Chambana Sun

Champaign County Board met March 18

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

ROLL CALL

Roll call showed the following members present: Humphrey, King, Lokshin, Michaels, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Esry, Fortado, Goss, Harper, and Patterson – 18; absent: Passalacqua – 1; Late: McGuire (arrived before 6:36 and missed no votes), Paul (arrived before 6:36 and missed one vote in the middle of the session), and Cowart (arrived before 7:03 and missed the first seven votes; departed early before 7:55 and missed final four votes) – 3. County Executive Kloeppel declared a quorum present and the Board competent to conduct business. Board Members Harper and Michaels 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 a prayer 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 March 4, 11, 17.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ADDENDA

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

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

Nays: None

DATE/TIME OF NEXT MEETINGS

Standing Committees:

A. County Facilities Committee Meeting

Wednesday, April 7, 2021 6:30 PM

Lyle Shields Meeting Room

B. Environment & Land Use Committee Meeting

Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Lyle Shields Meeting Room

C. Highway & Transportation Committee Meeting

Friday, April 9, 2021 at 9:00 AM

1605 E Main Street, Urbana

Committee of the Whole:

A. Justice & Social Services; Policy, Personnel, & Appointments; Finance Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Lyle Shields Meeting Room

County Board:

A. Regular Meeting

Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Lyle Shields Meeting Room

B. Study Session

Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 6:00 PM

Lyle Shields Meeting Room

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

All public participation was remote via Zoom.

Scott Tess, City of Urbana Sustainability Officer, expressed his support for the Ordinance 2021-3 establishing a Property Assessed Clean Energy area and program.

Dr. Dalitso Sulamoyo, Regional Planning Commission Chief Executive Officer, spoke on the delinquent 2019 County Audit and its effect on RPC and the stop-gap funding proposal of Resolution 2021-120.

CONSENT AGENDA

Board Member Esry offered a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, comprising of eight resolutions; Board Member McGuire seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

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

Nays: None

COMMUNICATIONS

Board Member Humphrey spoke about the recent shooting spree in Atlanta targeting women of Asian descent and about anti-Asian racism in the community.

Board Member Fortado spoke about anti-Asian racism and read a statement of solidarity by the Multicultural Student Association at the University of Illinois’ School of Labor and Employment Relations.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Board Member Thorsland offered a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the County Board of February 18, 2021; Board Member Stohr seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Nays: None

STANDING COMMITTEES

COUNTY FACILITIES

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action Taken for County Facilities on March 2, 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 March 4, 2021, was received and placed on file.

HIGHWAY & TRANSPORTATION

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action Taken for Highway and Transportation on March 5, 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 March 9, 2021, was received and placed on file.

POLICY, PERSONNEL, & APPOINTMENTS

Board Member Stohr offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-110 appointing Linda Turnbull as the Resident Commissioner of the Housing Authority of Champaign County; Board Member King seconded. Motion carried by roll-call vote.

Yeas: Humphrey, King, Lokshin, Michaels, Paul, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Fortado, Harper, and Patterson – 17

Nays: McGuire, Esry, and Goss – 3

Board Member Stohr offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-112 to establish place of election for Sidney and East Bend; Board Member Straub seconded. Board Member Harper asked if voters in East Bend Township had been given notice about the change; County Clerk Ammons was invited to join the conversation and confirmed the notice. Motion carried by roll-call vote.

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

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

FINANCE

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-113 forgiving Loans from the Champaign County General Corporate funds to the Nursing Home Fund authorized by Resolution Nos. 2018-411 and 2019-55; Board Member Thorsland seconded. Motion carried by roll-call vote.

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

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

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-90 amending the schedule of authorized positions for the Champaign County Treasurer Department – Chief Deputy Treasurer; Board Member Lokshin seconded. Motion carried by roll-call vote.

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

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

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-114 approving Budget Amendment 21-00013, appropriations $6,189 ($0 increased revenue) to the County Treasurer to increase the salary line to reflect Job Evaluation Committee decision to increase Chief Deputy Treasurer salary grade from “I” to “K;” Board Member Thorsland seconded. Board Member Fortado stated that the work on the resolution was a bipartisan effort. Motion carried by roll-call vote.

