Chambana Sun

Champaign County Board Committee of the Whole met May 12.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

Members Present: Brad Clemmons, Lorraine Cowart, Connie Dillard-Myers, Jodi Eisenmann, Cynthia Fears, Stephanie Fortado, Jim Goss, Mike Ingram, Jim McGuire, Kyle Patterson, Jon Rector, Chris Stohr, Steve Summers, Leah Taylor, Eric Thorsland, Jodi Wolken, Charles Young, Giraldo Rosales

Members Absent: Aaron Esry, Stan Harper, James Tinsley

Others Present: Darlene Kloeppel (County Executive), Tami Ogden (Deputy Director of Finance), Megan Robison (Recording Secretary), Aaron Ammons (County Clerk), George Danos (Auditor), Dustin Heuerman (Sheriff), John Hall (Director of Planning & Zoning), Marisol Hughes (Treasurer), Alejandra Aguero (Chief Deputy Treasurer), Elizabeth Burgener-Patton (Board of Review), Lisa Benson (Community Services Director, RPC)

Agenda Items

I. Call to Order

Chair Rosales called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.

II. Roll Call

A verbal roll call was taken, and a quorum was declared present.

III. Approval of Agenda/Addenda

MOTION by Ms. Cowart to approve the agenda; seconded by Mr. Young. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

IV. Approval of Minutes

A. March 10, 2020

MOTION by Mr. Goss to approve the minutes of March 10, 2020; seconded by Mr. Thorsland. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously. V. Public Participation

Amy Gibbons introduced herself as a small business owner in the community.

Annie Murray, Pear Tree Estate owner, asked the Board to recognize the economic impact that COVID-19 has had on Champaign County and the small businesses. She would like to see Champaign County re-open faster than Governor Pritzker’s plan.

Mr. Ammons read a statement about the affect that COVID-19 has had on elections and what his office has done to keep voters and judges safe.

VI. Presentations

A. Youth Assessment Center

Ms. Benson presented information about the Youth Assessment Center to the Board. She highlighted their history, services, data, goals and future steps for the program. Discussion followed about changes due to COVID-19, what a formal station adjustment entails, and programs where youth are referred.

VII. Communications

Mr. Stohr proposed that the County Board create an ad hoc committee on incarceration, diversion, and Sheriff’s Office relocation. He stated the many issues the committee should discuss, the leaders and organizations that should be included in the conversation, and a timeline for a recommendation to be made. Mr. Stohr is requesting this item to be included on the May County Board agenda for discussion and approval.

Mr. Rector recognized his constituent Brian Blume. Mr. Blume is asking the County Board to delay due dates and waive late fees on property tax bills. Mr. Rector also mentioned the difficulties that small businesses are currently facing due to the Governor’s current order.

Mr. Ingram thanked everyone that has been making face masks for the community. He also mentioned the virtual town hall that is being held on May 26th regarding home rule.

Mr. Thorsland spoke about the Lincoln Legacy Committee and their current efforts. He also asked that everyone support the vote by mail effort. Finally, he spoke about the outbreak at Rantoul Foods and his hopes that the County Board of Health can get all of the resources they need.

Ms. Fortado commended Ben Galewsky for his creation of a database to help connect agencies with volunteers.

Mr. Goss expressed his sorrow over the loss of Rudy Frasca and how he will be missed in the community.

VIII. Finance

A. Budget Amendments/Transfers

1. Budget Amendment 20-00016

Fund 080 General Corporate / Dept 077 Zoning Enforcement

Increased appropriations: $30,000

Increased revenue: $0

Reason: Proposed demolition and clean-up of 202 Third Street, Foosland, Illinois

MOTION by Mr. Thorsland to recommend County Board approval of a resolution authorizing budget amendment 20-00016; seconded by Mr. Patterson. Discussion followed. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

2. Budget Amendment 20-00019

Fund 080 General Corporate / Dept 026 County Treasurer

Increased appropriations: $34,300

Increased revenue: $0

Reason: Request for part time temp staff to assist with bank reconciliations for 3 months. Also, for expenditures that are historical pay from funds 619 which is unable to support this cost due to over utilization in FY 2019

MOTION by Ms. Fortado to recommend County Board approval of a resolution authorizing budget amendment 20-00019; seconded by Mr. McGuire. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

B. Treasurer

1. Monthly Report – March 2020

Received and placed on file – Ms. Hughes and Ms. Aguero discussed property taxes with the Board members

C. Auditor

1. Monthly Report – April 2020

Received and placed on file – Mr. Goss mentioned the new Chief Deputy Auditor and the audit status

D. County Executive

1. Resolution authorizing the execution of a service agreement for the supply of electricity for residential and small commercial retail customers who do not opt out of such a program (electric aggregation)

MOTION by Mr. Thorsland to recommend County Board approval of a resolution authorizing the execution of a service agreement for the supply of electricity for residential and small commercial retail customers who do not opt out of such a program (electric aggregation); seconded by Mr. Ingram. Discussion followed. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

2. Resolution authorizing execution of Emergency Management Agency COVID-19 Related Supplies Capital Fund Participation Agreement

MOTION by Mr. Young to recommend County Board approval of a Resolution authorizing execution of Emergency Management Agency COVID-19 Related Supplies Capital Fund Participation Agreement; seconded by Ms. Cowart. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

3. Ideas to mitigate County expenses in 2020 and 2021

Ms. Kloeppel and Ms. Ogden are meeting with Department Heads to discuss the 2021 budget and determine different areas of savings. Ms. Ogden suggested the fund balance should be protected by mitigating the balance by approximately $1,000,000. Discussion followed about getting more specific reference points, tax revenue ideas, re-opening businesses, a hiring freeze, saving on commodities and furloughs.

