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DeKalb County, Illinois |
Minutes of the
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PRINTABLE DOCUMENT (.pdf)
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The Executive Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Tuesday, November 8, 2005 @ 7:00p.m. at the Administration Building’s Conference Room East. Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias called the meeting to order. Members present were Dennis Sands, Jeff Whelan, Julia Fauci, Roger Steimel, Pat LaVigne, Sue Leifheit and Robert Rosemier. Mr. Metzger was absent. Chairman Tobias asked the following committee Vice-Chairmen to represent their committees and to take the seat of their committee Chairpersons. Vice Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, Steve Slack, sat in for Jeff Metzger. Others present were Ray Bockman, Gary Hanson, Sally DeFauw, Gary Hanson, Jeffery L. Metzger, Sr., Greg Millburg, Marlene Allen, Eileen Dubin, Jerry Augsburger and Diane Strand.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTESMs. Fauci amended the minutes to read on page 5, paragraph 5, stating “Ms. Fauci said that those surveyed (62%) ,…” not (52%). Then in paragraph 6 on the same page she wanted to amend the last sentence to read “…….If land could not be developed for Forest Preserve use.”
Moved by Ms. LaVigne, seconded by Mr. Rosemier, and it was carried unanimously to approve the amended minutes from October 2005.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDAMoved by Ms. Leifheit, seconded by Mr. Whelan, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda as presented.
APPOINTMENTS
DeKalb County Public Building Commission: Dr. Richard Baker, to fill the unexpired term of Ms. Ellen Barker until 12/01/2006.
Mr. Beryl Smith, reappointment for a term of 5 years, until 12/01/2010.
Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium & Office Building Authority: Ms. Carrie Brantley Mr. Lowel Akers Mr. William Lenschow Mr. Paul Taylor All reappointments for a term of 5 years, until 12/01/2010.
DeKalb County Commuity MentalHealth Board: Mr. Robert Krogman, reappointment for a term of 4 years, until 12/01/2009.
Sheriff’s Merit Commission: Mr. Chuck Kross, reappointment for a term of 6 years, until 12/01/2011.
911 Emergency Telephone SystemsBoard: Mr. Riddle Mr. Russell Mr. Feithen Mr. Olson All reappointments for a term of 2 years, until 11/30/2007.
Mr. Suppeland Mr. Bowman Mr. Hanson Mr. Leoni All reappointments for a term of 4 years, until 11/30/2009.
Mr. Curtis Young, appointment, for a term of 4 years, until 11/30/2009.
DeKalb County Rehab andNursing Center Foundation Board: Ms. Carol Cleveland Mr. Robert Hohman Both appointments for a term of 3 years, until 12/01/2008.
Appointments expiring for October 2005 are:
River Valley Workforce Investment Board – 3 positions (still looking for) Board of Health – 4 positions Union Drainage District #1 – 1 position
Moved by Ms. LaVigne, seconded by Ms. Leifheit, and it was carried unanimously to accept the recommended appointments and to forward them to the full board for approval.
Mr. Sands asked Chairman Tobias if she was going to be placing Mr. Jeffery Metzger’s name on the list for appointments tonight? She said that she first has to declare a vacancy like the board did last month for Mr. Faivre’s position at the full county board meeting. Chairman Tobias further explained that she will be appointing Mr. Metzger to the full county board at the November 16, 2005 meeting
DECLARATION OF A VACANCY Chairman Tobias said that since Mr. Jeffery Metzger, Jr., is resigning from the County Board this month, she will be declaring his vacancy at the full board meeting and there is a resolution on the tables this evening stating the same. Mr. Bockman asked that the resolution be moved from the Executive Committee portion of the agenda to the beginning of the agenda under #5a.) .
Moved by Mr. Fauci, seconded by Mr. Whelan, and it was carried unanimously to forward the resolution to the full board for approval.
SUPPORTIVE LIVING FACILITY RESOLUTION Mr. Bockman, DeKalb County Administrator, explained that this is the next step in the Supportive Living Facility for the construction, which they hope to begin in the Spring of 2006. The facility will be financed through a combination of non-recourse private activity bonds and tax credits. The exact amounts are unknown at this time but the idea is that we want to maximize the tax credits that we can get. The balance will be filled by non-recourse private activity bonds. The Cities of DeKalb and Sycamore are going to be proposing to their boards that they give the County access to their bond volume caps for the coming year. The City of DeKalb’s is about $3.3 million and the City of Sycamore’s $1 million. The County may serve as the issuer of the bonds, or the Illinois Housing Authority, Illinois Development Authority, we just don’t know yet.