Yeas: Humphrey, King, Lokshin, McGuire, Michaels, Paul, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Cowart, Fortado, and Patterson – 18

Nays: Esry, Goss, and Harper – 3

OLD BUSINESS

Board Member Humphrey 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 Fortado seconded. Board Member Fortado asked Board Members Michaels and Summers were satisfied; Board Member Summers stated he is satisfied and supported the resolution and Board Member Michaels agreed. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Nays: None

Board Member Goss offered a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2021-3 establishing a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) area and establishing a PACE program; Board Member Esry seconded. Board Member Thorsland asked County Executive Kloeppel four questions: 1) are there current developers lined up for the program; County Executive Kloeppel confirmed there are; 2) can the county administer the program; County Executive Kloeppel stated the plan was for an RFQ for outside administration; 3) will the County Board select the administrator; County Executive Kloeppel stated that County Administration will select the program administrator; 4) will the County Board and its subcommittees approve the projects; County Executive Kloeppel confirmed stating there will be no change to the status quo. Board Member Stohr asked about administrator fee limits; County Executive Kloeppel stated that she was unsure as the administrator fee would be paid by the PACE program applicant fees. Board Member Fortado asked how the program might affect county departments; County Executive Kloeppel stated that nothing was finalized and as such could not speak to any potential, future effects; Board Member Fortado asked for more departmental input in the future. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Nays: None

NEW BUSINESS

Board Member Goss offered an omnibus motion to adopt Resolutions No. 2021-117 supporting a Community Development Block Grant Downstate Small Business Stabilization Application to assist Sagamore Publishing, L.L.C., No. 2021-118 supporting a Community Development Block Grant Downstate Small Business Stabilization Application to assist L.A. Gourmet Catering, L.L.C., and No. 2021-119 supporting fair housing; Board Member Harper seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Nays: None

Board Member Thorsland offered an omnibus motion to adopt Resolutions No. 2021- 115 authorizing purchases not following purchasing policy and No. 2021-116 authorizing payments of claims; Board Member Lokshin seconded. Motion carried by roll-call vote.

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

Nays: McGuire, Esry, Goss, and Harper – 4

Board Member Summers offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-120 authorizing a short-term loan from the General Fund to Region Planning Commission (RPC) Funds; Board Member Thorsland seconded. Board Member Goss noted that County Auditor Danos promised the county audit results in October 2020 and the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) at year’s end 2020, neither of which had yet been produced; Board Member Goss questioned Auditor Danos’ oversight of former Treasurers Prussing and Hughes and questioned the ability and effectiveness of Auditor Danos and called for the resignation of Auditor Danos.

Board Member Esry offered an amendment to reduce the loan to one month at $700,000 with the intention of oversight and pressure on Auditor Danos to produce the county audit; Board Member McGuire seconded. Board Chair Patterson stated that she shared Board Member Esry’s concerns but the proposed month-to-month amendment would create uncertainty for RPC, but Board Chair Patterson asked for mandatory monthly updates from Auditor

