The Law and Justice Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, February 25, 2008 @ 6:30p.m. in the DeKalb County Administration Building’s Conference Room East.  County Board Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias called the meeting to order.  Members present were Ken Andersen, John Hulseberg and Howard Lyle.  Ms. Allen, Vice- Chairman and Committee Chairman Mr. Osborne were absent. A Quorum was present. Ms. DeFauw arrived at 6:55p.m.  Others present were Dennis Miller and Margi Gilmour.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

          Moved by Mr. Lyle, seconded by Mr. Hulseberg, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from January 2008.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

          Moved by Mr. Andersen, seconded by Mr. Lyle, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda as presented.

CORONER’S AND ESDA’S ANNUAL REPORT   

          Mr. Dennis Miller, the DeKalb County Coroner and ESDA Director, presented his annual reports for both departments (both on file in the Coroner’s Office and ESDA Office).

ESDA 2007 Annual Report:

          He said that the Declaration of a Snow Emergency by President Bush on December 29, 2006, for the State of Illinois, the County was able to recoup $57,500.00 for expenses that were incurred during the designated time period.

          The DeKalb County Emergency Operations plan was updated, finalized and approved in 2007.  Plans are already underway to include an appendix that would deal with Animal Emergencies during times of Emergencies. 

          With the cooperation of his office, the L.E.P.C., Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad and the Village of Waterman, a two-day training course was held.  The training exercise simulated a rail car that was leaking a hazardous material. 

          As a result of the heavy rains that inundated DeKalb County on August 23^rd, flooding once again occurred in several areas of the County.  Shelters were opened and occupied by those families that were evacuated from their homes. This storm caused the second Presidential disaster declaration within one year’s time.  The declaration went into effect on September 25^th, which resulted in Individual and Public assistance given to local homeowners.  Through the efforts of the ESDA staff, DeKalb County received over $22,200.00 for expenses that were incurred during the flooding situation.

          Mr. Andersen said that he is going to the Annual NACo Conference next week and was there anything that Mr. Miller wanted him to bring to the legislators attention?

          Mr. Miller said that there are so many unfunded mandates that trickle down to the county level, but please put some money with them to help the County pay for them. 

          Mr. Andersen then asked Mr. Miller if he could comment on the tragic event at Northern Illinois University last week?

          Mr. Miller said that he felt that the response was very good and went very well.  He said that a month before the event happened there was a meeting held at NIU’s campus with all the “players” present.  He explained to them what he would do and what cooperation he expected.  He feels that last week’s response went well.

Coroner’s 2007 Annual Report:

          Mr. Miller then briefly reviewed the 2007 Coroner’s Annual Report (attached to these minutes).  He said that the cases were up this past year - there were 473 deaths.  There were 430 natural deaths, 13 suicides, 3 homicides, etc., found on page 4 of the report. 

Cremations increased to a total of 306 cases in 2007 from 232 cases the year before.   As of to-date, there have been 46 permits issued since January 1, 2008.

We need to really increase our fees, said Mr. Miller.  Mr. Miller continued by stating that he would like to get some legislation stating that the fees would be at least $25.00. 

Mr. Lyle said that he felt Mr. Miller is doing an outstanding job and that the County is lucky to have him.

PUBLIC DEFENDER’S REPORT

          Ms. Regina Harris, the DeKalb County Public Defender, did not attend the meeting due to attendance at the Drug Court Seminar in Oregon.

COURT SERVICES REPORTS

          Ms. Margi Gilmour, Director of DeKalb County Court Services, then discussed her Adult and Juvenile Court Services Reports with the committee.

          She said that in the Adult Court Services Report for last month the numbers remained consistent.  She has 485 cases between her five adult court services officers. 

          She said that she is taking a look at the sex offender cases.  There is a shift in the State to a unit created for sex offense cases. We don’t have enough cases for a unit, thank goodness, she said, but with her fifth adult officer, she feels that it makes sense that as she is building her caseload that they may designate her as the sex offense case officer.

          The CRS hours are rolling along and that there were more numbers of hours completed.

          In the Juvenile Court Services Report for last month, Ms. Gilmour said that there were seven (7) detention admissions for January.  They have one young lady remaining in residential placement and they had 2 young people detained twice.  Of the seven (7) admissions, 4 children were detained for the 2^nd time, 2 for the 3^rd time and 1 for the 4^th time. 

          They had seen in the last two months a lot of mental health cases including young girls that are struggling with bipolar and other significant mental health issues, said Mr. Gilmour.

          On House Bill 1517 involving the change in juvenile age, Mr. Gilmour has not heard anything on this bill yet.

JAIL REPORT

          Ms. Tobias mentioned that the average daily population in January was 116 inmates with 45 transports.  

ADJOURNMENT

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

                                                 Respectfully submitted,

                                                 _________________________________

                                                 Ruth Anne Tobias, County Board

                                                 Chairman

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