Chambana Sun

Champaign County Board met Jan. 21.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The County Board of Champaign County, Illinois met at a Regular Meeting at 6:30 PM with remote participation via Zoom in the Brookens Administrative Center, 1776 East Washington Street, Urbana, Illinois, with County Executive Darlene Kloeppel presiding, Matthew Cross as Clerk of the meeting.

ROLL CALL

Roll call showed the following members present: Goss, Harper, Humphrey, King, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Paul, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, and Patterson – 21; absent: none. No members were physically present in the Lyle Shields Meeting Room; all participated via Zoom; County Executive Kleoppel and Parlimentarian Deb Busey were physically present at the Brookens Administrative Center. Thereupon, County Executive Kloeppel declared a quorum present and the Board competent to conduct business. Due to the remote attendance situation all voting must be by roll call, per Illinois Public Act 101-0640, approved by Governor Pritzker June 12, 2020.

PRAYER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

County Executive Kloeppel read a quote from C. S. Lewis and 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 January 7, January 14, and January 20, 2021.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ADDENDA

Board Member Goss offered a motion to approve the Agenda; Board Member Taylor seconded. Board Member Stohr offered an amendment to the Agenda: strike items XIIA3–Resolution No. 2021-59 and XVI–closed session, and to move item XIIA– appointment of Cameron Raab to the County Board to item VI immediately following approval of the agenda. Board Chair Patterson inquired about striking Resolution No. 2021-59; County Executive Kloeppel replied that there was a question about the appointment in relation to local ordinances and not in anyway a reflection of Colleen Shultz qualifications. The motion to approve the amended Agenda carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Goss, Harper, Humphrey, King, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Paul, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, and Patterson – 21

Nays: None

OTHER BUSINESS

Board Member King offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2020-65 a resolution appointing Cameron Raab as a County Board Member in District 6 to replace Mike Ingram for an unexpired term ending November 30, 2022; Board Member Thorsland seconded. County Executive Kloeppel noted that she had dropped her opposition to and subsequent veto of the Raab Appointment of December 17, 2020. The carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Goss, Harper, Humphrey, King, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Paul, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, and Patterson – 21

Nays: None

DATE/TIME OF NEXT MEETINGS

Standing Committees:

A. County Facilities Committee Meeting

Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Lyle Shields Meeting Room

B. Environment and Land Use Committee

Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Lyle Shields Meeting Room

C. Highway and Transportation Committee Meeting

Friday, February 5, 2021 at 9:00 AM

1605 E Main Street, Urbana

Committee of the Whole:

A. Justice and Social Services; Policy, Personnel and Appointments; Finance Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Lyle Shields Meeting Room

County Board:

A. Regular Meeting

Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Lyle Shields Meeting Room

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

All public participation was remote via Zoom.

Benjamin Beaupre spoke about the state Covid-19 in the nation, region, and county and urged the public to remain vigilant in their safety precautions. He then spoke on the need to be united in upholding democracy and to reject fascism and sedition.

Amanda Dixon was called upon to speak but could not be heard due to audio issues. 

CONSENT AGENDA

Board Member Esry offered a motion to approve the Consent Agenda in its entirety, comprising 57 resolutions; Board Member Thorsland seconded. The motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Goss, Harper, Humphrey, King, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Paul, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, and Patterson – 21

Nays: None

COMMUNICATIONS

Board Member McGuire spoke generally about Covid-19 vaccine distribution and asked to receive data on the specifics on the distribution within the county.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Board Member Harper offered an omnibus motion to approve the minutes of Organizational Meeting of December 7, 2020, the Special Meeting of December 17, 2020, and the Regular Meeting of the County Board of December 17, 2020; Board Member Michaels seconded. Board Member Goss asked that two typographical errors of the minutes of the Organizational Meeting be corrected. The omnibus motion, pending corrections, carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Goss, Harper, Humphrey, King, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Paul, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, and Patterson – 21

Nays: None

STANDING COMMITTEES

COUNTY FACILITIES

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action Taken for Facilities on January 5, 2021 was received and placed on file.

ENVIRONMENT AND LAND USE

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action Taken for Environment and Land Use on January 7, 2021 was received and placed on file.

HIGHWAY & TRANSPORTATION

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action Taken for Highway and Transportation on January 8, 2021 was received and placed on file.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action taken for the Committee of the Whole (Justice & Social Services; Finance; Policy, Personnel, & Appointments) of January 12, 2021 was received and placed on file.

POLICY, PERSONNEL, & APPOINTMENTS

Board Member Stohr offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-57 appointing Matt Hausman to the Mental Health Board, term 1/1/2021-12/31/2024; Board Member Goss seconded. Board Member Goss noted that he supports the Hausman nomination and finds Hausman’s background in the aero/astrospace industry to be beneficial. Board Member Humphrey noted that he does not support the Hausman nomination as he did not find Hausman to be the most qualified candidate. Thorsland asked if either the Policy, Personnel, & Appointments Chair Stohr or Vice-Chair Passalacqua were present for the candidates’ interviews; Board Member Stohr confirmed that neither he nor Board Member Passalacqua were present. Board Member Michaels asked about the other candidates; County Executive Kloeppel explained the various terms to the County Mental Health Board seats up for appointment and noted that the candidates’ information was available to County Board Members in the Committee of the Whole agenda packet. The motion failed to carry by roll-call vote:

Yeas: Goss, Harper, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Paul, Wolken, and Esry – 8

Nays: Humphrey, King, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Ammons, Cowart, Fortado, and Patterson – 13

Board Member Stohr offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-58 appointing Julian Rappaport to the Mental Health Board, term ending 12/31/2021; Board Member Taylor seconded. The motion carried by roll-call vote.

Yeas: Humphrey, King, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Ammons, Cowart, Fortado, and Patterson – 13

Nays: Goss, Harper, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Paul, Wolken, and Esry – 8

NEW BUSINESS

Board Member Fortado offered an omnibus motion to approve Resolutions No. 2021-62 authorizing December amended payment of claims, No. 2021-63 authorizing payment of claims, and No. 2021-64 authorizing purchases not following purchasing policy; Board Member Thorsland seconded. Board Member Fortado noted the discrepancy in check numbering is related to a typographical error. The omnibus motion carried by roll call vote.

Yeas: Humphrey, King, Michaels, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Cowart, Fortado, and Patterson – 15 

Nays: Goss, Harper, McGuire, Passalacqua, Paul, and Esry – 6

DISCUSSION/INFORMATION ONLY

County Auditor Danos gave an update on the Baker Tilly report, providing an update on financial reconciliations, the fiscal year 2020 finalization, and timetables for the further. Board Member Stohr thanked Auditor Danos for the implementation of the Enterprise Resource Planning software and the plan to move the county beyond the AS400.

OTHER BUSINESS

Board Chair Patterson offered a motion to allow Amanda Dixon to speak now due to the audio issues that prevented her from speaking during the Public Participation section; Board Member Stohr seconded. County Executive Kloeppel noted that a change to the agenda would require a two-thirds majority approval. The motion carried by roll-call voter, exceeding the two-thirds majority requirement.

Yeas: Humphrey, King, Paul, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Cowart, Fortado, and Patterson – 15 

Nays: Goss, Harper, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, and Esry – 6 

Amanda Dixon spoke about Animal Control’s handling of a recent animal hording case in Champaign.

Board Chair thanked Deb Busey for her assistance as the parliamentarian.

ADJOURN

County Executive Kloeppel adjourned the meeting at 7:28 PM.

http://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/CB/2021/210121_Meeting/210121Minutes.pdf