The Executive Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 @ 7:00 p.m. at the Legislative Center’s Freedom Room. Chairman Dennis Sands called the meeting to order.  Members present were Marlene Allen, Sue Leifheit, Julia Fauci for John Wilson, Jeff Metzger, Roger Steimel and Ruth Anne Tobias.  Mr. Wilson was absent. Others present were Ray Bockman, Gary Hanson, Steve Slack, Greg Millburg, Robert Hutcheson, Pat LaVigne, Robert Rosemier, Karen Grush, Julia Fauci, Eileen Dubin, Vince Faivre and Sally DeFauw.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

            Moved by Ms. Allen, seconded by Ms. Leifheit, and it was carried to accept the minutes of the August 2004 meeting. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

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

APPOINTMENTS

            Chairman Sands recommended the following appointments:

DeKalb County Public

Building Commission:                             Mr. Robert Hutcheson, reappointment for a term of 5 years,
until10/01/2009.

Open Space Ad Hoc

Study Committee:                                     Jeffery L. Metzger, Chairman

                                                                                                                                    Julia Fauci

                                                                                                                                    Frank Van Buer

                                                                                                                                    Joe Wiegand

                                                                                                                                    Julia Fullerton

                                                                                                                                    Terry Hannan

                                                                                                                                    Gary Hanson

                                                                                                                                    David C. Baker

                                                                                                                                    Kevin Braden

                                                                                                                                    John Acardo

                                                                                                                                    Michael Haines

                                                                        All appointments for a term of 1-year, until 10/01/05. 

DeKalb County Board:                        Ms. Sally DeFauw, to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Cliff Simonson until December 6, 2004.

Moved by Mr. Steimel, 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.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT

Ms. Karen Grush, DeKalb County Health Department Director, explained the agreement to the committee.  Since the 9/11 event not everyone is equipped with everything or everyone to carry out the day–to-day operations at the various public health departments throughout the State of Illinois.  Basically, if another county should call her requesting help this agreement would allow Ms. Grush to assign staff to go, she would pay for them to go and their wages, workmen’s compensation, etc.  The State of Illinois is asking all public health departments to take part in this Public Health Mutual Aid System.  They need to enter into an agreement with the local governing body, which is the county board. 

Mr. Bockman said that what he liked about this agreement is that it addresses the larger issues, it is fair, everyone continue to work for the same employer, it is a “good neighbor” contract.

Mr. Faivre asked is there were any state funds to reimburse the County for the costs?  Currently the Sheriff and the ESDA Director can apply,  said Chairman Sands, for terrorism funds.  Ms. Grush said that there are aid assistance funds that can be distributed among all the counties in the State that did help.

Moved by Ms. Leifheit, seconded by Ms. Tobias, and it was carried unanimously to forward the resolution to the full board for approval. 

Chairman Sands said that he would like to back up and have the new county board member give the committee members a brief synopsis of herself.  Ms. DeFauw said that she has been a resident of DeKalb County for 31 years and when to school at NIU.  She has worked with the City of DeKalb on architectural improvement programs.  For seventeen years she has worked as a curator at a West Chicago Museum.  Chairman Sands told her that she will be assigned to the two committees that Mr. Simonson sat on, that is, Forest Preserve and Planning and Regulations Committees.  The committee welcomed Ms. DeFauw to the board.

Mr. Rosemier said as he looks at the importance of the Ad Hoc Committee system, he feels that it is very necessary to get a broad spectrum of representation from board members and citizens.  He’s not sure if an undergraduate is eligible to be able to sit on an Ad Hoc Committee because of not having the broad knowledge that he feels a member should have and whether or not they can give that perspective that is needed.  He feels that we can do better.  He was wondering if the board could be made aware of the candidates coming up for appointment a month a head of time? 

Chairman Sands said that we went over all that and that this committee decided not to do that anymore because Mrs. Dubin objected about doing it.  We will be moving on now, said Chairman Sands.

RESOLUTION: SUPPORT FOR SUPPORTIVE LIVING FACILITY

Mr. Bockman, County Administrator, said that the resolution is seeking the board’s endorsement of a project that is just being formulated as we speak.  The Nursing Home’s Operating Board has been looking into the possibility of establishing a supportive living facility and has commissioned a demographic study to see if this market could support it.  All the indications state that it would be a welcome addition to the housing mix.  It would provide supportive services for those that are not able to live on their own anymore, but are not really in need of the full scale of services that the nursing home could supply. 

Mr. Bockman explained that the Illinois Department of Public Aid two years ago were handing out these licenses statewide, but because licenses were, in many cases, unable to secure financing, many of the projects never got off the ground.  Therefore, a moratorium was placed on these licenses.  If you get a license and an IPA (Illinois Public Aid) person moves into the facility, IPA reimburses the facility.  The moratorium may be lifted for 30 to 60 days and within that window the county would need to get a viable application in.  The feeling is that they are going to be funding about 1 of these in each county and see how it goes. 

