Chambana Sun

Champaign County Board met Aug. 18.

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 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: Goss, Harper, King, Lokshin, McGuire, Paul, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, Williams, Wolken, Carter, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, and Patterson – 20; absent: Michaels and Passalacqua – 2. County Executive Kloeppel declared a quorum present and the Board competent to conduct business.

PRAYER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

County Executive Kloeppel read a Polynesian 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 August 4, August 11, and August 17, 2022.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ADDENDA 

Board Member Cowart offered a motion to approve the Agenda/Addenda; Board Member Lokshin seconded. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

DATE/TIME OF NEXT MEETINGS 

Standing Committees: 

A. County Facilities Committee Meeting

Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

B. Environment & Land Use Committee

Thursday, September 8, 2022 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

C. Highway and Transportation Committee Meeting

Friday, September 9, 2022 at 9 AM

1605 E Main Street, Urbana

Committee of the Whole: 

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

Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

B. Special Finance

Tuesday, September 29, 2022 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

County Board: 

A. Regular Meeting

Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 

Dave Beck, AFSCME 31 Regional Director, spoke about fraught AFSCME contract negotiations with the county.

PRESENTATIONS 

Brad Gould, Veterans’ Assistance Commission Superintendent, spoke about and encouraged county participation in Operation Green Light, which will project green lights on county facilities during the week of Veterans Day. Board members were amenable to the proposal.

CONSENT AGENDA 

Board Member Esry offered a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda, comprising 26 resolutions (Nos. 2022-151, 2022-152, 2022-153, 2022-154, 2022-155, 2022-156, 2022-157, 2022-158, 2022-159, 2022-160, 2022-161, 2022-162, 2022-163, 2022-164, 2022-165, 2022-166, 2022-167, 2022-168, 2022-169, 2022-170, 2022-171, 2022-172, 2022-173, 2022-174, 2022-175, and 2022-176); Board Member Goss seconded. The motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Goss, Harper, King, Lokshin, McGuire, Paul, Rodriguez, Stohr, Straub, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, Williams, Wolken, Carter, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, and Patterson – 20

Nays: none

COMMUNICATIONS 

Board Member McGuire noted the County Clerk’s website did not list candidates in the correct order as determined by the ballot placement lottery, the Clerk’s website does not yet have sample ballots available, and that election judges are having issues logging into the Clerk’s website.

Board Member Williams corrected Board Member McGuire, stating that as ballots cannot yet be finalized, sample ballots cannot yet be posted. He also urged county management to bargain in good faith with AFSCME.

Board Member King noted her support for Dave Beck and AFSCME 31 in contract negotiation with the county.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES 

Board Member Summers offered a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the County Board of July 21, 2022; Board Chair Patterson seconded. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

STANDING COMMITTEES 

COUNTY FACILITIES

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action Taken for County Facilities Committee on August 2, 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 Committee on August 4, 2022, was received and placed on file.

Board Member Thorsland offered a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2022-5, amending Zoning Ordinance, Zoning Case 037-AT-22; Board Member Lokshin seconded.

Board Member Williams offered an amendment to strike the fee increases in section 4; no members seconded the amendment and the amendment failed to be adopted.

The motion carried by roll-call vote.

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

Nays: Paul and Williams – 2

HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action Taken for Highway and Transportation Committee on August 5, 2022, was received and placed on file.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY 

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summary of Action Taken for Committee of the Whole (Justice and Social Services; Finance; Policy, Personnel, and Appointments) on August 9, 2022, was received and placed on file.

NEW BUSINESS 

Board Member Fortado offered an omnibus motion to adopt Resolutions No. 2022-177 authorizing payments of claims and No. 2022-178 authorizing purchases not following purchasing policy; Board Member Taylor seconded. The motion carried by voice vote.

Board Member Straub offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2022-182 establishing place of election for the 2022 Primary Election; Board Member Lokshin seconded. Board Member Straub offered an amendment to correct “Primary” to “General” in the text; seconding Board Member Lokshin agreed to the amendment and no board members objected. Board Member McGuire spoke against the closures of some rural polling places. Board Member Goss mentioned the poor internet connectivity at some rural polling places. Board Member Paul asked if the county provides any transportation for voters; County Executive Kloeppel stated the county does not provide any voting specific transportation. The motion as corrected carried by roll-call vote.

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

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

OTHER BUSINESS 

Board Chair Patterson offered an omnibus motion to adopt Resolutions No. 2022-179 authorizing intergovernmental agreement to provide financial assistance for emergency family shelter renovations, No. 2022-180 authorizing intergovernmental agreement to provide financial assistance for landlord housing incentives, and No. 2022-181 authorizing intergovernmental agreement to provide financial assistance for housing supportive services; Board Member Carter seconded. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

DISCUSSION/INFORMATION ONLY 

Madeline Herrman, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Director, presented an American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funding request for the iRead iCount literacy and math achievement program run by the Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Unit 4 and Unit 116 elementary schools. Various board members asked Ms. Herrman about specifics. Board Member Summers asked if there were any plans to expand the program to Rantoul and rural school districts within the county; Ms. Herrman replied that there were no current plans for an expansion beyond Units 4 and 116.

Chad Hoffman, Champaign County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director, presented an ARPA funding request for Habitat for Humanity home building projects. Various Board Members asked Mr. Hoffman about specifics.

ARPA Project Manager Kathy Larson presented an update on various ARPA projects.

Brad Uken, Broadband Task Force Chair, and Tim Arbeiter, Finley Engineering Director of Broadband Consulting, presented an update from the Broadband Task Force with recommendations to cover all or nearly all of the county. County Executive Kloeppel and various board members asked about specifics.

ADJOURNMENT 

County Executive Kloeppel adjourned the meeting at 8:08 PM.

http://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/CB/2022/220818_Meeting/220818Minutes.pdf