DeKalb County, Illinois

Minutes of the
Executive Committee

May 9, 2006

The Executive Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 at 7:00p.m. at the Administration Building’s Conference Room East. Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias called the meeting to order. Members present were Jeff Whelan, Julia Fauci, Roger Steimel, Pat LaVigne, Julia Fullerton, Bob Rosemier. Dennis Sands and Sue Leifheit. Others present were Gary Hanson, Sharon Holmes, Steve Kuhn, Diane Strand, Greg Millburg, Haley Murray, Jerry Augsburger, Jeff Metzger, Sr., Eileen Dubin and Steve Slack.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

Moved by Mr. Whelan, seconded by Mr. Rosemier, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from April 2006.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Moved by Ms. Leifheit, seconded by Mr. Steimel, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda as presented.

APPOINTMENTS

DeKalb County Board: Ms. Paulette Tolene, to fill the

unexpired term of Eric Johnson, until 11/30/06.

Appointments expiring for June 2006 are:

General Assistance Appeal Board – 5 positions

DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center Operating Board – 1 position

Moved by Mr. Steimel, seconded by Ms. Fullerton, and it was carried unanimously to accept the recommended appointment and to forward it to the full board for approval.

RESOLUTION: Election Judge Officials for 2006-2007

Ms. Sharon Holmes, DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder approached the committee regarding the Democratic and Republican Lists of Election Judge Officials for the period of 2006-2007. They were presented to her from the Democratic and Republican chairmen following their respective conventions last month. She said that she approaches the county board every two years with new lists of names. She further explained that after the county board approves these lists, she then takes the resolution and the lists to the Circuit Clerk’s Office and they set the date for a public hearing. The publication states that the public can view the lists and go to the public hearing and file a complaint if they have one regarding anyone on the lists.

Mr. Rosemier said that one of the names on the Democratic Party List under DK03 should read Jeff Strack not Jess Strack. Ms. Holmes said that she would correct that page and get it to Ms. Supple, DeKalb County Board Coordinator, before the packet is mailed out.

Moved by Ms. LaVigne, seconded by Ms. Fauci, and it was carried unanimously to accept the resolution and to forward it to the full board for approval.

RESOLUTION: Establishing a Stormwater Management Planning Committee.

Mr. Bockman stated last month the county board appointed a group of people for the stormwater management planning committee. This month we are officially establishing the committee pursuant to Article 5 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes, Section 5/5-1062.2, which gives the county the authority to do so.

Mr. Sands stated that with the referendum passing for the Forest Preserve District to purchase land, he feels that these two committees should work together on this issue and possibly establish stormwater retention areas. Ms. Fauci said that she feels the same way too. She would also like to see some EPA issues addressed at these meetings.

Moved by Ms. LaVigne, seconded by Ms. Leifheit, and it was carried unanimously to forward the resolution to the full board for approval.

APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY BOARD AGENDA

Mr. Bockman, DeKalb County Administrator, reviewed the county board agenda for the board meeting to be held on May 17, 2006.

Moved by Ms. Fullerton, seconded by Ms. LaVigne, and it was carried unanimously to forward the county board agenda to the full board for approval.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Mr. Whelan, Chairman of the Finance Committee, said that the Budget 101 Class that Mr. Gary Hanson, DeKalb County Deputy Administrator taught, was very good. He also said that they are sending one item to the board for approval, which asks for an amendment to the current contract for professional services with Joseph E. Meyer to increase the minimum auction sale bid for delinquent parcels from the current level of $450 to $600.

Ms. Fauci, Chair of the Forest Preserve Committee, said that her committee has drawn up a tentative list of criteria for purchasing property with the referendum monies. They may be looking into the possibility of hiring a professional grantwriter for the referendum monies, too.

Ms. Fauci also said that The Sunrise Rotary Club will be holding their 8K Run this month. They also have raised $25,000 for the Forest Preserve District.

The Forest Preserve District have been getting great feedback for the handicapped canoe launch at Potawatomi Woods. The DeKalb Foundation has earmarked some of the money that they receive from the Victoria Casino in Elgin, Illinois, for the DeKalb County Forest Preserve.

Mr. Rosemier, Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee, said that his committee is sending the resolution to the full board for approval on the Senior Services Tax Levy Allocations. They kept some money in reserve for anything special that may come up over the year. The committee agreed to further dialogue with Ben Gordon Center and other agencies about a pilot program. He said that Mr. Flora, Director of the Ben Gordon Center is looking forward to the meeting.

