The Executive Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 7:00p.m. at the Administration Building’s Conference Room East.  Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias called the meeting to order. Members present were Eileen Dubin, Julia Fauci, Pat LaVigne, Rich Osborne, Robert Rosemier, Michael Haines, Pat Vary and Roger Steimel.  Others present were Gary Hanson, Ken Andersen, Marlene Allen, Steve Walt, Jeff Metzger, Sr., Jerry Augsburger, Paul Stoddard, Aaron Ruder, John Hulseberg, Mike Stuckert, Anita Turner, Sharon Holmes and Elena Grimm.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

            Moved by Ms. LaVigne, seconded by Ms. Vary, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from August 2008.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA         

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

APPOINTMENTS

911 Emergency Telephone Systems Board:            Lt. Darren Mitchell, to fill the unexpired term of Lt. Curtis Young, who resigned, until 12/1/2009. 

Public Building Commission:                                 Mr. George Daugherty, appointment for a term of 5 years, until 10/01/2013.

DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing

Center Operating Board:                                        Ms. Joanne Dillman, appointment for a term of 1 year, until 10/01/2009.

            Under the Public Building Commission recommendation, Ms. Turner withdrew the name of Steve Faivre for consideration, since she was the person who recommended him for the position. 

Appointments expiring for October 2008:

a. River Valley Workforce Investment Act Board:           3 positions

b. Housing Authority of DeKalb County                        1 position

c. South Grove Cemetery Association                         3 positions

d. 911 Emergency Telephone Systems Board:             1 position

            Moved by Mr. Haines, seconded by Ms. Vary, and it was carried unanimously to forward the appointments 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 September 17, 2008. 

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

ELECTION JUDGE PAY RESOLUTION

            Chairman Tobias asked Ms. Holmes to please clarify the rate of pay for the committee members regarding the proposed resolution for election judge pay.  Ms. Holmes said that the $90 is the base pay for anyone who doesn’t take the training.  For many years now the $20 additional pay is for people who take the training and it is good for a 2-year period.  So any election that a person serves in a 2-year period, having taken the training, those people would get paid $110.00.  She further stated, that the State has come up with an additional $20 per judge who finishes the training, therefore, those people who complete all of the training will get paid $130.00, but the base is still $90.00. 

            Moved by Ms. LaVigne, seconded by Ms. Fauci, and it was carried unanimously to forward this resolution to the full board for approval.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Mr. Steimel, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee, said that his committee discussed the two items that they are forwarding to the full county board next week.  The first item, the Daring proposal, met the approval of the committee.   The second item, down in Sandwich, is a track of land on the south end of town.  It has been zoned A-1 agriculture, but it is pretty much a park conservation area and they want to rezone it to Floodplain/Conservation District.  They would like to build a building in the park for the boy scouts and it will remain a conservation park.  It has the approval of the City of Sandwich and Park District.  His committee is recommending approval of it.

Mr. Metzger, Sr., said that he has been approached about the item down in Sandwich and over the last several years tens of thousands of dollars have gone into that piece of property to make it a conservation area.  He thought that it would be shot down at committee, because once that door is open and they build a building and they can build whatever they want to on it, that property is gone forever.  He knows that he and Ms. Allen will have to sit down and meet with these people. He needs clarification on this item for him and Ms. Allen before he meets with these people.

Mr. Haines said that there was a concern because it is conservation land.  The committee discussed that this is conservation land and if zoning is changed it would be a park, which allows them to do anything.  To build a building they will still have to go through rigorous zoning procedures.  This is land that appears will be annexed into the City of Sandwich at any time and once that happens the City and the Park District can do whatever they want.

Mr. Bockman asked why are they coming here then, why aren’t they getting this annexed into the City of Sandwich and do their business with them?

After further discussion Mr. Steimel said that he would get a better explanation on this issue for the county board meeting. 

Mr. Steimel also mentioned that his committee would be discussing sign regulations in the near future.

