Chambana Sun

Champaign County Board met Feb. 20.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The County Board of Champaign County, Illinois met at a Regular Meeting, Thursday, February 20, 2020, at 6:30 P.M. in the Lyle Shields Meeting Room, Brookens Administrative Center, 1776 East Washington Street, Urbana, Illinois with County Executive Darlene Kloeppel presiding and Matthew Cross as Clerk of the meeting.

ROLL CALL

Roll call showed the following members present: Fears, Fortado, Goss, Harper, Ingram, McGuire, Patterson, Rector, Stohr, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Tinsley, Young, Clemmons, Dillard-Myers, Eisenmann, Esry, and Rosales – 19; absent: Wolken, Clifford, and Cowart – 3. Thereupon, County Executive Kloeppel declared a quorum present and the Board competent to conduct business. Board Member Young departed at 9:07 prior to adjournment.

PRAYER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

County Executive Kloeppel commemorated the founding of Champaign County on February 20, 1833, 187 years ago to the day. County Executive Kloeppel recited a poem by John Bailey. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited.

READ NOTICE OF MEETING

The Clerk read the Notice of the Meeting, said Notice having been published in The News Gazette on February 7, 10, and 14.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ADDENDA

Board Member Goss offered to remove item VIII. F-3 (Res. 2020-39) from the Consent Agenda; it was placed following XIII. Areas of Responsibility and Board Member Summers offered a motion to move item XI Litigation Committee to follow XV Other Business; Board Member Stohr seconded. County Executive Kloeppel reminded the board that billing outside counsel will be present for the Litigation Committee. The Motion carried by hand count. Board Member Summers offered a motion to approve the Agenda/Addenda as amended; Board Member Young seconded. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

DATE/TIME OF NEXT MEETINGS

Standing Committees:

A. County Facilities Committee Meeting

Tuesday, March 3, 2020 @ 6:30 PM

Lyle Shields Meeting Room

B. Environment & Land Use Committee Meeting

Thursday, March 5, 2020 @ 6:30 PM Lyle Shields Meeting Room

B. Highway & Transportation Committee Meeting 

Friday, March 6, 2020 @ 9:00 AM

1605 E Main Street, Urbana

Committee of the Whole:

A. Justice & Social Services; Policy, Personnel, & Appointments; Finance 

Tuesday, March 10, 2020 @ 6:30 PM

Lyle Shields Meeting Room

County Board:

A. Regular Meeting

Thursday, March 19, 2020 @6:30 PM 

Lyle Shields Meeting Room

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Tami Fruhling-Voges, Mayor of St. Joseph, spoke against Ordinance 2020-1, noting that nearby solar farms might limit the growth of the village and future planning.

Rohn Koester, Urbana resident, spoke about the jail and cash bail, indicating that the cash bail system itself is behind overcrowding issues at the jail.

Ben Joselyn, of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign, and Emily McKown, of the Channing Murry Foundation, spoke about the jail, supporting the closure of the downtown jail, opposing the satellite jail expansion, and supporting the end of the cash bail system.

Dottie Vura-Weis, Urbana resident, spoke against jail expansion and for increased social services.

Jordan Humphrey, of Champaign, spoke on recent gun violence, the jail expansion, and about the systemic contributors that create a path to both.

CONSENT AGENDA

Board member Esry offered a motion to approve the Consent Agenda—as amended to exclude Res. 2020-39—comprising 25 resolutions; Board Member Goss seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

Yeas: Fears, Fortado, Goss, Harper, Ingram, McGuire, Patterson, Rector, Stohr, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Tinsley, Young, Clemmons, Dillard-Myers, Eisenmann, Esry, and Rosales — 19

Nays: None

COMMUNICATIONS

Board Member Young discussed the lack of checks and balances with the current county executive form of government.

Board Member Esry read two letters form Joan Dykstra, Savoy Village President, and from Charles Smith, Village of Rantoul Mayor, both in opposition to Ordinance 2020-1 regarding solar farms.

Board Member Stohr spoke about Philo resident David Laker and called for a moment of silence in his memory. Board Member Rector also spoke about his admiration for David Laker.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Board Member Esry offered a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the County Board of January 23, 2020, as corrected to edit an error of “coffer” to “CAFR” in the Finance section of Areas of Responsibility; seconded by Board Chair Rosales. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

STANDING COMMITTEES

COUNTY FACILITIES

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action Taken for County Facilities on Feb 4, 2020 was accepted and placed on file.

ENVIRONMENT AND LAND USE

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action Taken for Environment and Land Use on February 6 was accepted and placed on file.

