The Finance Committee of the DeKalb County Board, met on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 at 7:00p.m., in the DeKalb County Administration Building’s Conference Room East.  Chairman Jeff Whelan called the meeting to order.  Members present were Sue Leifheit, Jeff Metzger, Sr., Michael Haines, Ruth Anne Tobias and Jerry Augsburger.  Mr. Dennis Sands was absent.  Others present were Ray Bockman, Gary Hanson and  Ken Campbell.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES    

                Moved by Mr. Haines, seconded by Ms. Leifheit, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from February 1, 2006.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

                Moved by Mr. Metzger, Sr., seconded by Mr. Augsburger, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda as presented.

UPDATE ON FACILITY MANAGEMENT

                Mr. Ken Campbell, DeKalb County Facility Manager, gave an update on his department using a power point presentation.  Mr. Campbell summarized the various projects that are to be completed in 2006.  This is the the second year for the new carpeting project in the Courthouse.  This year they are doing the 3^rd floor courtroom. The Jail door rebuilding is an ongoing project and they have 43 more doors to do.  They are working on one of their biggest projects, which is to replace the fire alarms in the Public Safety Building.  They are replacing the boiler in the Administration Building and a caulking project on the outside of the Administration Building and Public Safety Building. He feels that the caulking should last about 15 years.  They are updating the Sycamore Campus Panic Alarm System, too.  They have restored the statue of the Civil War soldier in front of the Courthouse, which cost approximately $16,000.  They will also be working on the parking lot seal coating and restripping.  They are repainting the courtroom ceiling and he said that he would be asking for a humidifier for the courthouse for his budget for next year because of the dry air in the courthouse.  He walked in the courthouse last year and the ceiling was fine.  Within a year’s time the ceiling is now peeling.

He also said that they have completed 686 work order projects from December 2005 to February 2006 0compared to 596 projects from December 2004 to February 2005.  This is a 15% increase in work orders, said Mr. Campbell.

Mr. Campbell said that he sent out 22 surveys and got 15 back.  He sent them department heads  and various key personnel.   Sixty-seven percent of those people responded to the survey request.  He said that of those surveyed 71% said that his department is very friendly and they received 46% in timeliness.

He compared this one to the last two surveys that he did in 2002 and 2002.  He found that their numbers have gone up and he is proud of the numbers.

The committee thanked Mr. Campbell for his very informative report.

DISCUSSION ON FORMAT AND DATE FOR POSSIBLE BUDGET WORKSHOP

Chairman Whelan said that there has been discussion of late regarding this committee holding a county board workshop on the budget for next year, would we like to have one?  Some of the committee members would like to have a workshop on understanding the budget for new members; discussion of short and long-term goals; how much of a percentage will the budget go up for next year, 4%, 6%, or what have you, etc.

Ms. Tobias said that one of the past questions has been whether we need to reduce the budget or keep the increase at the minimum level. 

Mr. Hanson asked if we should bring in all the department heads to explain why they need the money that they are asking for before we make any reductions to the budget?  Is this what you want? 

Mr. Augsburger said that he would appreciate it if it was run more like a “Budget 101” workshop for newer members like himself.

Ms. Leifheit agreed with Mr. Augsburger that maybe the first workshop should be for members who need to just understand the funds and what goes where, etc.

Mr. Haines said that he would like a workshop, like a think tank, after March 21 on the referendums for the Forest Preserve and the Veteran’s Commission, what do we do if they do not pass?  Is there a Plan B?  Again, maybe in November for the Jail Referendum if it doesn’t pass, is there a Plan B?

Mr. Bockman said that in the case of the Veteran’s Commission, they would present their budget to the Health and Human Services Committee, who they report to.  That committee would then forward it to the Finance Committee for approval.

After further discussion, it was agreed to hold a workshop on May 3^rd for all county board members at the May 3^rd Finance Committee meeting.  It would begin at 6:00p.m. for the 1^st session, like Budget 101 and then at 7:00p.m. they would go into the actual Finance Committee meeting and the auditors would be there for their report.

Before adjourning Mr. Hanson, DeKalb County Deputy County Administrator, passed out the new Revenue Manuals to the committee members.  He said that they have made some major changes to it,  for example, dollar amounts collected in each revenue line, over the last 3 years, is presented.

ADJOURNMENT

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

                                                                                                Respectively submitted by,

                                                                                                _________________________________

                                                                                                Jeff Whelan, Chairman

_________________________________

Mary C. Supple, Secretary

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