Chambana Sun

Champaign County Board met Nov. 17.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The County Board of Champaign County, Illinois met at a Regular Meeting, Thursday, November 17, 2022, 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: King, Lokshin, McGuire, Paul, Rodriguez, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, Williams, Carter, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, Harper, and Patterson – 17; absent: Michaels, Passalacqua, Straub and Wolken – 4; late: Stohr (arrived at 6:35 and missed no votes) – 1. Williams departed early at 7:42 and missed no votes. County Executive Kloeppel declared a quorum present and the Board competent to conduct business.

PRAYER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

County Executive Kloeppel recited two poems and one 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 November 3, November 10, and November 16, 2022.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ADDENDA 

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

DATE/TIME OF NEXT MEETINGS 

County Board: 

A. Biennial Organizational Meeting

Monday, December 5, 2022 at 6:00 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

B. Regular Meeting and Public Hearing

Thursday, December 15, 2022 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Jim Randol, Chair of the Seymour Water District, requested $60,000 in America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to repair water meters within the Seymour Water District.

Elisabeth Pollock, incoming County Public Defender, introduced herself to the County Board and spoke about the deficiencies and needs at the Public Defender’s Office.

Champaign Clerk and Recorder Aaron Ammons praised the work of Recorder’s Office Chief Deputy Toni Ceaser for her 20 years of service to the county.

Patrick Thompson, President of Veya Inc construction company, spoke about the lack of county contracts with minority-owned businesses and the county’s “aspirational” goals regarding contracting with women- and minority-owned businesses which appear to not be pursued.

CONSENT AGENDA 

Board Member Esry offered a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda; Board Member Thorsland seconded. The motion comprising 18 resolutions (Nos. 2022-239, 2022-240, 2022-241, 2022-242, 2022-243, 2022-244, 2022-245, 2022-246, 2022-247, 2022-248, 2022-249, 2022-250, 2022-251, 2022-252, 2022-253, 2022-254, 2022-255, and 2022- 256) and 6 ordinances (Nos. 2022-9, 2022-10, 2022-11, 2022-12, 2022-13, and 2022- 14) carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Nays: none

COMMUNICATIONS 

Board Member Stohr noted the upcoming Media Day on November 21, 2022, at Frasca Field Airport in Urbana for the Illinois State Geological Survey’s Mahomet Aquifer Airborne Mapping Project.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES 

Board Member Goss offered an omnibus motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the County Board of October 20, 2022 and the Truth in Taxation Hearing of October 20, 2022; Board Member Lokshin seconded. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

STANDING COMMITTEES

County Executive Kloeppel noted the Summaries of Action taken for County Facilities on November 1, Environment and Land Use Committee on November 3, 2022, and Highway and Transportation Committee on November 4, 2022 were received and placed on file.

AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY 

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

POLICY, PERSONNEL, AND APPOINTMENTS

Board Member Stohr offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2022-257 designating the Highway Department Conference Room as the Lorraine Cowart Conference Room; Board Member Esry seconded. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

FINANCE

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2022-258 approving Budget Transfer BUA 2022/10/513 for additional funds required to pay County Treasurer part-time staff through the end of the year; Board Member Taylor seconded. The motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Nays: none

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2022-15 annual tax levy; Board Member King seconded. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

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

Nays: none

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2022-16 annual budget and appropriation; Board Member Goss seconded. The motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Nays: none

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2022-17 providing for the issue of not to exceed $20,000,000 General Obligation Bonds (Public Safety Sales Tax Alternative Revenue Source) for the purpose of consolidating the County’s jail facilities by constructing and equipping an addition attached to the existing satellite jail, providing for the pledge of certain revenues to the payment of principal and interest of said bonds and the levy of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay said bonds if the pledged revenues are insufficient to make such payments, and authorizing the sale of said bonds to the purchaser thereof; Board Member Goss seconded. County Executive Kloeppel added the jail consolidation bond ordinance authorizes officials to sell the bonds not later than December 5, 2022, at an interest rate not exceeding 6%, with the latest maturity of January 1, 2038. The motion carried by roll-call vote.

