Chambana Sun

Champaign County Board met June 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The County Board of Champaign County, Illinois met at a Regular Meeting, Thursday, June 22, 2023, at 6:37 PM in the Shields-Carter Meeting Room, Brookens Administrative Center, 1776 East Washington Street, Urbana, Illinois, with County Executive Steve Summers presiding and Matthew Cross as Clerk of the meeting.

ROLL CALL 

Roll call showed the following members present: Michaels, Peugh, Rodriguez, Rogers, Sexton, Stohr, Straub, Taylor, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, Carter, Cowart, Fortado, Harper, Ingram, Locke, Lokshin, and Patterson – 19; absent: Wilson, Goss, and Hanauer-Friedman – 3. Board Chair Patterson declared a quorum present and the Board competent to conduct business. Board Member Cowart departed early at 9:23 and missed no votes. Two board members briefly stepped out of the room and missed votes: Board Member Rogers (1 vote: Resolution No. 2023-147 and Board Member Michaels (1 vote: Resolution No. 2023-148).

PRAYER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

County 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 June 8, June 15, and June 21, 2023.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ADDENDA 

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

DATE/TIME OF NEXT MEETINGS 

County Board: 

A. Regular Meeting

Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 

Benjamin Beaupré of Champaign thanked the County Board for their work with the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for Community Violence Prevention and expressed hope that the various funded programs would coordinate.

Nicole Massey, VA Stop the Violence, explained the goals of the program, which is requesting ARPA Community Violence Prevention funding. The program aims to work with 50 veterans and their families for veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues, providing both assistance and tools to deal with any future episodes.

Lee Ann Kelly of Champaign spoke in support of funding the ARPA Community Violence Prevention programs.

Lynne Barnes, retired Occupational Therapist and former president of Carle Foundation Hospital, spoke on the nursing home needs of the county, and asked the Board to conduct a need assessment with recommendations, have County Board liaisons for the issue, and delay the sale of the University Rehab nursing home until a plan is in place.

Peggy Patten of Urbana urged the Board to delay the sale of the University Rehab nursing home until a community need assessment is conducted. She expressed her disappointment in the business conduct of University Rehab.

R. Janice Sherbert of Urbana shared her experiences with nursing home care in the area, noting the lack of quality of care in the county.

Joan Dixon, Executive Director of Family Service of Champaign County, spoke about nursing home care in the area and advocated for nursing home improvement in the county.

Fran DeMaris of Champaign urged to County to act to improve nursing home care in the county.

Dottie Vura-Weis, Champaign County Board of Health member and retired physician, spoke about nursing home care and community needs.

Cathy Emanuel, retired hospital and nursing home administrator, spoke about nursing home care and community needs and asked the County Board to work with health care and community leadership to create a nursing home care plan for the county. She noted that the county will soon have a 40% nursing home bed deficit.

CONSENT AGENDA 

Board Member Carter offered a motion to approve the Consent Agenda; Board Member Michaels seconded. The motion comprising 14 resolutions (Nos. 2023-131, 2023-132, 2023-133, 2023-134, 2023-135, 2023-136, 2023-137, 2023-138, 2023-139, 2023-140, 2023-141, 2023-142, 2023-143, and 2023-144) and 1 ordinance (Nos. 2023-13) carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Michaels, Peugh, Rodriguez, Rogers, Sexton, Stohr, Straub, Taylor, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, Carter, Cowart, Fortado, Harper, Ingram, Locke, Lokshin, and Patterson – 19

Nays: none

COMMUNICATIONS 

Board Chair Patterson noted that Illinois State Comptroller Mendoza recently honored LGBTQ leaders in the state, which included County Sheriff Heuerman. He also read a letter from a constituent about nursing home care in the county.

Board Member Esry asked drivers on rural roads to be careful at intersections as corn crops become tall and can obstruct views.

Board Member Harper announced his intention to retire from the County Board following the July County Board Meeting.

Board Member Carter asked constituents to call on the cities of Champaign and Urbana to enforce youth curfews this summer in an effort to reduce community violence.

