New Tazewell County board member sworn in despite objections

Mike Kramer, Pekin Daily Times
·2 min read

The appointment of a new District Two Tazewell County Board member was nearly put on hold during Wednesday’s meeting when Board member Bill Atkins moved to postpone the appointment until the March meeting.

According to Atkins, Jon Hopkins of Morton is one of four candidates for a seat left vacant when former Board member Vivian Hagaman stepped down earlier this year.

His appointment would mean Hopkins would run as an incumbent in the March primary election.

“For that reason and so we are not, as a Board, saying that this individual has some greater preference to the three individuals … he’s running against, I’m asking that it be postponed,” Atkins said.

The motion to postpone was defeated 11-6, and Hopkins was sworn in as the new Board member.

A business owner in Peoria who served as a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters there, Hopkins moved to Morton in 2017.

“I felt like there was more I could do for my community here,” he said. “I hope to serve the people of Tazewell County as well as I can.”

New Tazewell County Board member Jon Hopkins of Morton (left) takes his oath of office from Tazewell County Clerk and Recorder of Deeds John Ackerman.
New Tazewell County Board member Jon Hopkins of Morton (left) takes his oath of office from Tazewell County Clerk and Recorder of Deeds John Ackerman.

A proposed Tazewell County Justice Center annex was the subject of several agenda items Wednesday.

The Board approved a construction manager proposal and an architect services proposal for the new annex and building rehabilitation.

The Board also voted to accept a $45,000 asbestos abatement proposal from M&O Environmental Company for windows replacement at the McKenzie Building in Pekin.

In other business, the Board:

  • Voted to award a $101,965 contract to Porter Brothers Construction, Inc. Porter Brothers furnish and stockpile seal coat aggregate for the Cincinnati Road District. The contract will be paid for from the township’s Motor Fuel Tax Fund.

  • Approved a $142,525 bridge repair contract in Hittle Road District to Stark Excavating, Inc. The amount will be paid from County Bridge Funds and local township funds.

  • Passed a resolution to enter into a Phase II Design Engineering Services Agreement with Maurer-Stutz, Inc. and a resolution for improvement under the Highway Code. Both measures were aimed at improving embankment stability along Toboggan Avenue near Hopedale.

  • Authorized the purchase of Microsoft Server 2022 OS licenses for $100,000.

This article originally appeared on Pekin Daily Times: New county board member sworn in despite objections in Tazewell County