Chambana Sun

Champaign County Board Met Feb. 18.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

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

ROLL CALL

Roll call showed the following members present: Harper, Humphrey, King, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Ammons, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, and Patterson – 19; absent: Wolken – 1; Late: Paul (arrived before 6:40 and missed no votes) – 1, County Executive Kloeppel declared a quorum present and the Board competent to conduct business. Board Members Harper, Goss, and Esry were physically present at the Brookens Administrative Center; all other members were remote via Zoom. 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 an excerpt from a newspaper advice column 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 : February 4, 11, 17, 2021.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ADDENDA

Board Member Esry offered a motion to approve the Agenda/Addenda; Board Member Thorsland seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Harper, Humphrey, King, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Paul, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Ammons, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, and Patterson – 20

Nays: None

ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 2021-97

Board Member Cowart offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-97 appointing Jennifer Lokshin in Districk 6 to fill DeShawn Williams’ unexpired term ending November 30, 2022; Board Member Taylor seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

Yeas: Harper, Humphrey, King, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Paul, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Ammons, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, and Patterson – 20

Nays: None

ADMINISTRATION OF OATH OF OFFICE

Immediately upon the adoption of Resolution No. 2021-97, County Clerk Ammons administered the oath of office to Board Member Lokshin.

DATE/TIME OF NEXT MEETINGS

Standing Committees:

A. County Facilities Committee Meeting

Tuesday, March 2, 2021 6:30 PM

Lyle Shields Meeting Room

B. Environment & Land Use Committee Meeting

Thursday, March 4, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Lyle Shields Meeting Room

C. Highway & Transportation Committee Meeting

Friday, March 5, 2021 at 9:00 AM

1605 E Main Street, Urbana

Committee of the Whole:

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

Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Lyle Shields Meeting Room

County Board:

A. Regular Meeting

Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Lyle Shields Meeting Room

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

All public participation was remote via Zoom.

Amanda Dixon spoke about County Animal Control and called for the termination of Animal Services Facility Director Stephanie Joos.

Ben Beaupre gave an update on Covid-19 in the nation, state, and county, and spoke about the Racial Justice Taskforce.

Stan Blount spoke about County Animal Control and called for the termination of Animal Services Facility Director Stephanie Joos.

CONSENT AGENDA

Board Member Esry offered a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, comprising 24 resolutions; Board Chair Patterson seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Nays: None

COMMUNICATIONS

In honor of Black History Month, Board Chair Patterson recognized James Burgess, Patricia Avery, County Treasurer Johnson, County Clerk Ammons, and Board Member Cowart for their pioneering work as African-Americans in County government.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Board Member Goss offered an omnibus motion to approve the minutes of Special Meeting of the County Board of January 14, 2021, and the Regular Meeting of the County Board of January 21, 2021; Board Member Taylor seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Nays: None

STANDING COMMITTEES

ENVIRONMENT AND LAND USE

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action Taken for Environment and Land Use on February 4, 2021, was received and placed on file.

Board Member Thorsland offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-71 approving contract for sale of County Property located at 504 South Dodson Drive, Urbana; Board Member King seconded. Board Member Thorsland noted the resolution could not be included in the Consent Agenda due to a deed change by Planning and Zoning Director John Hall. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Nays: None

HIGHWAY & TRANSPORTATION

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

COUNTY FACILITIES

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action Taken for Facilities on February 10, 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 February 9, 2021, was received and placed on file.

