DeKalb County, Illinois

Minutes of the
Law & Justice Committee

October 17, 2011

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LAW AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE

October 17, 2011

The Law and Justice Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, October 17, 2011 at 6:30p.m. in the DeKalb County Legislative Center's Gathertorium.  Chairman Marlene Allen called the meeting to order.  Members present were Ken Andersen, Riley Oncken, Anita Turner and Derek Tyson.  Stephen Reid was absent. Others present were Ray Bockman, John Hulseberg, Paul Stoddard, Jill Olson, Sean Smith, Clay Campbell, Frank Bierlotzer, Regina Harris, Sheriff Roger Scott, Gary Dumdie, Marilyn Stromborg, and Judge Kurt Klein. 

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES 

Moved by Mr. Oncken, seconded by Ms. Turner, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from September 19, 2011.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Moved by Ms. Turner, seconded by Mr. Oncken, was it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda as presented.

EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM FY2011 LOCAL SOLICITATION - MS. STROMBORG

Ms. Stromborg said that she was making a public announcement at the committee meeting this evening.  She said that she was approached by  Senator Durbin's office saying that DeKalb County was eligible to receive $14,650.00, spread out over 2 years in grant monies. It is based on how much crime that we have in our county.  His office asked her if she was interested in taking this grant?  She said that she needed to talk to some people first.  So, she did talk to Judge Klein, Judge Stuckert, Ray Bockman and Police Chief of the City of DeKalb and everyone said that it would be fine.  The police chief said that if we do get the money he would write it off to her.  Her proposal is that we divide the $14,650.00 in half, per year, for the drug court counselor at Ben Gordon Center.  This money will pay the counselor for services and transportation to the jail to see newly incarcerated people and evaluate them for drug court and counseling.  Therefore, she is publicly announcing this is what she is going to do with the monies.

Mr. Oncken asked her if there were any other alternatives that she looked at?

Ms. Stromborg said that she did not, this is the area that they identified that there as a gap in services.

CASA REPORT - MS. JILL OLSON

Ms. Jill Olson, Executive Director of CASA in DeKalb County, gave a brief report to the committee. 

Her office has served 214 children from October 2010 to October 2011 (see her report attached to these minutes).  She said that their funding began in 2004.  The volunteer base has doubled since then.  They now have 27 attorneys working with them and they are looking for more.  They mainly see abuse and neglect cases and some truancy cases.  Their mission is to make sure that each child is in a safe home. 

FY2012 BUDGET APPEALS

Sheriff's Department Appeal.    To restore the detective position at a cost of $80,000.00.  (Sheriff Scott and Paul Stoddard).  Sheriff Scott said that he would like to see this position restored in the budget because it would allow them to designate a second detective to focus on the drug and the gang activity, work with our current drug investigator to combat increasing drug activity, working closely with the City of DeKalb, other local agencies, North Central Narcotics Task Force and in partnership with D.E.A.  He feels that they really need this position because it is a county-wide problem.  He can't take any more people off of patrol.  They have the same number of investigators as in 2001.   He also said that his office operated last year with four fewer officers. 

Mr. Stoddard said who wrote the budget appeal said that he would support a $2.40 increase in property taxes the new detective would cost if it came to that.  He said that that it is important to prevent drug-related violence from spreading on NIU's campus and to restore the public's confidence in the University and the surrounding area on how said it is.  He said that he supports the Sheriff on this appeal.

Moved by Ms. Turner, seconded by Mr. Tyson, and it was carried to approve this appeal to hire a new detective at a cost of $80,000, and to forward it to the finance committee.  Mr. Andersen opposed it.  Motion passes.

The appeal to leave staff openings was also briefly discussed.  Sheriff Scott said that he would be willing to delay hiring for these positions for three quarters of the year.  It is a real hardship, because of required training. 

Mr. Oncken said that he would encourage Sheriff Scott to hire quality people who may be unemployed that have this training already.

Chairman Allen asked Sheriff Scott if there were any openings now?

