Chambana Sun

Champaign County Board met Sept. 23.

Here are 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: Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Carter, Esry, Goss, Harper, King, Lokshin, Michaels, Passalacqua, and Patterson – 16; late Cowart (at 6:34 missing no votes), Fortado (at 6:34 missing no votes), McGuire (at 6:34 missing no votes), and Paul (before 7:11 missing the Agenda vote) – 4 absent: none. County Executive Kloeppel declared a quorum present and the Board competent to conduct business. Due to connectivity issues with Zoom, McGuire missed two votes.

PRAYER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

County Executive Kloeppel read a quote from Winn Collier about John 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 September 2, September 8, and September 16, 2021.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ADDENDA

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

Yeas: Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Wolken, Carter, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, Harper, King, Lokshin,

McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, and Patterson – 19

Nays: None

DATE/TIME OF NEXT MEETINGS

Standing Committees:

A. Highway and Transportation Committee Meeting

Friday, October 1, 2021 at 9 AM

1605 E Main Street, Urbana

B. County Facilities Committee Meeting

Tuesday, October 5, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

C. Environment & Land Use Committee

Thursday, October 7, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

Committee of the Whole:

A. Justice & Social Services; Policy, Personnel, & Appointments; Finance Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

Special Committees:

A. Jail Facilities Committee

Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

A. Broadband Task Force

Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

County Board:

A. Regular Meeting

Thursday, September 23, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Micah McMahon, Champaign County Correctional Officer, spoke about the Downtown Jail and Satellite Jail needs and urged the board to commit funding beyond the bare minimum, and he spoke about Covid hazard pay for correctional officers.

Scott Burge spoke in support of Ordinance No. 2021-9, rezoning for an agronomic research facility.

Michael Larson, Sangamon Valley Water District, spoke the contamination of well water by underground gas storage, urging American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for a mitigation project.

James Corbin, First Followers Community Outreach Specialist, spoke about First Followers efforts to combat gun violence in the community and urged ARPA funding of the project.

Richmond Hayes, First Followers volunteer and University of Illinois Ph.D. candidate in Clinical Psychology, spoke about radical healing in the community and urged ARPA funding for First Followers.

Josh Payne, First Followers Community Outreach Specialist, spoke about the root causes of community violence, particularly trauma and inequalities, and urged ARPA funding for First Followers.

Casandis, First Followers Peer Mentor, spoke about community gun violence and urged ARPA funding for First Followers.

Charles Davidson, First Followers Mentor, spoke about community gun violence and urged ARPA funding for First Followers.

Angela O’Neal spoke about community gun violence and urged ARPA funding for First Followers.

ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 2021-311

Board Member Lokshin offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-311 appointing Bethany Vanichtheeranont to District 5 to fill Jordan Humphrey’s unexpired term ending November 30, 2022; Board Chair Patterson seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Nays: None

Absent: McGuire – 1

CONSENT AGENDA

Board Member Thorsland offered a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, comprising 17 total resolutions (Nos. 2021-291, 2021-292, 2021-293, 2021-294, 2021-295, 2021- 296, 2021-297, 2021-298, 2021-299, 2021-300, 2021-301, 2021-302, 2021-303, 2021- 304, 2021-305, 2021-306 and 2021-307); Board Member Esry seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Nays: None

COMMUNICATIONS

Board Member Stohr noted numerous communications from community members in support of ARPA funding for First Followers and a lack of support for jail funding.

Board Member King asked that public participants mute themselves.

Board Member Lokshin noted communications form community members in support of ARPA funding for First Followers and read a supporting letter into the record.

Board Member Rodriguez noted communications from community members in support of ARPA funding for First Followers and she spoke about the community trauma of violence.

Board Member Carter noted communications from community members in support of ARPA funding for First Followers, and disproval of using ARPA funds for Jail facilities. She urged funding for increased mental health services at the jails but not an increase in inmate capacity.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Board Member Michaels offered a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the County Board of August 19, 2021; Board Member King seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, Wolken, Carter, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, Harper, King, Lokshin, Michaels, Passalacqua, Paul, and Patterson – 21

Nays: None

Absent: McGuire – 1

STANDING COMMITTEES

County Executive Kloeppel noted the County Facilities Summary of Action Taken September 7, 2021 Meeting was received and placed on file.

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Highway and Transportation Summary of Action Taken September 10, 2021 Meeting was received and placed on file.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Committee of the Whole (Justice and Social Services; Finance; Policy, Personnel, and Appointments) Summary of Action Taken September 14, 2021 Meeting was received and placed on file.

SPECIAL COMMITTEES

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Jail Facilities Committee Summary of Action Taken September 8, 2021 Meeting was received and placed on file.

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Broadband Task Force Summary of Action Taken September 16, 2021 Meeting was received and placed on file.

OLD BUSINESS

Board Member Lokshin offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-281 authorizing purchases not following purchasing policy; Board Member McGuire seconded. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Nays: None

Board Member McGuire offered a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2021-9 amending Zoning Ordinance, Zoning Case 008-AT-21; Board Member Goss seconded. Board Member Esry noted that the City of Urbana’s protest of the ordinance forced the affirmative minimum vote to 17, and noted the currently zoning does not prevent agronomic research, only the construction of a research facility. Board Member Thorsland stated that it was the City of Urbana’s right to issue a protest, as was the County Board’s right to override that protest, and while sympathetic to the City of Urbana’s concerns, he urged support for the ordinance. Board Member Rodriguez asked, in the case of future instances of municipal protests, that a representative from that municipality be present at the Board Meeting to discuss the protest. Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Nays: None

NEW BUSINESS

Board Member Vanichtheeranont offered an omnibus motion to adopt Resolutions No. 2021-308 authorizing payments of claims and No. 2021-309 authorizing purchases not following purchasing policy; Board Member Carter seconded. Motion carried by roll-call vote.

