EXEMPT EMPLOYEE REVIEW/APPROVAL OF STANDARD WORK PLAN: 

Mr. Wilson reviewed prior correspondence provided to the Committee by then Chairman Pritchard during September 2003 and Mr. Bockman on December 23, 2003 wherein the evaluation policy for exempt personnel was discussed.  The first component consists of the goals of the Exempt Compensation Policy and were listed as, first, to attract highly qualified managers to fill vacancies as they occur or new positions created; second, is to retain those highly qualified individuals who consistently perform as expected; and third, to encourage creativity, innovation and performance that exceed normal expectations.   

The first goal would be achieved by keeping compensation levels competitive in the labor market. 

The third goal of the policy would be utilized to recognize those exempt employees who are clearly above the expectations outlined in the standard work plan for that employee.  Upon recommendation by the County Administrator and the oversight committee the County Board would determine a one-time award (not added to the employee’s base pay) up to 10% of the employee’s salary.  The funds for this award would be budgeted each year by the County at the maximum rate of 5% of the total combined salary of these eight exempt employees.  The fund would not carry forward each year and would not have more than 5% of the total combined salary of the eight exempt employees at any one time.   

Committee members inquired if their role would change under this policy as far as the evaluation process is concerned.  Committee members were concerned that Board members would be trying to evaluate an employee on professional issues that the County Administrator would be in a better position to evaluate.  Mr. Wilson explained that the County Administrator would handle those issues and he would be bringing his recommendation to the oversight committee for their input. 

Mr. Wilson asked if there was any further discussion on this policy.  Hearing none the discussion was closed with no action needing to be taken by the Committee.  This was for information and discussion only.
 

ORDINANCE – NO PARKING ON COUNTY ROADWAY SYSTEM 

            Mr. Lorence presented an ordinance to the Committee recommending the County Engineer be allowed to post no parking zones on the County roadway system.  These zones would be established where the County is experiencing habitual problems causing a safety hazard to the traveling public and emergency vehicles.  Mr. Lorence pointed out this was a housekeeping matter and was being presented only to codify what was already being done in the County.  Currently there is no ordinance prohibiting the parking on County roads and tickets are being written on City/Town/Village ordinances that have County roads going through their jurisdiction.   

            Committee members asked if there was a difference between a permanent and temporary no parking zone.  Mr. Lorence explained that if a no parking zone would be established it would always be a permanent one, except for Suydam Road during fair time in front of the Fairgrounds.  Committee members wanted to know if each zone would be brought before the Committee for input prior to the establishment of a no parking zone and the answer was no.  If this ordinance were to pass, the County Engineer, after appropriate data evaluation and consultation with the County Sheriff would make the determination if a no parking zone was necessary.  No zones would be enforceable until the appropriate signage had been erected.  The Committee pointed out that in most cases, the landowners own the land to the middle of the road and there was concern about the County regulating something they don’t own, but only have permission to use the right-of-way for road improvement purposes.  Concerns were raised about farm sales and funerals that routinely involve several vehicles and require parking along the shoulder of the roads. The Committee further did not want this ordinance to interfere with these activities.  Mr. Lorence explained this ordinance would be applied to the habitual offenders that are causing problems with safety and road deterioration and not for one-time occurrences.  Motion made by Ms. Fauci and seconded by Mr. MacMurdo to present the ordinance to allow the County Engineer to establish no parking zones when appropriate on County roads to the DeKalb County Board with a recommendation of approval.  Motion passed with six yes votes and one nay vote from Mr. Gudmunson.    

CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS: 

            Chairman Wilson asked Mr. VanBuer to provide the Committee with a brief overview of items his Public Infrastructure & Development Study Subcommittee were reviewing.  Mr. VanBuer stated his subcommittee currently had nine members and they represented a good cross section of the County.  The subcommittee is focusing on economic development issues and will be working toward presenting goals for DeKalb County Economic Development.  DeKalb County should be proactive and it is the subcommittee’s goal to lay out policy parameters for the Board to be thinking about. Subjects to be addressed would be in the area of economic development especially in the area of incentives and long term effect of them (i. e. why should DeKalb and Sycamore enter a bidding war to attract new industry to a particular location), land development, authority of the Board in this area, and the value of home rule.  The Subcommittee is taking their time and gathering as much pertinent information as they possibly can.  The Committee should expect a draft of this project during the April/May time frame to begin discussions.  Committee members asked if the Subcommittee would be developing any criteria for the Board to use when evaluating an economic development issue.  Mr. VanBuer indicated that was not the intent of the Subcommittee at this time.  Comments were made by Committee members that the County should not write off agriculture as an important industry in this County. There are several nontraditional agriculture businesses in the county now such as wineries and tree farms.   Agriculture pays a fair share of the tax burden in the County and asks for very little in return and the County needs to make farming more economical in this area.  Mr. Wilson thanked Mr. VanBuer for his update. 

