The Executive Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 @ 7:00p.m. at the Legislative Center’s Liberty Room. Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias called the meeting to order. Members present were Dennis Sands, Julia Fauci, Roger Steimel, Steve Slack, Robert Rosemier, Sue Leifheit, and Jeff Whelan.  Ms. LaVigne and Mr. Metzger were absent.  Others present were Ray Bockman, Gary Hanson, Diane Strand, Greg Millburg, Anita Turner and Eric Johnson.  

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

Moved by Mr. Rosemier, seconded by Ms. Fauci, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from April 2005.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Moved by Mr. Steimel , seconded by Ms. Leifheit , and it was carried unanimously to approve the amended agenda.

APPOINTMENTS

Fairdale Street Light District:                           Ms. Beverly Richardson,

appointment a term of 3 years, until 5/01/2007

Chairman Tobias informed the committee members about the appointments expiring in June 2005: DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center Operating Board –  1 position, DeKalb County Nursing Home Foundation Board – 1 position, River Valley Workforce Investment Board – 3 positions,  and Community Services Advisory Board – 1 position.  She said that if the members knew of anyone that would be interested in filling these positions to contact her.  She also said that the River Valley Workforce Investment Board is looking for people in the business field.

DECLARATION OF VACANCY – DISTRICT 7

            Chairman Tobias said that the vacancy in district 7 is because of Mr. Frank Van Buer’s resignation and she has received his letter.  She said that she is announcing it at this committee meeting this month and hopes to fill the position at the June Board Meeting.

            Moved by Mr. Steimel, seconded by Ms. Leifheit, and it was carried unanimously to forward this resolution to the full board for approval.

            Mr. Sands asked that now with the vacancy existing on the board, there was also a vacancy on the Finance Committee for Chairman since Mr. Van Buer was the Chairman of that committee. What are we going to do about that vacancy? Asked Mr. Sands.  Mr. Bockman said that this is an internal decision not governed by state statute.   The appointment has to be confirmed by the board, Mr. Bockman further stated.  Ms. Leifheit said that whoever is chosen that she hoped that person would have had some experience on the committee for about a couple of years. 

RELEASE OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES

            Chairman Tobias said that the resolution before the committee this evening is for the release of executive session minutes from the county board’s standing committees and county board meetings. 

            Moved by Mr. Rosemier, seconded by Ms. Fauci, and it was carried unanimously to forward this resolution to the full board for approval. 

FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER’S PROGRAM BONDS

            Mr. Bockman, County Administrator for DeKalb County, explained to the committee that a few months ago the county board approved part 1 of this program through a resolution stating that we will once again participate in this program.  This second part states that we will participate in the bond sale.  These are non-recourse  private activity bonds of which we are not the issuer.  We are simply giving this program access to our portion of a statewide cap on private activity bonds.  Chairman Tobias said that this is something that doesn’t cost the county any money and provides funds for first time homebuyers.

            Moved by Ms. Leifheit, seconded by Mr. Steimel, and it was carried unanimously to forward this resolution to the full board for approval.

PAY PLAN AMENDMENT FOR NON-UNION EMPLOYEES

            Mr. Bockman explained to the committee that the resolution before them this evening is proposing an amendment to this year’s budget for non-union, non-nursing home employees.  This would involve about 100 employees who are dependent entirely on the board and their committees for their compensation and benefit levels.  They do not bargain collectively; they are not part of any group that either bargains collectively or is covered as is the non-union employees at the nursing home whose pay and benefits are set by the operating board.  He further stated that what he has proposed and is recommending to the board is that all of you consider the original budget called for a June 1^st merit increase up to 2% and he is suggesting that the board raise that by a maximum of 1.6% for a total of 3.6%. 

In addition to that, he is suggesting full time employees defined as those working more than 60 hours a pay period, receive a lump sum bonus of $660.00.  This amount is to be pro-rated for part-time employees and those employees hired after 12/1/04 and up to March 1, 2005.  The total impact of this would then put these employees in a relatively similar position to all the other county employees. 

            Mr. Sands asked Mr. Bockman if the lump sum bonus is designed to help with the healthcare costs?  Mr. Bockman said that this is a harder question to answer than it appears.  Not everyone had an increase in healthcare, not everyone has health insurance.  It is designed to put these employees on a par with the other county employees. 

            Mr. Sands asked if there were a large percentage of employees that do not have our insurance?  Mr. Bockman said that there is not, there are some people who participate in the insurance buyout, and then there are others that have a working spouse who has insurance coverage where they work.  To say that it should only be given to people who are on the health plan and not the others, in his feeling, in not equitable. 

            Is this lump sum amount not added on to next year’s annual salary? Asked Mr. Sands.  Mr. Bockman said that it would be paid as a bonus.  Mr. Sands said, so next year these people would be making $660.00 less in total salary?  Mr. Bockman said yes.  The merit increase, of course, will add to their base, but not the $660.00. 

            Mr. Sands asked if these people have been paying for the healthcare increase?  Mr. Bockman said yes, these people have been paying for it since December 2004. 

            Mr. Steimel asked Mr. Bockman that the merit increase of 2% says that it will not go into effect until June 1, 2005, did that not go into effect on December 1, 2004?  Mr. Bockman said no, there was an across the board increase of 1.9% that went into effect at the beginning of the fiscal year.  In the budget there was a scheduled merit increase of 2% on June 1, 2005 and we are suggesting that we raise that by 1.6% to a total of 3.6% on June 1, 2005. 

