Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Planning, Zoning and Agriculture Committee met Oct. 18.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Members Present

Mr. Olthoff, Mr. Stauffenberg, Mr. Tripp, Mr. Washington, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Payton, Ms. Peters, Mr. Hildebrand, Ms. Polk, and Mr. Kinzinger

Members Absent

Mr. Tholen, Mr. Einfeldt, and Mr. Ritter

In Attendance

 Board Members

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 9:00 a.m. Quorum present.

2. Public Comment

None

3. Approval of Minutes: September 20, 2017

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

Motion carried with a voice vote.

4. Building - Delbert Skimerhorn

 Building Reports: August 2017 and September 2017

Mr. Mulcahy made a motion to approve the reports, and Mr. Payton seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

 Contractor Registration Program - Presentation

Mr. Skimerhorn stated that all contractors are registered by the County, but the County does not license contractors as this is done at the state level (roofers, plumbers, and fire alarm contractors). All contractors doing work need a permit and are required to be registered. Home owners, unpaid friends, and family members of a home owner are not required to be registered. The fee to a contractor is $100 yearly and requires the contractor to carry a $10,000 surety bond, liability insurance of $1 million, property damage liability of $50,000, and workman’s comp of $100,000. The County provides the registration process for Bradley and Bourbonnais. Kankakee started their own registration process last month, and Manteno has their own registration as well. There are approximately 850 registrations per year and that generates revenue of approximately $84,000 per year. The initial concept of registration is to provide protection to home and property owners through ensuring that the contractors are insured and bonded. The $100 fee was enacted in 2000, and has not increased. Surrounding counties are collecting a minimum of 50% more for registration fees. He proposed increasing the fee to $200 and using the additional revenue to fund one full-time Assistant Planner ($40,000-$50,000 per year) and one part-time Permit Technician ($11-$12 per hour). In 2006, the department had 17 full-time staff members, and currently they have 5.5 staff members.

Ms. Peters suggested a Bellwether study.

Mr. Kinzinger is opposed to raising the fee and suggested up-to-date software to take some of the burden off of current staff.

Mr. Skimerhorn stated that the fee funds the program administration. In 2000, when we started this, we actually hired a position for a contractor registration person. That person was laid off sometime around 2007 because of the County’s financial issues. The entire registration process was taken on by our parttime clerical person and our office manager, so just more duties added onto their job descriptions.

 Board of Examiners and Appeals - Presentation

Mr. Skimerhorn explained the purpose of the Board of Examiners and Appeals is to recommend amendments to the building code to the County Board, hear appeals, and review decisions of the building division of the Planning Department. The recommendations are submitted to the County Board and they then decide the final outcome of the recommendations. The Board consists of six members, including one electrician, one plumber, one civil engineer, one architect, one residential contractor, and one commercial contractor. Members are appointed for three years, and June 2017 was the last appointment. Currently the Board has an opening for one commercial contractor. David Tyson is the current chairman, and the Board meets the third Monday of the month at 4:00 p.m., or as needed.

 Stormwater/MS4 Program Discussion

Mr. Skimerhorn answered Ms. Dunbar’s question from last month’s meeting that the MS4 in the Stormwater/MS4 label is an abbreviation for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems. No one had anything to discuss in relation to this issue. 5. Transportation – Geoff Olson

 FTA Section 5311 (F); Intercity Bus Program – Application

Mr. Olson stated that, if the County is awarded the grant, it would allow access to state grant funds with no match requirements by the County. Also, if awarded the grant, the funds would be used to build two bus shelters. One would be built in Momence and one in Sun River Terrace. In addition, funds would also be used to add routes to the Greyhound station. Total cost for the project is estimated at $25,000 and funds are anticipated through both Federal ($14,000) and State ($11,000) monies. Because the County would be building shelters, they would be owned by the County and an agreement with the municipalities would be in order.

Mr. Payton asked for ridership numbers on the Hopkins Park route.

Ms. Peters stated that she is also interested in overall ridership numbers.

Mr. Olson stated that he will return at the next meeting with specific ridership statistics for Hopkins Park and that, for FY2017, there were approximately 32,000 rides provided by the transportation system.

6. Old Business

None

7. New Business

None

8. Adjournment

Ms. Peters made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:36 a.m., and Mr. Mulcahy seconded it.

Motion carried with a voice vote.

http://www.co.kankakee.il.us/files/committees/pza_101817.pdf