Mr. Bockman further explained that the non-home rule communities bond volumes are kept by the State of Illinois in a pool. Every year we all apply for some portion of that pool. Typically the applications are larger than the pool. Because of this the State pro-rates. We won’t know until January 2006 how many applications are in for the pool that we are included in. So we won’t know what to expect. In order to prepare us to be in a position to either be the issuer or have someone else be it, we have to adopt an Inducement Resolution, and that is what is before the committee this evening. For this coming year, this means using our bond volumes for this purpose, which means it will not be available for the first-time homebuyer program nor will the City of DeKalb’s or the City of Sycamore’s. His recommendation is that we do this and so do their City Managers.
Mr. Stiemel asked how much was the homebuyers program utilized last year? Mr. Bockman said that he doesn’t have those figures. There were a few people that used it in years past, he further stated.
Moved by Mr. Rosemier, seconded by Ms. Fauci, and it was carried unanimously to forward this recommendation to the full board for approval.
PROPOSITION FOR THE VETERAN’S TAX REFERENDUM Mr. Hanson said that the resolution on the tables this evening, contains the wording for the proposed tax referendum regarding the Veterans Assistance Commission. He said that this will be for the election to be held on March 21, 2006. Page 5 of the resolution shows the language that will be used on the ballot. The tax is not to exceed .03% of the assessed value annually on all taxable property in the County of DeKalb, which would amount to $500,000. Mr. Hanson said that the proposed rate is the maximum that we can ask for by law.
Mr. Whelan asked who will be in charge? Mr. Bockman said that the County Board will be in charge. You will receive an annual budget from them. The County is obligated to have a Veteran’s Commission though.
Mr. Sands asked if there is a final budget on this yet? Mr. Bockman said no not yet. Mr. Bockman further stated that a lot of it is unknown because of their staffing situation. They will have a desk and a phone at the health department.
Mr. Steimel then said that if it is defeated then what is the amount of money that is required?
Mr. Bockman said that they would have to submit a budget. They can go up to the .03% and then the board would either approve it, or make cuts to the budget. We will fund it in 2006. In 2007 after the first year of taxes have been collected, then those funds would fund the commission.
Mr. Sands then asked if the commission would be assigned to an oversight committee? Mr. Bockman said yes.
Moved by Mr. Rosemier, seconded by Mr. Slack, and it was carried unanimously to forward the resolution to the full board for approval.
INDEMNITY POLICY AMENDMENT Mr. Bockman presented the Amendment to the Indemnification Policy to the committee. He stated that he is requesting to add the Veteran’s Assistance Commission.
Moved by Ms. Leifheit, seconded by Ms. LaVigne, and it was carried unanimously to forward the resolution to the full board for approval.
UPDATE ON THE FEDERAL LOBBYIST Mr. Bockman said that he was asked to find out what the federal lobbist is being paid by the City of DeKalb, City of Sycamore and Northern Illinois University (NIU). The City of DeKalb is paying them $5,000 a month, the City of Sycamore is paying them $6,500 a month and NIU is paying them $7,500.00. Mr. Bockman said that the amount of $7,500 was also proposed to the County and includes routine expenses. Travel expenses and non-routine costs, are in addition and are subject to prior approval by the clients.
APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY BOARD AGENDAMr. Ray Bockman, DeKalb County Administrator, reviewed the county board agenda for the board meeting to be held on November 16, 2005. He said that the Health and Human Services Committee will be meeting at 7:00p.m. November 16, 2005 for a special meeting regarding a modification on the senior services tax levy to reallocate funds. The Finance Committee will be meeting @ 7:00p.m., also for the year-end budget transfers. Mr. Slack said that from the Economic Development Committee that there should be an item for a resolution on the Tax Abatement Resolution of Intent for Project Oak. Mr. Sands said that we also need to add the Veteran’s Assistance Commission Resolution to the agenda under the Executive Committee.
Moved by Ms. Leifheit, seconded by Ms. Fauci, and it was carried unanimously to forward the county board agenda to the full board for approval.