Sheriff Scott said not now, but possibly in February 2012.

Mr. Stoddard withdrew appeal #17b.) for the communications officer at a cost of $68,000.

CASA Appeal

Mr. Hulseberg said that he filed the appeal for CASA to remain fully funded at $40,000.  This would reinstate $5,000 in funding back to CASA.  He feels that they only have an operating budget of $136,000 and a $5,000 reduction is a big hit to their budget.  Judge Klein spoke on behalf of CASA.  He said that this was a special program with all 67 volunteers that go through a lot of training.  They assign 1 volunteer to 1 case.  We get so much from CASA and he supports this appeal.  Ms. Turner said that they do a wonderful job for the kids and it is a great program.

Moved by Mr. Oncken, seconded by Ms. Turner, and it was carried to approve the reinstatement of $5,000 for CASA and to forward it to the Finance Committee.  Mr. Andersen abstained.

State’s Attorney’s Office Appeal

The committee then discussed the appeal filed by Mr. Stoddard to increase the funding to the State’s Attorney’s Office by $25,000 which would allow, with other, already budgeted funds, the hiring of another Level 1 (entry-level) attorney.  With the unusual number of high-profile cases adding to the costs of prosecuting ever-increasing numbers of drug-related crimes, the additional help is needed and justified.

State’s Attorney Campbell stated that the Keller/Curl case takes up a significant amount of time and the discovery paperwork is 4,000 to 5,000 pages. The Ridulph case, which is the oldest cold murder case in the country, he believes, also takes a lot of significant time.  They are also working on the Jewel/Plank Road case and the Devon Butler alleged shooter case.  He needs to alleviate this strain from his attorneys.  There is a heroin problem in the County and because of this there have been some drug induced homicides in our County.  DuPage and Kane Counties are also seeing an increase in heroin cases. 

Moved by Ms. Turner, seconded by Mr. Andersen, and it was carried to deny this appeal for an additional attorney at the cost of $25,000 and to forward it to the Finance Committee.  Mr. Tyson was opposed.

Local Emergency Planning Commission Appeal

This appeal was filed by Mr. Reid and Mr. Bierlotzer to fund the Local Emergency Planning Committee for the cost of $6,000. 

Mr. Bierlotzer said he has never asked for money before, but now the funding has dried up.  He is asking for $6,000 to keep the doors open.  He worked 61 hours in 2010 and they are up to 45 hours so far this year. 

Mr. Andersen asked him what would happen if they did not receive any funding?

Mr. Bierlotzer said that the routine duties funding has dried up, he was told that there is only money left for projects and seminars.  The federal government funds the seminars. 

Chairman Allen said that she believes in his plan but that the County can’t take on another thing.

Moved by Mr. Andersen, seconded by Mr. Oncken, and it was carried to deny the appeal for an additional $6,000.  Mr. Tyson was opposed.  Motion carries.

PUBLIC DEFENDER’S REPORT

Ms. Harris, DeKalb County Public Defender, said that there is a shift in the cases in her office.  She has seen 27% of the cases are felonies; 1 attorney is doing some of the felony cases, now this attorney is being re-commissioned to only felonies.  Caseloads are high with the largest portion of cases coming from felonies.  Appointments have been steady.  They were just appointed the shooting in DeKalb over the weekend.

Judge Klein said that we have an outstanding Public Defender and her office does a great job.

COURT SERVICES REPORT

Ms. Gilmour, Court Services Director, could not make the meeting this evening.  Judge Klein informed the committee that the county judicial system will form the new 23rd Circuit along with Kendall County.  The Probation office will report to the new circuit and asked the committee to treat Ms. Gilmour kindly over the next year.

JAIL REPORT

There were 140 inmates for the average daily population for the month of September.   Sheriff Scott said that today’s number was 133 inmates.  They paid $98,000 in outside housing in September.

ADJOURNMENT

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

                                                                        Respectively submitted,

                                                                                                                                                                                                               _______________________________________

                                                                        Marlene Allen, Chairman

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