Chambana Sun

Champaign County Board met Aug. 22

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

ROLL CALL

Roll call showed the following members present: Peugh, Rodriguez, Rogers, Smith, Stohr, Straub, Taylor, Vanichtheeranont, Cowart, Esry, Farney, Fortado, Greer, Hanauer-Friedman, Locke, Lokshin, Michaels, and Carter – 18; absent: Owen, Sexton, Thorsland, and Wilson – 4. County Executive Summers declared a quorum present and the Board competent to conduct business.

PRAYER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

County Executive Summers recited a prayer, held a reflective moment of silence, 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 August 8, August 15, and August 20, 2024.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ADDENDA

Board Member Farney offered a motion to approve the Agenda/Addenda; Board Member Locke seconded.

Board Member Peugh offered an amendment to move up items XV. A. (Opioid Settlement Task Force) and B. (American Rescue Plan Act), to be placed between XI. (Presentation) and XII. (Standing Committees); Board Member Fortado seconded. The amendment carried by unanimous voice vote.

The motion as amended carried by unanimous voice vote.

DATE/TIME OF NEXT MEETINGS

Standing Committees:

A. County Facilities Committee

Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room 

B. Environment & Land Use Committee

Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

C. Highway & Transportation Committee

Friday, September 6, 2024 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, September 10, 2024 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

B. Special Finance

Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

County Board:

A. Regular Meeting

Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Bud Windelborn, State’s Attorney’s Office Operations Manager, spoke about the Scott Bennett Family Resource Day event held August 23, 2024, at the Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana.

Reynaldo Camas, University of Illinois sophomore in Political Science, spoke against the disrespectful treatment of Board Member Rodriguez centering around the July 18, 2024, Regular County Board Meeting by Board Chair Carter and County Auditor George Danos.

County Circuit Clerk Susan McGrath spoke about the E-Citation program and thanked the Board for their support of it.

CONSENT AGENDA

Board Member Farney offered a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda; Board Member

Michaels seconded. The motion comprising 27 resolutions (Nos. 2024-180, 2024-181, 2024-182, 2024-183, 2024-184, 2024-185, 2024-186, 2024-187, 2024-188, 2024-189, 2024-190, 2024-191, 2024-192, 2024-193, 2024-194, 2024-195, 2024-196, 2024-197, 2024-198, 2024-199, 2024-200, 2024-201, 2024-202, 2024-203, 2024-204, 2024-205, and 22024-206) carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Peugh, Rodriguez, Rogers, Smith, Stohr, Straub, Taylor, Vanichtheeranont, Cowart, Esry, Farney, Fortado, Greer, HanauerFriedman, Locke, Lokshin, Michaels, and Carter – 18

Nays: none

COMMUNICATIONS

Board Chair Carter defended her questioning Board Member Rodriguez’s residency at the July 18, 2024, Regular County Board Meeting, and she stated her desire that the entire board work together.

Board Member Farney stated unequivocally that the County Board Republicans do not endorse the attacks on Board Member Rodriguez by the County Republican Chairperson.

Board Member Vanichtheeranont noted that Food and Drug Administration had approved new mRNA Covid-19 vaccinations and urged the public to vaccinate.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Board Member Esry offered a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the County Board of July 18, 2024; Board Member Michaels seconded. The motion carried by voice vote.

PRESENTATION

Jayne DeLuce, Experience CU President and Chief Executive Officer, gave a presentation on the Experience CU’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funded initiatives, including the programs and events and their economic impact on the county, visitor data, the African American Heritage Trail, and the film office and the Rantoul film studio conversion at the former Chanute Air Force Base. Board Chair noted that CBPB, from which Experience CU distributed popcorn bags to board members at the meeting, is an African American owned business, and thanked Experience CU for their work on the African American Heritage Trail. Board Member Locke noted the African American Heritage Trail tours will begin in 2025, thanked Experience CU for their work with the Advocates for Aging Care in the nursing home research, and she asked about air service prospects; Ms. DeLuce replied that their airport efforts are improving enhanced air service prospects.

OPIOID SETTLEMENT

County Executive Summers noted the Summary of Action Taken from the Opioid Settlement Task Force Meeting on August 7, 2024, was received and place on file.

Board Member Straub offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2024-217 Budget Amendment BUA 2024/8/214 to use Opioid Settlement Funds for the purchase, renovation, and opening of the C-U at Home Mid-Barrier Campus; Board Member Taylor seconded. Director of Administration Jett was invited to join the discussion; she stated that the county has received approximately $1,000,000 and expects funds will continue until 2032. The motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Peugh, Rodriguez, Rogers, Smith, Stohr, Straub, Taylor, Vanichtheeranont, Cowart, Esry, Farney, Fortado, Greer, HanauerFriedman, Locke, Lokshin, Michaels, and Carter – 18

Nays: none

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT

ARPA Project Manager Kathy Larson presented an update of ARPA-funded projects, noting the monthly memorandum in the meeting Agenda Packet. Board Chair Carter stated that she and Board Member Stohr will begin work on the low-hurdle program.

Board Member Stohr asked for updates on the low-hurdle and small business loan programs; Project Manager Larson stated that the low-hurdle program is starting to get staffed, and the Justine Petersen small business loan program has been completed and all allocated ARPA funds spent. Director Jett was invited to join the discussion; she noted that the Chamber of Commerce Microloan has, due to accounting efficiency, made more ARPA funds available for the program. Board Chair Carter asked about the Regional Planning Commission’s SLEEP (Safety, Lighting, Energy Efficiency Program); Project Manager Larson stated the program start work in 2025.

County Executive Summers noted the Summary of Action Taken from the Broadband Task Force Meeting on August 5, 2024, was received and place on file.

