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DeKalb County Government Official Government Website for DeKalb County, Illinois |
Executive Committee Minutes
January 8, 2013
7 p.m.
The Executive Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Wednesday, January 8, 2013 at 7:00p.m. at the Administration Building’s Conference Room East. Chairman Jeffery Metzger called the meeting to order. Members present were Ken Andersen, Sally DeFauw, Julia Fauci, John Gudmunson, Stephen Reid, and Anita Turner. Ms. Fullerton and Mr. Stoddard were absent. It was moved by Ms. Fauci, seconded by Ms. DeFauw, and it was carried unanimously to invite Mr. Tyson to sit at the table to represent the Law and Justice Committee since Ms. Fullerton was absent.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Ms. Fullerton arrived at 7:06p.m.
CHAIR’S COMMENTS
Therefore, tonight we will be approving the appointments as they appear on the county board agenda and then move on to each chairman to discuss the items that they are forwarding to the full board this month.
Chairman Metzger said that after a meeting with Paul Stoddard, Vice Chairman of the County Board, and a few meetings with Mary Supple, County Coordinator and Gary Hanson, County Administrator, communication is something that everyone wants to see improve. Chairman Metzger and Mr. Stoddard have agreed to produce a monthly column for what is happening at the County and County Board. Mr. Stoddard will be in charge of this duty and will need county board members to help him with the column. If there are any volunteers to help Paul, please let him know or myself, said Chairman Metzger.
Also, Chairman Metzger said that Mr. Stoddard will be working on a Facebook page for the County Board We are trying to improve the ways that we get information out to the public and these two duties, we hope will help, he said.
Chairman Metzger also mentioned that he, Mr. Hanson, County Administrator, and Mary Supple, County Coordinator, will be meeting with department heads to help get communication out to them and to discuss any problems, concerns, etc. that they may have. It will be up to Mr. Hanson how often these meetings will happen during the year.
Chairman Metzger said that if any of the county board members or department heads has any further ideas to please let him know or Mr. Hanson. He then mentioned that Mr. Hanson will now be giving a County Administrator’s monthly report to this committee to keep the board apprised of things that are happening with the county departments during the month.
There will also be new seating arrangements at the county board meetings, Chairman Metzger said. We will now have the State’s Attorney, the Assistant State’s Attorney sit along with County Administrator, Gary Hanson, in the front of the audience at a table facing the County Board Chairman. It will give them more of a presence and identify who they are to the public, instead of sitting in the audience.
APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY BOARD AGENDA
Chairman Metzger said that there would be a proclamation coming before the County Board at the January Board Meeting regarding the NIU Football Team. He also said that Mr. Frank Obarski, county board member, was working on a Proclamation for the DeKalb High School Marching Band, too. Mr. Obarski hoped to have it ready in the next day or two.
Appointments: i.) Metropolitan Planning Organization: ii.) Public Building Commission: iv.) Victor-Adams #1 Drainage District: v.) Rehab & Nursing Center Operating Board: vi.) Supportive Living Facility Board:
Moved by Ms. Fullerton, seconded by Ms. Turner, and it was carried unanimously to forward these appointment recommendations to the full board for approval.
Chairman Metzger then referred the meeting over to the standing committee chairmen to discuss the various items that their individual committees would be sending forward to the full board on the County Board Agenda.
Ms. Fullerton, Chairman of the Law and Justice Committee, said that her committee had not met yet so she had no report. Mr. Gudmunson, Chairman of the Highway Committee, said that his committee was sending three resolutions to the full board this month. One of the concerns that Mr. Gudmunson had was on Resolution #R2013-03 regarding MFT funds for Salary and Equipment for 2013. He said that it has been long going for him to use MFT funds for salary and equipment. He knows that road commissioners for the townships will use MFT funds on black topping and seal coating the roads, which the County does hire other companies to do that. Our maintainers don’t do that. He has always thought that we should use MFT funds towards building our roads.
There was some discussion by the committee about whether or not the Presentation by the County Engineer should be pulled from the agenda. Mr. Gudmunson felt that he wanted to speak to the County Engineer about this further.
