Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Finance Committee met Sept. 27.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Members Present

Mr. LaGesse, Mr. Vickery, Mr. Washington, Mr. Stauffenberg, Mr. Hess, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Sirois, Ms. Webber, Ms. Dunbar, and Mr. Kinzinger

Members Absent

Mr. Skutt, Mr. Hildebrand, Mr. Payton, Mr. Ritter, and Mr. Duda

In Attendance

 Board Members

Mr. Liehr

Department Heads

Mark Rogers, Nick Africano, Jake Lee, Sandi Cianci, Erich Blair, Tom Latham, Bob Gessner, Brian Gadbois, Lori Gadbois, Gus Regas, Steve McCarty, and Sheriff Mike Downey

Media

Present

1. Call to Order

 Roll Call

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

Quorum present.

2. Public Comment

None

3. Presentation

None

4. Approval of Minutes: August 23, 2017

The minutes were not ready.

5. County Auditor’s Office – Jake Lee

 Monthly Claims

Mr. Washington made a motion to combine and approve the monthly claims, and Mr. Sirois seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 11 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were Mr. LaGesse, Mr. Vickery, Mr. Washington, Mr. Stauffenberg, Mr. Hess, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Sirois, Ms. Webber, Ms. Dunbar, Mr. Kinzinger, and Mr. Liehr.

Mr. Lee reviewed and discussed the monthly claims with the committee.

6. Insurance/HR - Lynn Mackin

 Staffing Levels Report

Ms. Mackin reviewed and discussed the report with the committee. The current staff level is at 504.

7. Treasurer - Nick Africano

 County Treasurer’s Report – August 2017

 County Collector’s Report – August 2017

 Monthly Resolutions for October 2017

Mr. Vickery made a motion to combine and approve the reports and monthly resolutions, and Mr. Sirois seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Africano stated that the tax auction was September 19th and 149 properties were sold. There was approximately 15% more in revenue over last year which netted an approximate increase of $112,000. There will be three more distributions of tax revenue on October 5th , November 2nd, and November 30th.

 Minimum Bid on Tax Sale

Mr. Africano stated that they met with the trustees about how to get more revenue from delinquent properties. They proposed raising the minimum bid from $600 to $750. During the last tax auction, there were 40 properties which sold at minimum bid. If the minimum bid would have been $750, as opposed to $600, the County would have taken in an approximate additional $7,000.

Mr. Vickery made a motion to raise the minimum bid at tax sale from $600 to $750, and Mr. Kinzinger seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Ms. Dunbar asked how many of the minimum bid properties sold were empty lots.

Mr. Africano stated he did not have that number but could get it and report back at the next meeting.

Ms. Dunbar stated that the empty lots are the most difficult to sell and inquired as to whether or not there could be a different, lesser, minimum amount attached to the sale of empty lots.

Mr. Africano agreed there are many land vacant lots and he would discuss this with the trustees and report back to the committee regarding this situation. The larger question is how to make the properties more attractive to potential buyers, other than a low minimum bid. In the interim, the minimum needs to increase.

8. Finance Department - Steve McCarty

 Miscellaneous Financial Reports & Discussion

Mr. McCarty reviewed and discussed the reports with the committee.

 Cash Flow Update

Mr. McCarty reviewed and discussed the update with the committee.

 Tax Year 2017 Levy Request

Mr. Vickery made a motion to approve the levy request, and Mr. Washington seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 11 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were Mr. LaGesse, Mr. Vickery, Mr. Washington, Mr. Stauffenberg, Mr. Hess, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Sirois, Ms. Webber, Ms. Dunbar, Mr. Kinzinger, and Mr. Liehr.

Mr. McCarty discussed the appraisal of the River Valley Juvenile Detention/Justice Center in Joliet. The County co-owns the property with Will County. Kankakee County owns 25% of the property and may be interested in selling the 25% to Will County.

9. Sheriff’s Department - Sheriff Mike Downey

 Monthly Update

Sheriff Downey stated that the County presently has 156 ICE detainees, the highest number they have housed at once yet. The income from the detainees is approximately $23,000- $25,000 per day, less expenses. Federal inmates currently being held by the County include 112 from Chicago, 20 from Indiana, 10 from Central Illinois, and 19 from Cook County. The number of local beds filled at this time is approximately 250. The total number of beds downtown is 240 and 468 at Jerome Combs.

Sheriff Downey stated that they are looking into completing Phase III of the jail to include an outdoor recreation area for detainees and inmates. The Department is exploring ways to finish the phase without using County monies.

Sheriff Downey informed the committee that Senate Bill 21 has been signed by the Governor. Many believe this makes Illinois a sanctuary state. This is not true and it should not affect the number of ICE detainees housed at the County.

Sheriff Downey stated that he is hoping to have two new deputies hired by this time next month. The Department may be losing three deputies in 2018 due to retirement.

10. Other Business

 Staffing Request for Public Defender’s Office – Gus Regas

Mr. Regas stated that Mr. Rowe plans on increasing his felony cases by approximately 50%, which, in turn, increases the Public Defender’s caseload. He needs additional staff to assist with the increase. If not, the County may have to hire outside counsel. He does not want the assistant public defenders to become overwhelmed and wants to maintain standards. He would like to propose the hiring of a full-time administrative assistant and two part-time investigators to assist with the increase in caseload.

Mr. Liehr made a motion to approve the hiring of a full-time administrative assistant and two part-time investigators for the Public Defender’s Office, pending Chairman Wheeler’s approval, and Ms. Dunbar seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 11 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were Mr. LaGesse, Mr. Vickery, Mr. Washington, Mr. Stauffenberg, Mr. Hess, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Sirois, Ms. Webber, Ms. Dunbar, Mr. Kinzinger, and Mr. Liehr.

11. Old/New Business

None

12. Adjournment

Mr. Mulcahy made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:30 a.m., and Mr. Hess seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

http://www.co.kankakee.il.us/files/committees/finance_927171.pdf