Bailey Conrady, Broadband Task Force Chair, provided an updated on the rural broadband program, noting that Volo received a state grant and as such, all broadband ARPA funds will be reallocated to Volo. Board Member Fortado asked if Volo will be able to spend the funds by the deadline; Ms. Conrady expressed confidence that Volo would do so. Ms. Conrady thanked the Congresswoman Budzinski for her work on national broadband legislation.

Ms. Conrady, in her role as Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager, added that the Farm Bureau will again be conducting combine rides in the fall.

County Executive Summers noted the County Treasurer/Collector funding request memorandum in the Agenda Packet. The Board directed approval by a showing of thumbs.

STANDING COMMITTEES

County Executive Summers noted the Summary of Action Taken from the County Facilities Committee Meeting on August 6, 2024, was received and place on file.

County Executive Summers noted the Summary of Action Taken from the Environment and Land Use Committee Meeting on August 8, 2024, was received and place on file.

County Executive Summers noted the Summary of Action Taken from the Highway and Transportation Committee Meeting on August 9, 2024, was received and place on file.

County Executive Summers noted the memorandum of the Letter of Intent for the Replacement of Structure #010-0180 on County Road 2000E over I-74 in St. Joseph Township is in the Agenda Packet. Board Member Esry stated his understanding of the committee decision. County Executive Summers noted the importance of the bridge to both agricultural business and emergency services.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

County Executive Summers noted the Summary of Action Taken from the Committee of the Whole (Justice and Social Services; Finance; Policy, Personnel, and Appointments) Meeting on August 13, 2024, was received and placed on file.

Board Member Stohr offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2024-209 Superseding Resolution No. 2018-413 on Establishment of Organization, Duties, Rules, Policies, and Procedures of the Champaign County Board on the effective date of August 22, 2024; Board Member Farney seconded. Board Member Farney thanked Director Jett for her work on the resolution. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Chair Carter offered a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2024-207 amending the schedule of Authorized Positions in the Treasurer’s Office – Account Clerk; Board Member Michaels seconded. Board Chair Carter noted that the position is much needed and thanked the Treasurer. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Member Fortado offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2024-208 Budget Amendment BUA 2024/8/229 amending the schedule of authorized positions to add an additional Account Clerk; Board Member Straub seconded. The motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Peugh, Rodriguez, Rogers, Smith, Stohr, Straub, Taylor, Vanichtheeranont, Cowart, Esry, Farney, Fortado, Greer, HanauerFriedman, Locke, Lokshin, Michaels, and Carter – 18

Nays: none

NEW BUSINESS

Board Chair Carter offered an omnibus motion to adopt Resolutions No. 2024-210 authorizing payment of claims and No. 2024-211 approving purchases not following Purchasing Policy; Board Member Locke seconded. Board Member Smith noted that only two of the four payments of claims are listed in the online payment register; Board Member Farney stated that would be corrected. The omnibus motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Member Taylor offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2024-212 approving Budget Amendment BUA 2024/8/139 appropriation of grant funds from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority for the Adult Redeploy Illinois program; Board Member Hanauer-Friedman seconded. The motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Peugh, Rodriguez, Rogers, Smith, Stohr, Straub, Taylor, Vanichtheeranont, Cowart, Esry, Farney, Fortado, Greer, HanauerFriedman, Locke, Lokshin, Michaels, and Carter – 18

Nays: none

Board Member Michaels offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2024-213 approving an Intergovernmental Agreement for the Champaign County Area Rural Transit System (C-CARTS) to provide transportation services to the University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering Center for Transportation (ICT); Board Member Smith seconded. County Executive Summers noted that no county funds would be used for the transportation services. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Member Lokshin offered an omnibus motion to adopt Resolutions No. 2024-214 approving an amendment to the contract with Broeren Russo Builders Inc. for the County Plaza Renovation project and No. 2024-215 approving an amendment to the contract with P.J. Hoerr Inc. for the County Jail Consolidation project; Board Member Locke seconded. Board Member Michaels asked if the county was nearing the end of amending the contracts for the County Plaza Renovation and County Jail Consolidation projects; County Facilities Director Dana Brenner was invited to join the discussion.

Director Brenner stated that the scope of the amendments was narrowing, noting the amendment for the County Jail Consolidation project was to add more outlets for a copier. Board Member Esry asked about the timeline for the County Plaza elevator instillation; Director Brenner and various board members discussed the current and future elevators and the current status of elevator service time in the state. Director Brenner stated that the elevator instillation is possible by early 2025, but it depends on a number of factors. Board Member Fortado stated that the projects are doing very well financially with the Jail Consolidation being 2% over budget and the County Plaza Renovation at 7% over budget, both under the 10% contingency. Board Member Locke noted that there will likely be future amendments for internet and telephones in the Jail Consolidation project; Director Brenner confirmed, noting that it is difficult to anticipate costs for internet in the older portion of the jail, due to the existing structural elements.

County Executive Summers noted Director Brenner’s diligent work on both projects and stated that future renovation projects should have a 15% contingency budget. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Chair Carter offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2024-216 approving the award of contract for the Courthouse Boiler Burner Replacement project, pursuant to ITB 2024-003; Board Member Cowart seconded. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

OTHER BUSINESS

County Executive Summers noted the Decennial Committee Reports to the County Board for the Joint Ludlow Township and Road District, Joint South Homer Township and Road District, Ivesdale Fire Protection District, and Thomasboro Fire Protection District have been received and placed on file and are available for viewing on the county website. 

ADJOURN

County Executive Summers adjourned the meeting at 7:58 PM.

https://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/CB/2024/240822_Meeting/240822Minutes.pdf