Mr. Hanson suggested that Mr. Gudmunson could talk to Mr. Schwartz about this presentation between now and the county board meeting and for tonight leave this on the agenda. If we then need to pull it from the agenda we can do it at the full county board meeting next week, he said.
After further discussion the Presentation by the County Engineer was pulled off of the county board agenda as Mr. Gudmunson wanted to go back to the County Engineer and the Highway Committee to discuss this issue further.
Mr. Andersen, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, said that they have nothing to send this month to the full board since they have not met yet.
Ms. DeFauw, Chairman of the Health & Human Services Committee, said that her committee heard from Ms. Donna Moulton, Community Services Department Director, and Mary Supple from the County Board Office, who spoke about the FEMA Board. One of the things that they reported was that the poverty level in DeKalb County is currently over 14,000 people. She also mentioned that the Senior Tax Levy Hearings will be coming up in April.
Ms. Fauci, Chairman of the Forest Preserve Committee, said that Mr. Hannan will be making a presentation at the County Board Meeting on the last 6 years of the Forest Preserve District’s accomplishments. On the desks at the County Board Meeting the commissioners will find a resolution on Authorizing Participation in the County’s Flexible Benefits Plan.
Mr. Reid, Chairman of the Finance Committee, said that his committee will be sending the resolution amending the Flexible Benefits Plan.
Ms. Turner, Chairman of the Planning & Zoning Committee, said that her committee has not met yet, so she had no report. Mr. Andersen asked Ms. Turner about the Evergreen Village Grant? She said that Mr. Miller will be coming to the February County Board meeting to make a presentation on the issue.
It was moved by Ms. Fauci, seconded by Ms. DeFauw, and it was carried unanimously to approve the county board agenda and to forward it to the full county board for approval.
COUNTY TREASURER VACANCY
Chairman Metzger said that he will be declaring a vacancy for the Treasurer’s position at the County Board Meeting. He has been in contact with Steve Kuhn, the DeKalb County Republican Chairman and they will be setting up a caucus soon with the Republican Party. Chairman Metzger said that he would like to fill this position as soon as possible.
CHANGES TO THE COUNTY CODE-DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND FINANCE DIRECTOR
Mr. Gary Hanson, County Administrator, said that he wanted to bring to the committee the suggested changes to the County Administrator and Finance Director positions. He is not asking the committee to take any action tonight. He would like to create two separate positions. It gives us more flexibility to look at someone with familiarity with the organization and who may have some long term background about the County. Mr. Hanson further stated that it does not preclude you from putting it with the Finance Director, it just gives you that option. To do that we need to change the County Code. We would be changing it into two separate sections . He would like to send this next month to the full county board.
Mr. Hanson said that a stipend would go to whichever department head the county board appoints as the deputy county administrator. It would be something like a 10% or 15% increase.
Mr. Hanson also mentioned that the county board would be looking at appointed department heads.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Mr. Gary Hanson, County Administrator, then gave his report to the committee. He said that earlier that day he had held a new county board orientation in conference room east. He said that all seven new county board members attended.
He also mentioned that the Home Care Division of the Health Department has been sold. There is now space that needs to be rented so he is working with the Health Department on that. The County closed on the McMillian home.
He mentioned that the County has two new department heads that have started with them. The new Public Defender is Mr. Tom McCullough and the new Veteran’s Administration Director is Ms. Tammy Anderson.
Before adjourning, Mary Supple, County Coordinator, told the committee that due to a holiday in February the Executive Committee falls on a holiday so it would need to be scheduled on a different date. She suggested the next evening, Wednesday, February 13, 2013 is also the night of the Economic Development Committee and we could then schedule two meetings on February 13, 2013. She suggested that the Economic Development Committee meeting would be held at 5:30p.m. and then the Executive Committee would start at 7:00p.m.
The committee agreed with this calendar change.
ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Ms. Turner, seconded by Ms. DeFauw, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
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_______________________________ JLM: mcs
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