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ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS

COUNTYBULLETIN

FEBRUARY 2020
FEBRUARY 2020

Illinois Association of County Officials
SPRING CONFERENCE
April 20-22, 2020 • Wyndham Hotel
Downtown Springfield
Register today at www.iacoonline.org

Carroll County Courthouse security New cannabis revenue
upgrades include metal detector exceeds $10 million

A 2-year project to beef up security at the historic Carroll County Courthouse is
complete. As at most other courthouses in the region, visitors now must enter
through just one door and walk through a metal detector. The entrance is on the
west side of the building facing Main Street. Other entrances now are locked, Sheriff
Ryan Kloepping said.
The general public is not allowed to bring weapons, cellphones, cameras, elec-
tronics, marijuana, food and beverages into the building, although some exceptions
will be made.
“Some people have to take water with their medications,” Kloepping said.
Also, the media is allowed cellphones, cameras and other electronics when cov-
ering some cases. In addition, the security camera system was upgraded and alarms The Illinois Department of Revenue
were added to all exterior doors. announced that adult-use cannabis sales
The county treasurer’s office was generated $7,332,058 in cannabis tax
moved to a new spot so the lobby revenue during the month of January,
could be expanded, and the veterans with an additional $3,147,928.29 gener-
assistance office, previously was ated in retail sales tax revenue. Governor
accessible only from an outside Pritzker’s recently released budget
entrance, now can be reached from conservatively estimated the state would
inside the courthouse. collect $28 million in cannabis tax
A second handicap parking space revenue during the remainder of the
also was created; both spaces are on fiscal year, ending June 30, 2020. The
the south end of the parking lot. A announcement puts the state on track to
sidewalk for those physically The public entrance at the Carroll County surpass that estimate.
disabled also has been added; it Courthouse now is located behind the white Once administrative fees are
takes visitors to an entrance for the columns. In addition to the metal detector, accounted for, 45% of the adult-use
disabled. alarms were added to all exterior doors. cannabis tax revenue will be reinvested
The renovations, finished Feb. 10, in communities disproportionately
took about two years and $30,000 to complete. The courthouse, in continuous use impacted by the failed war on drugs and
since its construction in 1858, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. used to fund substance abuse and men-
tal health programs. The $3,147,928.29
in sales tax revenue will be divided
Pictured above: Deputy Brett Guenzler stands on duty at the recently remodeled public
entrance to the Carroll County Courthouse. After a two-year remodel, there now is a metal between the state’s general revenue
detector, dedicated doors to enter and exit the building, new security cameras, door alarms and fund and the local governments where
a secure front lobby. Source: Phillip Hartman, Shaw Media, saukvalley.com. purchases were made.