In the course of exploring this possibility they became aware that the DeKalb County Housing Authority was investigating this issue too.  They could still enter into the project with the county, but because their funds have been cut severely they can’t participate financially.  They may help the county in any other ways.

In the meantime, we heard about a group of people from Southern Illinois looking at property across the street from the nursing home.  We were told that they were interested in applying for a license for a similar facility.  The county had a meeting with these people and discussed the possibility of a joint venture to split the costs and proceeds. 

Chairman Sands asked of the 50 beds being proposed for this facility, is there anyway to limit the residents coming in as DeKalb County residents or given the first opportunity to attain a bed?  Mr. Bockman said that he didn’t know.

Ms. Leifheit asked, so this would not need taxpayer’s dollars to run?  Mr. Bockman said that the plan from the beginning was and is not to use local taxpayer’s dollars.  We may need to make an equity investment in order to get the facility built, but we would expect to earn that back. 

Ms. Fauci asked if any mental health people would be included in this facility?  Mr. Bockman said that would require a different license.  Eligibility for this facility is measured in ADL’s (activities of daily living).  If you fail any 2 of those measures then you would become eligible for the supportive living facility. 

Mr. Steimel said that he had a problem with the private enterprise and public entity partnership.  Where should our role be? He asked.  Mr. Bockman said that we are required to be running a nursing home facility either. Because we do, what we need to do is protect it.  One of the ways that we can protect our nursing home from population declines is to manage the supportive living facility.

Ms. Dubin asked if all the people in the facility would be on public aid?  Mr. Bockman said no, there would be a mix.  He believes more than half will be on public aid.  That’s one of the issues that needs to be addressed. Part of the funding mechanism may be a tax credit.  Mr. Steimel wondered how the county would benefit from the tax credit?  We don’t keep the credits, they are sold to private investors and the sale proceeds benefit the project.  Mr. Bockman said that there are loan possibilities that we can look at too.

Chairman Sands asked if the County would make any money?  Mr. Bockman said yes, they feel that the facility will have a positive cash flow. The higher percentage of IPA people -the lower the cash flow.  However, everything that he has seen and read says that it would be a profitable partnership and self-sustaining operation. 

After further discussion, it was moved by Mr. Metzger, seconded by Ms. Leifheit, and it was carried unanimously to forward the recommendation 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 September 15, 2004.

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

GENERAL DISCUSSION

            Ms. Leifheit, Chairman of the Administrative Services Committee, said that she encouraged everyone to read the overview included in the budget books.  She said that her committee discussed a 7% tax relief program presented by Ms. Whitwell and they invited her back for next month to revisit the issue.  They also discussed the G.I.S. Fee increase and the Law Library Fee increase that were both forwarded to the full board to consider for approval. 

            Ms. Tobias, Chairman of the Public Policy Committee, said that they discussed the courthouse filming policy and the location agreement, which would be reviewed each time a request comes forth.  They also discussed the 7% tax relief program, but felt that they needed more information before making a decision.

            Mr. Steimel, Chairman of the Planning and Regulations Committee, said that they discussed the Special Use Permit request and the Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance regarding lots and zoning lots.  They also are still reviewing the zoning ordinances.

            Ms. Fauci, Member of the Public Infrastructure and Development Committee, said that they discussed the two resolutions that appear on the county board agenda referring to amending the DeKalb County code of ordinances.  They have also tabled consideration of an overweight permit problem pending an opinion from the State’s Attorney.

            Mr. Metzger, Chairman of the Forest Preserve Committee, said that they heard from a citizens group who made a presentation for a bond referendum that would be for preservation of future open space.  The committee decided that a study group be formed to examine if it’s in the best interest of the county at this time.  They also had a bid opening for the Phase I Afton Wetland and the low bidder was Dashney Excavation of Kirkland.

            Mr. Rosemier asked if the report was going to be forthcoming to the board from the Ad Hoc Rules Review Committee yet?  Chairman Sands said that he just received an email from Ron Matekaitis, State’s Attorney, who made some suggestions and it should be ready next month to share with the board members.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Moved by Mr. Steimel, seconded by Ms. Fauci, and it was carried unanimously per a roll call vote to move into executive session to discuss land acquisition. 

            Moved by Ms. Leifheit, seconded by Ms. Tobias, and it was carried unanimously per a roll call vote to return to open session @ 8:14p.m.

            Moved by Ms. Leifheit, seconded by Ms. Tobias, and it was carried unanimously to recommend the acquisition of property at 215 E. State Street at the assessed value of the property and to forward this recommendation to the full board for approval.

            Moved by Ms. Fauci, seconded by Mr. Steimel, and it was carried unanimously to amend the County Board Agenda to include the Acquisition of Property resolution.

ADJOURNMENT

            Moved by Ms. Allen, seconded by Ms. Tobias, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                                                        _________________________________

                                                                        Chairman Dennis R. Sands

_______________________________

Mary C. Supple, Secretary