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DeKalb County, Illinois |
Minutes of the
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The
Public Services Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, December
3, 2001, at 6:30 p.m. at the Administration Building's Conference Room
East. Chairman Sue Leifheit called the meeting to order.
Members present were Marlene Allen, Dr. Conway and Michael Haines Members absent were Ed Brown, Eileen Dubin, Robert Pritchard
and Jeffery Metzger. Others present
Ken Johnson, Margi Gilmour and Sheriff Roger Scott.
Moved
by Ms. Allen, seconded by Dr. Conway, and it was carried unanimously to approve
the minutes from the October 2001 meeting.
Chairman
Leifheit asked if the Sheriff’s item could be moved up to the first item of
discussion? The committee agreed.
Moved by Mr. Haines, seconded by Ms. Allen, and it was carried
unanimously to approve the amended agenda.
SHERIFF’S
POLICING PARTNERSHIP PROPOSAL
Sheriff
Scott presented a proposal from Kishwaukee Hospital for an enhancement of their
Hospital Security Program from 18 hours a week to 56 hours a week. Since 1996 Kishwaukee Hospital has received security provided
by the Sheriff’s Department. It
used to be Friday, Saturday and Sunday coverage.
The hospital is in the County’s jurisdiction and that is why they have
asked us. He said that the cost of
this program will be fully funded by the Hospital, on the basis of a three-year
contract, with a one-year termination notice by either party if the need arises.
Sheriff Scott is seeking a resolution to enter into this contract with
them. The committee asked the
Sheriff if the Hospital would pay for the benefits for a full-time position?
Sheriff Scott said that the Hospital is going to pay for all costs,
including salary, benefits, etc., and that there will be no tax dollars
expended. He further stated that
all necessary related items are to be paid by the Hospital, too.
Sheriff Scott said that he would be rotating the deputies every 4 months
to fill this position.
Moved
by Mr. Haines, seconded by Ms. Allen, and it was carried unanimously to
recommend the Sheriff’s Policing Partnership Proposal with Kishwaukee Hospital
and to forward it onto the full board for approval.
PUBLIC DEFENDER’S REPORT
Mr. Kenneth Johnson, DeKalb County Public Defender, briefly reviewed his report for the committee. He said that last month was a light month for felonies and that the juvenile caseload was still busy. Ms. Morelli will be taking the part-time position for his office in January. Ms. Courtney Emerson, who was his law clerk for the past few years, and now is an attorney, will be filling the full-time position vacancy as his misdemeanor attorney. As of January 2, 2002, Ms. Vicki Chuffo will be promoted from the misdemeanor division to the felony division.
Mr. Johnson then informed the committee that HB549 has passed the Senate and the House and it now is waiting for the Governor’s signature. It was the Governor’s recommendation that the changes be made to the Bill and he does not think it will be a problem. It looks like the County will be receiving 66 2/3rds of his salary back. Even with his salary increased, the County will be saving approximately $40,000.00 a year. Chairman Leifheit asked if the County would have to wait until next budget to get that? Mr. Johnson asked if we had a lobbyist in Springfield? The committee wasn’t sure and directed Mr. Johnson to speak with Mr. Bockman regarding this. The reason he asks is because it comes down to the fact that this gets funded. Because it mirrors so close to the State’s Attorney’s it looks like it has a good chance of being funded, but he doesn’t know.
COURT SERVICES REPORT
Ms. Gilmour, Court Services Director, briefly reviewed her monthly reports. She said that the adult court services report was consistent with months past. She said that in the October juvenile report it reflected that there are 3 kids in residential, 2or 3 have court dates coming up in December. Out of the 15 kids in detention, 2 kids were detained twice, 7 for the 1st time, 5 for the 2nd time, 2 for the 3rd time, 1 for the 4th time, 1 for the 5th time and 1 for the 8th time. She also said that we have not gone over the 7-bed limit that we have with Kane County.
Ms. Gilmour then informed the committee about the Learning Mentor Program. She said that six kids would complete the program by this Saturday. This program has created a great pool of mentors and that many of them will stay on for the next class. The next program starts at the end of January 2002.
The Multi-Family Program has 6 or 7 families in it. Chairman Leifheit asked Ms. Gilmour if she knew what the success rate was for this program? Ms. Gilmour said that there have been some technical violations, but not many criminal violations that she knew of.
Ms. Gilmour then briefed the committee that they will be doing the informal supervision again with the State’s Attorney’s Office. About 5 or 6 years ago all the police departments would send their reports to juvenile court services and then her office would screen the reports and they would screen the child and families to see if they need to be in court or not. Now, they have reached an agreement with the State’s Attorney’s Office and they are going to be doing a joint referral of all of the police reports. They will be reviewing each of the reports and that both of their offices will make a joint decision as to whether or not they can keep some of these cases out of the court. They hope to reduce some of the time that the juvenile public defender spends in court. Our Learning Mentor Coordinator is going to take on this increased caseload and she is very excited about it and is very well qualified for it.
As far as the Juvenile Justice Counsel, said Ms. Gilmour, the full Board of Directors will hold their first meeting next week. They will begin to take a look at grant monies that are available.
DRAFT ANNUAL REPORT SCHEDULE
The committee reviewed the annual report schedule and added more departments to it and cut others from the schedule. The committee directed Ms. Supple, the DeKalb County Board Coordinator, to send out memos to the State’s Attorney, Circuit Clerk, County Clerk and Recorder and Judge Klein to invite them to their meeting and to introduce themselves to the committee and present an Update Report. The committee also directed Ms. Supple to call the Sheriff and the Coroner to ask them to begin presenting quarterly reports to the committee starting next year.
Moved
by Ms. Allen, seconded by Mr. Haines, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn
the meeting.
Respectfully
submitted,
_______________________________
Sue
Leifheit, Chairman
__________________________
Mary Supple, Secretary
a:committe\publicservices\120301.DOC
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