Chambana Sun

Champaign County Board Met May 20.

Here is the agenda provided by the board:

The County Board of Champaign County, Illinois met at a Public Hearing and a Regular Meeting at 6:32 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: Lokshin, Michaels, Passalacqua, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Carter, Esry, Fortado, Goss, Harper, Humphrey, King and Patterson – 18; late: McGuire, Paul, Rodriguez, and Cowart – 4 (all arrived before 6:37 and missed no votes); absent: none. County Executive Kloeppel declared a quorum present and the Board competent to conduct business. Five board members (Esry, Harper, McGuire, Passalacqua, and Wolken) 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 proclamation on National Gun Violence Awareness Day and a prayer by John Gossin, 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 May 18 and May 19, 2021.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ADDENDA

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

Yeas: Lokshin, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Paul, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Carter, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, Harper, Humphrey, King and Patterson – 22

Nays: None

DATE/TIME OF NEXT MEETINGS

Standing Committees:

A. County Facilities Committee Meeting

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

B. Environment & Land Use Committee Meeting

Thursday, June 10, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

C. Highway & Transportation Committee Meeting

Friday, June 11, 2021 at 9:00 AM

1605 E Main Street, Urbana

Committee of the Whole:

A. Study Session – Finance Committees

Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 6 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

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

Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

County Board:

A. Regular Meeting

Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

PUBLIC HEARING

All Public Hearing speakers were remote via Zoom

Brian Gaines, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Political Science Professor at the Institute of Government and Public Affairs and member of the Champaign County Redistricting Advisory Group, spoke about the various redistricting maps and urged against Maps 11 and 5a as too partisan, noting that the county is fairly evenly split with 52% Democratic and 48% Republican.

Paul Hunsinger, Champaign County Farm Bureau President, spoke about Plan Map 11/the Equity Map as too partisan, stating his preference for Maps 1 or 5a.

Board Member Passalacqua read a letter from Lin Warfel, past president of the Champaign County Farm Bureau, that stated the rural population is more reliant on county services, preferred Maps 1 or 5a and opposed Plan Map 11/the Equity Map.

Wayne Williams, Cunningham Township Assessor, spoke in favor of Map 9, his own creation, as highly favoring Democratic candidates, noting the allowance of hyper partisan district mapping by conservative Supreme Court justices.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

None.

PRESENTATION

County Executive Kloeppel presented the County Executive’s Annual Report.

CONSENT AGENDA

Board Member King offered a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, comprising 15 resolutions (Res. Nos. 2021-156, 2021-157, 2021-158, 2021-159, 2021-160, 2021-161, 2021-162, 2021-163, 2021-164, 2021-165, 2021-166, 2021-167, 2021-168, 2021-169, and 2021-170; Board Member Lokshin seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Lokshin, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Paul, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Carter, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, Harper, Humphrey, King and Patterson – 22

Nays: None

COMMUNICATIONS

Board Member Stohr spoke on the recent passing of the owner of the Iron Post in Urbana.

Board Member Michaels noted a ceremony on Saturday, May 22, 2021 dedicating Honorary Tuskegee Airman Boulevard in Rantoul.

Board Member Thorsland thanked the community for safe practices with Covid-19.

Board Member McGuire spoke about the passing of Champaign Police Officer Chris Oberheim.

Champaign County Board Page 4 May 20, 2021

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Board Member Goss offered a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the County Board of April 22, 2021; Board Member Humphrey seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Lokshin, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Paul, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Carter, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, Harper, Humphrey, King and Patterson – 22

Nays: None

STANDING COMMITTEES

COUNTY FACILITIES

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action Taken for County Facilities on May 4, 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 May 6, 2021, was received and placed on file.

HIGHWAY & TRANSPORTATION

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action Taken for Highway and Transportation on May 7, 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 May 11, 2021, was received and placed on file.

POLICY, PERSONNEL, & APPOINTMENTS

Board Member Stohr offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-171 appointing Meghan Hennesy to the Sangamon Valley Public Water District, term 6/1/2021-5/31/2026; Board Member Summers seconded. Motion carried by roll call vote.

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

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

Board Member Stohr offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-172 appointing Colleen Schultz to the Sangamon Valley Public Water District, term 6/1/2021-5/31/2026; Board Member Thorsland seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

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

NEW BUSINESS

Board member Fortado offered an omnibus motion to adopt Resolutions No. 2021-173 authorizing purchases not following policy and No. 2021-174 authorizing payment of claims; Board Member Straub seconded. Board Member Thorsland asked why former Circuit Clerk Katie Blakeman retained a county credit card and asked about any outstanding county credit cards. Auditor Danos was invited to join the discussion; he noted that former Circuit Clerk Blakeman immediately reimbursed the county upon discovering the error. Auditor Danos stated that the county needs an official policy where credit cards are turned over during office transitions or have the cards deactivated upon transition. Motion carried by roll-call vote.

