The Executive Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 @ 7:00 p.m. at the Legislative Center’s Freedom Room. Chairman Sands called the meeting to order.  Members present were Marlene Allen, Sue Leifheit, Jeff Metzger, Roger Steimel,  Ruth Anne Tobias and John Wilson.  Others present were Ray Bockman, Greg Millburg, and Julia Fauci.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

            Moved by Ms. Leifheit, seconded by Mr. Wilson, and it was carried unanimously to accept the minutes of the January 2004 meeting. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

            Mr. Ray Bockman, County Administrator, asked to have the agenda amended for “Committee Dates” discussion?

            Moved by Ms. Tobias, seconded by Mr. Steimel, and it was carried unanimously to approve the amended agenda.

APPOINTMENTS

            Chairman Sands recommended the following appointments:

East Pierce Cemetery Association:    Mr. Robert L. Miller, to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Leslie G. Miller, who has passed away.  His term ends 9/01/2008. 

Regional Plan Commission:               Mr. Paul Rasmussen, as the primary representative for the City of DeKalb, reappointment, for a term of 3 years, until 4/01/2007. 

                                                          Mr. Russell Farnum, alternate member of the City of DeKalb, appointment, for a term of 3 years, until 4/01/2007. 

DeKalb Sanitary District:                   Mr. Dennis J. Collins, reappointment, for a term of 3 years, until 4/30/2007. 

Moved by Ms. Tobias, seconded by Mr. Metzger, and it was carried unanimously to approve the appointments as presented by Chairman Sands, and to forward them to the full board for approval.

Chairman Sands announced next month’s appointments that will be expiring as follows: the Workforce Investment Act Board – 3 positions; All Fire Protection Districts – 9 positions; Squaw Grove Drainage District – 1 position; DeKalb County Farmland Assessment Review Committee – 1 position; and the Regional Plan Commission – 2 positions from Malta.

SEMI-ANNUAL RELEASE OF EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES

Mr. Bockman read the executive session minute’s list that is being recommended for release to the public for inspection pertaining to the county board’s committees and county board meetings.     

Moved by Mr. Wilson, seconded by Ms. Allen, and it was carried unanimously to recommend that the resolution be forwarded to the full board for approval.

APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY BOARD AGENDA

Mr. Bockman, County Administrator, reviewed the county board agenda for the board meeting to be held on February 18, 2004.  Mr. Bockman informed the committee that State’s Attorney Ron Matekaitis will be addressing the county board under Communications and Referrals about the Juvenile Justice Council Report that will be included in the packet this month.

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

COMMITTEE MEETINGS DATE CHANGES

            Mr. Bockman, County Administrator, explained to the committee that in an effort to plan ahead he was recommending that they consider changes of dates for standing committees now rather than the past practice of taking these changes up the month prior to the change.  These changes are necessitated by two events.  Holidays that are observed on regularly scheduled committee meeting dates and months that begin on a Wednesday.  After a brief discussion, the committee agreed with the change in dates for the Executive Committee.  They will be moving their September meeting date to September 8, 2004 and their December meeting date to December 7, 2004.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

            Ms. Allen, Chairman of the Public Services Committee, said that their committee was cancelled.  She said that next month they will be discussing the senior tax levy update and then the Senior Services Tax Levy Hearings will be heard during their April meeting.

Mr. Wilson, Chairman of the Public Infrastructure & Development Committee, said that the condition of county roads was discussed at his committee meeting this month and that the snow removal team’s effort have been excellent this year.  They are doing everything humanly possible to help keep the roads clean and safe.   We don’t have a 24/7 plan and neither does Kane County, he said.  The State of Illinois has a “dry pavement” policy but not the counties.

Mr. Steimel asked Mr. Wilson about the resolution pertaining to Annie Glidden Road and what portion of that road will be worked on?  Mr. Wilson said that they will be widening the shoulders of the road for about 10.2 miles, from Dresser Road to Illinois Route 72. 

            Ms. Leifheit, Chairman of the Administrative Services Committee, said that her committee listened to a presentation made by Michael Flora, Director of the Ben Gordon Center and Mr. Jerry Lane, Director of the Community Mental Health Department about alternatives to incarceration programs.  She said that they mentioned a program called Thresholds, which is a very aggressive program.  It is a 24/7 program that is very intense and could possibly have the defendant reporting in every day.  It has a very good success rate and that if anyone was interested, they could read more about the program at the website address at www.thresholds.org.  She also said that the county would be bidding out for services for these types of programs. 

Mr. Steimel, Chairman of the Planning & Regulations Committee, said that the committee reversed the decision of the hearing officer regarding the ordinance for Avalon Farms.  He continued by stating that the committee voted to recommend approval of the ordinance with some conditions attached to it.  The committee voiced their concern on how the county was going to be able to check to see if the foreman was on site or not because the county couldn’t have a staff member go out to the site everyday to check on it.   

Ms. Tobias, Chairman of the Public Policy Committee, said that the Legislative Breakfast will be held on the last Monday in February, which is, February 23, 2004 @ 7:30a.m.  Invitations to the board and department heads will be emailed and mailed this week.  She said that Representative Pritchard will be there, but that she has not heard yet from Senator Burzynski or Representative Ron Wait.   She said that her committee also discussed County Government Week and the theme for this year, which is Transportation.  Mr. Bill Lorence, DeKalb County Engineer, will be gathering information and statistics for the committee and that a Proclamation will be going before the board at the March board meeting.

Mr. Metzger, Chairman of the Forest Preserve Committee, said that their meeting was canceled for this month, but that there will be a seminar hosted by the Greenways and Trails Coalition on February 26, 2004 from 7:00pm. to 9:00p.m. at Kishwaukee College.  They have invited representatives from the state, including the IDNR, to come and speak. 

            Before adjourning, Mr. Bockman announced that the county board packet will be mailed out this Friday instead of Thursday due to a holiday.

ADJOURNMENT

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

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                                                        _________________________________
                                                                        Dennis R. Sands, Chairman

_______________________________
Mary C. Supple, Secretary