GENERAL DISCUSSIONMs. Fauci, Chairman of the Forest Preserve Committee, said that they had a tree planting on October 29, 2005 and they also have the handicapped trail in now at Potawattomi Woods. They received a donation of $700.00 by Ms. Truman to be used for outdoor education. Their meeting was held on October 18 and they came up with their levy and added $6,000 by taxing new growth in the County and this money will be matched, which will amount to $12,000 and will help develop Potowattomi Woods.
They also discussed the wording on the referendum ballot. Regarding the wording, the sunset clause was turned into a yearly oversight, and the committee felt no, that they would need a 10-year sunset clause. They also decided that to dispel any thoughts that the Forest Preserve would take all land. In the actual ballot wording it will read “….land acquisition by purchase from willing sellers and not by condemnation.” They also arrived at that at the end of 10 years the tax rate would return to the pre-referendum maximum rate of .0325% or less for general corporate purposes.
They will also have their regular meeting in conference room east on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 @ 6:00p.m. to discuss the referendum. They may have an executive session on land acquisition for county board members to let all of you know who the willing sellers are, Ms. Fauci said.
Mr. Sands asked how much money will the tax raise in year one and what amount over ten years? Ms. Fauci said that it will raise approximately $500,000 a year and around $5,000,000 over a ten –year period.
Mr. Whelan, Chairman of the Finance Committee, said that they discussed the budget and that there was very good discussion about the tax levy.
Mr. Rosemier, Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee, said that they heard from Ms. Pat LaVigne and the services that she offers to service organizations and individuals out of her Township office. Mr. Marshall Hayes spoke to the committee about the new Medicare overhaul and Medicare Plan D, which was to be taken care of by January 2006 and now the State of Illinois has extended that time to May 2006. The language is very confusing even to people providing the counseling services. Because of this Mr. Hayes staff has been attempting to do this over and above their other responsibilities for the senior citizens in the county. It is extremely crucial that they receive good advice. Mr. Hayes is suggesting that they could hire a part-time, temporary person to work for 8 months to help the seniors with their decision-making. It would amount to 5,000 to 6,000 seniors that they would need to help. There is some money that has been returned to the Community Services Department that oversees the Seniors Services Tax Levy that may be able to fund this position. This is why he has called a special meeting for the evening of November 16th to discuss this.
The committee raised some questions as to whether or not this money could be used for this reason. They also suggested that possibly someone could be hired for the Community Services Department to help counsel the senior citizens. Chairman Tobias said that this issue could go back to the Health and Human Services Committee and discuss it further is needed. Mr. Rosemier said that he will have information at the special meeting on Wednesday night.
Mr. Roger Steimel, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee, said that the first item being the expansion of the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Sandwich and then the second item is an intergovernmental agreement over Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church has a problem, the code said that they have to put in a sprinkler system, they are not hooked up to City water, they have a private well, etc. Our planning and zoning department is working on an agreement to allow the City of Sandwich to take over the permit on the building and they will allow them to build without a sprinkler system. We are only doing this for this one project.
Ms. Leifheit, Chairman of the Law and Justice Committee, said that they will be meeting on Monday evening on the monthly reports and an update from the ESDA and Coroner Department.
Ms. LaVigne, Chairman of the County Highway Committee, said that they had a very short meeting. They will be holding a public hearing at their next meeting regarding the request to change the name of Moose Range Road to Charter Grove Road.
Mr. Slack, Vice-Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, said that they heard from Mr. Roger Hopkins regarding the resolution of inducement of the tax abatement on Project Oak. The City of DeKalb and the Sycamore School District have passed it. There was one no vote on the committee.
Chairman Tobias said that she and Mr. Bockman have been meeting for the last few months with the Chairmen and their Administrators from Kendall, Boone and Grundy Counties to discuss issues that they all have in common as growing counties. One of the things that they spoke about was their legislative agendas. They said that their representatives were really happy that four counties were talking and suggested that we could work together to present the issues from all four of the counties to all of our legislators, that then we may have a better chance.
Mr. Bockman suggested that legislative items be kept to a very short list. This is not really going to be a policy statement, he said. Chairman Tobias said that we will work with the other counties and bring the items back to this committee to review.
ADJOURNMENTMoved by Ms. Leifheit, seconded by Mr. Whelan, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
______________________________ Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias
_____________________________ Mary C. Supple, Secretary |
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