Kankakee Times

The Kankakee County Planning, Zoning and Agriculture Board met April 20 to adopt the 2015 zoning map.

Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the board:

Planning, Zoning, and Agriculture Committee Meeting April 20, 2016

MINUTES

Members Present Mr. Olthoff, Mr. Washington, Mr. Einfeldt, Mr. James, Mr. Vickery, Ms. Polk, Mr. Tripp, Mr. Tholen, and Mr. Mulcahy Members Absent Mr. Liehr, Mr. Reid, and Ms. Evans In Attendance

• Board Members Mr. Bossert, Mr. Byrne, and Mr. Wheeler

• Department Heads None

• Media None

1. Call to Order/Roll Call

The meeting was called to order by the Committee Chairman, Mr. Olthoff, at 9:00 a.m. Quorum present.

2. Public Comment

• Dana Meyer commented on ZBA Case #15-15.

• Tom Rosan commented on ZBA Case #15-15.

• Cynthia Sidener commented on ZBA Case #15-15.

3. Approval of Minutes – February 17, 2016

Not completed.

4. Building

• Building Reports – February 2016 and March 2016 Delbert Skimerhorn stated that, in February, they issued 21permits for new houses and an additional two permits for commercial properties, with a valuation of $1.7 million. They collected fees of $11,222.95. For March, they issued permits for 49 homes, one commercial, and four agricultural, with $10,655 collected in fees and a valuation of $1.2 million.

Mr. Vickery made a motion to approve the Building Reports and Mr. Tholen seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

5. GIS

• Presentation of New GIS System Mr. Skimerhorn discussed with the committee an overview of the new online GIS system for the County, which can be found at k3gis.com.

6. Zoning

• 2016 Zoning Map Mr. Skimerhorn stated that each year they ask this committee and the County Board to review the zoning cases from the previous year, and to re-adopt the zoning map. In 2015, they had 15 zoning cases, which amounted to eight rezoning, four special use permits, two variances, one text amendment, and 11 farmstead exemptions.

Mr. James made a motion to adopt the 2015 zoning map, and Mr. Tholen seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

• ZBA Case#15-15; Request for a Rezoning from R1-Single Family Residential District to A2- Agricultural Estates District on a Parcel Generally Situated in Section 16 of Limestone Township. The Petitioners are Gene R. & Cynthia L. Sidener, Property Owners and Applicants Mr. Skimerhorn stated that this is the second time this matter is before this committee as it was previously heard at the February meeting. Based on a complaint from a neighbor, the Sideners were cited on September 3, 2015, for keeping a truck over one ton capacity on the property. On October 26, 2015, they submitted an application to rezone the property from R1 to A2. A2 zoning does allow trucks over one ton capacity, provided they are kept inside a closed building. Mr. Sidener testified that he kept the truck on the property since the pole barn was built in 2006, and the truck is kept inside the pole barn. He also testified that the truck is a tanker, and that it arrives on the property empty, with only residue in the tank. The tanker hauls antifreeze, placard # 3082, a Class 6 hazardous material, brake fluid, which was never discussed as to what its’ placard number was, and styrene, placard #2055, a Class 3 hazardous material. Public hearings were held on November 16, 2015, December 21, 2015, and January 18, 2016. There were four objectors present at those meetings. At the January 18 meeting, a motion was made to approve the re-zoning request. The vote was one aye and three nays to approve. As four concurring votes are required, this comes to the committee with no recommendation.

Mr. Tholen made a motion to approve the zoning request and Mr. Vickery seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 7 ayes and 2 nays. Voting aye were Mr. Tripp, Mr. Vickery, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Tholen, Mr. Einfeldt, Mr. Washington, and Ms. Polk. Voting nay were Mr. Olthoff and Mr. James. Mr. Bossert abstained.

7. Transportation

• 2017 Rural Transit Service Geoff Olson reminded the committee that Kankakee County is the grantee for rural transportation, and currently have their contract with SHOWBUS. The majority of the funding received is from federal and State grants. There are currently 16 buses, and they just received six last fall and another one earlier this month, so they now have ten buses that are less than five years old. Each spring, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) administers the applications to continue to provide rural transportation. This year, from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the County has been apportioned $166,698 for rural transportation, and then the State, through IDOT, with the Downstate Operating Assistance Program (DOAP), has allocated up to $873,500. For fares this year, they’re expected to collect up to $30,000, and then $113,500 in service contract, with a local share of $30,000. Back to 2006, the County had paid as much as $37,131 as a local match. In 2008, the State of Illinois introduced DOAP, and that was able to help the County’s required match to use the Federal dollars to provide transportation. Up to 2008, the County’s local match was about 12%-16% of the entire program total. After the introduction of DOAP in 2008, there was some left over revenue that was used to carry the County forward, as well with money that was budgeted in 2009-2010. There was about $20,000 from 2009-2010, with excess from 2008, and that’s carried the County forward up until mid-2014, when that ran out. SHOWBUS has been very generous since then, and has picked up the excess funds needed to finish up 2014, and has also provided the local share for Kankakee County for 2015 and 2016. This year, we’re going to have to go back to the County to come up with the local share as SHOWBUS is not going to be able to carry us on that any more. The local match, aside from being able to provide the transit for residents, also shows IDOT and the FTA that we do have a genuine interest in providing the service for our residents. Further, the legislature could possibly change the law and put caps on the downstate operating fund. They tried doing a financial cap last year through the comptroller’s office, and that would reflect any funding amount we’ve used in the previous fiscal year. If we’re not using all of our DOAP funding, and they put a cap on that, we would never see that additional funding in the future. Right now, we’re using about 50% of what we’re eligible to use. That’s a combination of local match, but also the service level that we’re providing. As far as the combined Section 5311 and the Downstate Operating Assistance Program, he’s asking for a motion for Chairman Bossert to authorize that contract and application.