Board Member Straub thanked the public speakers who addressed the county nursing home needs.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES 

Board Member Ingram offered a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the County Board of May 18, 2023; Board Member Lokshin seconded. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

STANDING COMMITTEES 

County Executive Summers noted the Summaries of Action Taken for the Facilities Committee on June 6, 2023, were received, placed on file, and included in the June County Board Meeting Agenda packet.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY 

County Executive Summers noted the Summary of Action take for the Committee of the Whole (Justice and Social Services; Finance; Policy, Personnel, and Appointments) on June 13, 2023, were received, placed on file, and included in the June County Board Meeting Agenda packet.

NEW BUSINESS 

Board Member Vanichtheeranont offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2023-145 authorizing payment of claims; Board Member Locke seconded. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Member Vanichtheeranont offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2023-146 purchases not following purchasing policy; Board Member Carter seconded. Board Member Michaels sternly rebuked the Treasurer’s Office writing a $13,000 check payable to cash and excluding a signature from the Auditor’s Office. Board member Fortado stated she had communicated with the Treasurer’s Office, and they understand the mistake and will not do so again in the future. The motion carried by voice.

Board Member Thorsland offered an omnibus motion to approve a Recreation and Entertainment License for Fisher Community Fair, 226 East Sangamon Avenue, Fisher 7/9/2023–7/15/2023 and a Recreation and Entertainment License for Taylor Feldkamp for Demo Derby at the Champaign County Fairgrounds, 1302 North Coler Avenue, Urbana 9/15/2023–9/16/2023; Board Member Michaels seconded. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Member Vanichtheeranont offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2023-147 approving Budget Amendment BUA 2023/06/76 to administer the IHWAP training through the existing ICRT team; Board Member Locke seconded. The motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Michaels, Peugh, Rodriguez, Sexton, Stohr, Straub, Taylor, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, Carter, Cowart, Fortado, Harper, Ingram, Locke, Lokshin, and Patterson – 18

Nays: none

Absent: Rogers – 1

Board Member Lokshin offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2023-148 approving Budget Transfer BUA 2023/06/296 to move revenue and appropriations out of fund 2075 to the newly created fund 2060 to allow for the ability to create the financials required by the external audit; Board Member Cowart seconded. The motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Peugh, Rodriguez, Rogers, Sexton, Stohr, Straub, Taylor, Thorsland, Vanichtheeranont, Carter, Cowart, Fortado, Harper, Ingram, Locke, Lokshin, and Patterson – 18

Nays: none

Absent: Michaels – 1

OTHER BUSINESS 

RURAL TRANSIT ADVISORY GROUP

Planning and Development Director Rita Morocoima-Black and Human Services Transportation Planning Coordinator Mimi Hutchinson of the Regional Planning Commission (RPC) Rural Transit Advisory Group presented on the Champaign County Area Rural Transit System (C-CARTS) and Coronavirus Aid relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) Funding Reallocation. Director Morocoima-Black discussed the Intergovernmental Agreement between Champaign County and Champaign Urbana Mass Transit District (CUMTD), the vehicle Lease Agreement between Champaign County and CUMTD, the unsuccessful CARES application. Director Morocoima-Black noted the CARES funds will be reallocated for cameras, maintenance, and repairs. The shelter program will be retried without seeking CARES grants, but on a less aggressive timeline, done one at a time, as funds allow. Various board members thanked Director Morocoima-Black for her efforts. Board Member Michaels asked if they intended to pursue the Rantoul shelters in the future; Director Morocoima-Black confirmed the intention but not as aggressive as was required by the CARES grant application.

COMMUNITY VIOLENCE PREVENTION TASK FORCE

County Executive Summers noted the Summaries of Action Taken for the Community Violence Prevention Task Force on May 22, 2023, were received, placed on file, and included in the June County Board Meeting Agenda packet.

