Champaign County Committee of the Whole met June 14

By Angelica Saylo Pilo

Sep 14, 2022

Champaign County Committee of the Whole met June 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Members Present: Samantha Carter, Lorraine Cowart, Aaron Esry, Jim Goss, Mary King, Jenny Lokshin, Diane Michaels, Brad Passalacqua, Chris Stohr, Jennifer Straub, Steve Summers, Leah Taylor, Eric Thorsland, Bethany Vanichtheeranont, Wayne Williams, Jodi Wolken, Kyle Patterson

Members Absent: Stephanie Fortado, Stan Harper, Jim McGuire, Jacob Paul, Emily Rodriguez

Others Present: Darlene Kloeppel (County Executive), Tami Ogden (Director of Finance), Bill Colbrook (Director of Administration), Aaron Ammons (County Clerk and Recorder), Angela Patton (Chief Deputy County Clerk), Dustin Heuerman (Sheriff), Shannon Barrett (Chief Deputy Sheriff), Karee Voges (Jail Superintendent), Megan Robison (Recording Secretary)

Agenda Items

I. Call to Order

Chair Patterson called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m.

II. Roll Call

Roll call was taken, and a quorum was declared present.

III. Approval of Agenda/Addenda

MOTION by Ms. Taylor to approve the agenda; seconded by Ms. Lokshin. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

IV. Approval of Minutes

A. May 10, 2022 – Regular Meeting

MOTION by Ms. Straub to approve the minutes of May 10, 2022; seconded by Ms. King. Upon roll call vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

V. Public Participation

Steve McDowell, Champaign resident, spoke about his positive experiences working as a republican election judge with County Clerk Ammons.

Angela Lusk, AFSCME member, spoke about the union’s request for raises, having to work more than one job and being overwhelmed from covering multiple positions within their offices. She requested for the Board members take their request seriously, realize the County runs because of the employees and give a fair living wage. She pointed out how frustrating it is to see the officials getting raises while the union contracts are taking forever to complete.

Robert Burkhalter, 15-year employee, spoke about being six months out of a contract and doesn’t feel like the County is listening to their employees. He asked the Board to prioritize their employees.

Patrick Thompson, VEYA Inc. owner, spoke about the need for a minority policy for contracting. He said the county will not see people like him on projects without this type of policy.

David & Barbara Powell, republican election judges, spoke about their dismay when a democrat was elected for County Clerk, and they were asked to come work in the office with him. Since then, they have personally seen the good work being done by Clerk Ammons and it is very upsetting when they hear people attacking him.

Chris Evans, District 9 constituent, mentioned all of the large-budget building projects the County has done in recent years. He came to speak about economic development and investing in the community by setting some percentage goals to allow minority businesses to participate in these large building projects. He also mentioned his visions for policies that allow for affordable housing policies, strengthening the schools, neighborhood development and workforce development

VI. Communications

A. Government Finance Officers Association News Release

B. Illinois Housing Development Authority

C. Letter from resident Karen Pruiett

Mr. Patterson mentioned the attached communications.

Ms. Straub wanted the public participants to know that the Board has heard their comments.

Mr. Goss spoke about an ethics violation that has been written up for the Sangamon Valley Public Water District Board.

Ms. King expressed her frustration with the lack of information the Board has received about the contract negotiations. She requested for the County Executive’s Office to share more of this information with the Board because the employees are the backbone of the county.

Mr. Thorsland echoed Ms. Kings frustration and told the members that the Board would have their backs.

VII. Presentations

A. I Voted Sticker Contest Winners

Mr. Ammons and Ms. Patton listed the names of the contest winners and described their sticker designs.

• 9-12 grade – Robin F.

• 18-25 years old – Alaina Peterson

• 26-54 years old – Adam Majerczak

• 55+ years old – Krista Sunderland

• Future voter – Annie A. & Abigail D.

VIII. Policy, Personnel, & Appointments

A. County Executive

1. Monthly HR Report – May 2022

Received and placed on file

2. Appointments/Reappointments (italics indicates incumbent)

a. Resolution appointing Wendy Hundley to the Forest Preserve District Board, term 7/1/2022- 6/30/2027

b. Resolution appointing Catherine Emanuel to the County Board of Health, term 7/1/2022- 6/30/2025

c. Resolution appointing Brent Reifsteck to the County Board of Health, term 7/1/2022-6/30/2025

d. Resolution appointing David Thies to the County Board of Health, term 7/1/2022-6/30/2025

e. Resolution appointing Misty Nelson to the Bill Huss Chapel Cemetery Association, term 7/1/2022-6/30/2028

f. Resolution appointing Brandon Hastings to the Bill Huss Chapel Cemetery Association, term 7/1/2022-6/30/2028

g. Resolution appointing Stewart Williams to the Eastern Prairie Fire Protection District, term ending 4/30/2024

h. Resolution appointing Ken Osterbur to the Ogden-Royal Fire Protection District, term ending 4/30/2025

i. Resolution appointing Ed Feeney to the Kankakee Drainage District, term ending 8/31/2024

