Champaign County Board met April 21.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The County Board of Champaign County, Illinois met at a Regular Meeting at 6:33 PM in the Shields-Carter Meeting Room, Brookens Administrative Center, 1776 East Washington Street, Urbana, Illinois, with County Executive Darlene Kloeppel presiding and Matthew Cross as Clerk of the meeting.
ROLL CALL
Roll call showed the following members present: Carter, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, Harper, King, Lokshin, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, and Patterson – 18; absent: Wolken, Paul, Rodriguez, and Williams – 4. County Executive Kloeppel declared a quorum present and the Board competent to conduct business. King departed early at some point before 8:55 and missed no votes.
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 April 3, April 10, and April 17, 2022.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ADDENDA
Board Member Michaels offered a motion to approve the Agenda/Addenda; Board member Straub seconded. Board Member Thorsland noted an error in the meeting schedule and requested the Study Session day be corrected from Thursday to Tuesday (the date was correctly listed as April 26, 2022). The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.
DATE/TIME OF NEXT MEETINGS
Standing Committees:
A. County Facilities Committee Meeting
Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at 6:30 PM
Shields-Carter Meeting Room
B. Environment & Land Use Committee
Thursday, May 5, 2022, at 6:30 PM
Shields-Carter Meeting Room
Champaign County Board Page 2 April 21, 2022
C. Highway and Transportation Committee Meeting
Friday, May 6, 2022 at 9 AM
1605 E Main Street, Urbana
Committee of the Whole:
A. Justice & Social Services; Policy, Personnel, & Appointments; Finance Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 6:30 PM
Shields-Carter Meeting Room
County Board:
A. Study Session
Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at 6:00 PM
Shields-Carter Meeting Room
B. Regular Meeting
Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 6:30 PM
Shields-Carter Meeting Room
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Susan Monte of the Champaign County Environmental Stewards spoke about the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funding request for household hazardous waste collection.
Nicholas Dale of Champaign spoke encouraging the county to increase the salaries for States Attorney’s Office attorneys and asked that States Attorney’s Office attorneys identify themselves as such at the courthouse. He stated that knowing the identity of the attorneys would aid in requesting the attorneys recuse themselves in cases where there might be a potential conflict of interest.
PRESENTATION
Deputy Director of Finance Tami Ogden presented the Champaign County Financial Forecast. Board Members Straub, McGuire, and Fortado thanked Deputy Director Ogden and her staff for their hard work. Board Member McGuire asked about inflation of labor and material costs for future construction projects; Deputy Director Ogden noted the cost estimates are intentionally conservative to account for inflation and cost fluctuations. Board Member McGuire asked about the potential costs of housing inmates outside of the county after the Satellite Jail expansion is completed; Deputy Director Ogden stated that is a possibility but unknown at the present. Board Member Fortado added that the Satellite Jail expansion size was determined in consultation with both the County Sheriff and the courts. She also stated that the County Sheriff would like to accelerate that timeline to close the Downtown Jail; Deputy Director Ogden stated that she had anticipated that in the budget. Board Member Goss asked about bond interest rates; Deputy Director stated she told by a municipal advisor to expect 2.85 percent.
CONSENT AGENDA
Board Member Goss offered a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, comprising 25 resolutions (Nos. 2022-58, 2022-59, 2022-60, 2022-61, 2022-62, 2022-63, 2022-64, 2022-65, 2022-66, 2022-67, 2022-68, 2022-69, 2022-70, 2022-71, 2022-72, 2022-73, 2022-74, 2022-75, 2022-76, 2022-77, 2022-78, 2022-79, 2022-80, 2022-81 and 2022- 82) and one ordinance (No. 2022-2); Board Member Vanichtheeranont seconded. The motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.
Yeas: Carter, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, Harper, King, Lokshin, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, and Patterson – 18
Nays: None
COMMUNICATIONS
Board Member Stohr noted the upcoming residential electronics recycling event on May 22, 2022.
Board Member Vanichtheeranont noted that she had forwarded cemetery district board vacancies to local genealogical societies.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Board Member Lokshin offered a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the County Board of March 24, 2022; Board Member Carter seconded. The motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.
Yeas: Carter, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, Harper, King, Lokshin, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, and Patterson – 18
Nays: None
STANDING COMMITTEES
COUNTY FACILITIES
County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action Taken for County Facilities on April 5, 2022, 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 April 7, 2022, was received and placed on file.