Yeas: King, Lokshin, McGuire, Paul, Rodriguez, Stohr, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, Carter, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, Harper, and Patterson – 17

Nays: Williams – 1

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2022-18 providing for the issue of not to exceed $20,000,000 General obligation Bonds (General Sales Tax Alternate Revenue Source) for the purpose of renovating, repairing, and equipping the former County Plaza building for the relocation of various County Offices, providing for the pledge of certain revenues to the payment of principal and interest on said bonds and the levy of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay said bonds if the pledged revenues are insufficient to make such payments and authorizing the sale of said bonds to the purchase thereof; Board Member Vanichtheeranont seconded. County Executive Kloeppel added the County Plaza bond ordinance authorizes officials to sell the bonds not later than December 5, 2022, at an interest rate not exceeding 6%, with the latest maturity of January 1, 2044. The motion carried by roll-call vote.

Yeas: King, Lokshin, McGuire, Rodriguez, Stohr, Summers, Taylor, Thorsland, Williams, Vanichtheeranont, Carter, Cowart, Esry, Fortado, Goss, Harper, and Patterson – 17

Nays: Paul – 1

NEW BUSINESS 

Board Member Cowart offered an omnibus motion to adopt Resolutions No. 2022-259 authorizing purchases not following purchasing policy and No. 2022-260 authorizing payments of claims; Board Member Summers seconded. Board Member Williams asked about the first item on the Auditor’s report on purchases not following purchasing policy; if it remains on the report as it was addressed and approved with the passing of Resolution No. 2022-258 earlier in the meeting. County Auditor George Danos was invited to join the discussion; Auditor Danos stated that the report was compiled prior to Committee of the Whole where Resolution No. 2022-258 was drafted.

Board Member Williams offered an amendment to strike the expenditure from the Auditor’s report; various board members and County Executive Kloeppel debated if an item in a report can be struck.

Board Member Williams offered a motion to postpone Resolution No. 2022-259 and reconsider at the December 15, 2022 County Board Meeting; Board Chair Patterson seconded. The motion failed by hand-count vote.

The original omnibus motion carried by voice vote.

Board Member Lokshin offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2022-261 approving Budget Amendment BUA 2022/11/125 for increased spending authority in professional services using the Child Advocacy Center fund balance to cover the increase in costs of counseling for victims of abuse; Board Member Cowart seconded. The motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Nays: none

Board Member Cowart offered an omnibus motion to adopt Resolutions No. 2022-262 approving Budget Amendment BUA 2022/11/159 to receive a grant from the Illinois Access to Justice for supporting self-represented litigants at the Help Desk and No. 2022-263 approving Budget Amendment BUA 2022/11/172 to receive reimbursement form the State of Illinois for certified interpreter fees paid out in the past year; Board Member Esry seconded. The omnibus motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

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

Nays: none

Board Member Summers offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2022-264 approving award of contract for Satellite Jail Consolidation Project, pursuant to ITB#2022-009; Board Member Fortado seconded. Board Member Fortado addressed Patrick Thompson’s Public Participation comments, stating that the county’s minority contract goals are real, not merely aspirational, and noted that non-compliance has real consequences; Board Member Summers stated his agreement. County Jail Superintendent Captain Karee Voges was invited to join the discussion; she offered her thanks to both the County Board and the project architects. The motion carried by voice vote.

Board Member Esry offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2022-265 honoring retiring County employees; Board Member Stohr seconded. Board Member Stohr read the names and years of service of the retiring county employees. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Member King offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2022-266 honoring County employees; Board Member Vanichtheeranont seconded. Board Member Stohr read the names of county employees reaching service-time milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

County Executive Kloeppel honored and thanked her executive staff. She noted the art works she purchased for display at the County Plaza building, noting the purchases were made at garage and estate sales and second-hand stores. County Executive Kloeppel distributed gifts to all the board members and additional gifts to Board Chair Patterson and Board Member/County Executive-elect Summers.

DISCUSSION/INFORMATION ONLY 

County Executive Kloeppel distributed the Workforce Study packet.

ARPA Project Manager Kathy Larson presented an update on various ARPA projects. Board Member Fortado asked ARPA Project Manager Larson about funding the Seymour Water District meter replacement request. Board member Esry proposed using the funding previously designated for the soon-to-be defunct Tolono Water District to fund the Penfield Water District tank replacement and the Seymour Water District meter replacement; Board Member Thorsland expressed his support. ARPA Project Manager Larson stated she will amend the Penfield Water District intergovernmental agreement and draft a Seymour Water District intergovernmental agreement.

Board Member McGuire thanked the public for the opportunity to serve the county and offered thanks to County Executive Kloeppel for her service to the county.

Board Member King thanked the public, especially the voters of County Board District 10, for the opportunity to serve the county.

ADJOURNMENT 

County Executive Kloeppel adjourned the meeting at 7:48 PM.

https://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/CB/2022/221117_Meeting/221117Minutes.pdf