They also heard from Ms. Candice McCarthy of the DuPage Federation on Human Services and Mr. Phil Smith, the Director of Human Services with DuPage County. He said that the Federation in DuPage County was invited to visit with his committee by Chairman Tobias because they are doing a wonderful job of collaboration between government and the community with welfare reform that maybe it would be good for them to share their ideas with DeKalb County.

Mr. Sands, Vice Chairman of the County Board, said that he attended the press conference that the Potawatomi Indians had for the purchase of property in Shabbona near Shabbona Lake and Chief Shabbona Forest Preserve. He said that it was very well attended with about 200 people there. He said that the Indians were just there to celebrate the fact that they were reclaiming their land and that they did not discuss anything about future plans.

Mr. Steimel said that the Baumgartner issue is about a one-acre parcel that had been given to a family member in turn for labor way back in 1970. There is no documentation of it and no proof. Because the committee had nothing legal to refer to on this issue the committee recommended a denial of this request. He said that the Reck request involves three parcels of land that are 10-acres each, that were purchased some time ago for more than farmland value and before our zoning laws. The zoning officer recommended approval and the committee went along with it.

The committee is also reviewing the building requirements ordinance and will be discussing it their June meeting.

Waste Management presented their annual review to the committee and they stated that the capacity has shrunk down to nine years capacity. They said that they need three times the current daily disposal rate to operate the facility correctly. If that occurs then we are down to 3 years. The Planning and Zoning committee is asking that Chairman Tobias appoint a committee to talk to Waste Management about the issues, said Mr. Steimel.

Ms. Leifheit, Chairman of the Law and Justice Committee said her committee heard Ms. Gilmour’s Annual Court Services Report. They also heard from the jail report that the average daily population was 89 inmates last month. The Sheriff’s budget also allowed for $100,000 for the transport and housing of prisoners to other county facilities and they have used up $75,000 of that money already.

Ms. Fullerton, Chair of the Economic Development Committee said that they would be hearing from Ms. Whitwell in June regarding her annual report.

Before adjourning Chairman Tobias read some announcements to the committee members. She said that she received a letter from State’s Attorney Ron Matekaitis stating that the Juvenile Justice Committee will be meeting again. She does not know what the topic will be at this time, however.

Mr. Rosemier asked Chairman Tobias if the new county board member would be assigned to Eric Johnson’s old committees? Chairman Tobias said yes.

Chairman Tobias said that as Mr. Steimel was talking earlier, the county needs to start talking about the solid waste issue and she will be looking into appointing members to a solid waste planning committee.

Mr. Paul Miller’s Development Review Workshop was very good. It was conducted by Mr. Miller and representatives from the Metropolitan Planning Council. There were about 30 to 40 people present at this review, said Chairman Tobias.

Chairman Tobias said that the County Government Week and the National Bring Your Child To Work was a huge success. It was attended by about 30 kids and 20 adults. This was another great idea from Mr. Gary Hanson, she further stated. Chairman Tobias also thanked Ms. Haley Murray, DeKalb County Board’s Administrative Intern, for her work on the project.

Ms. Supple, DeKalb County Board Coordinator, sent out the drug card reports that stated that we have steadily grown from 60 people to 350 people that are taking part in the program. The average savings is about 15% in terms of prescriptions. There are only three counties taking part in this program, DeKalb, Peoria and Lake County. Ms. Murray is writing an article on the program for the Illinois Counties Association Newsletter that will come out this summer.

Finally, Chairman Tobias said that the county was asked to write a letter of approval of a proposed tollway interchange on Hinckley Road by a private developer who has purchased quite a bit of property in that area. They are asking Senator Burzynski and Representative Pritchard to also write letters on their behalf. The County has many questions that have not been answered regarding long-term consequences of their development. Because of that she is asking the developer to come to a joint meeting of the County Highway Committee and Planning and Zoning Committee on May 24, 2006 @ 7:00p.m. in the Legislative Center’s Gathertorium. This is a very extensive development that would be annexed by the Town of Cortland, said Chairman Tobias.

ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Mr. Whelan, seconded by Ms. Fauci, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

______________________________

Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias

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Mary C. Supple, Secretary