            Chairman Tobias asked Mr. Bockman if everyone automatically get that merit increase?  Mr. Bockman said not automatically, it is up to the department head’s discretion.  We assume that everyone is going to be getting it, but sometimes department heads will use it as a way to send messages to employees that they are not performing up to the peak that they should be.

            Ms. Fauci asked Mr. Bockman and Mr. Hanson where the money was going to come from to do this? Mr. Hanson said from the money generated from new construction that was higher than we anticipated.  We would be taking monies from a source that is permanent. 

            Moved by Ms. Leifheit, seconded by Ms. Fauci, and it was carried unanimously to forward this resolution to the full board for approval.

APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY BOARD AGENDA

Mr. Ray Bockman, County Administrator, reviewed the county board agenda for the board meeting to be held on May 18, 2005.  Mr. Bockman noted for the committee that we would be holding a public hearing before the county board meeting on a proposed amendment between the Public Building Commission and the County of DeKalb.  The amendment is to the lease agreement that we have on the Health Facility and the Health Department.  The necessity of doing this is that the Public Building Commission is refinancing the callable bonds that are still outstanding.  We would expect that the lease will call for slightly reduced payments, explained Mr. Bockman, because of a lower interest rate.

Moved by Mr. Steimel, seconded by Mr. Steimel, and it was carried unanimously to forward the county board agenda to the full board for approval.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Ms. Leifheit, Chairman of the Law & Justice Committee, said that her committee discussed the Court Services Annual Report presented by Ms. Margi Gilmour.  It was a very good report, said Ms. Leifheit.  She also stated that the Sheriff submitted his Jail Report for the month of April 2005 that showed that the amount budgeted for housing this year was $22,000.00 and they have spent approximately $38,000 already.  She also mentioned that the report showed that there were an average of 84 inmates in the jail last month.

Ms. Leifheit, Vice-Chairman of the Finance Committee, said that the bonds would save the county a little bit of money and that is a good thing.  The other thing coming before the board is a resolution on transfer taxes on ground leases. 

Mr. Steimel, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee, said that the Kishwaukee Health Complex, presented all of their plans to his committee, on what they propose to do with the construction of the new hospital. The proposal lies on a tract of land that lies between DeKalb and Sycamore.  He said that they did an excellent job with their plans.  The $119 million project will house the hospital, office space and a clinic.  It will remain within the County’s jurisdiction, too, said Mr. Steimel.

Mr. Rosemier, Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee, said that his committee heard from Ms. Karen Grush, Public Health Director for DeKalb County, about her Annual Report for 2004.  He said that as of today he was informed that there is only four doctors left in the county delivering babies.  The committee discussed the problems that the County of DeKalb and their citizens are now facing with doctors leaving the area and the State of Illinois because of malpractice insurance rates. Last week Ms. Grush reported that two years ago there were fourteen (14) “ob” doctors left in the county to deliver babies and now as of today there are only 4 left.  The committee voiced their concern and said that they would like to forward a resolution to the full board expressing this concern to their State Legislators.

Moved by Mr. Rosemier, seconded by Ms. Steimel, and it was carried unanimously to forward this resolution to the full board for approval.

Ms. Fauci, Chairman of the Forest Preserve Committee, said that along with the Kishwaukee Hospital Project the Forest Preserve received a bid for 3.5-acres for wetland mitigation on the project site and another 1-acre bid for wetland mitigation towards Rockford, but in our watershed.  There will be a National Trail Days on June 4, 2005.   There will also be people cleaning up various forest preserves.  Mr. Hannan will be at the Great Western Trail @ 8:30a.m., Ms. Fauci will be at the County Farm Trail @ 8:00a.m., and there will be people at Afton and Pottawatomi @10:00a.m.  The DeKalb County Greenways and Trails Plan will be presented to the Regional Plan Commission at their meeting in May 2005.

Mr. Slack, Vice-Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, said that they had a presentation by Ms. Kim Kubiak, Executive Director, of the DeKalb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and her Assistant, Ms. Sarah Siebert.  The committee is forwarding a resolution to the full board for support of their bid for the Illinois High School Association’s championship football games to be held here in the City of DeKalb for the years 2006 through 2010.  It generates approximately 30,000 visitors a year, so it would be great for us. 

Mr. Vince Faivre, Member of the County Highway Committee, said that their committee is sending a resolution to the board for a new wheel loader and a engineering agreement with Wendler Engineering.  He said that there will  be a meeting for the IDOT State Bike Plan tomorrow and a tire-recycling program on June 9, 2005 at DeKalb’s Taylor Airport that runs from 7:00a.m. to 2:00p.m.

Chairman Tobias said that she has been visiting with various departments each month and this week she visited with the Health Department.  She said that Ms. Grush, Public Health Director took her on a tour and she thinks that it is an incredible facility.

Before adjourning, Mr. Rosemier suggested that possibly Ms. Leifheit, as Vice-Chairman of the Finance Committee would be interested in the Chairmanship of that committee since she has served on there for a number of years.  Ms. Leifheit said that yes she would be interested, but that it is the Chairman’s discretion as to who will be appointed.

ADJOURNMENT

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

Respectfully submitted,  

______________________________

Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias

_____________________________

Mary C. Supple, Secretary

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