Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Planning, Zoning and Agriculture Committee met July 19.

Here is the minutes as provided by the committee:

Members Present

Mr. Olthoff, Mr. Washington, Ms. Polk, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Payton, and Ms. Dunbar

Members Absent

Mr. Tripp, Mr. Einfeldt, Mr. Tholen, Ms. Peters, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Hildebrand, and Mr. Ritter

In Attendance

 Board Members

Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Liehr

 Department Heads

Delbert Skimerhorn

 Media

None

1. Call to Order/Roll Call

The meeting was called to order by the Committee Chairman, Mr. Olthoff, at 9:05 a.m. Quorum present.

2. Public Comment

None.

3. Approval of Minutes: June 22, 2017

A motion was made by Ms. Dunbar to approve the minutes, and Mr. Washington seconded it.

Motion carried with a voice vote.

4. Building – Delbert Skimerhorn

 Building Report – June 2017

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

Mr. Mulcahy made a motion to approve the building report, and Mr. Payton seconded it. Motion

carried with a voice vote.

 Soil & Water Conservation District Agreement – Discussion

Mr. Skimerhorn stated that, since 2007, the County has had an agreement with the Kankakee County

Soil & Water Conversation District (SWCD) to perform their erosion and sediment control functions for

building permits. The agreement is supposed to be approved every year, but the last one we approved

was in 2011 or 2012, so we haven’t had one. About a year and a half ago, the employee at the SWCD

who did those left, and we haven’t had anyone to do them anyway. Our staff has been doing them. What

he is asking before he sends this to the State’s Attorney and start going through the motion is: Do we want

to keep this in-house and have our staff do it, or do we want to look into an agreement with the SWCD?

They do have a person on staff now who is part-time, but they are willing to do it.

Mr. Olthoff asked if there is a reason why we wouldn’t have them do it.

Mr. Skimerhorn stated that we’re doing the erosion and sediment control plans for those permits and we’re

keeping the $100 fee for each one we do. Even in good times, the average was about maybe $7,000-

$8,000 a year in fees. This year, it’s only $700 or $800.

Mr. Wheeler asked if there was an expense cost analysis. Does the $100 cover our costs?

Planning, Zoning, and Agriculture

Mr. Skimerhorn stated that we make enough, and, in fact, we make more than the SWCD does because

part of it involves an inspection and we’re already out there. His concern is that when things pick up and

we get busy, will we still have the time to do it. There’s no cost to us to have them do it other than the lost

revenue that we have gotten for the last year and a half.

Mr. Wheeler asked if it’s an all or nothing. Either they do it all or we send them the ones we can’t get to.

Mr. Skimerhorn stated he thinks it’s an all or nothing. It’s part of the employee’s duties, and he’s not sure

they can keep her on staff if they don’t get this.

Mr. Olthoff asked if Mr. Skimerhorn was told that.

Mr. Skimerhorn stated no, but that’s his impression of it, that they’re looking at this to fund part of her

salary.

Ms. Dunbar asked what Mr. Skimerhorn’s recommendation would be.

Mr. Skimerhorn stated that our income off of it right now is minimal, but he would like to have everything in

place for when building permits finally pick up again and get back to the levels they were in 2011. We

could hold off on it, but he thinks we’re going to need it. His recommendation is that we sign it. The

agreement will have to be worked out, and run by the State’s Attorney’s office for review, but then will

come back to this board.

Mr. Olthoff stated why don’t we keep doing it until we see a necessity to make a switch, and see what

happens with the SWCD.

Mr. Wheeler made a motion to keep doing the erosion and sediment control functions, and Mr.

Payton seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

 FEMA Buyout Grant

Mr. Skimerhorn stated that roughly a year and a half ago, we asked this committee’s permission to seek

funding to buy out one of our severe repetitive loss properties over on River Lane in Aroma Township, and

the committee approved our application. He just wanted to announce that FEMA actually approved the

grant, so we should be receiving it in about 30 days.

Mr. Wheeler asked if Mr. Skimerhorn could explain the financial arrangement as to how that works.

Mr. Skimerhorn stated that there is no local match because it’s severe repetitive loss so FEMA pays 100%

of it. They pay for the demolition of the building. They purchase the property. They’re paying for removal

of trees, the septic system, capping of the well, and basically returning the site back to a vacant lot. We

actually get to charge an administrative cost of about $3,000, for administering the grant.

Mr. Washington asked if this is a flood way or flood plain.

Mr. Skimerhorn stated that it’s a flood way, and severe. The issue has always been that the County will

own the property when it’s done and we will be responsible to insure it and maintain it for liability purposes.

Planning, Zoning, and Agriculture

5. Transportation

 FHWA Review

Mr. Skimerhorn stated that back in February of this year, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and

some members from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) reviewed our program like they do

every four years to make sure they we are in compliance, and that we’re doing what we’re supposed to be

doing.

He showed a PowerPoint presentation to the committee giving them the background on the Metropolitan

Planning Organization (MPO), and followed with the review from FHWA and IDOT. He then discussed and

reviewed it with the committee.

 Transportation Intergovernmental Grant Agreement FY2018

Geoff Olson stated that last week the transportation grant agreement from IDOT was received and, as

previously requested, it was sent out to the committee members so it could be reviewed before sending it

to the County Board.

6. Old Business

None.

7. New Business

None.

8. Adjournment

Mr. Mulcahy made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:36 a.m., and it was seconded by Mr. Payton.

Motion carried.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSZVYZTze74&list=RDj2WWrupMBAE&index=4