Mr. Hanson distributed a resolution to accept credit card payments of county services (which will be placed on file along with these minutes in the Finance Office). The Treasurer’s Office currently accepts Discover credit card payments for the purpose of property tax payments. The Health Department’s Vital Records has now requested the same allowance. Mr. Hanson recommended that the county should blanket all departments countywide with the enactment rather than have departments individually make requests for the option. The departments could work with the Treasurer’s Office and the Finance Office to aid in the financial matters. Mr. Sands if there was a surcharge? Ms. Johnson affirmed there is a very small surcharge through the State of Illinois’ Treasurer’s Office through the use of the internet.

Mr. Hanson distributed the recommendation for financing the jail project, along with annual payments for various bond issues, and a project time-line. A copy of which will be placed on file along with these minutes in the Finance Office. Mr. Hanson drew on his findings for the jail project to summarize the history, costs, revenue options, and the recommendation. Mr. Hanson stated that the anticipated costs were $5,300,000 per year to operate a new or expanded jail and pay off the debt of the building project. The debt will be about $1,250,000 per year and the operational costs are just over $4 million per year. He gave the following revenue options

Mr. Pritchard and Mr. Steimel questioned option "B" findings. Mr. Bockman stated that the $35 per year was based on the trade area (110,000 population) which includes every single person in the trade area. He stated the trade area usually goes west to almost as far as Dixon and east but not to the populated area.

Next, Mr. Hanson went over the annual payments for various bond issues. He provided the necessary numbers to the committee to determine which options were best used. The projected time-line for the proposed jail was addressed by Mr. Hanson listing the sequence of events should the committee go forward.

Mr. Wiegand asked Mr. Hanson to go over the alternative revenue bond ordinance, the public notification process and how it plays in the process. Mr. Hanson stated that an alternate bond is subject to a referendum if the voters petition it, so notice is given of the intention to issue bonds. It is a way to allow people who want to have an issue on the ballot to do so which would be taken up at the March primary. Mr. Bockman stated that the bond notification act would offer that opportunity if you wanted to vote on both of the issues. It is possible that one could be approved and not the other. Mr. Bockman stated that there are other financing tools that could be used but the tax exempt alternate revenue bond would be the least expensive alternative.

Mr. Sands asked if the deadline of November 19, 2003 was crucial. Mr. Hanson stated it was crucial for the ordinance but not for the referendum on the ballot. Mr. Wiegand asked for the exact language for the recommendation to place the public safety tax referendum on the ballot. Mr. Hanson stated that it was just like the last two times. Mr. Bockman stated that the language cannot be modified. Mr. Hanson stated that he would get this handout to the committee member and look into the signature requirements before the Public Service Committee meeting.

Chairperson Leifheit stated there was an appeal brought to this committee tonight and asked Mr. Hanson to speak the to committee. Hanson stated that there were two previous appeals that went before Public Service Committee meeting by the Public Defender. Neither were successful. The resolution was distributed to the committee earlier in the meeting. (A copy of which will be placed on file along with these minutes in the Finance Office) Mr. Hanson stated there will be a public hearing at the next Administrative Services Committee meeting in November . After the budget’s approval it will be placed on file for a 15 day public inspection. The final approval of the budget by the County Board will be November 19, 2003.

Mr. Hanson asked Mr. Campbell to address his request of the Renewal and Replacement Program for the Sycamore Campus. He has requested $30,000 to review and repair the large stained glass in the courthouse. The program as laid out, had listed this item in year three and Mr. Campbell would like it moved up to this year. Mr. Campbell expressed his concerns in bringing up the potential problem with the large stained glass panels in the courthouse. He stated that after it rains there is leakage in the windows. He had supplied the committee with photos of the damage due to the heavy weight of the glass moving joints so as to bow out of the window in places, cracks and actual holes or open spaces to the outside. Mr. Wiegand and Ms. Vary stated that they knew of churches that had to do the same study and repairs and offered information to aid in the process. Mr. Campbell stated that he would come back to the committee with a report on the findings. Mr. Steimel thanked Mr. Campbell for bringing this serious maintenance item to the committee’s attention. Mr. Sands asked if there was anything that he could push back to cover costs? Mr. Campbell responded no.
 

Mr. Steimel asked for a review of the toll-way agreement and the sales tax agreement with the City of DeKalb. Mr. Bockman stated that the City of DeKalb had approached the county to help them to repay their debt payment ($2,000,000) to the toll-way authority. Mr. Bockman stated that the City of DeKalb has debt of slightly more than $2,000,000 to the Illinois Toll Highway Authority. This obligation was incurred when an agreement to upgrade the Peace Road west exit and entrance was tied to future toll volumes at that interchange. The collapse of the regional mall project made it impossible to achieve the volumes previously envisioned. The City approached the County seeking assistance from the County in meeting this obligation. The City of DeKalb has also proposed an increase of½ cent in its home rule sales tax rate. This increase would automatically increase County revenues under existing agreements at both the DeKalb County Center and DeKalb Market Square. The upgraded Peace Road interchange has regional impact benefitting an area substantially larger than the City of DeKalb. Based on that fact and the strong history of cooperation between the DeKalb County Board and the DeKalb City Council the recommendation for the county to help in the debt for a ten year period beginning January 1, 2004 and ending December 31, 2013. Fifty percent of the increased revenue received by the County as the result of an increase in home rule sales tax adopted by the DeKalb City Council in 2003, less the annual obligation to the City under Section VIII B of the Intergovernmental Agreement of June 29, 1999, be pledged by the County to repay the debt to the Illinois Toll Highway Authority up to a total of $1,000,000. Mr. Bockman stated that the County is under no obligation to do so but doing purely out of cooperation with the City of DeKalb.

Ms. Tobias asked about the increase in health care costs by the county. Mr. Bockman stated the high cost of health care (15% increase projected in the budget) is everywhere and that you can’t inflate at that rate without something very serious happening.

Respectfully submitted,

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Sue Leifheit, Chairman

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Lisa K. Sanderson
Secretary