Board Chair Patterson offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2023-151 approving ARPA funding for Community Violence Prevention Initiatives; Board Member Carter seconded. Board Chair Patterson summarized the Community Violence Prevention programs funded in the resolution. Board Member Fortado noted her concern about the permanence of the VA Stop the Violence program due to a combination of both regulations and the Champaign County Veterans Assistance Committee.

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to amend the resolution to remove funding for the VA Stop the Violence program; Board Member Michaels seconded. Board Member Fortado suggested the Board revisit the program at the July or August County Board Meeting when the concerns could be addressed and rectified. The motion to amend the resolution carried by unanimous voice vote.

The motion to adopt Resolution No. 2023-151 as amended carried unanimous voice vote.

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT

ARPA Project Manager Kathy Larson noted the meeting agenda packet contains an update on County projects. Board Member Fortado suggested using unallocated ARPA funds for a county nursing home needs study, noting that Champaign Urbana Public Health District has the ability to perform the study and suggested they partner with the Champaign County Board of Health and possibly RPC. The Board directed County Executive Summers to seek a study for $30,000.

Board Member Ingram offered a motion to adopt Resolution No 2023-152 authorizing an intergovernmental agreement to provide financial assistance for infrastructure improvements; Board Member Carter seconded. Board Member Harper stated that the county’s contribution to the Garden Hills improvement project is too great. Board Chair Patterson stated that the funds are half as much as that rural districts had received. Board Member Carter stated her support and noted that the County’s contribution is a small portion of a large project. The motion carried by voice vote with one dissent.

New Animal Control Director Jerry Kellems requested ARPA funds for new software. Director Kellems introduced himself to the board and provided a brief biography. Director of Administration Michelle Jett was invited to join the discussion. Board Member Fortado stated that she would fund the software request through 2024 and noted that Animal Control had not yet received nor requested any ARPA funds. Director of Administration Jett asked for funds to cover the software through 2025; Board Member Michaels requested that all software licenses purchased through ARPA funds be put in the county budget. Board Member Fortado stated her desire that all ARPA funded software licenses be reevaluated in 2025. Board Member Thorsland asked about geese; Director Kellems stated that geese are under the purview of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Board Member Fortado raised the discussion of the HR Generalist position funding request, stating that the County is the third largest employer in the county and currently has no human resource generalist staff, which has forced unrelated county employees to preform tasks that would fall under that of HR Generalist. Board Member Esry asked that the job be in the regular county budget; County Executive stated that it would be in 2024 and Board Member Lokshin added that the ARPA funds would only be used for the remained of 2023 and it would be part of the county budget in 2024 and beyond.

County Clerk Aaron Ammons addressed the Board to request ARPA funding to purchase two trucks for election use. He provided details in addition to the memo in the agenda packet and stated that he was still investigating insurance costs and the ability of the Highway Department to provide maintenance. Board Member Michaels asked about use by other departments, if the trucks would be part of the Highway Department fleet, and why Clerk Ammons is seeking used trucks; Clerk Ammons stated that the trucks he is investigating are all in above average condition.

Nest Postpartum’s Jess Etheridge and Jess Wolff, Vice President, presented a request for ARPA funding; they gave an overview of the care and support services Nest and thus has the most critical cases in the region.

Board Member Straub thanked Nest

Postpartum for their work. Board Member Taylor suggested funding 50 percent of the ARPA ask at $60,000; Board Members Michaels and Lokshin both supported this.

Board Member Rodriguez asked what $120,000 would achieve; Vice

President Wolff

and Ms. Etheridge responded that it would allow expanded services, coverage of four more families, and potentially expansion beyond Carle patients. They added that they are currently solely funded by personal donations from community members and the ARPA funding would allow them to create a broader fundraising network. Board Members Ingram, Thorsland, and Locke expressed support for full funding at $120,000. The Board directed full funding by a show of raised thumbs.

The Board rejected the OSF and Promise Healthcare requests without discussion 

ADJOURNMENT 

County Executive Summers adjourned the meeting at 9:26 PM.

https://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/CB/2023/230622_Meeting/230622Minutes.pdf