Mr. Hanson distributed the FY 2003 First Quarter Finance Report dated March 31, 2003 (a copy of which will be placed on file in the Finance Office). The report’s format was divided into three sections: 1)Section A-Quarterly Analysis, 2)Section B-Locator & Status Index, & 3)Section C-Financial Report. He focused the committee’s attention to Section A’s page 2, a list of revenues variances and to page 4,a listing of the expenditures variances as the most important information to read. He explained that Karen Kahl, the Accounting Supervisor compared the actual numbers with the budget for this report. Mr. Pritchard asked if the Non-Departmental was actually 4%. Mr. Hanson, clarified that the figure is 4% of the budgeted revenues that come in as opposed to the amount of the variance. Section B lists all the funds alphabetically (helping to find specific funds with the actual data) which offer an overview and trend information. Section C tells what the actual numbers for the different funds are. It lists the total revenues and expenditures broken down into Personal Services, Capital and Commodities & Services and comparing them to last year’s numbers. Mr. Wilson asked if the Section C figures of 100% had to have transfers or adjustments at the end of the year. Mr. Hanson confirmed that last year (for the first year), the benefits (FICA, IMRF, health insurance and life insurance) were spread to the departments which will skew the comparisons over the next few years until there is some consistency. Mr. Sands asked for an explanation of why the General Fund in Section B had a negative figure in the Cash Balance. Mr. Hanson explained that the money was on loan to health insurance and would revert back to a positive after the property tax levy came in.

REVIEW OF E-911 FUNDING

               Mr. Hanson stated that Mr. Sands and Mr. Wiegand had requested information to examine 911 funds. He distributed a document entitled E-911 Background dated 4/2/2003 as a point of reference which are attached to these minutes as Appendage 1. He stated that after the referendum was passed in 1989 an 84¢ charge was placed on all the land-line phones. The entire 84¢ amount is solely the county’s. In 2001, a 75 cent charge was initiated by the state of Illinois to cell phones. The 911 board receives approximately two-thirds of that amount (49 cents) after one-third is given to cell phone providers for the call and the state keeps about 14 cents. The numbers have grown over the years with the increase in lines from fax machines, modems, etc. Currently, there are approximately 31,000 cell phones in the county and growing. If the county received 50 cents per phone the county would generate $15,000 per month. Mr. Hanson stated that the surcharge amount, if increased would require a referendum by the voters or a decrease would require a resolution of the county board. Ms. Johnson notified the committee that the .75 cent charge is state regulated and cannot be handled locally.

               Ms. Johnson distributed a list of monthly sur-charges of other Illinois counties, which are attached to these minutes as Appendage 2. She stated the 911 Coordinator, Chuck Kross gathered 31 pages of information listing all the surcharges statewide which includes numerous municipalities and 72 counties. She broke the list down showing only the other counties’ figures for this report. She reported that the range went from .50 cents to $3.50 and that only 16 counties were lower than DeKalb County. Mr. Wiegand asked for the number of funds and their balances. Ms. Johnson reported that three investment accounts totaling over $900,000 and also includes a working cash checking account totally about $75,000. Mr. Wiegand asked for a breakdown of what the E-911 Board current pays for now that is different from what the original referendum called for. Mr. Hanson stated that the original referendum had background information outlining costs which included more than implementation. The on-going costs is called the tariffs (charged by Verizon) Ms. Johnson noted. When Verizon gets a 911 call they ship it to one of the dispatching center whose fee is $160,000 per year. Ms. Johnson said there was an additional tariff from the wireless calls currently being considered calling for another $55,000 annually. Mr. Hanson stated that other costs included maintenance, dispatching counsels, phone lines, pagers, towers, administrative costs, a part-time director, audit costs, and insurance. He stated that the E-911 Board will be required (in the not to0 distant future) to display a map on the console to show the location of the call (latitude & longitude) when a cellular 911 call is received and will cost approximately $250,000. Mr. Hanson stated that this system must remain operational 24 hours a day and not go down. Mr. Van Buer asked if the 911 Board could recoup money from N.I.U students who have cell phones outside of the 815 area calls using 911. Mr. Hanson said that monies are allocated by billing zip code. Mr. Wiegand said that the county would benefit if the bill is locally addressed. Ms. Johnson stated that Mr. Kross is working with Verizon to get an acuate number of phone lines. She also stated that the 911 Board is audited at the same time as the county and passed with flying colors. Mr. Wiegand suggested that he and Mr. Sands wanted to study the information to seeks ways to reduce the burden to the tax payers and would report back to the committee with their findings. Mr. Pritchard cautioned that the level of service, protection and citizens’ expectations should all be apart of the equation when considering how to lower the expense of the service.

ALLOCATION OF CAPITAL GRANT MONEY FROM STATE LAND PURCHASE

               Terry Hannan, Forest Preserve Superintendent was called on by Chairperson Leifheit to talk to the committee about money that the County recieved from The Open Lands Trust (OLT) Grant Program through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. He reported that Illinois ranks 48 out of 50 states in public open space land and through OLT $200,000,000 was allocated over 4 years (ending this June) to purchase state and local parks. $160 million was divided in half for DNR projects for state park purchases and the other half for local government park purchases. The remaining $40 million went to caucus members and their caucus districts to help purchase conservation lands in their districts. Part of the OLT money stated that any land that was bought for a state park, 7% went to the county that the state park was purchased in. That equaled $187,000 from the new state park in the Kirkland area.. Mr Hannan reported receiving a letter from the DNR stating that the twenty year OLT bond money (7%) could only be used for capital projects that will have a life-span of twenty years or more. The previous forest preserve committee worked 1½ years with the state and formed a partnership to acquire the two pieces of property of which the county purchased a new forest preserve called "Potawatomi Woods" and added there will be an official naming of the Forest Preserve next month.

