The Executive Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 7:00p.m. at the Administration Building’s Conference Room East.  Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias called the meeting to order. Members present Pat Vary, Eileen Dubin, Julia Fauci, Michael Haines, Pat LaVigne, Robert Rosemier and Roger Steimel.  Mr. Osborne was absent.  Others present were Ray Bockman, Gary Hanson, Anita Turner, Greg Millburg, Jerry Augsburger, Jeff Metzger, Sr., Paul Stoddard, Steve Walt and Diane Strand.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

          Moved by Mr. Rosemier, seconded by Ms. LaVigne, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from April 2007.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA     

          Moved by Ms. Fauci, seconded by Ms. LaVigne, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda as presented.

APPOINTMENTS:

None

Appointments expiring for June 2007 are:

Workforce Investment Act Board – 1 position

Rehab and Nursing Center Operating Board – 1 position

COMMUNICATIONS

Chairman Tobias said that under Communications and Referrals she wanted to let people know that she will be reading a proclamation regarding Hunger Awareness Week.  

Ms. Turner suggested that maybe each County Board member, department head, or employee that attends the May County Board meeting could bring a canned good to support this cause.  The committee agreed with this suggestion.

Also, Chairman Tobias informed the committee that she would like to send a resolution to the full board to be read at the May County Board Meeting honoring Mr. Dennis Ragan who passed away suddenly last week.  He was a founding member of the Regional Plan Commission and she would like to do this in memory of him.

The committee agreed with her and therefore, Moved by Mr. Steimel, seconded by Ms. LaVigne, and it was carried unanimously to forward the 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 16, 2007. 

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

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Mr. Rosemier, Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee, said his committee heard from Ms. Karen Grush, Public Health Director, last evening regarding her 2006 Annual Report.  He also mentioned that the County, through his committee, co-hosted a seminar for all social service agencies in the county regarding how the County could assist them in obtaining new funding.  It was attended by 23 agencies and he felt that from the feedback gathered after the seminar, that there was interest out there for this issue.

Mr. Haines, Chairman of the Finance Committee, said that there were no items that required action this month.  They did hear from Mr. Fred Lantz of Sikich regarding the annual audit report.  They also heard from Ms. Joan Berkes-Hanson from IMO regarding an update on the GIS division and the Network Services division of her department.  He also said that they discussed changing the date of the County’s fiscal year to the calendar year.  They will be bringing this issue back to the Finance Committee next month.

Ms. Dubin said that when she read the “Chronicle” this evening she noticed that they mentioned that the new construction for housing had declined by 40% in the City of DeKalb.  If this is true, to what extent will this affect our EAV? 

Mr. Haines said that he felt this was a very good question because we rely on this for providing a large portion of our discretionary funds. 

Mr. Hanson said that they are trying to encourage the assessors to give us information earlier than usual.

Mr. Fauci, Chairman of the Forest Preserve Committee, said that on May 17^th they would become the owners of 76 more acres that were purchased last month at the auction for an addition to the Afton Forest Preserve.  The Conservation Foundation bid on the property for the County and purchased it for the Forest Preserve.

Mr. Haines said that the grant that Mr. Hannan is applying for regarding this Afton forest preserve addition, through the Open Lands Trust process, states that you not apply for the grant until you purchase it.  Which is why the Conservation Foundation had to purchase it for the Forest Preserve, so we had to have a surrogate buy the land for us so that we could become eligible to apply for the grant.  

Mr. Fauci continued by stating that a letter of retroactivity had to be approved by the State, and it was approved yesterday, so that we would be able to go forward with this process for the grant. The total cost of the project is $840,000.00, which would mean that half of that is $420,000.00, which the Forest Preserve District hopes to get from the O.S.L.A.D. grant. 

Mr. Stoddard asked if the Forest Preserve does not receive the grant this year, would the County still go through with the project? 

Ms. Fauci said yes, that the Forest Preserve District could apply for the grant again next year.

Ms. Vary asked Ms. Fauci if the Forest Preserve District has on their website a place or link where someone could find out about trees to purchase or donate, for memorial purposes, to honor certain people, etc.?  Ms. Fauci said that she knew of nothing currently, but that she would check with Mr. Hannan.  If there is not, then she will bring it before her committee next month to discuss.  She felt it was a very good suggestion.

Ms. LaVigne, Chairman of the County Highway Committee, said that  the one item that she wanted to announce to the committee is that Mr. Bill Lorence, our County Engineer was just named the “Best Engineer in the Nation” for rural counties.

Mr. Steimel, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee, said that they did not meet in April.

Ms. Dubin, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, said that they are working on finalizing their tax abatement question and answer document.  They are also developing a mission statement. 

Ms. Vary, Vice-Chairman of the County Board, said that Chairman Tobias has approached her about helping with compiling legislative agenda items for the County.  She said that since there is no longer a public policy committee who used to handle this, Chairman Tobias felt that the Vice-Chairman of the County Board could perform this task. 

Mr. Bockman said that he would get a copy of the protocols used from Metro Counties and their lobbyists for Ms. Vary. 

Mr. Haines asked Chairman Tobias if this is going to be a duty that she wants the Vice Chairman of the County Board to perform?

Chairman Tobias said yes, that it was her intention to write some framework for the Vice Chairman to have a role in this.

Chairman Tobias said that she attended the Regional Water  Supply meeting recently.  She said that they would be meeting on July 24^th here in DeKalb County. She said that she also attended the first Genoa Expo a couple of weeks ago.  She believes that it will be an annual event. 

Chairman Tobias further stated that we celebrated County Government Week last week.  The County held a poster contest for all sixth graders to participate with all of the schools in DeKalb County.  It was an Environmental theme poster.  Two schools celebrated their 1^st and 2^nd place finishes.  St. Mary’s of Sycamore won 1^st place and Clinton Rosette in DeKalb won 2^nd place.  She further stated that there were wonderful presentations from Mr. Dean Johnson of Soil and Water and Mr. Terry Hannan of the Forest Preserve District.  It was a very good time and everyone enjoyed themselves.

She announced that there will be a Shabbona Town Meeting for Public Input on the Potawatomi Indian Agreement with DeKalb County.  It is scheduled for May 17^th @ 7:00p.m. at the Shabbona High School Gym.  It is not an official county meeting, Chairman Tobias said.

Chairman Tobias then informed the committee that she has asked Mr. Bockman, Mr. Hanson and Vice Chairman Pat Vary to begin discussions with her regarding strategic planning for the County on issues that are important to us in the short-term and long-term. 

She said that the Supportive Living Facility is another step closer to breaking ground. 

We have two spots open for the NACO annual conference scheduled for July 13, 2007 for county board members to attend.  If anyone is interested in attending, please let Mary Supple or myself know prior to May 31, 2007.

ADJOURNMENT

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

Respectfully submitted,

______________________________

Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias

_____________________________

Mary C. Supple, Secretary

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