FINANCE

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-90 approving Budget Amendment 21-00011, appropriating $89,000 ($0 increased revenue) to the Circuit Clerk Operation and Administration fund for the instillation of partitions for 34 desks in one room to provide sound dampening and improve COVID-19 social distancing, while allowing visibility; Board Member Thorsland seconded. Circuit Clerk McGrath was invited to join the discussion; she noted she intends to repay the county by years end and without the amendment the instillation could not take place until November. Board Member Goss asked if the project was bid upon; Circuit Clerk McGrath stated that there was not a formal bidding process, but she spoke to a number of potential installers and noted Arrow Glass had not gotten back until February 18, 2021. Circuit Clerk McGrath also noted that the intended installer is a certified state vendor and as such a formal bidding process may not be necessary and the expense could be classified as an urgency purchase by County Auditor Danos. Board Member Stohr asked if the Circuit Clerk calls can be confidential or sensitive in nature, thus necessitating the partitions for sound dampening; Circuit Clerk McGrath confirms. Board Member Fortado noted that she had toured the facility it could be quite loud at times. Board Members Michaels, Paul, and Passalacqua asked about COVID-19 measures, and Circuit Clerk McGrath noted that the partitions would provide some measure of safety, but she also noted that the office has encouraged regular staff testing without the use of benefit time. Board Member Passalacqua inquired about the installation of permanent walls and office spaces; Circuit Clerk McGrath noted the floor plan does not lend itself to such modifications. Board Member McGuire stated he would recuse himself from the vote. The motion failed by roll-call vote, not garnering the necessary 15 vote majority required.

Yeas: Humphrey, King, Lokshin, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Ammons, Cowart, Fortado, and Patterson – 14

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

Abstain: McGuire – 1

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-91 approving budget amendment 21-00007, appropriating $16,077 ($0 increased revenue) to the Animal Control fund for a transfer from fund balance to cover the cost of van conversion originally budgeted for FY2020 but not completed by year’s end; Board Member Michaels seconded. Motion carried by roll-call vote. 

Yeas: Harper, Humphrey, King, Lokshin, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Ammons, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, and Patterson – 20

Nays: Paul

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-92 authorizing the County Executive to assign a mobile home tax sale certificate of purchase permanent parcel number 29-051-0019; Board Member King seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Patterson – 21

Nays: None

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-93 abating certain taxes hereto levied to pay the principal of and interest on various outstanding bonds of the County of Champaign, Illinois; Board Member Esry seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Nays: None

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-94 approving contract with Gallagher Benefit Services, INC. for employee health insurance and related benefits broker consultant services; Board Member Summers seconded. Board Member Michaels raised objections to the inclusion of the Labor Management Committee in the resolution’s language, as the committee did not work on the contract. County Executive Kloeppel noted that it was, in fact, a subcommittee of the Labor Management Committee that did not include board members. Board Members McGuire and Harper objected to the exclusion of Board Members from the contract negotiations. Fortado proposed a friendly amendment to add language clarifying the lack of board members in the subcommittee Board Member Michaels and seconding Board Member Summers both accept the friendly amendment. The motion as amended failed by roll-call vote.

Yeas: Humphrey, Lokshin, Summers, Taylor, Cowart, Fortado, and Goss – 7

Nays: Harper, King, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Paul, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Thorsland, Ammons, Esry, and Patterson – 13

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt resolution No. 2021-95 authorizing an acceptance agreement between Champaign County and Illinois State Board of Elections for a Voter Registration State Grant 2021; Board Member Cowart seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote. 

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

Nays: None

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-96 approving Budget Amendment 21-00008, appropriating $80,369 ($80,369 increased revenue) to the County Clerk’s Election Assistance/Accessibility fund via grant funds to offset cost for annual license fees of voter registration system, VBM, staff time for IVRS work, etc.; Board Member Patterson seconded. Motion carried by roll-call vote.

Yeas: Humphrey, King, Lokshin, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Paul, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Ammons, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, and Patterson – 20

Nays: Harper – 1

NEW BUSINESS

Board Member Stohr offered an omnibus motion to adopt Resolutions No. 2021-98 authorizing payment of claims and No. 2021-99 authorizing purchases not following purchasing policy; Board Member Thorsland seconded. Board Member Michaels asked when the transfer would occur. County Auditor Danos was invited to join the discussion and responded that Board Member Michaels’ question should be directed towards Deputy Finance Director Tami Ogden. Motion carried by roll-call vote. 