Yeas: Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, Wolken, Carter, Cowart, Fortado, Harper, King, Lokshin, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Paul, and Patterson – 19

Nays: Esry and Goss – 2

OTHER BUSINESS

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt resolution No. 2021-310 establishing salaries of elected officials – County Clerk, County Executive, Sheriff, and Treasurer; Board Member Thorsland seconded.

Board Member Goss offered an amendment to the resolution changing the County Clerk from $117,569.00 to $110,000.00, Sheriff from $125,666.18 to $125,000.00, the Treasurer from $100,496.07 to $98,000.00, and the County Executive from unchanged at $70,000.00, each with 2% cost of living salary adjustments (COLA) on January 1, 2024, 2025, and 2026; Board Member McGuire seconded the amendment. Board Chair Patterson asked for clarification on the on the effective COLA date of January 1 as it does not match the December 1, 2022 start date; Board Member Goss stated the January date was an error and accepted (along with seconding Board Member McGuire) a friendly amendment to change the COLA effective dates to December 1, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Board Chair Patterson also asked if the Sheriff salary reduction by $666.18 was intentional; Board Member Goss replied that he had simply rounded down to $125,000.00 an even number; Board Member Goss and seconding Board Member McGuire accepted a friendly amendment to restore the County Sheriff salary to $125.666.18. Board Member Fortado found the original resolution to be unusual because the County Clerk’s salary was raised approximately $20,000 while the County Executive was lowered, and the Treasurer and Sheriff had a 2% COLA applied to the current salary and suggested either applying the 2% COLA to all or to none. Board Member Fortado, however, would like to see the County Clerk’s salary increased due to the added responsibilities following the merger with the Recorder’s office, but could find no currently comparable counties that have recently combined the County Clerk and Recorders offices; she also stated that the Treasurer salary is below other comparable counties and should be increased. County Executive Kloeppel suggested opening the amendment to a discussion until the board can reach a consensus on the amendment to the resolution, rather than making numerous, individual friendly amendments. Board Member Rodriguez stated her intention to vote no on the Goss amendment and present her own amendment with the County Clerk at $107,000.00, the County Executive at $80,000.00, the Sheriff unchanged at $125,666.18, and the Treasurer at $110,000.00. County Executive Kloeppel reiterated that the discussion of the amendment had become less a debate of the merits of Board Member Goss’s amendment but a debate on the salary structure from the County Clerk, Sheriff, Treasurer, and County Executive. Board Member McGuire stated his concern that the $70,000.00 County Executive salary was too low to attract highly qualified candidates and that the compensation was far below that of other county-wide elected officials, particularly so given the level of responsibility and oversight. Board Member Rodriguez reiterated her intent to vote against the Goss amendment and, if it were to fail, offer a motion to amend the resolution with the salary structure she had previously mentioned. Board Member Harper compared the salary structure of the Goss amendment versus the potential Rodriguez amendment. Board Member Fortado asked Board Member Goss if he would consider the Treasurer at $102,000.00; Board Member Goss stated he could be amenable to $100,000-$102,000. Board Member Fortado noted the that average of comparable counties was approximately $103,000. Board Member Fortado then asked about the possibility of raising the County Clerk salary, which Board Member Goss rejected and noted his proposed $110,000 is equal to Madison County which is the highest paid County Clerk of the comparable counties. Amending Board Member Goss and seconding Board Member McGuire agreed to raising the Treasurer to $100,000.00; and Board Member McGuire asked that the Sheriff be modified to $125,667.00 and Board Member Goss accepted as a friendly amendment. Board Members Summers, Goss, and Stohr discussed the 2% COLA. Various board members discussed the additional state stipend, which was not to be accounted for in salary schedules. Board Member Stohr asked Board Member Goss about raising the County Executive salary to the $80,000, as previously mentioned by Board Member Rodriguez, which Board Member Goss rejected outright. Board Member King noted that median county income is $28,000 and the median family income is $56,000, and as such the salaries and the 2% COLA are generous; Board Members Paul and Harper agreed with Board Member King. The final language of the Amendment moved by Board Member Goss and seconded by Board Member McGuire provides the salary on December 1, 2022 of the County Clerk at $110,000.00, the County Executive at $70,000.00, the Sheriff at $125,667.00, and the Treasurer at $100,000.00, with a 2% COLA each on December 1, 2023, December 1, 2024, and December 1, 2025. The amendment to the motion carried by roll-call vote.

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

Nays: Carter and Paul – 2

The motion to adopt Resolution No. 2021-310 as amended carried by roll-call vote.

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

Nays: Carter and Paul – 2

DISCUSSION/INFORMATION ONLY

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Property Tax/Levy/Rate Projection FY2022 was in the Agenda Packet and that public hearings would not be required. Board Member Stohr asked about the cannabis projections set at $0; County Executive Kloeppel noted the state law does not require reporting and Board Member Fortado added that it is an issue in the law that needs to be addressed by the state legislature. Board Member Stohr asked if the ARPA funds are included in the totals; County Executive Kloeppel confirmed that both ARPA funds and RPC grants are included. Board Member Paul noted that cannabis monies should be kept separate in case of federal interference.

ARPA Project Manager Kathy Larson had no update to provide.

County Executive Kloeppel briefly introduced her revised 2021 County Reapportionment Plan. Board Member Stohr stated that he would like a zoomable, detailed map available with census date; County Executive Kloeppel and Board Member Lokshin both confirmed that the map available on the county website has those functions.

ADJOURNMENT

County Executive Kloeppel adjourned the meeting at 8:14 PM.

https://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/CB/2021/210923_Meeting/210923Minutes.pdf