The Executive Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at 7:00p.m. at the Administration Building’s Conference Room East.  Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias called the meeting to order. Members present were Pat Vary, Eileen Dubin, Julia Fauci, Mike Haines, Pat LaVigne, Bob Rosemier, Richard Osborne and Roger Steimel.  Others present were Ray Bockman, Gary Hanson, John Hulseberg, Paul Stoddard, Jerry Augsburger, Marlene Allen, Diane Strand, Katie Shott, Anita Turner, Jeff Metzger, Sr., Steve Walt, Ron Stillwagon and Dennis Miller.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

          Moved by Ms. Dubin, seconded by Ms. Vary, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from September 2007.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA     

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

PRESENTATION BY FEMA – MR. RON STILLWAGON    

          Chairman Tobias introduced Mr. Ron Stillwagon of FEMA who is here in the area due to the recent flooding and the President’s recent Declaration of a Federal Disaster Area for DeKalb County.  He said that our County is moving along very quickly and the response time is very quick.  Overall numbers look like 600/700 homes that were affected by the flood.  They have seen here in our county that a person comes in and files a registration on one day and two to three days later they have a check in their hand - it is very impressive. 

          Out of the 6 counties that were declared disaster areas, about 664 registrations are filed, 201 are from DeKalb County or 1/3 of the current registrations.  They picked up 19 registrations yesterday at the DRC (Disaster Recovery Center) here in Sycamore.  They had 84 visitors and 17 of them were in yesterday too.  So the weekend activity along with the media’s help has resulted in a nice “chunk” of response, said Mr. Stillwagon.

          What they did was meet with County officials early on Friday, thanks to Mr. Dennis Miller’s help.  He will get to everyone in the County, but it does take some time.  They will get to all villages and townships, too, he further stated.  He will be here in the County for the whole month of October. 

          Mr. Stillwagon then passed out two flyers that FEMA is passing out to people in the County affected by the flood.  There is a phone number on the flyers that people need to call to register with FEMA.  On the other flyer it states the location of their Disaster Recovery Center that is located in the Sycamore Center.

          Mr. Stillwagon continued by saying that the FEMA representatives will be here in the County until October 13, 2007 at the Disaster Recovery Center.  Then this office will remain open as a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan-processing center until further notice, probably about another two weeks. 

          Mr. Dennis Miller reminded the committee that there would be an ESDA/FEMA/IEMA meeting tomorrow morning at 9:30a.m. in the Legislative Center’s Gathertorium for where the cities, county, and townships can apply for reimbursement.

          Chairman Tobias said that she spoke with Ms. Mary Ramp, Director of DeKalb County Community Services Department, who said that there has already been about $800,000.00 that has been allocated in DeKalb County in one week. 

          Mr. Stillwagon said that this is day 13 that he has been here, but that like he said before, things are moving along quickly here in the County and it has been very impressive.

          Ms. Vary asked what the deadline date is to apply?

          Mr. Stillwagon said that with FEMA personnel still here, it would be by 10/13/07.  The deadline for filing by phone would be 11/26/07.

          Ms. Dubin asked if there were any displaced people and how many? 

          Mr. Stillwagon said that the only displaced people that he recalls are from Evergreen Village and some from the Riverside Apartments in DeKalb. 

          Mr. Stoddard asked Mr. Stillwagon if they were able to identify all of those people who lived in the empty trailers? 

          Mr. Stillwagon and Mr. Miller said that they are doing their best to find all of them.

          The committee thanked Mr. Stillwagon for his update.

RESOLUTION: SEVERE WEATHER POLICY

          Mr. Ray Bockman, DeKalb County Administrator, said that the County had an incident in August with severe weather.  Afterwards someone approached him about whether or not the County had a Severe Weather Policy?  He said that we do not and that’s how this resolution came about.  He is presenting a Severe Weather Policy for the benefit of the County employees and the DeKalb County citizens to know what to do and where to go during a severe weather event.

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

ORDINANCE: CHANGES TO THE COUNTY BOARD RULES AND REGULATIONS

          Chairman Tobias said that there were a few people at the county board meeting last month who were standing right behind the county board members at the September 2007 County Board Meeting.  Several county board members mentioned that they were uncomfortable with the arrangement. 

          Ms. Fauci asked if we have a Sergeant-At-Arms that can handle this situation at all of our meetings?

          Chairman Tobias said yes, the Sheriff, who is at our County Board Meetings every month. 

          Moved by Mr. Osborne, seconded by Mr. Rosemier, to forward this resolution to the full board for approval.

          Mr. Steimel said that he was not in favor of the $500.00 fine that is written in the new change. 

          Mr. Bockman said that all ordinance violations carry the possibility of a fine up to five hundred dollars.

          He further suggested that the County has some ropes that we could use to cordon off so that people would know where the county board area is.  The committee agreed with this and said that it would be a good idea.

          Mr. Haines said that with the new Ad Hoc Rules Committee meeting this week, that one suggestion that they will be discussing is a change in the orientation set-up for the Gathertorium for our County Board Meetings. 

          Mr. Bockman said that another thing to look at is an occupancy limit like a theater has.

          It was carried to forward this resolution to the full board for approval.  Mr. Steimel voted no.

