DeKalb County, Illinois

Minutes of the
Executive Committee

October 11, 2005

The Executive Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Tuesday, October 11, 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 and Robert Rosemier. Members absent were Sue Leifheit and Jeff Metzger. 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, Anita Turner, Margaret Whitwell, Eileen Dubin, Greg Millburg, Diane Strand and Larry Anderson.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

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

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Chairman Tobias said that the agenda needed to be amended to include item #3a.) Declaration of a Vacancy on the DeKalb County Board.

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

DECLARATION OF A VACANCY

Mr. Bockman, County Administrator, explained that since Mr. Steve Faivre has resigned from the County Board effective immediately, there is now a vacancy in his office. Because of this, the County Board needs to declare a vacancy per the advice of the State’s Attorney’s Office. The appointment of a person to fill his office can be made at the October County Board Meeting as long as the two Chairmen of the various political parties have been properly notified and are present at that meeting. Ms. Dubin said that she sent a letter to Chairman Tobias stating that she was recommending Mr. Mike Haines to replace Mr. Faivre. Chairman Tobias reiterated that Ms. Simons, Chairman of the DeKalb County Republic Party would also need to be present for the appointment to be made at the County Board Meeting.

APPOINTMENTS

Housing Authority of

The County of DeKalb: Mr. Jerry Wahlstrom, reappointment for a term of 5 years, until 10/01/2010.

DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing

Center Foundation Board: Ms. Veronica Casella, appointment for a term of 3 years, until10/01/2008.

South Grove Cemetery Association: Ms. Eleanor Tindall

Mr. Henry Burgweyer

Mr. Richard Tindall

All reappointments for terms of 3 years, until 10/01/2008.

Appointments expiring for October 2005 are:

River Valley Workforce Investment Board – 3 positions (still looking for)

Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium & Office Building Authority – 5 positions

Board of Health – 4 positions

Sheriff’s Merit Commission – 1

911 Emergency Telephone System Board – 9 positions

Union Drainage District #1 – 1 position

DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center Foundation Board – 1 position

Moved by Mr. Steimel, seconded by Mr. Whelan, and it was carried unanimously to accept the recommended appointments and to forward them to the full board for approval.

ANNUAL REQUEST FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE BOARD OF REVIEW

Mr. Bockman said that the resolution before the committee this evening states that the request for the extension of the board of review would give them the permission to recess and comeback to conclude their work in any given year and then adjourn when their work is finished. This would be good for every year hereafter and would not have to come back to a committee for approval annually. He further explained that the state statute states that November 7^th of every year is the deadline and the board of review for DeKalb County, has never been able to finish their work by that deadline.

Moved by Ms. Fauci, seconded by Ms. LaVigne, and it was carried unanimously to forward the resolution to the full board for approval. Mr. Rosemier asked if each year Ms. Whitwell could report to the committee, in a letter form, about the board of review after they adjourn. The committee agreed with this suggestion.

FEDERAL LOBBYIST INITIATIVE

Mr. Bockman, County Administrator, explained to the committee that the item before them this evening regarding the federal lobbyists issue does not have to have any action taken this evening unless the committee wanted to. He wanted feedback from the committee as to whether or not it was a good idea to pursue it and if so, who do they support? He also stated that according to the lobbyists that the board has heard from, they both suggest that it is better to start sooner on our legislative agenda items than later.

Mr. Whelan asked if the cost to the county would be around $100,000 a year? Mr. Bockman said yes, about that, and that one group was higher, around $120,000 a year, which is the amount budgeted for. The recommendation would be to try the lobbyists out for two years and then re-evaluate the issue and the firm.

Mr. Steimel said that he did have some reservations about using a firm because he felt that we were already trying to work with Speaker Hastert’s Office about the County’s issues. He will, however, support the item tonight so that the County could help find funding for the jail.

Mr. Sands said that he was leaning towards voting no on the issue because he felt that we already had enough contacts with Speaker Hastert’s office through local politicians to get the funding that the County needs.

Mr. Slack asked Mr. Sands who the County’s liaison would be to contact Speaker Hastert’s office? Mr. Sands said that there were a few people from the party that would be able to. Mr. Slack said that that is the problem. The County needs one individual who has a lot of contact with the Speaker’s Office. Mr. Slack further stated that someone has to plead our case and that he felt the federal lobbyist could. Mr. Sands said that the Republican Party needs to speak up for us to the Speaker’s Office. Mr. Slack said yes, in a non-partisan way.

Mr. Steimel agreed that whomever they pick to represent the County, would need to be bipartisan.

Mr. Rosemier agreed and said that we need to hire someone who is a professional.

Ms. Fauci agreed with Mr. Rosemier and further stated that the County needs to hire someone who would know which one of our ideas would “float to the top” of the list and present it to the Speaker. The track record of the Daley Policy Group is pretty good and they know what is going to “fly” and what is not.

Ms. Dubin said that she hates that this is the way that we have to do business, but that she wanted to know why the other units hired the Daley Group? She feels it is because they know what issues to go after. Ms. Dubin then asked that after the first year of hiring the firm, would the County have termination rights written into the contract? Mr. Bockman said, yes we will.

Mr. Whelan said that he liked the Daley Group because they are bipartisan and we need it.

