Chambana Sun

Champaign County Committee of the Whole met Oct. 12.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Members Present: Samantha Carter, Lorraine Cowart, Stephanie Fortado, Jim Goss, Stan Harper, Mary King, Jenny Lokshin, Jim McGuire, Diane Michaels, Brad Passalacqua, Jacob Paul, Emily Rodriguez, Chris Stohr, Jennifer Straub, Steve Summers, Leah Taylor, Eric Thorsland, Bethany Vanichtheeranont, Kyle Patterson

Members Absent: Aaron Esry, Jodi Wolken

Others Present: Darlene Kloeppel (County Executive), Tami Ogden (Director of Finance), Dustin Heuerman (Sheriff), Aaron Ammons (County Clerk), Angela Patton (Chief Deputy County Clerk), Kathy Larson (ARPA Project Manager), Susan McGrath (Circuit Clerk), Cassandra Johnson (Treasurer), George Danos (Auditor), Megan Robison (Recording Secretary)

Agenda Items

I. Call to Order

Chair Patterson called the meeting to order at 6:30 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 Ms. Straub. Upon roll call vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

IV. Approval of Minutes

A. August 23, 2021 – Legislative Budget Hearing

B. August 24, 2021 – Legislative Budget Hearing

C. September 14, 2021 – Regular Meeting

OMNIBUS MOTION by Mr. Harper to approve the minutes of August 23, 2021, August 24, 2021 and September 14, 2021; seconded by Ms. Michaels. Upon roll call vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

V. Public Participation

None

VI. Communications

A. Cover Crop Initiative – Champaign County Farm Bureau

B. Northward Expansion Project Summary – Sangamon Valley Public Water District

C. Draft use of ARPA funds – Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Stohr spoke about the request from the Sangamon Valley Public Water District. He believes there are some state funds available for this project, but they have not been released. Mr. Thorsland said State Representative Rose needs to write a letter for the state funds to be released but doesn’t believe he has done this. Mr. Goss stated knows State Representatives Rose and Caulkins have sent the letter. Ms. Fortado mentioned the $2,000,000 allocated in the budget for water projects, which would cover items A & B, and there is also $1,000,000 for small business support, which would help with some of the ideas from the Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Goss informed the Board of the passing of Ms. Wolken’s father in case anyone would like to extend their sympathy.

VII. Finance

A. Budget Amendments/Transfers

1. Budget Amendment 21-00053

Fund 080 General Corporate / Dept 036 Public Defender

Increased Appropriations: $4,275

Increased Revenue: $0

Reason: Based on current spending (Jan-Sept, 2021) additional/approximate funds will be needed for Oct/Nov/Dec, 2021 in the following: Office Supplies: $525/month daily operation. Court Reporting: $100/month professional services: $800/mo to cover cost of interpreter services for attorney/client appointments

MOTION by Ms. Taylor to recommend County Board approval of a resolution approving budget amendment 21-00053; seconded by Ms. King. Upon roll call vote, MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

2. Budget Amendment 21-00054

Fund 075 Regional Planning Comm / Dept Urbana ARPA Management

Increased Appropriations: $71,335

Increased Revenue: $71,335

Reason: see attached

MOTION by Ms. Carter to recommend County Board approval of a resolution approving budget amendment 21-00054; seconded by Mr. McGuire. Upon roll call vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

3. Budget Amendment 21-00057

Fund 080 General Corporate / Dept 127 Veterans Assistance Commission

Increased Appropriations: $7,305

Increased Revenue: $7,305

Reason: Donations received in FY2021 and request for appropriation to extend benefits to veterans. See attached memo for more details.

MOTION by Ms. Michaels to recommend County Board approval of a resolution approving budget amendment 21-00057; seconded by Mr. Thorsland. Mr. McGuire read the names of all donators. Upon roll call vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

4. Budget Transfer 21-00003

Fund 080 General Corporate / Dept 030

Circuit Clerk Amount: $56,700

Reason: This is a requested transfer from full time personnel to pay for replacement of office chairs, and for new headsets and microphones. Originally this was an ARPA request which I withdrew to make this purchase from our budget. See attached information from the original ARPA request.

MOTION by Ms. Lokshin to recommend County Board approval of a resolution approving budget transfer 21-00003; seconded by Ms. Straub. Mr. McGuire recused himself from this vote due to a conflict of interest. Upon roll call vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

B. County Clerk

1. Resolution authorizing an acceptance agreement between Champaign County and the Illinois State Board of Elections for the 2022 Voter Registration State Grant

2. Resolution authorizing an acceptance agreement between Champaign County and the Illinois State Board of Elections for the 2022 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Federal Grant

OMNIBUS MOTION by Mr. Thorsland to recommend County Board approval of resolutions to authorize an acceptance agreement between Champaign County and the Illinois State Board of Elections for the 2022 Voter Registration State Grant and the 2022 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Federal Grant; seconded by Ms. Straub. Upon roll call vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

C. Treasurer

1. Monthly Report – June and July2021 - Reports are available on the Treasurer’s webpage

Received and placed on file – Mr. Harper asked the Treasurer about the published list of tax delinquents that were errors. Ms. Johnson explained some of the reasons why there were errors and that her office is working diligently to get all of them corrected. Ms. Michaels asked if another notice will be sent to the delinquents and Ms. Johnson explained that they have already sent out two reminders to everyone and does not anticipate another reminder being sent. Mr. Goss requested an update on the 2020 bank reconciliations. Ms. Johnson reminded everyone that she requested some extra time to complete the 2020 collector bank reconciliations and the reason why it is taking so long to complete.

