Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Planning, Zoning and Agriculture Committee met Feb. 23.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Members Present

Mr. Tripp, Mr. Washington, Ms. Polk, Mr. Mulcahy, Ms. Peters, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Hildebrand, Mr. Ritter, and Ms. Dunbar

Members Absent

Mr. Olthoff, Mr. Einfeldt, Mr. Tholen, and Mr. Payton

In Attendance

 Board Members

Mr. Liehr

 Department Heads

Erich Blair, Lori Gadbois, and Delbert Skimerhorn

 Media

Present

1. Call to Order/Roll Call

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

2. Public Comment

Ron Hansen commented on zoning acreage.

3. Approval of Minutes: January 19, 2017

A motion was made by Mr. Washington to approve the minutes, and Ms. Polk seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

4. Building – Delbert Skimerhorn

 Building Report – January 2017

Mr. Skimerhorn reviewed and discussed the building report with the committee.

Mr. Mulcahy made a motion to approve the Building Report and Mr. Hildebrand seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

5. Transportation – Geoff Olson

 Rural Transit Update

Mr. Olson was not in attendance.

Mr. Skimerhorn stated that Mr. Olson had spoken to the committee in January about the transit providers for the rural transit operation. Letters of interest and qualification were sent to 15 local transportation providers to solicit their ability to provide service for FY 2018. They only had one respondent, which was SHOWBUS, their current provider. At the PZA Committee meeting next month, they should have the contracts and agreements prepared for the committee’s approval.

6. GIS – Delbert Skimerhorn

 Supervisor of Assessment Staff

Mr. Skimerhorn stated that, over the course of the last year, he and Mr. Blair have been in discussions on what to do with his mapping technician’s position. The employee who currently holds that position has  indicated that she intends to retire in the next two to three years, and that position is absolutely vital to the future and success of the GIS. This position is where all of the parcel data is created and kept up to date.

They have been talking about what they could do to bring someone in, get them trained and know how to do that particular job. Approximately three weeks ago, Mr. Blair had a different staff member retire, and they thought that, rather than him replacing that person as is, they could possibly try to find someone who could not only do that job, but also train for the mapping position so that they could take over when Mr. Blair’s mapping coordinator retires. They spoke with Chairman Wheeler, who thought that was a good idea. The reason that it’s on this agenda is because GIS reports to this committee. One of the problems they do have is that the current position only pays up to $25,000 a year, and they do not believe they could get someone who has experience in mapping for that kind of money. The GIS fund is willing to contribute up to $15,000 a year, which would bring it up to a maximum of $40,000. They’re hoping not to spend that much, but that is the number they decided on. The GIS fund is paid for by recorder’s fees and does not come out of the general fund at all.

7. GIS Committee Appointments (2 Years)

 County Board

o George Washington, Jr.

o R. Shane Ritter

 Department Heads

o Erich Blair

o Mark Rogers

o Lori Gadbois

 Economic Development

o Timothy Nugent

Mr. Skimerhorn stated that because he just took over GIS in December, he didn’t realize that most of the committee members’ terms expired in January. This committee requires a member from each municipality, therefore, four members. The municipalities appoint their own people and set their own parameters, but the County representatives are appointed by us. There are two County Board members, three department heads, and a representative from the economic development community.

Mr. Hildebrand made a motion to combine the above appointments/reappointments, and Mr. Washington seconded it.

Ms. Polk made a motion to approve the above appointments/reappointments, and Ms. Dunbar seconded it.

Both motions carried with a voice vote.

8. Planning – Delbert Skimerhorn

 Solid Waste Management Plan

Mr. Skimerhorn stated that the Solid Waste Management Plan was adopted in 2012. This plan must be readopted and submitted to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEP) every five years, so he is asking that the committee pass the plan as is, with the landfill moratorium in place for another five years.

What they intend to do is have this one renewed, then turn it over to the Regional Planning Commission for them to review, and update the statistics and demographics section of the plan. When that is complete, it will come back to this committee for re-adoption. By adopting it now, they will satisfy the IEPA’s requirement of every five years.

Mr. Byrne made a motion to approve the Solid Waste Plan as presented, and to extend the moratorium on landfills for five years, and Ms. Dunbar seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

 2017 Zoning Map

Mr. Skimerhorn stated that the County has had a zoning map in place since 1967. The ordinance states that a zoning change does not take effect until the Planning Director places it on the official zoning map.

Every year, since 2000, they present the committee with a new zoning map that shows the changes that have occurred in the previous year. Once approved, it will be signed by the County Board Chairman and the County Clerk as proof that it is the official map. He showed the committee the map in a PowerPoint presentation.

Mr. Washington made a motion to approve the 2017 zoning map, and Ms. Polk seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

 11 Openings on the Kankakee County Regional Planning Commission

 4 Openings on the Kankakee County Zoning Board of Appeals

 2 Openings on the Kankakee County Historic Preservation Commission

Mr. Skimerhorn announced the above openings to the committee.

8. Old Business

9. New Business

10. Adjournment