplished at the courthouse. He also reported that the new E911 Center’s backup generator did not run consistently during Toulon’s two electrical outages. It was tested and nothing was wrong with it. Sloan said it will be inspected and tested again soon.

The sheriff stated that he has plans to have his budget proposal completed with reductions in August.
Duane Stevens of the Henry-Stark County Health Department gave a lengthy presentation based on the 2024 Annual Report. He covered various topics that affect Stark County’s healthcare and medical issues.
The Abingdon Telepharmacy has been closed due to low utilization. Stevens said it is being transferred to Toulon, but a required state license has not been issued yet.

Also, Stevens said OSF St. Francis OnCall Urgent Care from Peoria will be available once a week on a limited basis for maternity issues. Plans are for a mental-health therapist to set up services in Toulon.