            Mr. Wilson indicated the Global III Union Pacific tour had been tentatively scheduled for May 6, 2004.  Committee members will meet at the Highway Department at 2:00pm and TRANSVAC will transport them to Rochelle and return them to the Highway Department for the regularly scheduled monthly meeting.  More information would be provided as the time approaches.

            Mr. Wilson provided the Committee with the cost of snow removal operations for the January 4, 2004 storm.  These costs are those incurred over and above the regular hours worked by Highway Department employees.  Employees worked 300 hours of overtime as the storm began on the weekend, used 500 tons of salt, and 772.9 gallons of fuel for 10 snow routes covering 372 lane miles of road.  The County contracts the most northerly route for snow removal and that route covers 46 lane miles.  The cost of overtime was $7,055.42; contract snow removal $4,658.61, salt $16,740.00 and fuel $989.31 for a total cost of $29,443.34.

            Mr. Wilson presented the Committee with a list of rumble strips located on County Roads to help with the safe travel on county roads.  Mr. Wilson requested the County Engineer to survey all intersections in the County to ensure that this inexpensive traffic control measure is being utilized to its fullest.  Mr. Lorence explained to the Committee that all rumble strips are now being cut into the pavement on surfaces that can support this method.  It does cause deterioration of the road in places, but these are watched and rebuilt when needed.  Rumble strips, when determined necessary by traffic/accident studies, are placed in the roadway per a State standard based on the speed authorized for a particular road.

            The sign report was reviewed by the Committee and Mr. Wilson inquired if the Committee desired to continue to receive the report on a quarterly basis or less or not at all.  The Committee commented that if the information was available and easy to obtain they would like to continue to receive it quarterly.

            Mr. Wilson looked to the committee for their opinion on the impact of the transportation infrastructure in DeKalb County if the Casino and Resort were to be built and located in the Shabbona area.  The Committee felt the need to be proactive on this issue and to have a study completed that the County may be able to use as a bargaining tool should such a move be necessary.  The Committee tasked Mr. Lorence with researching this issue and seeing if other Committees in the County or the Village of Shabbona would be interested in pursuing a joint impact study with the PI&D Committee.  Mr. Lorence felt the expertise needed to complete such an impact study would need to come from outside of County Government and he would research the cost of such a study. 

COUNTY ENGINEER’S COMMENTS: 

Mr. Lorence informed the Committee that the Scout Road Bridge project is approximately 60% completed and should be open for travel around February 13th.  The bridge project will not be complete until the spring however, the project should be far enough along to allow for the safe travel over an aggregate surface.   The Old State Road project has an estimated start date of May 1^st and the pre-construction meeting is scheduled for March 3, 2004 at 10:30am at the Highway Department conference room. Curran Contracting had been awarded the bid.  Preliminary plans for the Irene Road Bridge have been reviewed by the Department and returned to the contract engineer with recommendations for several modifications.  Progress continues to be made for the improvements at Peace and Bethany for the installation of traffic signals.  This is a City of Sycamore project with financial participation of DeKalb County due to Peace Road being a County road.  Bethany Road extension is also making progress. 

Mr. Lorence informed the Committee there would be a bid letting at 10:00am on February 3, 2004 for the box, plow, wing, and spreader for the new tandem and chassis that was let during December 2003.  The County/Township seal coat projects and all maintenance aggregate projects will be let March 2, 2004 with the remaining hot mix projects let on March 30, 2004. 

ADJOURNMENT: 

            There being no further business to be brought before the Committee Ms. Fullerton moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Slack.   Motion carried unanimously and the January 8, 2004 meeting adjourned at 8:45 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted 

__________________________
                                                                                    John Wilson
                                                                                    Chairman