Ms. Fears left at 8:05 p.m.

E. Other Business

None

F. Chair’s Report

Chair Goss expressed his frustration with how the COVID-19 outbreak at Rantoul Foods was handled by the County Board of Health and Champaign-Urbana Public Health District.

G. Designation of Items to be Placed on the Consent Agenda

VIII. A. 1, 2, D. 1, 2

IX. Policy, Personnel, & Appointments

A. County Executive

1. Monthly HR Report – April 2020

Received and placed on file

2. Appointments/Reappointments (persons to be appointed distributed at the meeting)

Applicants (italics indicates incumbent):

a. Penfield Public Water District – 1 position – term 06/01/2020-05/31/2025

• Carl Withers

MOTION by Mr. Rector to recommend County Board approval of a resolution appointing Carl Withers to the Penfield Public Water District; seconded by Ms. Wolken. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

b. Sangamon Valley Public Water District – 1 position – term 06/01/2020-05/31/2025

• Frank Howard

• Michelle Grindley

MOTION by Ms. Cowart to recommend County Board approval of a resolution appointing Michelle Grindley to the Sangamon Valley Public Water District; seconded by Ms. Eisenmann. Discussion followed. Upon vote, the MOTION FAILED.

c. Farmland Assessment Review Committee – 2 positions – term 06/01/2020- 05/31/2024

• Richard Rayburn

• Jeffery Adam Watson

MOTION by Mr. Goss to recommend County Board approval of a resolution appointing Richard Rayburn and Jeffery Adam Watson to the Farmland Assessment Review Committee; seconded by Mr. Rector. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

d. Union Drainage District #2 of St. Joseph and Ogden – 1 position – unexpired term ending 08/31/2020

• Dwight Raab

MOTION by Mr. Stohr to recommend County Board approval of a resolution appointing Dwight Raab to the Union Drainage District #2 of St. Joseph and Ogden; seconded by Mr. Rosales. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

e. South Fork Drainage District – 1 position – unexpired term ending 08/31/2021 • Dirk Rice

MOTION by Mr. Goss to recommend County Board approval of a resolution appointing Dirk Rice to the South Fork Drainage District; seconded by Mr. Rosales. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

f. Urbana-Champaign Sanitary District – 1 position – term 06/01/2020-05/31/2023

• Ladell Myrick

MOTION by Mr. Summers to recommend County Board approval of a resolution appointing Ladell Myrick to the Urbana-Champaign Sanitary District; seconded by Mr. Patterson. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

g. Board of Review – 3 positions – 2 terms 06/1/2020-05/31/2022 and 1 unexpired term ending 05/31/2021

• Elizabeth Burgener-Patton

• Zebo Zebe

• Paul Sailor

MOTION by Mr. Goss to recommend County Board approval of a resolution appointing Elizabeth Burgener-Patton to the Board of Review; seconded by Mr. McGuire. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Mr. Rector to recommend County Board approval of a resolution appointing Zebo Zebe to the Board of Review; seconded by Mr. Rosales. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Mr. Rosales to recommend County Board approval of a resolution appointing Paul Sailor to the Board of Review; seconded by Mr. Clemmons. Discussion followed.

MOTION by Mr. Goss for roll call vote; seconded by Mr. McGuire. Discussion followed. Upon roll call vote, the MOTION FAILED by a vote of 6-11.

3. Preparation for COVID- re-opening Information only

4. Extension of proclamation of a disaster in Champaign County for Coronavirus-19 response

MOTION by Ms. Taylor to recommend County Board approval of an ordinance extending the proclamation of a disaster in Champaign County for Coronavirus-19 response; seconded by Mr. Thorsland. Discussion followed.

MOTION by Mr. Rector to amend the proclamation for an end date of June 30, 2020; seconded by Mr. McGuire. Discussion followed.

MOTION by Ms. Fortado for a roll call vote on the motion to amend; seconded by Mr. Patterson. Upon roll call vote, the MOTION TO AMEND FAILED by a vote of 6-11.

MOTION by Mr. Goss for a roll call vote on the original motion; seconded by Mr. Patterson. Upon roll call vote, the original MOTION PASSED by a vote of 11-6.

B. County Clerk-

1. April 2020 Report

Received and placed on file

C. Other Business

D. Chair’s Report

1. County Executive appointments expiring June 2020

2. Currently vacant appointments made by the County Executive

Upcoming and current vacancies mentioned

E. Designation of Items to be Placed on the Consent Agenda IX. A. 2. a, c, d, e, f

X. Justice and Social Services

A. Monthly Reports

• Probation & Court Services – March 2020 & 1st quarter report • Public Defender – March 2020

• Animal Control – February & March 2020

Received and placed on file

B. Sheriff

1. Relocation of Sheriff’s Office and Downtown Jail

Mr. Patterson mentioned the Sheriff’s proposal for relocating the Sheriff’s Office and plans for overflow inmates. Discussion followed about location ideas, proper procedures, and current economic issues.

C. Other Business None

D. Chair’s Report None

E. Designation of Items to be Placed on the Consent Agenda

None

XI. Other Business

A. Resignation of District 2 County Board Member John Clifford

Chair Rosales mentioned the recent resignation of County Board Member John Clifford. He stated the Republican Central Committee has forwarded their recommendation and he will be making an appointment at the May County Board meeting.

XII. Adjournment

Chair Rosales adjourned the meeting at 9:57 p.m.

http://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/Committee_Of_The_Whole/2020/200512_Meeting/200512%20Minutes.pdf