Chambana Sun

Champaign County Board met April 20

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The County Board of Champaign County, Illinois met at a Regular Meeting, Thursday, April 20, 2023, at 6:31 PM in the Shields-Carter Meeting Room, Brookens Administrative Center, 1776 East Washington Street, Urbana, Illinois, with Board Chair Kyle Patterson presiding and Matthew Cross as Clerk of the meeting.

ROLL CALL 

Roll call showed the following members present: Locke, Lokshin, Peugh, Rodriguez, Rogers, Taylor, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, Wilson, Carter, Cowart, Fortado, Goss, Harper, Ingram, and Patterson – 16; absent: Michaels, Stohr, Straub, Sexton, Esry, and Hanauer-Friedman – 6. Board Chair Patterson declared a quorum present and the Board competent to conduct business.

PRAYER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

Board Chair Patterson 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 6, April 13, and April 19, 2023.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ADDENDA 

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

DATE/TIME OF NEXT MEETINGS 

Standing Committees: 

A. County Facilities Committee

Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

B. Environment and Land Use Committee

Thursday, May 4, 2023 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

C. Highway and Transportation Committee

Friday, May 5, 2023 at 9:00 AM

1605 E Main Street, Urbana

Committee of the Whole: 

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

Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

County Board: 

A. Community Violence Prevention Task Force

Monday, April 24, 2023 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

B. Regular Meeting

Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 

Mallory Wentworth of the office of Congressional Representative Nikki Budzinski (Illinois 13th) noted that the Congresswoman has opened an office in Champaign County at 44 E Main St, Suite 205, Champaign.

Nicholas Dale of Champaign stated that he has been submitting Freedom of Information Act requests via email and those emails are being redirected to a spam folder, and he requested the County correct that issue.

Sarah Smith and Cheryl Walker of Urbana requested $10,000 in American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds to hold a Stand Down to provide supplies and services for homeless veterans.

Robbie Walker, retired Veterans Affairs, and Nicole Massey, Land of Lincoln Legal Aid attorney, requested ARPA funds to create a Stop the Violence Program to assist veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues.

CONSENT AGENDA 

Board Member Lokshin offered a motion to approve the Consent Agenda; Board Member Goss seconded. The motion comprising 24 resolutions (Nos. 2023-69, 2023- 70, 2023-71, 2023-72, 2023-73, 2023-74, 2023-75, 2023-76, 2023-77, 2023-78, 2023- 79, 2023-80, 2023-81, 2023-82, 2023-83, 2023-84, 2023-85, 2023-86, 2023-87, 2023- 88, 2023-89, 2023-90, 2023-91, and 2023-92) and 2 ordinances (Nos. 2023-8 and 2023-9) carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Locke, Lokshin, Peugh, Rodriguez, Rogers, Taylor, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, Wilson, Carter, Cowart, Fortado, Goss, Harper, Ingram, and Patterson – 16

Nays: none

COMMUNICATIONS 

Board Member Goss opened the floor to Gift of Hope to present an award to County Coroner Duane Northrup for facilitating organ and tissue donations.

Board Member Rodriguez invited the people to the County Worker’s Day Memorial Ceremony on Friday, April 28, 2023, at 5 PM in Dodds Park. Two names will be added to the memorial: rideshare driver and veterinary medicine student Kristian Philpotts and biologist Kevin G. Chapman.

Board Member Peugh noted the upcoming residential electronics collection at Parkland College on May 20, 2023.

Board Member Lokshin noted the Centennial High School musical Grease runs April 20 to April 23, 2023.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES 

Board Member Locke offered an omnibus motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the County Board of March 23, 2023, and the Study Session of March 28, 2023; Board Member Goss seconded. Board Member Peugh requested the March 23 minutes be corrected to add his name as the new board member appointed. The motion, pending the correction, carried by unanimous voice vote.

Standing Committees 

Board Chair Patterson noted the Summaries of Action Taken for the Highway and Transportation Committee on April 5, 2023, and Environment and Land Use Committee on April 6, 2023, were received and placed on file.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY 

Board Chair Patterson noted the Summary of Action take for the Committee of the Whole (Justice and Social Services; Finance; Policy, Personnel, and Appointments) on April 11, 2023, was received and placed on file.