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

Nays: Goss – 1

Board Member Passalacqua offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-100 approving application for, and if awarded, acceptance of the Illinois Department of Transportation Distracted Driving Grant; Board Member Goss seconded. Board Member Rodriguez asked County Sheriff Heuerman, unrelated to the resolution of the moment, if police departmental policy has been posted publicly online. County Sheriff Heuerman was invited to join the discussion, and he stated that departmental policies are not currently online. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Nays: None

Board Member Stohr offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-101 authorizing the County Executive to execute an intergovernmental agreement for employee COVID-19 Testing; Board member Stohr seconded. County Executive Kloeppel noted the contract will be with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign but executed by its partner OSF Healthcare. Board Member Michaels asked if the cost will be the same with OSF as with the University of Illinois; County Executive replied that she could not answer because it is still negotiable. Board Member Fortado asks if this will OSF administering the University of Illinois’ proprietary rapid-saliva test; County Executive Kloeppel confirmed. Board Member Fortado noted that the $140,000 cost estimate is based on all county employees, including the Regional Planning Commission, being tested two times per week for eight weeks, but staff testing would not be mandatory and, furthermore, a number of employees have already received vaccinations. Board Member Passalacqua stated that he does not see the necessity of contracting for the University of Illinois’ proprietary test, particularly if department heads were proactive and supportive of staff testing, noting the example of Circuit Clerk McGrath. Board Member McGuire questioned the insurance cost of tests and reiterates Board Member Fortado’s statement that a number of employees have already been vaccinated. Board Member Fortado noted there is $82,000 currently available in funds which may be eligible for reimbursement from the federal government; she also noted that the University of Illinois’ proprietary test has FDA Emergency Use Authorization. Board Member Humphrey noted that the University of Illinois’ proprietary rapid-saliva test has saved lives in the county. Board Member Stohr noted that the County Highway Department had expressed a willingness to contruibute their funds to ensure access to the testing. Board Member Stohr expressed concern over outbreaks, particularly with new, more virulent strains of the virus. Motion carried by roll-call vote.

Yeas: Humphrey, King, Lokshin, Michaels, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Ammons, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, and Patterson – 16

Nays: Harper, McGuire, Passalacqua, Paul, and Goss – 5

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt resolution No. 2021-102 approving budget amendment 21-00012, appropriating $140,000 ($0 increased revenue) to the General Corporate fund for employee COVID testing; Board Member King seconded. Board Member offered an amendment limiting to one test per person per week and a maximum of $64,000; offering Board Member Fortado counters with a maximum of $70,000 to allow for flexibility. Board Member McGuire and seconding Board Member King both accept the amendment to limit testing to once per week and a maximum of $70,000. Motion carried by roll-call vote.

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

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

Board Member Goss offered a motion to adopt resolution No. 2021-104 setting the Champaign County 2021 apportionment plan number and type of districts; Board Member Thorsland seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote. Yeas: Harper, Humphrey, King, Lokshin, McGuire, Michaels,

Passalacqua, Paul, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Ammons, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, and

Patterson – 21

Nays: None

DISCUSSION/INFORMATION ONLY

Board Member McGuire asked about the ability to revisit the contract with Gallagher Benefit Services, INC. for employee health insurance and related benefits broker consultant services (Resolution No. 2021-94) at a subsequent board meeting. County Executive noted that the current contract will expire May 1, 2021 and was unsure on the legalities the board’s disapproval of the contract. Board Member Michaels asked for information about the options presented to the Labor Management subcommittee present for the negotiations, and their scoring system and criteria for their final decision. Board Member Michaels stated she would like to bring the employee health insurance and related benefits broker consultant services contract to vote at the March board meeting.

RECESS

Kloeppel adjourned the meeting at 8:29 PM.

http://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/CB/2021/210218_Meeting/210218Minutes.pdf