Yeas: Lokshin, Passalacqua, Paul, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Carter, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, Humphrey, King and Patterson – 19

Nays: McGuire, Michaels, and Harper – 3

Board Member Esry offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-175 approving an authorizing the issuance and sale of not to exceed $2,000,000 principal amount of Capital Improvement Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2021 (Countryside School Project) of the County of Champaign, Illinois, for the benefit of Countryside School of Champaign/Urbana, INC; authorizing the execution and delivery of a loan agreement and other documents related thereto; authorizing the sale of said bonds to Hickory Point Bank and Trust; and approving related matters thereto; Board Member Carter seconded. Vivian Carpenter, Countryside School Business Manager, and Krystal Young, Countryside School Interim Head of Administration, were invited to join the discussion; Vivian Carpenter stated this was to refinance bonds due to the current low interest rate. Board Member Fortado asked about the school’s slow repayment of bonds first issued in 2011, the school’s racial demographics, the number of students receiving aid, and questioned the county issuance of bonds for a private entity. Vivian Carpenter stated the school is up to date on its repayments and the bonds were used to fund the construction of a full-size gym and arts center; County Executive Kloeppel noted that the initial bonds were made at the suggestion of the county bond council, and she stated the county has twice before issued industrial revenue bonds for a private entity: the mental health center and the Illini Media Group. Krystal Young stated that 61 percent of students identify as non-caucasian. Board Member Carter asked if any other private schools had bonds issued on their behalf; County Executive stated there have not been any other private schools, just the aforementioned Mental Health Center and the Illini Media Group. Motion carried by roll-call vote.

Yeas: Lokshin, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Paul, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Esry, Fortado, Goss, Harper, King and Patterson – 19

Nays: Carter, Cowart, and Humphrey – 3

OTHER BUSINESS

Board Member King offered a motion to adopt Ordinance No, 2021-6 establishing the Champaign County 2021 Apportionment Plan; Board Member Thorsland seconded. Board Chair Patterson asked for clarification on the 2022 board terms of two or four years. County Executive Kloeppel and Board Member Esry both noted that the candidate must choose to run for either the two-year seat or the four-year seat. Board Members Michaels and McGuire both noted that in September 2011 a lottery was conducted to determine which seats were for each term. Board Member Fortado noted that a September lottery would be conducted following the primary. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Lokshin, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Paul, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Carter, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, Harper, Humphrey, King and Patterson – 22

Nays: None

Board Member Esry offered a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2021-7 establishing the Champaign County 2021 Apportionment Plan Map as Plan Map 1; Board Member Paul seconded. Board Member Michaels noted her support for Plan Map 1, as it empowers rural, unincorporated portions of the county.

Board Chair Patterson moved to amend Ordinance No. 2021-7 to adopt Plan Map 11/the Equity Map; Board Member King seconded. Board Member Esry noted Plan Map 11/the Equity Map deemphasizes rural portions of the county. Board member McGuire claimed Plan Map 11/the Equity Map was a late addition and not subject to review at the Committee of the Whole on May 11, 2021. Board Member Thorsland noted Plan Map 11/the Equity Map had been available for weeks, that it was the only plan with more than one majority-minority districts which is of note since minorities comprise approximately one-third of the county population; he also noted that the map is equitable not partisan. Board Chair Patterson also noted that Plan Map 11/the Equity Map was posted and discussed by the Champaign County Redistricting Advisory Group, and he noted that the map’s partisan projections are in line with all other maps as having 6 Democratic, 3 Republican, and 2 toss-up districts. Board Member Goss noted his support for having two majority-minority districts but voiced his objections to the size and shape of District 3 in Plan Map 11/the Equity Map, and he stated the reapportionment should be held off until the county has the results of the 2020 decennial census not just the projections. Board Member Humphrey noted that county Republicans did not submit any plan maps to the Champaign County Redistricting Advisory Group. Board Member Rodriguez spoke about anti-gerrymandering concepts of “Packing, Cracking, and Compacting” in defense of Plan Map 11/the Equity Map. Board Member Harper complained about the size and shape of District 3 in Plan Map 11/the Equity Map. Board Member Fortado expressed disappointment that Plan Map 11/the Equity Map was the only plan map with two majority-minority districts and noted that board members serve both their districts and the county as a whole. Board Member Thorsland called the question on the Plan Map 11/the Equity Map amendment; Board Member Rodriguez seconded. The call to question on the amendment carried by roll call vote.

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

Nays: Esry, Goss, and Harper – 3

The Plan Map 11/the Equity Map amendment as moved by Board Chair Patterson and seconded by Board Member King carried by roll-call vote.

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

Nays: McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Wolken, Esry, Goss, and Harper – 7

Board Member Esry stated that Plan Map 11/the Equity Map was a last-minute addition. Board Member Summers spoke about the map creation process, noting County Executive Kloeppel failed to include any board members on the Champaign County Redistricting Advisory Group. Board Chair Patterson stated that the Committee of the Whole did not take up a vote on any plan maps and noted Plan Map 11/the Equity Map was on the Committee of the Whole agenda and on the county website. Board Member Goss called the question on the motion as amended; Board Member Esry seconded. The call to question carried by roll-call vote.

Yeas: Lokshin, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Ammons, Carter, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, Harper, Humphrey, King and Patterson – 18

Nays: McGuire, Michaels, and Passalacqua – 3

The motion as amended to adopt Map 11/the Equity Map—originally moved by Board Member Esry and seconded by Board Member Paul with Map 1—carried by roll-call vote.

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

Nays: McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Wolken, Esry, Goss, and Harper – 7

DISCUSSION/INFORMATION ONLY

None.

ADJOURNMENT

County Executive Kloeppel adjourned the meeting at 8:53 PM.

http://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/CB/2021/210520_Meeting/210520Minutes.pdf