OMNIBUS MOTION by Mr. Summers to recommend County Board approval of resolutions appointing Wendy Hundley, Catherine Emanuel, Brent Reifsteck, David Thies, Misty Nelson, Brandon Hastings, Stewart Williams, Ken Osterbur and Ed Feeney to their respective boards; seconded by Ms. Taylor. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

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

k. Applications for open appointments

Information only

B. County Clerk

1. Monthly Report – May 2022

Received and placed on file

C. Public Defender

1. Request approval for travel reimbursement for Janie Miller-Jones on 2/22/22

2. Request approval for travel reimbursement for Andrea Bergstrom on 2/14/22

OMNIBUS MOTION by Ms. Vanichtheeranont to approve resolutions for travel reimbursement for Janie Miller-Jones and Andrea Bergstrom; seconded by Ms. Cowart. Discussion followed regarding why this was on the policy agenda and not the finance agenda. Ms. Kloeppel explained that the travel policy requires this step for approval. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

D. County Executive

1. Workforce Study update

Information only – Mr. Colbrook explained the workforce study is underway and listed some of the things that are currently being done to complete this process.

E. Other Business

None

F. Chair’s Report

None

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

VIII. A. 2. a-i, C. 1-2

IX. Finance

A. Budget Amendments/Transfers

1. Budget Transfer BUA 2022/5/15

Fund 1080 General Corporate / Dept 036 Public Defender

Amount: $15,000

Reason: Due to vacant positions in the Public Defender’s Office, a private attorney is required to assist with felony cases. Since the attorney is not a county employee, a transfer from full-time employees to professional services is necessary.

MOTION by Mr. Esry to recommend County Board approval of a resolution approving budget amendment BUA 2022/5/15; seconded by Mr. Thorsland. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

2. Budget Amendment BUA 2022/5/16

Fund 2089 County Public Health Fund / Dept 049 Board of Health

Increased Appropriations: $323,229

Increased Revenue: $323,229

Reason: Appropriation required to expend funds received from the COVID-19 Crisis Grant.

MOTION by Ms. King to recommend County Board approval of a resolution approving budget amendment BUA 2022/5/16; seconded by Ms. Lokshin. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

3. Budget Amendment BUA 2022/5/475

Fund 2075 Regional Planning Commission / Dept 100 Regional Planning Commission

Increased Appropriations: $85,000

Increased Revenue: $85,000

Reason: Appropriation required to use funds from the Community Block Grant to support case management staff providing services to households receiving Tenant Based Rent Assistance vouchers through the Households Impacted by Gun Violence Program.

MOTION by Mr. Summers to recommend County Board approval of a resolution approving budget amendment BUA 2022/5/475; seconded by Ms. Straub. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

4. Budget Amendment BUA 2022/5/476

Fund 2075 Regional Planning Commission / Dept 100 Regional Planning Commission

Increased Appropriations: $125,000

Increased Revenue: $125,000

Reason: Appropriation required to use the HOME funds received to pay for Tenant Based Rental Assistance for families enrolled in the Tenant Based Rent Assistance for Households Impacted by Gun Violence Program.

MOTION by Mr. Passalacqua to recommend County Board approval of a resolution approving budget amendment BUA 2022/5/476; seconded by Ms. Carter. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

5. Budget Amendment BUA 2022/5/483

Fund 1080 General Corporate / Dept 140 Correctional Center

Increased Appropriations: $1,313,709

Increased Revenue: $0

Reason: Budget amendment for out of county inmate housing.

MOTION by Ms. Lokshin to recommend County Board approval of a resolution approving budget amendment BUA 2022/5/483; seconded by Ms. Michaels. Discussion followed with Sheriff Heuerman explaining why this budget amendment is necessary, where they are housing inmates and that this should be enough money to get them through the end of the year. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

6. Budget Amendment BUA 2022/5/484

Fund 1080 General Corporate / Dept 031 Circuit Court

Increased Appropriations: $66,265

Increased Revenue: $66,265

Reason: Requesting additional appropriation to use grant funds from AOIC for courtroom technology upgrades.

MOTION by Ms. Taylor to recommend County Board approval of a resolution approving budget amendment BUA 2022/5/484; seconded by Ms. Cowart. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.

B. Auditor

1. Monthly Report – April & May 2022 – Reports are available on the Auditor’s webpage Information only

C. Other Business

None

D. Chair’s Report

None

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

IX. A. 1-6

X. Justice and Social Services

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

• Probation & Court Services – April 2022

• Public Defender – May 2022