Mr. Washington made a motion for the County Board Chairman to sign the Section 5311 Rural/Downstate Operating Assistance Application with the Illinois Department of Transportation, and Mr. Mulcahy seconded it.

Discussion:

Mr. Bossert stated that regarding the suggested local match of $30,000, we haven’t put up any local match over the last five or six years. This would be an adjustment that would have to be made in the Planning Department to increase their budget to have money available for that local match. That decision is not being made today, but is part of the plan to make that part of the overall picture. SHOWBUS is in desperate need of some additional local funds, and they have been good enough to basically carry us over the last number of years, but that day has come to an end.

Mr. Olthoff asked where the $30,000 is coming from.

Mr. Bossert stated that it has come out of the Planning Department budget, general fund. There is no special fund for it.

Mr. Olson stated that a local match hasn’t been put forth by the County since September 2009. The program total for all rural transit in the County was $682,000. Based off of that, if the County put up $30,000, that’s 4.4% of the entire program total. The other 95.6% is all Federal and State grant funding that we receive.

Mr. Olthoff asked if the local match of $30,000 that is being requested is not paid, what does that do to SHOWBUS.

Laura Dick from SHOWBUS was present and stated that the first few quarters gives some breathing room because, by design, the Federal money is first pulled down and matched by the State, and then you’re allowed to use up to 65% of DOAP money to cover expenses. At some point, you have to balance the books. If the County doesn’t think they will have the money to convince the auditor and IDOT that they have the match, they won’t be happy. If SHOWBUS is not relatively sure that they’re going to have that local match toward the end of the year, they’ll have to start cutting services. Her Board is totally committed to trying to maintain levels of service, but they are also aware there is a tremendous amount of pressure out there with funding, and they can’t continue to hope that service contracts come up when they know social service agencies are actually getting deeper in trouble. That’s the problem for them. If they don’t have some kind of hope of commitment, they’re looking at incredibly significant cuts. It’s not only the $30,000; it’s the match with it, which brings it to almost $85,000.

Mr. Olthoff stated that he appreciates what SHOWBUS does, but the County has to have some contributions from Bourbonnais, Momence, Manteno – wherever the service is –why does this rest just on the County?

Mr. Olson stated that they do receive some donations from various townships in the County.

Mr. Bossert stated that the municipalities, at least in the urbanized areas, all put up a local match for the urbanized area transit system. There is significant contribution there. We contribute to that one as well.

Mr. Olthoff asked Ms. Dick what happens if the $30,000 doesn’t come.

Ms. Dick stated that they are already under quarterly review by the bank for the line of credit because the bank sees what they’ve been doing, and that is running at a loss. The bank is very concerned because SHOWBUS is federally and State funded, and the State is a big question mark. They are under intense scrutiny if they cannot prove that they have that money and will not be incurring another loss. Her board is completely committed to not cutting services because there isn’t anywhere to cut that doesn’t hurt someone. It is becoming increasingly difficult to continue to provide services, but she really can’t answer Mr. Olthoff’s question.

Original motion carried with a roll call vote of 10 ayes. Voting aye were Mr. Tripp, Mr. Vickery, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Tholen, Mr. Einfeldt, Mr. Washington, Ms. Polk, Mr. Olthoff, Mr. James, and Mr. Bossert.

• Purchase of Service Agreement with SHOWBUS Mr. Olson stated that SHOWBUS has been our provider since approximately 1999. In January, he sent out letters regularly sent to transportation providers in the County, and SHOWBUS was the only entity that responded back. He is asking for a motion to have Chairman Bossert sign the Service Agreement with SHOWBUS.

Mr. Tripp made a motion for the County Board Chairman to sign the Purchase of Service Agreement with SHOWBUS, and Ms. Polk seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 10 ayes. Voting aye were Mr. Tripp, Mr. Vickery, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Tholen, Mr. Einfeldt, Mr. Washington, Ms. Polk, Mr. Olthoff, Mr. James, and Mr. Bossert.

• CVP Grant Application Mr. Olson stated that this grant is the Consolidated Vehicle Procurement (CVP) program that IDOT administers. This is how we have been able to get all of our new buses. We have a bus from 2011 that we are putting in for application to receive a new bus.

Mr. Tripp made a motion approving the application for a CVP grant, and Mr. James seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

• New MPO/Planning Staff Mr. Olson stated that he is the only full-time staff member for MPO. They were originally budgeted for up to two staff members, so he is asking for approval to hire one.

Mr. Bossert stated that there’s an expectation on the part of the Federal Highway, who is giving us the grant to run MPO, that we provide manpower to perform a plan of work and, if we don’t provide staffing to do those things, we could be in trouble. We have to maintain that level of service. The positions are budgeted in the department, and there is funding actually coming in to support those positions.

Mr. Olson stated that, after the last month and a half, he would be leaning more toward the planner position rather than the technical assistant. Also, 80% of what it costs the County to employ that person is reimbursed by the FTA and FHW. The County’s only portion of that is 20%. The qualifications are a minimum of a four year degree in planning or a geography related field.

Mr. Vickery made a motion approving the hiring of a new MPO/Planning staff member, and Ms. Polk seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 10 ayes. Voting aye were Mr. Tripp, Mr. Vickery, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Tholen, Mr. Einfeldt, Mr. Washington, Ms. Polk, Mr. Olthoff, Mr. James, and Mr. Bossert.

8. Old Business

9. New Business

10. Adjournment

A motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:06 a.m. was made by Mr. Vickery, and seconded by Mr. Mulcahy. Motion carried.

Bill Olthoff, Committee Chairman Diane Owens, Executive Coordinator