Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Board met April 11.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

The meeting of the Kankakee County Board, Kankakee, Illinois, held on April 11, 2017, pursuant to the adjourned meeting of September 13, 2016, was called to order at 9:00 a.m., by the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Mulcahy, County Board Member, delivered the invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The following members were present:

Mr. Tripp, Mr. Washington, Jr., Mr. La Gesse, Mr. Stauffenberg, Mr. Vickery, Mr. Hess, Mr. Tholen, Mrs. Polk, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Skutt, Mr. Snipes, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Sirois, Mr. Liehr, Mr. Hildebrand, Mrs. Peters, Mrs. Webber, Mr. Einfeldt, Mr. Payton, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Evans, Ms. Dunbar, Mr. Ritter, Mr. Wheeler

Members Absent-Mr. Olthoff, Mr. Reid

Quorum - Present

Public Commentary - None

Communications -

Mr. Tripp moved to approve a proclamation, proclaiming April 2017 as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Mr. Sirois seconded the motion. Motion carried by voice vote.

Mr. Payton moved to approve a proclamation in Recognition of Bishop McNamara's Fightin' Irish Basketball Team, Mr. Stauffenberg seconded the motion. Motion carried by voice vote.

Presentations - None

Vacancy/Appointment-None

Certificates of Recognition -

5 Years: Brian Gadbois Maintenance

15 Years: Stephanie Beard Circuit Clerk

20 Years: Marla Coxey Circuit Courts

30 Years: Lynn Anderson Circuit Clerk

Minutes of the Last Meeting:

The minutes of the March 14, 2017 county board meeting were submitted to the County Board for approval. The reading of the minutes was waived. Mrs. Parker made a motion to accept the minutes from the March 14, 2017 county board meeting, with a second by Mr. Byrne. Motion carried by a voice vote.

Claims Committee Report:

A motion to approve the claims reports from February 2017 was made by Ms. Dunbar and seconded by Mr. Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with the motion passing 26 ayes to 0 nays. Motion carried.

Department Reports:

The department reports were read and accepted on the motion of Mr. Washington, Jr. and seconded by Mr. Tholen. Motion carried by a voice vote.

1. County Collector's Monthly Report for February 2017

2. County Treasurer's Monthly Reports for February 2017

3. Coroner's Monthly Report for February 2017

4. Coroner's Monthly Receipt of Money for February 2017

5. Circuit Clerk's Monthly Report for February 2017

6. Recorder's Monthly Reports for February 2017

7. County Clerk's Monthly Reports for February 2017

8. Animal Control’s Monthly Reports for February 2017

9. Monthly Building Report for February 2017

10. Monthly Resolutions for March and April 2017

11. Quarterly Report of the Regional Superintendent of Schools of Iroquois and Kankakee Counties, for the Quarter Ending February 28, 2017

Committee Presentations and Resolutions:

Consent Agenda-

Mr. Washington, Jr. made the motion to adopt the consent agenda. Mr. Thofen seconded the motion. Mr. Hendrickson, Chief Deputy Clerk, read the items into the record. Motion carried by a voice vote.

a) Appointment of Beth A. Walther to the Limestone Fire Protection District Board (20)

b) Appointment of Andy Pallissard as Trustee to the Bloom's Grove Cemetery Association (21)

c) Appointment of Dr. Don Daake to the Ethics Commission (22)

d) Appointment of Cynthia Hodge to the Ethics Commission (23)

e) Appointment of Toby (Susan) Olszewski to the Ethics Commission (24)

f) Appointment of Kyle Kraetzer as a Member to the Kankakee Valley Airport Authority (KVAA) (25)

g Reappointment of William H. Bukowski to the Kankakee County Regional Planning Commission (26)

h) Reappointment of Ralph Paarlberg to the Kankakee County Regional Planning Commission (27)

i) Reappointment of David DeYoung to the Zoning Board of Appeals (28)

j) Reappointment of William Hemm to the Zoning Board of Appeals (29)

k) Reappointment of Edwin W. Meents to the Zoning Board of Appeals (30)

I) Declaration and Disposal of Excess Surplus for the Jerome Combs Detention Center (31)

m) Resolution Authorizing the County Board Chairman to Sign an Agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation, State of Illinois, Regarding Administration of Maintenance and Construction Work Approved by the Illinois Department of Transportation (32)

n) Declaration of Highway Department Equipment as Surplus Property (33)

o) Adoption of Increases to Animal Control Fees Based on the Bellwether, LLC Fee Study (34)

p) Adoption of an Animal Control Ordinance Defining "Shelter' and "Bedding' (35)

q) Purchase of Service Agreement with SHOW BUS to Operate the County's Rural General Public Transportation Service - State FY18 (36)

Highway & Buildings:

Mr. McConnell made a motion to waive the reading and adopt the resolution regarding Award of Bids for Public Highway Improvements (37). Mr. Byrne seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the motion passing 26 ayes to 0 nays. Motion carried.

