The Health and Human Services Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, June 2, 2008 @ 6:30p.m. in the Administration Building’s Conference Room East.  Chairman Robert Rosemier called the meeting to order.  Members present were Ms. Fullerton and Mr. Osborne.  Ms. LaVigne, Mr. Metzger, Sr., and Mr. Stoddard were absent.  There was no quorum. Others present were Mr. Greg Millburg, Ms. Mary Ramp and Mr. John Horn. 

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

          The committee members present could not approve the minutes due to the fact that there was no quorum present.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

          The committee members present could not approve the agenda due to the fact that there was no quorum present.

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OFFICE UPDATE – MR. JOHN HORN

          Mr. John Horn, Executive Director of the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Office, updated the committee about his office.

          Mr. Horn said that the budget for his office was hit hard by the fiscal moves downstate.  He said because of what happened this past April and May downstate his office is considering cutting expenses and staff realignments, which may happen next year.  They are thinking of cutting one full-time staff person, too.  He does want to keep the Natural Resource Center and the 4H Program.  His budget in the end was reduced somewhat this year but not by 50% as was originally thought. 

Mr. Horn said that they will be looking for more funding, he said.  They will not be holding the Summer Camp this year, however, because of the timing of the funding.   He said that there was a hiring freeze up to this past weekend so they could not hire anyone for this.  The camp is usually held around mid-June of each year.  They did not have any time to advertise for the Camp, too.

          Mr. Horn reviewed his handout for the committee.  He briefly touched upon the 4-H Youth Development and various programs that they are holding.  One of the programs is the Chick embryology program that is offered to schools.  He said that 370 youth participated in the 4-H embryology school programs.

          The Science Siesta, is an overnight science career exploration session for girls completing grades 4-6, which is held at the Discovery Center in Rockford.  Eighty-one girls from DeKalb County attended.

          Mr. Horn then mentioned the Natural Resource Education Program.  He said that Ms. Peggy Doty usually hires three college students as “academic hourlies” that are paid positions.

          Ms. Supple, DeKalb County Coordinator, asked Mr. Horn if Ms. Doty has looked at NIU’s Education Department to see if there are any students who would volunteer their time or work toward clinical hours possibly for their education degrees as these would be unpaid positions?

          Mr. Horn said that they are currently looking into that.

          He continued by stating that 51 school groups in DeKalb County participated in 98 outdoor education field studies.  Two home-school groups taught monthly programs at Russell Forest Preserve and 131 boy scout and girl scout groups earned badges at Russell Forest Preserve too.

          Ms. Fullerton asked Mr. Horn how much more money above what the County currently gives you - do you need?

          Mr. Horn said, “if you look at the budget handout that I just gave you that shows figures that do not include State funding, my department’s funding would have a shortfall of about $65,000.”

          Chairman Rosemier asked what kind of funding has the County given you in the past?

          Mr. Horn said that last year the County Board gave his department $30,000, in the year prior to that it was $28,000 and the year before that it was $26,000.  So, the County Board has increased the funds to his office generally by $2,000. 

          The line that says, “Other Local Govt….. with an amount of $58, 500,” includes funding from the Forest Preserve District and the Health Department, Mr. Horn said.

          Mr. Horn informed the committee that Soil and Water may be able to appropriate funds to them too.  They will not know until this Wednesday night if they can help.

          Chairman Rosemier said that Peggy Doty does a lot of programs on recycling.  Have you given any thought to going to Waste Management?

          Mr. Horn said that the funding that they receive from the Health Department is because of funds from Waste Management, that is his understanding. 

          Mr. Horn said that they will be looking at a Master Naturalist Program, (which started in Rock Island) along with the County’s Forest Preserve District.  This would allow for more training for the Forest Preserve District’s volunteers. 

          Mr. Horn said that they are looking at trying to run his office now on non-matching funds.  That is where the $65,000 shortfall comes from.  They should have enough carryover funds to cover most of that this year, he further stated.

          Ms. Fullerton asked if Mr. Horn foresees increasing charges for certain programs?

          Mr. Horn said that with the school trips they couldn’t do it right now since some of the schools are on a tight budget, too.

          Mr. Horn said that the Garden Walk this year would be a fundraiser for the Master Gardner’s Program.

          Mr. Horn then spoke about the Community Development Program that involves the Hispanic population in the County.  He said that the Hispanic Health Initiative is a community collaboration of over 25 county agencies started by the U of I Extension and the U of I School of Medicine in Rockford.  It conducts assessment of health needs; develops projects and educational programs to address these needs.  The Hispanic Health Initiative combined with the CDP/Safe Latino Action Group during the 2006-2007 year. 

          He further stated that in this program they did apply for an Americore Vista Program and they received a young person to volunteer and help work with the Hispanic population.  This person works with the Latino population in the County that are at the poverty level and then tries to help them get out of it.  This position is funded by a grant for 4 years.  The Extension Office can use the same person for four years or hire a new person each year to work on this program.

          Mr. Horn then spoke about the Community Economic Development Outreach that works with the smaller communities in the County.  It is a local government-training program that provides some basic analysis for the smaller communities and gives them an idea of what resources are available to them.  He has started talks with Mr. Paul Borek, Executive Director of the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation, about partnering with the Extension Office. 

          Chairman Rosemier commented that the Telenet Seminars that Mr. Horn’s office offers are excellent.  It is at no cost to the county board members to attend.

          In closing, Mr. Horn said that he won’t know anything about his budget until next year April and that this was the first year that the full funding for his department was withheld.  If he looked at including the State funding, then his budget would be about $60,000 ahead.  But he is not expecting that.  So he is working off of the balance sheet showing the figures with no State funding and with a $65,000 shortfall.  He continued by stating that his office is required to have three full-time employees in their office, but he really needs Ms. Doty’s position at the Natural Resource Center too. 

          Ms. Fullerton suggested that Mr. Horn could explore visiting with other government bodies and township and explain this budget shortfall with them too.

          Mr. Horn thanked the committee and the County Board’s continued support of his office and their programs. 

          Mr. Horn said that one other item that may be discussed is talking about a tax rate referendum for the Extension Office.  He said that Ogle and Boone county have one. 

          Before adjourning Chairman Rosemier said that the July meeting will be held jointly with the Economic Development Committee on Wednesday, July 9, 2008 @ 7:00p.m. in the Legislative Center’s Gathertorium.  He said that Mr. Bill Nicklas, City Manager for the City of Sycamore, Mr. Russ Farnum from the City of DeKalb, Mr. Bob Seyller, President of the Town of Cortland have all been invited to attend the meeting along with Mr. Herb Rubin.

          Ms. Supple updated the committee briefly about the County’s Prescription Drug Card Program.  She said that they have finally received word that one of the local Veterinarians will allow the cards to be displayed in their office and will participate in the program.  There may be another one in the near future that will take part too.  The numbers have steadily increased with citizen participation and that the County is holding it’s own along with Cook County, Lake County and McHenry County.  She also said that they are reaching out to the Hispanic population by working with a local leader in that community who is spreading the word and passing out our cards throughout that community.

          Chairman Rosemier asked if Ms. Supple had any numbers of usage to share with the committee?

          Ms. Supple said that she will get an updated report around mid-June and that she could let the committee know next month what those figures are.

ADJOURNMENT

The committee members present could not adjourn due to the fact that there was no quorum present.

Respectively submitted,

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