D. Auditor

1. Monthly Report – September 2021 - Reports are available on the Auditor’s webpage Received and placed on file

Mr. McGuire lost his connection

E. Sheriff

1. Intergovernmental Agreement – JAG Program

MOTION by Ms. Lokshin to recommend County Board approval of a resolution authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Champaign and Champaign County for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program; seconded by Mr. Summers. Upon roll call vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

F. County Executive

1. Recommendation to the County Board to receive and place on file the FY2022 Tentative Budget

MOTION by Ms. Taylor to recommend County Board approval of a resolution to receive and place on file the FY2022 Tentative Budget; seconded by Ms. Vanichtheeranont. Upon roll call vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

The Committee decided they would prefer to leave this off the Consent Agenda.

G. Other Business

1. Semi-Annual Closed Session Minute Review

MOTION by Mr. Patterson to open the closed session minutes of 2/7/2008 (8:16pm) and 6/15/2010 (2) and for all other closed session minutes to remain closed; seconded by Ms. Michaels. Upon roll call vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

Mr. McGuire joined the meeting after losing his connection. Ms. Fortado allowed Mr. McGuire to speak about items that were passed while he was trying to regain access to the meeting. He asked why the budget was approved before the number of sheriff deputies is approved. It was decided they would continue this conversation when they get to the Sheriff’s resolution for deputies on the agenda.

H. Chair’s Report

None

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

VII. A. 1-4, B. 1-2, E. 1

VIII. Justice and Social Services

A. Monthly Reports – All reports are available on each department’s webpage through the department reports page

• Probation & Court Services – August 2021

• Emergency Management Agency – July-September 2021

Received and placed on file

B. Rosecrance Re-Entry Financial Report – August 2021

Information only

C. Other Business

1. Semi-Annual Closed Session Minute Review

MOTION by Mr. Patterson to open the closed session minutes of 11/25/1991, 8/19/1994, 9/6/1994 and 5/5/2005 and for all other closed session minutes to remain closed; seconded by Ms. Carter. Upon roll call vote,

the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

D. Chair’s Report

None

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

None

IX. Policy, Personnel, & Appointments

A. County Executive

1. Monthly HR Report – September 2021

Received and placed on file

2. Appointments/Reappointments

a. Resolution appointing Bill Routh to the Mount Olive Cemetery Association, unexpired term ending 6/30/2026

b. Resolution appointing Julie Smith to the Clements Cemetery Association, unexpired term ending 6/30/2027

c. Resolution appointing Joe Burke to the Lower Big Slough Drainage District, unexpired term ending 8/31/2024

OMNIBUS MOTION by Mr. Passalacqua to recommend County Board approval resolutions appointing Bill Routh, Julie Smith and Joe Burke to their respective boards; seconded by Ms. Michaels. Upon roll call vote,

the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

Mr. McGuire was unavailable during this vote.

d. Currently vacant appointments – full list and information is available on the County’s website Information only

e. Applications for open appointments

Information only

B. Sheriff

1. Resolution amending the number of authorized deputy sheriff positions for the Champaign County Sheriff

MOTION by Ms. Straub to recommend County Board approval of a resolution amending the number of authorized deputy sheriff positions for the Champaign County Sheriff; seconded by Mr. McGuire. Discussion followed about amending the resolution to add four deputies instead of two, the cost for this amendment, how this change would fit into the budget and revisiting this topic in the future. Several Board members also listed all of the items they have financially supported for the Sheriff in the upcoming fiscal year.

MOTION by Mr. Harper to amend the resolution from two deputies to four deputies; seconded by Mr. Passalacqua. Upon roll call vote,

Yea: 5 – Goss, Harper, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua

Nay: 14 – Vanichtheeranont, Carter, Cowart, Fortado, King, Lokshin, Paul, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Patterson, the MOTION TO AMEND FAILED

Upon roll call vote, the original MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

Ms. Taylor was unavailable during this vote.

C. County Clerk

1. Monthly Report – September 2021

Received and placed on file

2. Request for Job Evaluation Content Committee to review the new Election Specialist position

MOTION by Ms. Fortado to forward the Election Specialist position to the Job Evaluation Content Committee; seconded by Mr. Thorsland. Upon roll call vote,

Yea: 15 – Vanichtheeranont, Carter, Cowart, Fortado, Goss, King, Lokshin, Michaels, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Patterson

Nay: 4 – Harper, McGuire, Passalacqua, Paul, the MOTION CARRIED

D. County Board

1. Proposed maps for 2021 Reapportionment Plan

Ms. Fortado asked when they would officially vote for the new map and Mr. Patterson explained that it would take place at the October County Board meeting. Mr. Goss expressed his support for Equity map 3 and listed several reasons why Equity Map 4 is not equitable. Mr. Thorsland mentioned that Equity Map 4 has the best population variance with a difference of only four people between districts. Mr. McGuire, Mr. Harper and Mr. Passalacqua spoke about the inability to represent the rural areas properly in such a large territory.

E. Other Business

1. Semi-Annual Closed Session Minute Review

MOTION by Mr. Patterson to open the closed session minutes of 7/14/1998, 10/5/2005 and 5/8/2012 (2) and for all other closed session minutes to remain closed; seconded by Ms. Michaels. Upon roll call vote

the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

F. Chair’s Report

None

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

IX. A. 2. a-c, B. 1

X. Other Business

Mr. Harper asked about returning to in-person meetings. Mr. Patterson stated that he believes it is Ms. Kloeppel’s intention to go back to in-person meetings but reminded everyone that masks must be worn at all times.

XI. Adjournment

Chair Patterson adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m.

https://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/Committee_Of_The_Whole/2021/211012_Meeting/211012Minutes.pdf