Ms. LaVigne said that she feels that the County needs to try it.

Mr. Anderson asked the committee if they knew what the other three public entities were paying the Daley Group? Mr. Bockman said that he did not know. Ms. Diane Strand from the Daily Chronicle said that the City of DeKalb was paying them between $40,000 to $60,000 a year. Chairman Tobias said that she thought that she read that the City of Sycamore was paying them $85,000. No one knew how much NIU was paying them at this time.

It was agreed that Mr. Bockman would continue to pursue this issue with the Daley Group.

MEMBERSHIP ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Mr. Bockman, County Administrator, then spoke about the proposed amendment to Section 2-41(a)(2) of the DeKalb County Code. The amendment would be to make the Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committees members of the Executive Committee in the absence of the Chairman of those standing committees. He further stated that if the committee wanted to continue to allow vice-chairmen of standing committees to sit at the table in the absence of their chairman and be able to vote on issues, then this committee needs to change the rules.

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

APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY BOARD AGENDA

Mr. Ray Bockman, DeKalb County Administrator, reviewed the county board agenda for the board meeting to be held on October 19, 2005.

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

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Mr. Roger Steimel, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee, said that they have two items on the agenda this month. He said that the cemetery item deals with the fact that they need a larger site that will be on the outskirts of town in Genoa Township and it was approved by the committee. The other item deals with a person who wants to have a saw sharpening business on his property. This too was approved by the committee.

Mr. Rosemier, Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee, said that they heard from the Kishwaukee Education Consortium, the Camelot School and from the Literacy Program and English as a Second Language programs offered through Kishwaukee College. It was a very good meeting and very enlightening.

Ms. Fauci asked Mr. Rosemier if his committee was going to be discussing the bird flu issue or did he know if there was anything going on at the County level? Mr. Rosemier said no, they had not discussed it yet, but that he could add it to his committee’s agenda. Mr. Bockman stated that Ms. Grush, DeKalb County Public Health Director, was very aware of the bird flu issue and is on top of it.

Mr. Whelan, Chairman of the Finance Committee, said that they discussed the budget and voted on placing it on file for public inspection. There were no appeals filed and that someone had suggested that possibly a workshop could be held on the budget or is it too late now? Chairman Tobias said that that all should have happened at the October Finance Committee Meeting.

Ms. Fauci, Chairman of the Forest Preserve Committee, said that they heard from Mr. Mike Haines with the Citizens Group regarding the Open Space referendum issue. He presented the results of the survey that they conducted and paid for, which was very successful. They made over 400 cold calls to citizens and they received very favorable results “right off the bat.” She also said that they would be considering the fact of hiring a professional to help with the wording of the referendum on the ballot. She said that they had not decided who would pay for this professional help yet, either the Forest Preserve or the citizen’s group.

Ms. Fauci also said that there would be three items on the agenda from the Forest Preserve Committee this month. The resolution to place the budget on file will not be voted on until they meet in October on the 18^th , the day before the County Board meeting.

Ms. Fauci said that they will be discussing the film policy further that deals with a film group that would like to film at Sannauk Forest Preserve.

Mr. Sands said that he just wanted Ms. Fauci to know that there were some questions that he has been asked by several people. One of them was that the referendum being suggested by the survey they ran would almost double what the homeowner would pay in forest preserve taxes. If that would have been a question on the survey, that is, “would you like your taxes doubled by the forest preserve,” he feels the results would be different. Ms. Fauci said that the cold call survey did ask those surveyed if they would be okay about having their taxes increased for the purchase of more land, that is, to that effect? Ms. Fauci said that those surveyed (52%) answered yes. She further explained that they said, the possible argument against it, which would be the argument that is used often in referendums, the pros and cons. After those pros and cons were given, the results went up, she said.

Mr. Sands said that some of the money would be used for farmland preservation. Ms. Fauci said that would only be if land could not be developed right away.

Mr. Sands that he only wanted to caution Ms. Fauci about what is being said out there on the streets, because surveys can be manipulated. Ms. Fauci thanked him

Ms. Dubin suggested using pie charts because it would be easier to understand where the money is going for the Forest Preserve.

Ms. LaVigne said that they had no meeting this month for the County Highway Committee.

Mr. Slack said that they had no meeting this month for the Economic Development Committee, too.

It was moved by Mr. Whelan, seconded by Ms. LaVigne, and it was carried unanimously to move into executive session to discuss personnel issues by a roll call vote.

It was moved by Mr. Steimel, seconded by Ms. Fauci, to return to open session with a roll call vote being taken and all members voted aye.

It was moved by Ms. LaVigne, seconded by Ms. Fauci, to expend the following sums in recognition of exceptional performance for 2005: Ken Campbell for $4,000.00. All members except Mr. Sands voted aye. Mr. Gary Hanson for $2,000.00 with all members voting aye. Mr. Paul Miller for $1,500.00 with all members except Mr. Sands voting aye. Ms. Joan Berkes-Hanson for $2,500.00 with all members voting aye with the exception of Ms. LaVigne and Mr. Sands.

ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Mr. Steimel, seconded by Mr. Sands, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

______________________________

Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias

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Mary C. Supple, Secretary