The Administrative Services Committee of the DeKalb County Board met Wednesday, May 5, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. at the DeKalb County Government Administration Building Conference Room East. Chairperson Sue Leifheit called the meeting to order. Mr. Dennis Sands, Mr. Roger Steimel, Ms. Ruth Anne Tobias, Mr. Frank Van Buer, Mr. Joseph Wiegand and Mr. John A. Wilson were present. Mr. Stephen Faivre and Mr. Jeff Metzger were absent. Also present were Ms. Joan Berkes-Hanson, Mr. Ray Bockman, Mr. Ken Campbell, Mr. Gary Hanson, Mr. Ken Johnson, Mr. Dennis Miller, and Mr. Stephen Slack.

DISCUSSION ON ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION

Mr. Bockman distributed an Elected Officials Schedule (which is attached to these minutes as Appendage 4) recommending salary increases for the County Board, Circuit Clerk and Coroner. He also distributed a County Salary Survey Data - 2004 (which is attached to these minutes as Appendage (5) depicting DeKalb County at the low end of the comparable counties. Mr. Bockman urged the committee to look converting the board compensation from per diem to salary. He reported more and more counties are making the conversion. Benefits for doing so would include more compensation, making the board’s positions more attractive financially, and broadening the pool of interested potential people. He noted that he didn’t recommend an increase for the Vice-Chairman position inasmuch as it was not growing in terms of responsibility. Concerns were also heard about giving raises while asking for more money in the referendum. Chairman Leifheit added that the people filling these slots are excellent individuals that she would not want to leave because of low compensation.

Mr. Bockman had sent out a letter dated April 29, 2004 (which is attached to these minutes as Appendage (6) to the Chairman and committee members of Administrative Services and the County Board giving very good background information on the City of DeKalb and County of DeKalb Sales Tax Sharing. He stated, that after drafting the intergovernmental agreement, the City of DeKalb’s attorney reread the original agreement and developed the opinion that they were not required to share revenue with the County from DeKalb Market Square. The attorney questioned what happens to the agreement when one raises the "Home Rule" tax rate. The County has the option to litigate but advises against it. He advised the County to pay in full the remaining $2.2 million obligation to the Toll Authority and in return the City will agree to share the additional tax equally with the County for the life of the agreements. He also stated that the use of the Public Safety Sales Tax, if adopted in the future, would not have to be shared with the City. The agreement will hold for 30 years and 40 on Lot 12. He stated that the collaboration would be mutually benefiting and also to the community at large. Mr. Bockman stated that Mr. Hanson suggested financing internally, as it would save the county issuance costs, some debt service, as well as help the Rehab and Nursing Center.

Mr. Hanson reported that due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the county needs to set in place a Privacy Officer and a Privacy Committee. He recommends that the Payroll Specialist in the Finance Office be designated as the Privacy Officer to send out notifications to the employees of their rights and resolving issues. A Privacy Committee also needs to be established to hear complaints and offer advice and counsel to the Privacy Officer.

Chairperson Leifheit thanked everyone and then heard a motion to adjourn.

Respectfully submitted,

_____________________
Sue Leifheit, Chairman