Champaign County Board met March 28

By Angelica Saylo Pilo

Jun 1, 2023

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The County Board of Champaign County, Illinois met at a Study Session, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at 6:06 PM in the Shields-Carter Meeting Room, Brookens Administrative Center, 1776 East Washington Street, Urbana, Illinois, with County Executive Steve Summers presiding and Angie Patton as Clerk of the meeting.

ROLL CALL

Roll call showed the following members present: Ingram, Locke, Lokshin, Peugh, Rogers, Stohr, Straub, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, Wilson, Cowart, HanauerFriedman, Patterson – 13; absent: Michaels, Rodriguez, sexton, Taylor, Carter, Esry, Fortado, Goss, and Harper– 9. County Executive Summers declared a quorum and the Board competent to conduct business.

READ NOTICE OF MEETING

The Clerk read the Notice of the Meeting, said Notice having been published in the News Gazette on March 21, March 22, and March 23, 2023.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ADDENDA

Board Member Sexton offered a motion to approve the Agenda; Board Member Carter seconded. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

None.

COMMUNICATIONS

Board Member Hanauer-Friedman spoke about the staffing shortage and need for volunteers and staffing for Head Start.

Board Member Stohr noted April 15th is the Household Waste Disposal.

Board Member Ingram spoke about prom dress donations being accepted as well as men’s formal wear. Donations can be dropped off in early April at 1422 S Neil Street in

PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSION

Director of Administration, Michelle Jett presented data related to County staff demographics related to the Gallagher work force study. County Executive Summers and Director Jett met with Gallagher. County admin plans to have a full functioning County HR department. This will help with attracting and retaining staff. Other plans include to hire an HR Generalist, Finance Specialist and social media intern. Director Jett also noted that trainings for FOIA and FMLA/ADA have been scheduled. Board Member Thorsland asked for clarity about the HR Generalist position. Executive Summers noted that the County did have an HR Generalist but the position was lost in 2000. Funding for the positions will be part of next budget planning. State’s Attorney Julia Reitz joined the discussion and noted a lot of the SAO’s time is taken up with answering HR questions for Department Heads. State’s Attorney Reitz noted that HR Generalist should anticipate reaching out to Department Heads and being proactive, since departments have had to function so long without HR support. Various County Board Members discussed possible remote work options. State’s Attorney Chief of Civil Division, Matt Banach that different bargaining contracts don’t currently have language including remote work possibilities and that remote work would have to be negotiated aspart of the contract. Board Member Wilson expressed support for hiring an HR Generalist position and wanted a remote work option explored. Board Member Thorsland shared his work experience during the pandemic in relation to remote work. Director Jett noted that some County offices are required by statute to be open and accessible to the public impacting work from home options. Board Member Thorsland thought a 4-day work week might be an option to explore as well. Executive Summers noted that the HR Generalist position would take HR workload from departments.