A resolution was read regarding Appropriating County Bridge Funds to Match Pilot Township Road District Local Funds to Construct Two Culverts in Pilot Township (38). Mrs. Peters made a motion to adopt the resolution. Mrs. Evans seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the motion passing 26 ayes to 0 nays. Motion carried.

Planning, Zoning and Agriculture:

Mr. Hess made a motion to waive the reading and adopt the resolution regarding Authorizing Execution and Amendment of Section 5311 Grant Agreement (39). Mr. Johnson seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the motion passing 26 ayes to 0 nays. Motion carried.

Mr. Vickery made a motion to waive the reading and adopt the resolution regarding Resolution Authorizing Execution of Downstate Operating Assistance Grant Agreement (40). Mr. Johnson seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the motion passing 26 ayes to 0 nays. Motion carried.

Finance:

A resolution was read regarding Property Tax Abatement for Tax Year 2016 Payable 2017 to be Abated in Its Entirety (41). Mr. LaGesse made a motion to adopt the resolution. Mr. Johnson seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the motion passing 26 ayes to 0 nays. Motion carried.

A resolution was read regarding Amendment and Extension to the Contract with Country Table to Provide Prisoner Meals at County Detention Facilities (42). Mr. Hess made a motion to adopt the resolution. Mr. Vickery seconded the motion. Mr. Wheeler stated they needed to change ICE inmates to ICE detainees in paragraph three. A roll call vote was taken with the motion passing 26 ayes to 0 nays. Motion carried.

Other Business:

Openings-

There is one opening on the Kankakee County Board of Health

There are two openings on the Kankakee County Board of Review

There is one opening on the Kankakee County Convention & Visitors Bureau

There is one opening on the Kankakee County Farmland Assessment Review Committee

There is one opening on the Kankakee River Valley Forest Preserve District Board

There is one opening on the Kankakee County Housing Authority

There is one opening on the Bourbonnais Fire Protection District

There is one opening on the Cabery Area Fire Protection District

There is one opening on the Essex Township Fire Protection District

There is one opening on the Grant Park Fire Protection District

There is one opening on the Greater Momence Fire Protection District

There is one opening on the Kankakee Township Fire Protection District

There is one opening on the Manteno Community Fire Protection District

There is one opening on the Otto Township Fire Protection District

There is one opening on the Pilot Township Fire Protection District

There is one opening on the St. Anne Fire Protection District

There are nine openings on the Kankakee County Regional Planning Commission

There is one opening on the Kankakee County Zoning Board of Appeals

There are two openings on the Kankakee County Historic Preservation Commission

Old Business - None

New Business-

Mr. McConnell congratulated Mr. and Mrs. Washington, Jr. on their 50" wedding anniversary.

Discussion regarding the Public Safety Sales Tax ensued. Mr. Snipes believed some voters were confused by the referenda question. Mr. Wheeler responded that municipalities rather than the rural communities, who voted for it, Mr. Wheeler stated that they intended to present 2017 budget amendment recommendations along with future year budget estimates because of reduced tax anticipation warrants from local lenders. Mrs. Peters asked about addressing paying down the county’s debts. Mr. Rowe responded that the chairman and the auditor were working long hours to come up with solutions to the debt. Mr. LaGesse stated what bothered him was that all of the townships came to the county board for help with opposing the Great Lakes Basin Railroad, but when the county board proposed the Public Safety Sales Tax, 15 out of 17 townships voted against it. Mr. Payton stated that Pembroke 1 and 2 tried promoting it but he believed they didn't understand it. Mr. Ritter stated after the vote there was hostility towards the board. From what he observed on social media, the county board still had an image problem and needed to reach out and let the public know they were working on this. Mr. Wheeler responded that the question regarding the size of the board was an attempt by the board to reach out to the public. He stated people had a notion that a board member makes $50,000 a year, when in truth the average board member's pay per year was $3,000, assuming they came to every meeting.

Adjournment:

Mr. LaGesse made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 a.m. Mr. Mulcahy seconded the motion. Motion carried by a voice vote.

http://www.co.kankakee.il.us/files/20170509094013.pdf