DeKalb County Seal
DeKalb County, Illinois

Minutes of the
County Board Policy Workshop Meeting


May 7, 2003


Chairman Pritchard called the workshop to order at 6:00 p.m. and asked that the record show the following Board Members were present. Mrs. Dubin, Mr. Faivre, Ms. Fullerton, Mr. Johnson, Ms. LaVigne, Mrs. Leifheit, Mr. MacMurdo, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Simonson, Mr. Slack, Mr. Steimel, Mrs. Tobias, Mr. Van Buer, Mr. Wilson and Chairman Pritchard. Those Members absent were Mrs. Allen, Ms. Fauci, Mr. Gudmunson, Mr. Lyle, Mr. Metzger, Mr. Rosemier, Mr. Sands, Ms. Vary and Mr. Wiegand. Fifteen Members were present and nine Members were absent.

Chairman Pritchard lead the pledge to the flag.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Motion

Mr. Faivre moved to approve the Agenda and Mr. Wilson seconded the motion.

Voice Vote

The Chair asked for a voice vote on the approval of the Agenda. Motion carried unanimously.

Mrs. Fauci arrived at 6:04 p.m.

Mrs. Allen arrived at 6:05p.m.

WELCOME - OPENING REMARKS - CHAIRMAN PRITCHARD

Chairman Pritchard welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming to the workshop. During his opening remarks he asked:

"As a Board - while setting budgets and making policy, where do we expect the County to be and what do we plan to do about it ? " and " Where does the Board wish to go with its policy ? "

With these questions in mind, Chairman Pritchard then explained the format for the evening with the first half hour to be spent hearing an explanation of the countie’s financial status. Following that presentation the Members would be asked to spend about twenty minutes on each of the seven policy questions before them.

Ms. Vary arrived at 6:09 p.m.

A TWO PART WORKSHOP - (outline attached)

Part One - The current Financial Position of DeKalb County With Recent Historical Trends

Mr. Frederick Lantz, CPA, with Sikich and Gardner, presented a power point review of the County Annual Audit and explained both the complexity and the usefulness of the various parts of this annual report. ( A copy of each power point page is attached to these minutes and a copy of the Annual Audit Report is part of the County Clerks Records kept in that office.)

Mr. Wiegand arrived at 6:30 p.m.

Mr. Sands arrived at 6:50 p.m.

Part Two - A Policy Discussion By The DeKalb County Board on Selected Matters of Current and Future Interest

Comments from Chairman Pritchard proposed to limit time of each topic to twenty minutes.

Policy Question #1: In Development The FY2004 Budget Should Staff Begin Creating A Legal Defense Fund To Protect The County Comprehensive Plan?

Chairman Pritchard asked for a "Straw Poll" of those in favor of setting aside money for defense of the County Comprehensive Plan. A show of hands indicated a majority of Members voted in favor.

Policy Question #2: Should The Proceeds Of The Senior Services Tax Levy Be Reserved For Non-Governmental Service Providers?

Those in favor of reserving Senior Services Tax Levy money only for non-governmental services providers. A show of hands indicated that a majority of Members voted no.

Policy Question #3: Will The County Board Support A Referendum To Provide A Gasoline Tax For Future Funding For County Roads And Bridges?

Chairman Pritchard asked of all those in favor of this question to raise their hands / likewise those against raise their hands. A show of hands indicated a majority of Members voted in favor.

Policy Question #4: Will The County Board Support A Referendum To Provide For A Public Safety Sales Tax To Expand And Staff The Jail And Provide For Alternatives To Incarceration

Chairman Pritchard asked for a show of hands on the support of a Referendum to provide for a Public Safety Sales Tax to expand and staff the jail and provide for alternatives to incarceration. A show of hands indicated a majority of Members voted yes.

Policy Question #5: Will The County Board Authorize A Master Plan For The Sycamore Campus?

Chairman Pritchard asked for a show of hands on authorizing the development of a master plan for the development of these offices now contained in the "Sycamore Campus". A show of hands indicated a majority of Members voted yes.

Policy Question #6: Will The County Board Consider Reduction In Employment Levels If Financial Retrenchment Becomes Necessary?

Chairman Pritchard asked: Do we want to consider reduction of employees if necessary? A show of hands indicated a majority of Members voted no.

 

Policy Question #7: Will The County Board Consider Seeking Home Rule Authority From The Citizens Of DeKalb County?

Chairman Pritchard asked if Board Members wanted to consider seeking Home Rule Authority for the County. A show of hands indicated a majority of Members voted yes.

 

OLD BUSINESS / NEW BUSINESS

There were no items of new or old business for this meeting.

 

ADJOURNMENT

Motion

Mr. Wilson moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Van Buer seconded the motion

Voice Vote

The Chair called for a voice vote on the motion to adjourn. All Members present voted yea. Motion carried unanimously.

 

 

_______________________________
DeKalb County Board Chairman             

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

_______________________________
DeKalb County Clerk


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