The Public Policy Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Thursday, October 2,  2003 at 6:30p.m. at the Legislative Center’s Freedom Room. Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias called the meeting to order. Members present were Patricia Vary, Robert Pritchard, Richard Osborne and Joseph Wiegand.   Patricia LaVigne was absent.   

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

Moved by Mr. Wiegand, seconded by Mr. Osborne, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from September 4, 2003. 

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Chairman Tobias asked to amend the agenda to reflect the November Meeting Date.  Moved by Mr. Wiegand, seconded by Ms. Vary, and it was carried unanimously that the amended agenda be approved. 

NOVEMBER MEETING DATE

The committee agreed to hold their November Meeting on November 4, 2003 @ 6:30p.m.  

OLD BUSINESS:

Legislative Agenda Discussion.  Chairman Tobias said that tonight the committee will continue to discuss the agenda items and see which ones will remain on the list.

1.      Property Tax Limitation Law Amendment.  Keep on the list

2.      Population Parameter – General Fund Tax Rate.  Chairman Tobias said that Representative David Wirsing is getting more information on this issue for the committee. 

3.      Purchase of Development Rights.     Chairman Tobias said that a law was signed this summer called the Local Legacy Act.  It states that local citizens and counties will be better able to plan which areas are appropriate for growth and which areas should be preserved for farmland.  It states that the Act was designed to allow municipalities and counties to inventory their action plans and the goal is to create a protection plan in place for every county in Illinois by 2020.  There is supposed to be some funding available for this, too, said Chairman Tobias.  The committee agreed to leave this issue on the list.  

Ms. Vary said that this isn’t like the Purchase of Development Rights.  Chairman Tobias said yes, not necessarily.  She continued by stating that she doesn’t feel that the Act is the solution to the Purchase of Development Rights.  It was agreed to leave this item on for now.

4.      Seek legislative approval to impose a Special Election Levy to meet the unfounded mandates of the Help America Vote Act of 2003.     Mr. Wiegand said that he was going to talk to Ms. Holmes, DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder, further on this issue and that he would get back to the committee next month about her answers.  It was agreed to leave this item on for now.

5.      Develop legislation to have towns and cities share in medical cost for inmates confined in the County Jail due to an arrest in their jurisdiction.   This is from the Sheriff’s Department and was on his list from last year.  Mr. Pritchard said that he felt that we needed to get more information from the Sheriff on this issue.  Chairman Tobias said that she felt that medical costs are so much greater now for prisoners, especially for the mentally ill.  We have to cover their medical needs.  The committee discussed the fact that the County needs to fight laws that say that we need to pay free medical care for those in jail.  Mr. Wiegand said that this is primarily for the indigent.  He further said that on the jail tour he heard, that if the Sheriff’s Department  discovers that an inmate has private insurance then that inmate will have to pay for their own medical expenses.  This will remain on the list yet.

6.      Develop legislation that would mandate the State set aside funds to help Counties build or expand jail facilities.   This is from the Sheriff’s Department and was on his list from last year.  The committee will see if there is any state funding available for the expansion of existing jails or new construction of jails.  This will remain on the list yet. 

7.      Develop legislation to make methamphetamine production/manufacture a Class X Felony.  Chairman Tobias is checking with the State Police on this issue to see if they are supporting or promoting it. This will remain on the list for now.

8.      Support legislation to raise or index Motor Fuel Tax to the price of fuel or generate local tax to cover decreasing MFT revenue.   Chairman Tobias said that Mr. Ray Bockman, County Administrator, said that the County has no money to build new roads or expand existing roads.   Ms. Vary said that she feels that the County needs railroads, mass transit and commuter railroad.   The committee agreed to leave this issue on the list for now.

9.      Legislation to prevent predatory lending.   Keep on the list for now.

10.  Seek Support for County Home Rule status.  Mr. Wiegand said that DuPage County has created a study group to discuss this issue currently.  He will ask them if they have any documents that they could share with us.  Chairman Tobias said that she would be inviting Mr. Jim Bannovetz to the committee’s meeting in the near future to discuss this subject further.  It was agreed to leave this issue on the list for now. 

11.  Seek support for state funding for the Public Defender’s office and the Jail, & other court system functions.   Chairman Tobias said that the Public Defender is asking for this because of the presence of N.I.U. in the community and the use of these facilities.  (This is similar to increased funds to the State’s Attorney’s Office because of N.I.U.’s presence.)  Chairman Tobias will check with Mr. Ken Johnson, DeKalb County’s Public Defender, about this issue and gather more information on it.   Keep it on the list for now.

12.  Support federal legislation for consistency to guidelines for deportation of illegal immigrants.  The Sheriff’s Department asked for this last year but the committee didn’t do anything because it is a federal issue.  Chairman Tobias said that the legislation is seeking more help for the Immigration Department.  The names of immigrants should be inputted locally not federally, is one suggestion.  Senator Fitzgerald’s representative will come to this committee if we invite them to discuss this issue with us.   Senator Burzynski can come in December said Chairman Tobias.  Since this year the committee is researching federal issues, this item will remain on the list.

13.   Support full funding to counties for bioterrorism funds (NACO).  Chairman Tobias  will check with Ms. Karen Grush, Public Health Director and Mr. Dennis Miller, ESDA Coordinator, on this issue and whether or not they would receive federal dollars for bioterrorism. 

14.   Support the collection and distribution to states and counties of current sales taxes due on purchases made by mail order and over the Internet – Streamlined Sales Tax System.  This legislation would be to urge states to pass model Sales Tax Legislation (NACO).  The state loses money on the sales tax monies if the purchases are done on the Internet and mail order.  Mr. Wiegand said that this is not an item that he supports.  He said that locally Senator Rauschenberger has chaired this legislative issue and is an advocate of this legislation.  Mr. Wiegand said that he would get a written report on this issue and would bring it to the committee next month.

Chairman Tobias said that she would prioritize the list for next month’s meeting.  Mr. Pritchard said that he would like to see the various departments come up with a two-paragraph explanation on each issue for the official legislative agenda.

Legislative Breakfast Discussion:  Mr. Pritchard said that he looks at the breakfast as a time for the county board to speak to our legislators.  At this point we could say, per your constituents, this is what we would like you to champion.  We probably have a problem, he continued, with how many issues we have.  We need to look at what is not only important to us, but what has a chance to get support from other counties.  We need to work through our various associations that we belong to help support some of the other issues and possibly have their representatives support them too.  This way our representatives don’t have to carry fourteen issues all by themselves.

Before adjourning Chairman Tobias reminded the committee about an invitation from Representative Wirsing regarding the creation of jobs and promoting economic growth on October 8, 2003 from 11:a.m. to 1:00p.m. 

Chairman Tobias said that she was just recently appointed to the NACO Steering Committee on Economic Development 

Mr. Pritchard said that he would like to bring up something for future discussion from this committee regarding the jail project and how this committee can fill the huge need for public information and understanding.  The challenge that he sees is that no one media covers the County, therefore, no one-way of informing the public will work.  Our meetings generally get a poor turnout, how can we get posters up and in libraries, etc., as a way of sharing information with the public.  Who is an authoritative person that the public would believe?  Mr. Wiegand said that he feels that it would be either the Sheriff or the State’s Attorney.  Chairman Pritchard suggested having children from the junior high school age and high school age come on a jail tour and go home and explain to their parents what they saw.  The committee members also thought that the Citizens Police Academy Graduates could inform the public too.  Chairman Tobias said that these were very good ideas and that she would like to have more discussion on the issue next month.   

ADJOURNMENT

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

Respectively submitted, 

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Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias                                       

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Mary C. Supple, Secretary