Danos. Auditor Danos was invited to join the discussion; addressing Board Member Goss, he noted that he does not have power over any county elected officials, and he shared an update memorandum that included remedies, alleviation of RPC cash flow, comments on the law, and a history of the problems at the Treasurer’s Office. Board Member McGuire blamed Auditor Danos for not fixing the problems in the Treasurer’s Office and called for Auditor Danos’ resignation; Board Member McGuire asked RPC CEO Dr. Sulamoyo about the funds loan. Dr. Sulamoyo was invited to join the discussion, and he stated that the state stop payment is temporary and the state will release the funds at the completion of the county audit; Dr. Sulamoyo also noted that RPC provides some intercounty services. Board Member Fortado stated that while she sympathized with Board Member Esry’s proposed amendment, she wanted more security for RPC, but stated that the county audit will be on every Committee of the Whole agenda until the audit is complete; she also noted the hard work of Deputy Director of Finance Tami Ogden to put together the emergency funding plan. Board Member McGuire inquired about mechanisms to force the finalization of the audit. Board Chair Patterson stated that he wants the audit completed and intermittent updates until the completion; he also stated that he did not understand the logic behind the proposed amendment. Board Member Goss called for the Auditor Danos’ resignation if the county audit is not complete by June 1, 2021. Board Member Fortado noted that the resolution is not a check for $5 million but will cover expected RPC funding needs. Board Member Stohr asked RPC CEO Dr. Sulamoyo if the fund needs are predictable; RPC COO Betty Murphy was invited to join the discussion and answered that the funds are strictly reimbursements that would otherwise be covered by state grants and that the funding needs are largely consistent and predictable. Auditor Danos added that some programs would continue to be funded because they are not reliant on state money. RPC CEO Dr. Sulamoyo noted the major grants would be stopped and that there are unknown and unpredictable monetary needs. Deputy Director of Finance Ogden was invited to join the discussion and questioned Board Member Esry’s proposed amendment to reduce funding to $700,000, noting that RPC’s monthly needs exceed $700,000; Deputy Director of Finance Ogden also stated that Resolution No. 2021-120 and Ordinance 2021-4 are not necessarily separable, and the funds provided in each may be mutually dependent, that Ordinance 2021-4 is a back up to fund expenses beyond $2 million from the General Corporate fund. In light of Deputy Director of Finance Ogden’s explanation, Board Member Esry modified his proposed amendment from a limit of $700,000 to $1.8 million loan to be drawn from General Corporate to RPC and to negate the need for the promissory note in Ordinance 2021-4; Board Member McGuire seconded. Board Member Straub asked if the work to get the promissory note needed to be stated soon, as it is a multi-step process and cannot be done at a moment’s notice; County Executive Kloeppel confirmed that there would be a time lag involved. Board Member Fortado noted all the extra work that would need to be done to issue a promissory note each month, adding that the Board Member Esry’s proposed amendment is a distraction that would damage RPC. The motion to amend Resolution No. 2021-120 to limit funding loans to RPC at $1.8 million failed to carry by roll-call vote.

Yeas: McGuire, Esry, and Goss – 3

Nays: Humphrey, King, Lokshin, Michaels, Paul, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Fortado, Goss, and Patterson – 17

Board Member Goss offered an amendment to Resolution No. 2020-120 to add language that the County Board calls for the County Auditor to resign if the county audit is not completed by June 1, 2021; Board Member McGuire seconded. The motion to amend the resolution failed to carry by roll-call vote.

Yeas: McGuire, Michaels, Paul, Wolken, Esry, Goss, and Harper – 7 

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

Various board members and County Executive Kloeppel discussed the number of votes needed to approve Resolution No. 2021-120. Board Member McGuire cited the county board rules as requiring 15 votes, and Board Chair Patterson cited advice from the State’s Attorney’s Office also stating a 15-vote minimum. The motion to adopt the resolution carried by roll-call vote:

Yeas: Humphrey, King, Lokshin, Michaels, Paul, Raab, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Fortado, Goss, and Patterson – 17

Nays: McGuire, Esry, and Harper – 3

Board Member King offered a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2021-4 providing for the issuance of a Taxable General Obligation Promissory Note in an amount not to exceed $3,300,000 for the purpose of providing funds to the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission to finance certain operating expenses, providing for the security for and payment of said note, and authorizing the sale of said note to the purchaser thereof; Board Member Stohr seconded. Board Member Michaels ask who is responsible for paying interest and fees on the promissory note. Deputy Director of Finance Ogden was invited to join the discussion; she stated that the ordinance only provides the authority but does not guarantee the promissory note and that they full $3.3 million note would not be drawn immediately but the county would draw on it incrementally as needed; she further stated that the interest cap would be set at 4.5% and fees would be $10,500. Board Member McGuire asked if the board would have final vote of approval on the promissory note once it is bid upon; Deputy Director of Finance Ogden stated that no subsequent vote would be required. Board Member Esry asks how one note would save work, rather than requiring a new note each month; County Executive Kloeppel reiterated that the borrowing would be incremental and not the full sum all at once and Board Member Fortado added that multiple promissory would require multiple fees. The motion carried by roll-call vote:

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

Nays: McGuire, Esry, Goss, and Harper – 4

DISCUSSION/INFORMATION ONLY

County Executive Kloeppel noted the county has a contract with OSF to administer the University of Illinois’ proprietary COVID-19 test at $10 per test and added that approximately 1/3 of the county staff has been vaccinated.

Board Chair Patterson stated that in April the State of Illinois will open COVID-19 vaccinations to all residents above 18 years of age.

ADJOURN

County Executive Kloeppel adjourned the meeting at 8:58 PM.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O-xfCBbrr2tVs86oYfZ1kPYXSe2QxwtZu7qWoNcgl1A/edit