Board Member Esry offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2020-47 approving contract sale of County Property located at 1101 Carroll Avenue, Urbana; Board Member Summers seconded. Board Member Esry gave some brief information about the sale, noting that the land bank supports the sale. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Member Esry offered a motion to adopt Ordinance 2020-1 amending zoning ordinance, zoning case 945-AT-19; Board Member Taylor seconded. Significant discussion followed between various board members about both Ordinances 2020-1 and 2020-2, establishing 1⁄2 and 11⁄2 mile respective municipal buffers for solar farms in unincorporated Champaign County; Director of Planning and Zoning John Hall was invited to join the discussion. Board Member Esry noted that ELUC tied on both ordinances and, as such, both were presented to the board. Multiple board members noted that both ordinances provide increased notification and commenting opportunities to municipalities on the issue and the failure of both would allow for these increased protections. Planning and Zoning Director Hall clarified that currently the only industries that require municipal buffers are wind farms at 11⁄2 miles, mandated by state law, and solar farms at 1⁄2 mile by Champaign County; no other municipal buffers are in state; he also noted that if both ordinances were to pass, Ordinance 2020-2 would supersede that of 2020-1. A number of board members expressed concern that the 1⁄2-mile buffer would stifle municipal growth, while a number of board members expressed concern that the 11⁄2-mile buffer would cede too much power to municipalities to control land beyond their boundaries. The motion carried on a roll call vote requiring twelve affirmative votes.

Yeas: Fears, Fortado, Ingram, Patterson, Stohr, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Tinsley, Young, Eisenmann, and Rosales — 12

Nays: Goss, Harper, McGuire, Rector, Clemmons, Dillard-Myers, and Esry – 7

Board Member Esry offered a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2020-2 amending zoning ordinance, zoning case 946-AT-19; Board Member Harper seconded. Minimal discussion followed as it was largely discussed with Ordinance No. 2020-1; Board Member Esry thanked Planning and Zoning Director Hall. The motion failed on a roll call vote requiring twelve affirmative votes.

Yeas: Fears, Goss, Harper, McGuire, Rector, Clemmons, Dillard-Myers, Eisenmann, Esry, and Rosales – 10

Nays: Fortado, Ingram, Patterson, Stohr, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Tinsley, and Young — 9

HIGHWAY & TRANSPORTATION

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action Taken for Highway and Transportation on February 7, 2020 was accepted and placed on file.

AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action taken for February 11, 2020 Committee of the Whole (Justice & Social Services; Finance; Policy, Personnel, & Appointments) was accepted and placed on file.

POLICY, PERSONNEL, & APPOINTMENTS

Board member Young offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2020-25 establishing polling locations for the 2020-General Primary Election. County Clerk Ammons was invited to join the conversation; he explained the change at the Lake of the Woods, Mahomet polling place was necessitated for the April 2019 election from the No. 1 Pavilion to the Elks Lake Pavilion due to a prior, conflicting reservation of the No. 1 Pavilion, and it was decided not to change back to the No. 1 Pavilion for March 2020 because the two buildings were of comparable size and parking and the cost of sending voters notices of the change. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Finance

Board Member Goss offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2020-28 supporting an extension of the East Mahomet Redevelopment Project Area Tax Increment financing district and authorizing the County Executive to sign a letter of support for the extension; Board Member Fortado seconded. The motion carried by voice vote.

NEW BUSINESS

Board Member Fortado urged an expedited process to appoint a new County Treasurer

OTHER BUSINESS

AUDITOR

Board Chair Rosales offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2020-44 authorizing purchases not following policy; Board Member Summers seconded. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Chair Rosales offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2020-52 authorizing payment of claims; Board Member Young seconded. Motion carried by voice vote.

LITIGATION COMMITTEE

Board Chair Rosales moved that the Board enter into a closed session pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2c(11) to “consider litigation that is pending or probable or imminent against or on behalf of Champaign County;" Board member Stohr seconded. Brief discussion followed regarding the best placement in the agenda for closed sessions. Closed Session was entered into via unanimous roll call vote.

Yeas: Fears, Fortado, Goss, Harper, Ingram, McGuire, Patterson, Rector, Stohr, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Tinsley, Young, Clemmons, Dillard-Myers, Eisenmann, Esry, and Rosales — 19

Nays: None

Board Members Clemmons and McGuire recused themselves from the closed session discussion. Board Member Young departed early during the closed session at 9:07 PM.

The Board resumed open session with a roll call vote.

Present: Fears, Fortado, Goss, Harper, Ingram, McGuire, Patterson, Rector, Stohr, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Tinsley, Clemmons, Dillard-Myers, Eisenmann, Esry, and Rosales — 18 

Absent: Wolken, Young, Clifford, and Cowart – 4

Board Chair Rosales offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2020-53; Board Member Esry seconded. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Chair Rosales offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2020-54; Board Member Stohr seconded. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

ADJOURN

County Executive Kloeppel adjourned the meeting at 9:36 PM.

http://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/CB/2020/200220_Meeting/200220%20Minutes.pdf