Board Member Taylor offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2023-93 authorizing disbursement of funds on defaulted contract for mobile home tax sale, permanent parcel 30-060-0032; Board Member Thorsland seconded. Board Member Fortado explained that the default was the result of the owner’s struggle to obtain the title. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

NEW BUSINESS 

Board Member Taylor offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2023-94 authorizing payment of claims; Board Member Fortado seconded. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Member Taylor offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2023-95 approving the proclamation designating the week of May 7, 2023, as National Correctional Officer Week; Board Member Locke seconded. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Member Goss offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2023-96 approving the proclamation designating the week of May 14, 2023, as National Police Week; Board Member Taylor seconded. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Member Ingram offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2023-97 approving Budget Amendment BUA 2023/4/211 to transition cost to administer the IHWAP training through the existing ICRT team; Board Member Taylor seconded. The motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Locke, Lokshin, Peugh, Rodriguez, Rogers, Taylor, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, Wilson, Carter, Cowart, Fortado, Goss, Harper, Ingram, and Patterson – 16

Nays: none

OTHER BUSINESS 

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT

ARPA Project Manager Kathy Larson provided an update on County projects.

Board Member Carter offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2023-98 authorizing an amendment to intergovernmental agreement with the Central Illinois Land Bank Authority; Board Member Taylor seconded. Board Member Fortado noted the amendment is needed to add landscaping and associated costs to the agreement. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Chair Patterson raised the discussion of the Sheriff’s request for $6,000 in ARPA funds to purchase responder radios. The board indicated their support by a showing of raised thumbs.

Tim Oravec, Visit Champaign County Community Development Manager, presented a request for $150,000 in ARPA funds for their Skelton Park Transformation and African American heritage trail projects. Community Development Manager Oravec stated that the project will use $100,000 for Skelton Park improvements and $50,000 for signs along the heritage trail, noting they have received funding from Champaign Parks, the City of Champaign, the Rotary Club of Champaign, and a matching-fund grant from the Illinois Office of Tourism. Board Member Carter applauded the project and asked the term of the art instillations; Community Development Manager Oravec stated the art instillations are intended to be permanent. Board Member Rogers asked about the matching fund grant; Community Development Manager Oravec stated that a $150,000 contribution by the county would maximize the Illinois Office of Tourism matching grant. Board Member Wilson asked about the completion date; Community Development Manager Oravec stated the park portion is estimated to be done by the end of the year, but the heritage trail signs would be an on-going project. Board Member Vanichtheeranont suggested Visit Champaign County work with the Champaign County Genealogical Society to research for the heritage trail; Community Development Manager Oravec stated that they are currently working with the Urbana Free Library and the Champaign County Genealogical Society to research. Various board members discussed from which ARPA fund pool this project should draw; Board Member Wilson requested the funds be drawn from the unallocated pool not the community violence prevention fund pool. The board indicated their support by a showing of raised thumbs.

Alex Dodge, City of Champaign Assistant City Engineer, and Kay Nees, City of Champaign Finance Director, presented a request for ARPA funds for the City of Champaign’s Garden Hills Improvement project, seeking funds for infrastructure and landscape improvements following their water drainage project. That portion of the project requires approximately $3.2 million in total: $0.9 million for sidewalks, $1.2 million for street lighting, and $1.1 million for fencing. Board Member Carter stated that the project makes the neighborhood safer and it currently lacks any sidewalks or streetlights and she asked about the project start time; Assistant City Engineer Dodge and Finance Director Nees stated the plan is to start at the end of summer this year and added that the project is also being funded by City of Champaign ARPA funds so they are well versed in the constraints and completion dates associated with ARPA funded projects. Board Member Goss asked for specific details regarding the rail crossing at Garden Hills Drive. Various board members discussed the importance of the project. Various board members discussed from which ARPA fund pool this project should draw. The board indicated their support by a showing of raised thumbs and directed ARPA Project Manager Larson to allocate $2,000,000 ARPA funds to the project and draw up an intergovernmental agreement.

Adrienne Pickett, Illinois Broadband Lab Visiting Coordinator for Broadband, and Nancy Ouedraogo, University of Illinois Extension Community Economic Development Extension State Specialist, gave a presentation on developing broadband projects for unserved and underserved communities through the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, offering planning, training, and advice. Board Member Fortado noted the County Board has allocated $10 million for the rural broadband project and offered to share data the board had collected in its own research. Board Member Thorsland noted the rural broadband project is nearly shovel ready but detailed some of the present complications, including right-of way access. Visiting Coordinator for Broadband Pickett and Extension State Specialist Ouedraogo noted they have experience and expertise that can assist in navigating those issues. Board Member Carter discussed poor broadband access and affordability.

SEMI-ANNUAL CLOSED SESSION MINUTE REVIEW

Board Member Taylor offered a motion to keep closed the closed session minutes for the County Board, County Administrator Search Committee, and the Nursing Home Board of Directors; Board Member Carter seconded. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

ADJOURNMENT 

Board Chair Patterson adjourned the meeting at 8:25 PM.

https://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/CB/2023/230420_Meeting/230420_Minutes.pdf