RESOLUTION – CONSERVATION INITIATIVE

          Ms. Fauci said that this Conservation Initiative started with a voter in her district that contacted her about building a rain garden.  This person thought that it could be done countywide and begin it as an educational seminar.

          She said that they could put information on the website and tell the voters what the County is doing for the new building that is being constructed with regards to energy efficiency.

          Ms. Vary said that the County could sponsor some seminars too.  We could start with the rain garden idea. 

          Ms. Fauci said that what is before the committee tonight with regards to the resolution on the table is that the County Board would be approving the small expenditure for staff time. 

          Moved by Mr. Haines, seconded by Ms. Vary, and it was carried unanimously to forward this resolution to the full board for approval. 

HAZARD MITIGATION DISCUSSION

          Mr. Bockman, DeKalb County Administrator, passed out an draft analysis on the Hazard Mitigation Plan, written by Ms. Molly O’Toole, that he received late afternoon today.  The resolution is asking that the board submit a pre-application for a Hazard Mitigation project involving Evergreen Village.  She is the consultant that the County engaged to help write our All Hazard Mitigation Plan.  The Plan is completed in draft and will come to you probably next month for your consideration and to all of the communities that participated in that planning process.  The Plan needs to be adopted individually by all towns, cities and the county that took part in the Hazard Mitigation Committee this past year.  They, along with us, will be eligible to apply for Hazard Mitigation funds either in advance of a disaster or after a disaster.  Under the new 2000 rules you have to have a Hazard Mitigation Plan in place before you are eligible to receive FEMA funds, either before, during or after a disaster.  The FEMA money will be channeled through IEMA, he further explained. 

This is how Kirkland mitigated of their Trailer Park.  The County Board in 1996 decided not to enter into an agreement with Evergreen Village.  One reason was that there was a focus on where to move them.  Nobody came up with a place that was suitable.  If we buy it out now people will have to disperse elsewhere, said Mr. Bockman. 

If FEMA goes through with this project they will pick up 75% of the

total cost of the project.  Twenty-five percent (25%) of the project needs to come from State and/or local sources.  Mr. Bockman said that this project means, to buy the land, the trailers and then move the people.

          Mr. Steimel said that he feels that we need to move ahead on this issue. 

          Mr. Bockman again pointed out to the committee that this is a preliminary document that he handed out tonight. 

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

FY2008 BUDGET DISCUSSION

          Mr. Bockman said that there were no changes to the County Board budget, in fact, it was $400.00 less than last year’s.

APPOINTMENTS

Stormwater Management Committee –

Phase II:                                                      Mr. Don Pardridge, to fill the

unexpired term of Mayor Claudia Hicks, for an indefinite term.

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

Appointments expiring for NOVEMBER 2007:

Workforce Investment Act Board – 2 positions

          Housing Authority of DeKalb County – 1 position

          Board of Health – 4 positions

          911 Emergency Telephone Systems Board – 4 positions

          DeKalb County Nursing Home Foundation Board – 3 positions

APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY BOARD AGENDA

Mr. Ray Bockman, County Administrator, reviewed the County Board Agenda for the Board Meeting to be held on October 17, 2007.  He noted to the committee that the meeting will start out with a public hearing for Voluntary Action Center on the application to the IDOT Consolidated Vehicle Procurement Program. 

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

GENERAL DISCUSSION

          Mr. Haines, Chairman of the Finance Committee, said that they discussed the FY2008 budget and that there were two appeals filed so far.  One was for the Facilities Management Department and the Jail Savings Account.  The Spay and Neuter Program will be stated in the budget as a Pilot Program.  They also had exempt employee evaluations for three department heads that report to their committee.

          Mr. Steimel, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee said that they cancelled their meeting for last month.  The Planning and Zoning Office has been very busy with the flooding problem since August.

          Ms. Dubin, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, said that they discussed community-base farming and a small tax abatement request.

          Ms. Fauci, Chairman of the Forest Preserve Committee, thanked the Highway Department for their help with the flooded forest preserves.  They are still going on their grant for Afton Forest Preserve. 

          Mr. Osborne, Chairman of the Law and Justice Committee, said that they discussed the flood issue.

          Mr. Rosemier, Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee, said that they heard from Ms. Liz Carney, Director of the Mental Health Board, regarding her annual report.

          Mr. LaVigne, Chairman of the County Highway Committee, said that she had no report.

          Chairman Tobias said that the Public Building Commission minutes are now online on our website.

          She also announced a workshop on 10/18/07 being presented by the Alliance for Water Efficiency.  On 11/18/07 DuPage County is holding a seminar on water conservation.  If anyone is interested in attending either one of these seminars, to please let her know.

          She would also like to invite the DeKalb Leadership Group who work with our youth in the County to speak before the County Board at the November 2007 meeting.

          Mr. Steimel asked Chairman Tobias if she could update the committee on the Indian issue?

          Chairman Tobias said that the county and the Indians are moving closer on a document.  She would like to hold a board workshop in December to look at the document.  She would then like to hold a Public Hearing and bring an agreement to the County Board in January of 2008. 

ADJOURNMENT

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

Respectfully submitted,

______________________________

Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias

_________________________

Mary C. Supple, Secretary

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