Chambana Sun

Champaign County Board met May 18

Here are the provided minutes by the board:

The County Board of Champaign County, Illinois met at a Regular Meeting, Thursday, May 18, 2023, at 6:34 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. Board Member Goss left the meeting at 7:55PM, missing two roll call votes.

ROLL CALL

Roll call showed the following members present: Lokshin, Michaels, Peugh, Rodriguez, Rogers, Sexton, Stohr, Straub, Taylor, Vanichtheeranont, Wilson, Carter, Cowart, Esry, Goss, Hanauer-Friedman, Harper, Ingram, Locke, and Patterson – 20; absent: Fortado, and Thorsland – 2. Executive Summers declared a quorum present and the Board competent to conduct business.

PRAYER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Executive Summers 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 May 4, 11, and 17, 2023

APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ADDENDA

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

DATE/TIME OF NEXT MEETINGS

Standing Committees:

A. County Facilities Committee

Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

B. Environment and Land Use Committee

Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

C. Highway and Transportation Committee

Friday, June 9, 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, June 13, 2023 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

County Board:

Room

B. Regular Meeting

Thursday, June 22, 2023 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Mayor Jim White (Village of Homer) spoke in opposition to the solar farm near the village hall.

Kiera Gavin from Medanos Solar walked through the site plan and the communications with the Village of Homer regarding the solar farm project.

CONSENT AGENDA

Board Member Taylor offered a motion to approve the Consent Agenda; Board Member Straub seconded. The motion comprising 23 resolutions (Nos. 2023-99, 2023-100, 2023-101, 2023-102, 2023-1033, 2023-104, 2023-105, 2023-106, 2023-107, 2023-108, 2023-109, 2023-110, 2023-111, 2023-112, 2023-113, 2023-114, 2023-115, 2023-116, 2023-117, 2023-118, 2023-119, 2023-120, 2023-121, and 2 ordinances (Nos. 2023-10 and 2023-11) carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Lokshin, Michaels, Peugh, Rodriguez, Rogers, Sexton, Stohr, Straub, Taylor, Vanichtheeranont, Wilson, Carter, Cowart, Esry, Goss, Hanauer Friedman, Harper, Ingram, Locke, and Patterson – 20

Nays: none

COMMUNICATIONS

Board Member Wilson recognized National Police week. On 5/19/23 Champaign Police Department will honor fallen officers. There will also be an event at the Courthouse Plaza Memorial. Board Member Wilson also talked about the Veteran’s Assistance Commission which has supported local veterans and contributed thousands to help them. He recognized outgoing Director Brad Gould and introduced new Director, Dave Murphy.

Board Member Stohr talked about the Toast of Tourism event he attended and recognized the awardees.

Board Member Straub referenced an anonymous letter she was sent along with other Board Members that dealt with issues at Animal Control. She expressed that improvements have been made and she looks forward to continued improvement.

Board Member Ingram talked about his experience as a mentor in the One-to-One Mentoring program and encouraged others to participate.

Board Chair Patterson spoke about the Opioid Settlement and his desire to form a task force to best advise on how to spend the money. He asked Board Member Esry to come up with three Board Members from the Republican Caucus to be on the task force.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Board Member Ingram offered a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the County Board of April 20, 2023; Board Member Vanichtheeranont seconded. Motion 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.

Facilities Committee

Summary of action taken May 2, 2023 Meeting

Board Chair Patterson offered a motion to adopt Resolution 2023-122 Naming the County Plaza Building in Honor of Scott M. Bennett, Board Member Stohr seconded. Board Member Michaels suggested waiting until the building was complete to name the building. Board Member Harper noted other long-serving County employees may be more deserving. Board Members Rodriguez, Carter, and Stohr expressed their support for the resolution. Board Member Wilson suggested looking at the history of long serving employees and their significant contributions. Motion carried by voice vote.

Board Member Lokshin offered a motion to adopt Resolution 2023-123, Authorizing a Building Purchase Agreement between the County of Champaign and the Champaign County Humane Society. Board Member Locke seconded. Board Member Lokshin clarified they were in favor of option A. Various Board Members entered into discussion. Board Member Goss suggested the building be put on the market to see what kind of offers it would garner. Board Member Taylor noted that this has been part of the 10-year capital replacement fund. Board Member Harper offered a motion to table the discussion until more information could be provided, Board Member Esry seconded. The motion failed by roll call vote.