Ms. Pat LaVigne, Chairman of the County Highway Committee, said that her committee was sending 3 items to the county board meeting this month. She highlighted one of those items, which involves the county engineer to enter into an agreement with an appropriate agency to removal the two collapsed spans and pier cap from the collapsed structure on Keslinger Road.   The reason for this is simply to have the county find out what caused the collapse.  The township will pay for half of the fees.  They would really like to get going on this project. 

Mr. Andersen said that  this is not in our jurisdiction and why are we spending this money? 

Ms. LaVigne said that the township highway commissioner came to the County Engineer and asked if they could help them.  Since they have come forward and asked the County Engineer for help we are required to help them with discovery only, not to build the bridge, she further stated.

Ms. LaVigne also mentioned the third item that relates to a resolution denying the request from the City of DeKalb for an access point on Peace Road.   She mentioned that in 1994 there was an agreement that allowed for certain access points on Peace Road.  She stated that this involves a farm road that is coming down Peace Road heading north, right before Pleasant Street.  The committee is saying that they do not want the City of DeKalb to ever use that road, but that there will be another road to use as an access and the airport will help them to go across the runway to get their equipment to where it needs to go.  This is for a proposed development of a mini-mall, gas station, car wash, little shop and restaurant there.

Mr. Bockman said that the agreement allows the City of DeKalb to construct an entrance at that location. The points scattered along that agreement were spaced approximately a quarter of a mile apart to show the intent of the two public bodies that this is the type of access system that they wanted.  He advised the City of DeKalb, prior the Highway Committee meeting, in the spirit of cooperation, to go to the meeting and work out a deal with the committee and the County Engineer, which, it is his understanding, they attempted to do on two occasions.  They do not, in his opinion, actually need our approval to construct an access point because it is their road.  The intent of the agreement was not intended for the county board to give them the authority to tell them precisely where to construct that entrance, he further stated. 

Ms. Dubin, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, said that they would be discussing the Job Creation Plan item tomorrow night.  She said last month they heard from Mr. Borek of the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation.  He gave a good report that was very positive about economic growth throughout DeKalb County. 

Mr. Haines, Chairman of the Finance Committee, said that they heard from Mr. Hanson regarding the FY2009 Budget and the Administrative Recommendations.  It is a $73 million balanced budget.  He said that it is a $4 million increase over last year’s budget.  They also discussed a proposal on a simplified type of newsletter for the public to view to help them understand the county government budget.  He also reminded everyone about the Budget Workshop scheduled before the County Board Meeting on September 17, 2008 @ 6:00p.m in Conference Room East.

Chairman Tobias mentioned that the Executive Committee would be sending forth the Election Judge Pay resolution, and if approved out of the Executive session, another resolution that is regarding a land acquisition item.

Ms. Julia Fauci, Chairman of the Forest Preserve Committee, said that there will be a seed collection held in October and that 100 people attended the Afton Star Party in September.  They are pursing two grants the OSLAD grant for the Leland Property and a Clean Energy Grant.

Mr. Rosemier, Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee, said that his committee heard from Mr. Gil Morrison, the Regional Superintendent of Schools, regarding his Annual Report.  This report will be attached to the minutes.

Mr. Osborne, Chairman of the Law and Justice Committee, said that their meeting was cancelled for the month of August.

EXECUTIVE SESSION – LAND ACQUISITION

            Moved by Ms. Fauci, seconded by Mr. Rosemier, and it was carried unanimously by roll call vote, to move into closed session to discuss land acquisition.  

            Moved by Ms. Fauci, seconded by Ms. Vary and it was carried unanimously, by roll call vote, to move back into open session.

            It was moved by Ms. Fauci, seconded by Mr. Rosemier, and it was carried unanimously to recommend the purchase of two parcels of land located at the northeast corner of Locust and Main Streets in Sycamore, Illinois, for the total price of $400,000.00 and to forward this recommendation to the full board for approval.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Mr. Steimel, and seconded by Ms. Vary, to adjourn the meeting.  The motion was approved unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

______________________________

Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias

RAT:mcs

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