Board Member Thorsland offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2022-83 authorizing intergovernmental agreements for assistance with water infrastructure projects; Board Member Michaels seconded. Board Member Thorsland thanked Board Member Esry, the other members of the Environment and Land Use Committee (ELUC), and the study session participants, and he noted that the committee would elect to do more if that were possible. Board Member Michaels thanked ELUC and noted monetary commitments from the Villages of Rantoul and Ludlow in addition to the county funds. Board member Harper asked how the monetary distributions were determined and noted that the rural portions of the county account for 40 percent of the tax base. Board Member Fortado questioned the even distribution within District 4 and asked how that addressed specific needs, particularly with the Village of Tolono; County Executive Kloeppel stated that ARPA Project Manager Kathy Larson has worked with each entity to determine needs and Board Member Thorsland noted that future projects are well defined.
HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION
County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action Taken for Highway and Transportation on April 8, 2022, 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 April 12, 2022 Meeting was received and placed on file.
FINANCE
Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2022-84 approving budget amendment BUA 2022/3/389 appropriations to develop an allocation plan for the Urbana HOME Consortium’s HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP) funding; Board Member Vanichtheeranont seconded. The motion carried by roll-call vote.
Yeas: Carter, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, Harper, King, Lokshin, McGuire, Michaels, Passalacqua, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, and Patterson – 18
Nays: None
POLICY, PERSONNEL, AND APPOINTMENTS
Board Member Stohr offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2022-85 establishing and appointing members to the Champaign County Community Violence Prevention Task Force; Board Member Cowart seconded. Board Member Stohr named the task force members: Board Chair Patterson (Chair),
Board Member Fortado (Vice Chair), Board Member Carter, Board member Esry, Board Member Lokshin, Board Member McGuire, and Board Member Michaels. The motion carried by voice vote.
NEW BUSINESS
Board Member King offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2022-86 to establish place of election for the 2022 Primary and General Elections; Board Member Lokshin seconded. The motion carried by roll-call vote.
Yeas: Carter, Cowart, Fortado, King, Lokshin, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, and Patterson – 12
Nays: Esry, Goss, Harper, McGuire, Michaels and Passalacqua – 6
Board member Esry offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2022-87 authorizing application for a Capital Assistance Grant for paratransit vehicle(s) under the Illinois Department of Transportation’s general authority to make such Grants; Board Member Michaels seconded. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.
Board member Passalacqua offered an omnibus motion to adopt Resolutions No. 2022- 88 authorizing payment of claims and No. 2022-89 authorizing purchases not following purchasing policy; Board Member Cowart seconded. County Auditor George Danos was invited to join the discussion. Board Member Stohr asked about the Coroner’s Office’s meal purchase; Auditor Danos stated the meal was directly charged to a county credit card where it should have been personally paid for and then reimbursed by the county; he also noted the purchase occurred two days before the county purchasing policies were discussed at the February County Board Meeting. Board Member Fortado asked that the county instill annual county credit card use training to ensure all cardholders are educated on the county’s purchasing policies. The omnibus motion carried by unanimous voice vote.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Semi-Annual Closed Session Minute Review was postponed until the May 19, 2022 County Board Meeting because the closed session minutes were not available for board member review.
DISCUSSION/INFORMATION ONLY
County Executive Kloeppel stated the Rural Broadband status will be discussed at the April 26, 2022 Study Session, stating the county will need to pay for a community survey (estimated cost $20,000) and determine to continue with the Fiddler contract (estimated cost $28,000). Board Member Carter stated her preference to continue with Fiddler. Board Member Fortado noted the county will be responsible for easements and associated costs.
