Chambana Sun

Champaign County Board met June 26

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The County Board of Champaign County, Illinois met at a Regular Meeting, Thursday, June 26, 2025, at 6:34 PM in the Shields-Carter Meeting Room, Brookens Administrative Center, 1776 East Washington Street, Urbana, Illinois, with Board Chair Jennifer Locke presiding and Matthew Cross as Clerk of the meeting.

ROLL CALL

Roll call showed the following members present: Peugh, Rodriguez, Rogers, Sexton, Sullard, Vanichtheeranont, Wiggs, Cagle, Carter, Cowart, Crane, Esry, Farney, Hanauer-Friedman, Lokshin, and Locke – 16; late: Fortado (arrived at 6:47 during reading of Resolution No. 2025-199 – 1; absent: Thorsland, Wilson, Fava, and Greer – 4. Board Chair Locke declared a quorum present and the Board competent to conduct business. Board Member Peugh departed early at 7:15 following the close of

Communications.

PRAYER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Board Chair Locke 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 12, June 19, and June 25, 2025.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ADDENDA

Board Member Esry offered a motion to adopt the Agenda/Addenda; Board Member Lokshin seconded.

Board Member Esry offered a motion to amend the agenda to strike items XI. A. Approval of the Minutes of the March 20, 2025, Regular County Board Meeting due to significant errors and XIV. D. the obsolete Resolution No. 2025-203— replaced with the updated resolution as item XIV. F. in the Addendum; Board Member Farney seconded. The motion to amend the Agenda/Addenda carried by unanimous voice vote.

The motion as amended carried by unanimous voice vote.

DATE/TIME OF NEXT MEETINGS

County Board:

A. Regular Meeting

Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM

Shields-Carter Meeting Room, Bennett Administrative Center

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION

Board Member Vanichtheeranont offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-199 honoring county employees for years of service; Board Member Lokshin seconded. Board Member Vanichtheeranont read the entire text of the resolution. County Director of Administration Michelle Jett was invited to join the discussion and thanked all honorees and spoke about Planning and Zoning Director John Hall’s 35 years of service to the County. State’s Attorney Julia Rietz was invited to join the discussion and spoke about the service of current employee Janae Wisehart and former employee and current Circuit Clerk Susan McGrath. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

PUBLIC INPUT

County Coroner Laurie Brauer spoke about the insufficient staffing in her office, noting that there can only be one deputy coroner working at a time, allowing no reasonable breaks, significant overtime costs, and resulting in overworked employees. She requested the Board allocate funds for additional staff.

Allan Axelrod former American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) member in the County Treasurer’s Office spoke about his negative experiences as an AFSCME member under former Treasurer Marisol Hughes and noted that Board Member Thorsland was the only Board Member at that time that gave support to the union. He spoke in support of AFSCME employees seeking a fair contract.

Ursulla Idleman, University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign AFSCME Local President spoke in support of AFSCME employees seeking a fair contract and urged the County to bargain in good faith.

CONSENT AGENDA

Board Member Farney offered a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda; Board Member Sullard seconded. The motion consisting of 18 resolutions (Nos.2025-181, 2025-182, 2025-183, 2025-184, 2025-185, 2025-186, 2025-187, 2025-188, 2025-189, 2025-190, 2025-191, 2025-192, 2025-193, 2025-194, 2025-195, 2025-196, 2025-197, and 2025- 198) carried by unanimous roll-call vote:

Yeas: Peugh, Rodriguez, Rogers, Sexton, Sullard, Vanichtheeranont, Wiggs, Cagle, Carter, Cowart, Crane, Esry, Farney, Fortado, Hanauer-Friedman, Lokshin, and Locke – 17

Nays: none

COMMUNICATIONS

Board Member Esry read a statement from the absent Board Member Wilson about Father’s Day.

Board Member Carter shared constituent concerns about police/sheriff presence during Illinois Department of Children and Family Services parental visits. She noted that both she and constituents had sent email to the full County Board that had been returned as undeliverable. Board Member Carter read the contents of the email she had attempted to send, excoriating board members and county administration for poor leadership and unprofessionalism particularly regarding contract negotiations with AFSCME. Board Member Farney called for a point of order, noting that Board Member Carter’s speech included personal attacks contrary to Board Rules; Board Chair Locke ruled Board Member Carter out of order. Board Member Carter continued to speak over both Board Member Farney and Board Chair Locke; Board Member Farney then attempted to speak over Board Member Carter, reciting the Gettysburg Address and the Star Spangled Banner, and Board Chair Locke reiterated that Board Member Carter was out of order. Board Chair Locke also added that there appeared to be an issue with email as her emails to the entire board had also been returned. As Board Member Carter refused to stop speaking, Board Chair Locke declared a recess at 7:08 PM. After the recess was declared, several members stepped out of the room and State’s Attorney Rietz spoke to Board Member Carter reminding her that the speech was in violation of Board Rules.