               Mr. Hannan stated that the state purchased just under 600 acres and the county purchased just shy of 300 acres. He stated a lot of work needs to be done on the property after twenty years of neglect and had a list of capital improvements. He reported the OLT money received so far applied towards a parking lot, a modular home for a future park ranger to live on site, improvements to the Morton barn, electrical improvements, new garage doors, and burying 1500 feet of the overhead service line underground going over the parking area and future picnic areas which came to about $110, 000. Mr. Wiegand stated that Kirkland already would benefit by the economic impact of dollars spent in the community. Mr. Hannan said that the money should be used sometime in the next year or so. Mr. Sands said he would like to see the money kept with the forest preserve. Specifically, he said he would like to have the entire amount be kept toward the new forest preserve rather than spread it around or to risk not having that great of an impact on any one forest preserve. Mr. Pritchard asked if the county should share this windfall amount with other taxing bodies impacted by the new state park. He said stated the county could set up a grant program. Mr. Pritchard asked if there were other forest preserve projects that would benefit using the remaining $77,000. Mr. Hannan said he could bring a list of items requested to the next meeting. He stated there are projects from septic tanks to play ground equipment they could use it on. He also reported that the Kishwaukee Sunrise Rotary is arranging some fund raising ($30,000) over the next two years to do shelters, water, and lavatory and that sort of thing. He has collected some requests from the park managers throughout the county as far as improvements as well. Mr. Hannan stated that the money could be divided up among the forest preserves or other county departments for capital projects. Also, departments could request grant applications to do capital improvements as another possible plan. Mr. Hanson stated that he was initially excited about the funds, but now it seems that the money should most appropriately go the forest preserve since they have things that truly will last beyond the twenty years. Mr. Bockman agreed and credited the forest preserve with the time, work and effort obtaining the OLT money. Mr. Van Buer said one of the problems with offering grants to other communities is that it all takes time and lots of effort and unless there is a good payoff on it, it becomes frustrating to the people doing the work and then not get a grant award. "We are not talking about a large amount of money here," he said. Then added "To him, it would seem a lot simpler to say we got this money, lets leave it where it is." Many times he said he has seen a lot of time and work spent on something and not get anything out of it. Chairman Leifheit stated that it was a good discussion and we would talk about it again next month.

PUBLIC ACCESS TO GIS-WEB

               Ms. Berkes-Hanson, Director of Information Management distributed to the committee a description of the available features of GIS Web (a copy of which will be placed on file in the Finance Office). Ms. Berkes-Hanson and Ms. Minogue were invited to return to this month’s meeting after the committee requested further discussion on the allocation of public access of GIS Web. Ms. Berkes-Hanson gathered input from the departments and reported two items that they considered as possibly being excluded from public access at this time. She stated that Paul Miller, Planning & Zoning Director had an issue with the zoning data as it is today which is potentially inaccurate. She said he preferred to wait until accurate zoning data would be accessible which he anticipated to be completed in a few months. She also stated that the Sheriff and State’s Attorney Ron Matekaitis suggested ground photos of buildings, houses, and structures would not be wise to release for public access. Mr. Faivre asked if public buildings could be displayed. All photos are included in one giant database and have not been flagged to separate some out of the database. Mr. Bockman made a point that the county is not required to have photos made available. Mr. Hanson stated we could look at displaying tax exempt parcels. Mr. Wiegand stated that the county invested money in accumulating information, allowing it to be accessed through an intranet system and wonders why it is not made immediately accessible to the public. Making the information secure as well as estimating the costs and time involved in making it accessible was discussed. Sheriff Scott expressed his concern of the ability to access photos of his house and not being aware of the potential hazards that could occur. He stated that someone could drive down his street but people could report it. Someone could come into the county and look up the information but would alert people of the situation. Mr. Wiegand stated the internet records information that is traceable forensically. Mr. Sands stated that currently map sites on the internet provides an aerial view of the location requested. He stated that with technology moving at the rate it’s going, more and more information is being gathered and published that we cannot control and is out of our hands. Mr. Faivre asked Ms. Berkes-Hanson for a cost estimate to have GIS-web on the internet and then report back to the committee. She said that she would report back but noted that if this project was given the "go ahead", it would shift priorities already established in her department which may delay previously prioritized tasks and would appreciate that understanding. The committee also asked for a list of what projects would be delayed.

CHANGES TO EMPLOYEE AWARDS PROGRAM

               Mr. Hanson distributed a list of years of service by employees dated April 2, 2003 (a copy of which will be placed on file in the Finance Office). Mr. Hanson reported that last month Bob Drake, Health Department was given a framed certificate for thirty years of service at the county. The question came up as to if the county was doing enough for employees reaching certain milestones, he said. The protocol called for an unframed certificate however, Mr. Pritchard enhanced it to include a frame. Mr. Hanson stated that a recognition program for county employees started in 1993 using the following milestones and rewards program:

Respectfully submitted,

_____________________
Lisa K. Sanderson
Secretary