Champaign County Housing Authority Director Lilly Walton and Deputy Director Temeka Couch were invited to join the discussion. Board Member Fortado asked about the housing funding discrepancies in the handout. County Executive Kloeppel, Board Member Goss, and ARPA Project Manager Larson stated it was a combination of both a math error and the Land Bank and CU at Home funding; the figure should be $650,000 not $350,000. Board Member Fortado noted that recent state legislation may negate the landlord incentive portion of the Housing Authority ARPA funding request. Board Member McGuire expressed uncertainty on the process and asked why the ARPA funding requests were brought directly to the board without discussion at the Committee of the Whole; Board Member Fortado and County Executive Kloeppel explained the County Board had determined ARPA projects without direct oversight of a board committee would be brought to the county board after vetting by ARPA Project Manager Larson to avoid lengthening the already onerous Committee of the Whole meetings. Board Member McGuire asked about the Section 8 voucher increase; Housing Authority Deputy Director Couch stated the Ford County housing program had been absorbed by Champaign County. Board Member Michaels stated support for funding the emergency family shelter. Board Member Goss asked what the Housing Authority would prioritize with the funding; Housing Authority Director Walton stated that renovating the emergency shelter is the highest priority. Board Members Goss and Stohr the Ford County housing; Housing Authority Director Walton stated the Champaign County Housing Authority was not responsible for both Champaign and Ford, but merely Ford County’s state funding had been transferred to the Champaign County Housing Authority, due to a lack of available housing in Ford County. Board Member Carter noted the Housing Authority program is very effective. Board Member Straub asked about the landlord incentive program and why it is needed if landlords are required to accept the vouchers; Housing Authority Deputy Director Couch noted the incentives are very helpful in getting landlords to cooperate and explained the voucher and incentive processes, and Housing Authority Director Walton stated that they work to educated tenants about their rights and will report non-compliant landlords to the local municipalities. Board Member Passalacqua stated his recusal due to his professional working relationship with the Housing Authority. Board Member Lokshin asked about the emergency shelter renovations; Housing Authority Director Walton stated they were seeking multiple funding sources not just Champaign County ARPA funds. Board Member Taylor asked about the Housing Authority’s damage reimbursement process; Housing Authority Director Walton stated the Housing Authority conducts an independent assessment of damages to confirm the cost. Board Member Fortado suggested using $675,000 funding form the $2,000,000 architecture fund: $600,000 for the emergency shelter and $75,000 for landlord incentives. Board Member Michaels agreed with Board Member Fortado’s funding but suggests using the entire $675,000 for the emergency shelter, which was supported by Board members Straub, Summers, and McGuire. Board Chair Patterson noted that unused housing vouchers represent money lost to the county as those funds cannot be reallocated. Housing Authority Director Walton noted the direct link between stable housing and a reduction in community violence. Board Chair Patterson stated a preference to hold a vote at a later date to allow board members to ruminate on the subject. Board Member Stohr asked if drawing funds from the architecture fund will affect the Satellite Jail expansion and the County Plaza renovation; Board Member Fortado stated that those projects are in a separate fund. Board Member Carter stated she would like use $1,000,000 to fund the Housing Authority. County Executive Kloeppel stated she will draw up agreement at $675,000 to the Champaign County Housing Authority.
Board Member Thorsland raised the issue of the ARPA requests by the Champaign County Farm Bureau for a cover crop program and by the Champaign County Environmental Stewards for a household hazardous waste collection facility. Board Member Thorsland stated his preference for other, better funded sources to encourage the use of cover crops but did note his support for the household hazardous waste collection facility. Board Members Goss, Fortado, Stohr, and Summers stated their support for the cover crop program; Board Member Fortado also emphasizing its utility as a research project. Board Member Passsalacqua stated he trusts the opinion of the Farm Bureau. Board member Fortado noted the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will provide $250,000 annually for the collection facility. Susan Monte of the Environmental Stewards was invited to join the discussion, explaining the capital campaign and their work with the Illinois EPA to get the collection facility built and running. Board Member Stohr asked about the McLean County household hazardous waste collection facility campaign; Susan Monte compared the campaigns in Champaign and McLean counties, noting both are attempting to do so through non profits. County Executive Kloeppel noted the county could waive construction permit fees for the facility to reduce costs. Board Member Fortado asked for a straw poll to determine interest in both the Farm Bureau’s cover crop program and the Environmental Stewards’ household hazardous waste collection facility, and a majority of board members expressed support for both; Board Member Michaels recused herself for the household hazardous waste collection facility. County Executive Kloeppel stated she will go forward with agreements with the Farm Bureau and the Environmental Stewards. It was agreed to table discussion of the Promise Healthcare request and the premium pay for direct support professionals in I/DD service settings until the May 19 County Board Meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
County Executive Kloeppel adjourned the meeting at 9:24 PM.
https://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/CB/2022/220421_Meeting/220421Minutes.pdf
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