The Public Policy Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Thursday, August 7,  2003 at 7:00p.m. at Shabbona Lake State Park’s Pokanoka’s Restaurant. Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias called the meeting to order. Members present were Pat LaVigne, Richard Osborne, Patricia Vary, and Joseph Wiegand.   Robert Pritchard was absent.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

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

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Chairman Tobias asked to amend the agenda to reflect #3a. Welcome to the Visitors.  Moved by Mr. Wiegand, seconded by Ms. LaVigne, and it was carried unanimously that the amended agenda be approved.

WELCOME TO THE VISITORS

Chairman Tobias welcomed Don Pardridge and Becky Deutsch to the meeting.  She explained what the duties assigned to the committee were.  She said that the committee is trying to figure out the best way that the county could help out the various communities within DeKalb County.  She felt that the Regional Planning Commission has been very helpful in trying to attain this goal by having the various communities communicate with each other. 

Mr. Pardridge, one of the Trustee’s from the Village of Shabbona, said that he felt that the Regional Planning Commission is great and that it is another line of communication between the County and the communities.  He said that it is very informative and that he is glad that he is Shabbona’s representative on the Planning Commission currently.  He said that he believes that the commission is very necessary at this time and that the County is blessed to have such a group of individuals.  He said that if the communities have good communication with each other and the County, then they will build very good relationships with each other. 

Ms. Becky Deutsch, another Trustee from the Village of Shabbona, said that she has only been on the board since April of 2003.  She said that she is very impressed with the Comprehensive Plan and the whole concept.  She believed that Mr. Paul Miller, DeKalb County Planning Director will be attending their next board meeting and she was pleased with that so that he could answer any questions that they might have. 

Chairman Tobias said that she is very pleased with the whole process and that it’s been a good effort.  She said that we are on  a growth path and we do need to think about how we need to manage the growth and what we want to preserve for the future. 

Chairman Tobias asked the committee if there were any other services that the County provides?  Mr. Sands said that one of the services that the Sheriff’s Department provides the patrol of the Village of Shabbona through an agreement with the Village.

Mr. Wiegand wondered about the Wind Farm issue and how it has affected the Village.  Did the Village of Shabbona have a fair chance to participate in the decision?  Mr. Pardridge said that at their board meeting there were a group of people against the project.  However, his position was that he did not want to take a stand.  They were not going to impact the Village, but the stakeholders were, the farmers and the people that owned the land. They should have been heard from and should have provided the major input, he feels, on the issue.   Ms. Vary said that the Planning and Regulations Committee that tried to listen to listen to everyone, but could not please everyone.   Mr. Pardridge agreed.  Ms. LaVigne said that she shared the district with Ms. Vary and she felt that when she would speak to anyone in DeKalb about their district and what they should do about Wind Farms, they were told that it was a “no brainer”  since it was an alternative form of energy.  She felt that it was very important to listen to all of their constituents. 

Chairman Tobias named a few more county services that people in Shabbona might use would be the Nursing Home and Health Department (their public clinics) and the Highway Department with their snow removal programs.  Ms. Deutsch said that she is very impressed with the Public Health Department and that it was very efficient. 

Chairman Tobias also informed the visitors about the County’s website.  She said that the County does try to keep it up to date and let the public know what is going on in the County and employment opportunities with the County. 

She also said that everyone needs to start thinking outside of the county and begin thinking regionally and our relations with the various counties surrounding DeKalb County.  Some things that happen there may affect us too. 

Chairman Tobias explained to the visitors that the committee would begin discussing the 2004 legislative agenda items this evening and she asked them if there were any legislative items that they might to suggest for Shabbona?  Mr. Pardridge said that he might have two items that he would need to research a little bit more.  He would get back to Chairman  Tobias as to what those two items are in the near future. 

NEW BUSINESS:

Overview of the NACO Conference .  Chairman Tobias passed out a handout to the committee members that she received at the NACO Conference in Milwaukee recently.  She said that she attended a session on smart growth and managing growth.  She also attended a session on diverting the mentally ill from jail.  Some states are holding mental health courts and they are somewhat successful.  She will share this information with the Public Services Committee. 

Report of Smoke-free Pledge Activity.  Chairman Tobias said that she had received about 200 responses from the County employees, board members and 4-H club members.  She said that there were 4 Illinois counties that participated and only 23 counties throughout the United States that participated.  DeKalb County’s name is on the NACO Website as participating and there will be a story in the NACO Newsletter with DeKalb County mentioned.

Legislative Agenda Calendar.  The committee agreed that the 2004 Legislative Agenda List will be presented to the full board at the October board meeting and then the Legislative Breakfast would be held in November.  Ms. Vary said that she is showing that the committee discussed having the Federal Legislators breakfast in March.  Ms. LaVigne said that Mr. David Wirsing, State Representative, will visit the County in September.  Ms. Vary said that she will try to contact Mr. Durbin’s office again and Mr. Wiegand will try his contact people again.

Family Day Proclamation.  Chairman Tobias said that Chairman Pritchard had given her a letter asking to proclaim September 22, 2003 to eat dinner with your children nationally. 

The letter that she received says that research by CASA has found that the more often that children eat dinner with their parents the less likely they are to smoke, use drugs or alcohol.  Coca-Cola Company is the national sponsor.  There will be posters advertising Family Day in 9 major metro areas and information will appear in movie theaters.  They are making a very big national push with regards to promoting this day.  Therefore, at the September County Board Meeting this committee will present this proclamation.

OLD BUSINESS:

Community Contact List.  Chairman Tobias passed out a contact list of local community leaders, libraries and school districts.  This list is for the committee to use as a contact list in case they would like to meet with them on various issues.  The committee agreed to have every mayor on the list and township supervisors.  Ms. Vary asked for Senators and Representatives to be included on the list too.  They also asked Ms. Supple, DeKalb County Board Coordinator, to shrink down the page and produce it into columns.

Legislative Agenda Items Responses.  Chairman Tobias passed out the responses from the various department heads regarding legislative agenda items.  She said that she would like the committee members to review the packet of responses and then come prepared next month to discuss them. 

Before adjourning, Mr. Wiegand, updated the committee regarding the Ogle County quarry issue.  He said that the Finding of Facts will be done by 9/3/03 and that he will report these findings at our September meeting.  He did read the statement of interest and concern adopted by this committee regarding the quarry issue  and it was submitted this past Monday evening with the closing presentation.  He mentioned that there were no members from Monroe Township representing the constituents on the county board.  Of the four members that represent that part of Ogle County, 3 members are from Rochelle and the 1 left is the person who sold the property to the quarry. 

ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Ms. LaVigne, 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