The Board reconvened at 7:13 PM and Board Member Sexton moved to close Communications; Board Member Sullard seconded. Board Member Peugh requested to speak and was ignored; the motion to close Communications carried by voice vote. Following the closure Board Member Peugh tore his paper copies of the Agenda and Addenda and threw them into the middle of the room in protest to the closure of Communications. In response to Board Member Peugh’s outburst, at 7:15 nine members (Sexton, Farney, Lokshin, Sullard, Vanichtheeranont, Esry, Cagle, Lokshin, and Hanauer-Friedman) walked out of the room, breaking quorum and suspending business.

At 7:20 PM, the Board reconvened and a roll call show the following members present: Rodriguez, Rogers, Sexton, Sullard, Vanichtheeranont, Wiggs, Cagle, Carter, Cowart, Crane, Esry, Farney, Fortado, Hanauer-Friedman, Lokshin, and Locke – 16.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Board Member Vanichtheeranont offered an omnibus motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the County Board on May 22, 2025, and the Special Meeting of the County Board on June 10, 2025; Board Member Sullard seconded. Board Member Esry noted a minor typographical error in the May 22 minutes. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote, pending correction.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Board Chair Locke noted the Summary of Action Taken at the June 3, 2025, County Facilities Committee Meeting was received and placed on file.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Board Chair Locke noted the Summary of Action Taken at the June 10, 2025, Committee of the Whole Meeting (Justice and Social Services; Finance; and Policy, Personnel, and Appointments) was received and placed on file.

NEW BUSINESS

Board Member Sexton offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-200 Authorizing Payment of Claims; Board member Vanichtheeranont seconded. The motion caried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Member Cowart offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-201 Purchases not Following Purchasing Policy; Board Member Esry seconded.

Board Member Sullard offered a motion to amend the resolution to strike the two Administrative Services purchases (Contracts #870 and #863) because the purchases had not yet occurred; Board member Farney seconded. The motion to amend the resolution carried by unanimous voice vote. The motion as amended carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Member Sexton offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-202 appropriating of settlement fund balance to allow expenditure of funds to support programs and services for opioid-impacted individuals; Board Member Vanichtheeranont seconded; the motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.

Yeas: Rodriguez, Rogers, Sexton, Sullard, Vanichtheeranont, Wiggs, Cagle, Carter, Cowart, Crane, Esry, Farney, Fortado, Hanauer-Friedman, Lokshin, and Locke – 16

Nays: none

Board Member Vanichtheeranont offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-204 approving award of contract to Henson Robinson for the Pope Jail Roof Replacement, pursuant to ITB 2025-006; Board Member Lokshin seconded. Board Member Cagle asked why the lowest bid was rejected. Director Jett was invited to join the discussion and stated that the lowest bid did not adhere to the entire scope of the project. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Member Rogers offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-203 approving an agreement between the County of Champaign and Street College; Board Member Farney seconded. Board Member Fortado thanked Board Member Rogers and Board Chair Locke for their timely work on the agreement. Board Chair Locke thanked Rosecrance for their assistance in identifying a partner in Street College. State’s Attorney Rietz was invited to join the discussion and thanked the board for their efficient work and praised the work of Street College. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board Member Esry offered a motion to approve a Recreation and Entertainment to be held July 8 License for Fisher Fair at the Fisher Fairgrounds, 226 East Sangamon Street, Fisher, IL, – July 12, 2025; Board Member Cagle seconded. The motion carried Board Member Sullard offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025 by unanimous voice vote.

Board Member Sullard offered a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-205 authorizing award of contract to Karpel Solutions for a Case Management System, pursuant to RFP 2024-006; Board Member Hanauer-Friedman seconded. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

THER BUSINESS

Board Chair Locke raised the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Update discussion. ARPA Project Mangaer Kathy Larson was invited to join the discussion; She gave a brief update on the Rural Broadband project. Board Member Faney requested that representative from representative from Volo address the board; Board Member Sullard stated that Broadband Task Force will be meeting with Volo in July. Board Member Esry relayed that Volo has gotten back 28% of the easement contracts; Board Chair Locke asked what percent of that is residential versus non-residential; Board Member Esry said he was unaware.  Board Member Carter asked for an update on the Small Business program; Project Manager Larson stated they she has requested an update form the Economic Development Corporation by mid-July. Director Jett was invited to join the discussion; she added that the requested grants must start by July 15, 2025.

Board Chair Locke noted the memorandums in the Agenda Packet for the Grant Coordinator Update.

Board Member Esry offered a motion to approve the Closed Session Minutes of April 24, 2025; Board Member Sexton seconded. The motion caried by unanimous voice vote.

ADJOURN

County Executive Summers adjourned the meeting at 7:36 PM.

https://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/CB/2025/250724_Meeting/250724AgendaFull.pdf