Yeas: Michaels, Rodriguez, Rogers, Sexton, Cowart, Esry, Goss and Harper-9

Nays: Lokshin, Peugh, Stohr, Straub, Taylor, Vanichtheeranont, Carter, Hanauer Friedman, Ingram, Locke, and Patterson-12

The discussion continued with Director of Administration Michelle Jett joining, noting that it’s critically important for the County to have a positive and working relationship with the Humane Society. A roll call vote for resolution 2023-123 followed. Motion passed by roll call vote.

Yeas: Lokshin, Peugh, Rodriguez, Rogers, Stohr, Straub, Taylor, Vanichtheeranont, Carter, Cowart, Hanauer-Friedman, Ingram, Locke, and Patterson-14

Nays: Michaels, Sexton, Wilson, Esry, Goss, and Harper-6

Environment and Land Use Committee

Summary of Action Taken May 4, 2023 Meeting

Board Member Taylor offered a motion to adopt Ordinance 2023-12 Granting a Special Use Permit, Zoning Case 074-S-22 “Medanos Solar LLC” PV Solar Farm Including the Decommissioning and Site Reclamation Plan, Board Member Lokshin seconded. Various Board Members discussed. Motion passed by roll call vote.

Yeas: Lokshin, Peugh, Rogers, Stohr, Straub, Taylor, Vanichtheeranont, Carter, Hanauer-Friedman, Ingram, Locke, and Patterson-12

Nays: Michaels, Rodriguez, Sexton, Wilson, Cowart, Esry, Goss, and Harper-8

Highway & Transportation Committee

Summary of Action taken May 5, 2023 Meeting

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Summary of Action Taken May 9, 2023 at the Committee of the Whole Meeting (Justice & Social Services: Finance; Policy, Personnel and Appointments).

Board Member Stohr offered a motion to adopt Resolution 2023-124 Updating the Job Description for the Information and Technology Specialist Position for the Champaign County Clerk’s office, Board Member Locke seconded. There was no discussion and the motion carried by voice vote.

Board Member Locke offered a motion to adopt Resolution 2023-125, Approving Budget Transfer BUA 2023/04/415 Fund 1080 General Corp/Dept 051Juvenile Detention Center, Board Member Taylor seconded. Various Board Members discussed. Motion passed with roll call vote.

Yeas: Lokshin, Michaels, Peugh, Rodriguez, Sexton, Stohr, Straub, Taylor, Vanichtheeranont, Wilson, Carter, Cowart, Esry, Hanauer-Friedman, Harper, Locke, and Patterson-17

Nays: Rogers and Ingram-2

Board Member Taylor offered a motion to adopt Resolution 2023-126 Approving Budget Transfer BUA 2023/04/539 Fund 1080 General Corporate/ Dept 036 Public Defender, Board Member Carter seconded. Board Member Michaels cautioned about setting a precedent. Board Member Straub expressed her support and offered gratitude for the work that has been done in the Public Defender’s office. Motion passed by roll call vote.

Yeas: Lokshin, Michaels, Peugh, Rodriguez, Rogers, Sexton, Stohr, Straub, Taylor, Vanichtheeranont, Wilson, Carter, Cowart, Hanauer-Friedman, Ingram, Locke, and Patterson-17

Nays: Esry and Harper-2

NEW BUSINESS

Board Member Vanichtheeranont offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2023-127 authorizing payment of claims; Board Member Straub seconded. The motion carried by voice vote.

Board Member Vanichtheeranont offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2023-128 Purchases Not Following Purchasing Policy; Board Member Straub seconded. The motion carried by voice vote.

Board Member Michaels offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2023-129 Naming the Early Childhood Education Center in Honor of Elizabeth Murphy; Board Member Patterson seconded. Director of Regional Planning, Dalitso Sulamoyo joined the discussion and gave brief remarks. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Member Esry offered a motion to approve the Release of RFQ 2023-003 for Case Management System Consultant. Circuit Clerk Susan McGrath gave an overview and brief remarks. Various Board Members discussed, and the motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

OTHER BUSINESS

Board Member Cowart offered a motion to approve Resolution 2023-130 Approving Agreements between the Champaign County Board, the Sheriff of Champaign County, and the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Corrections Division January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2025; Board Member Michaels seconded. The motion carried by voice vote.

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT

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

Animal Control Funding Request (discussion only) Director of Administration Michelle Jett gave an overview for the need for an RFQ that manages multiple aspects of Animal Control functions. Right now there isn’t a proper shelter management software program. The goal would be to have the software to help capture revenue for rabies tags and help track cases, FOIA, and allow owners to pay fees online.

ADJOURNMENT

County Executive Summers adjourned the meeting at 8:46 PM.

https://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/CB/2023/230518_Meeting/230518Minutes.pdf