Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Criminal Justice Committee met Feb. 14.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Members Present

Mr. Byrne, Mr. Washington, Mr. Vickery, Mr. Stauffenberg, Mr. Snipes, Mr. Sirois, Ms. Evans, Mr. Payton, Ms. Dunbar, Ms. Parker, and Mr. Fairfield Members Absent Mr. Hess, Mr. LaGesse, Mr. Tholen, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Skutt, and Mr. Einfeldt In Attendance

• Board Members

Mr. Liehr

• Department Heads

Sheriff Mike Downey, Jim Rowe, Bob Gessner, Tom Latham, Kevin Duval, and Sandi Cianci Media Present

1. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by the Committee Chairman, Mr. Byrne, at 7:30 a.m.

2. Public Comment None

3. Approval of Minutes: December 13, 2017

Mr. Sirois made a motion to approve the minutes, and Mr. Vickery seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

4. Judicial - Chief Judge Michael Kramer

Chief Judge Kramer was not present.

5. Circuit Clerk’s Office - Sandi Cianci

\• Monthly Reports

Mr. Sirois made a motion to combine and approve the reports, and Mr. Payton seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. Ms. Cianci reviewed and discussed the reports with the committee.

• Computerization Update

Ms. Cianci reviewed and discussed the computerization update with the committee.

6. Public Defender’s Office - Gus Regas

• Monthly Reports

Mr. Vickery made a motion to combine and approve the reports, and Mr. Sirois seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. Mr. Regas was not present.

7. Probation Department - Tom Latham

• Monthly Reports Ms. Parker made a motion to combine and approve the reports, and Mr. Sirois seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. Mr. Latham reviewed and discussed the reports with the committee.

8. State’s Attorney’s Office - Jim Rowe

• Grand Jury Reports Mr. Rowe reviewed and discussed the reports with the committee. Ms. Evans made a motion to combine and approve the reports, and Mr. Payton seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

• Setting the Number of Assistant State’s Attorneys the State’s Attorney’s Office is Authorized to Hire Mr. Rowe stated that he is asking the board to set the number to 17. They currently have 16 Assistant State’s Attorneys. They are not hiring another person now, but would like to have the leeway if they need to train a new attorney. Mr. Sirois made a motion to approve setting the number of Assistant State’s Attorneys the State’s Attorney’s Office is Authorized to Hire at 17, and Mr. Snipes seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

• Report on Sealing Clinic and Warrant Forgiveness Clinic

Mr. Rowe stated that 216 people attend the Sealing Clinic, thanks to Pastor Montele Crawford of Morning Star Baptist Church. He was hoping for a better turnout at the Warrant Forgiveness Clinic, as there are about 5,000 outstanding warrants. They had a little over 100 people in attendance.

Mr. Rowe stated that there is an Executive Session listed on the agenda, but the committee does not need to go into session, as there were only three meetings where there were sealed minutes. The closed minutes from the three meetings held on November 17, 2015, January 19, 2016, and August 16, 2016, may be released in their entirety.

9. Coroner’s Office - Bob Gessner

• Monthly Reports

• Monthly Receipts of Money

Mr. Gessner reviewed and discussed the reports with the committee. Ms. Dunbar made a motion to combine and approve the monthly reports, and Ms. Parker seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Gessner stated that there are new drugs in the county, including methoxyacetylfentanyl. They are having an increase of overdoses at hotels.

Mr. Gessner stated that, on May 8th, Tim Ryan is returning to the area for another forum at Olivet, entitled “Cop vs. Convict”.

10. Sheriff/EMA Department - Sheriff Mike Downey

• Monthly Report Mr. Washington made a motion to approve the report, and Mr. Fairfield seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. Sheriff Downey reviewed and discussed the report with the committee.

• ICE Update Sheriff Downey reviewed the ICE update with the committee.

• Annual Report Sheriff Downey stated that the annual report was too large to email, so they will reduce the number of pages and send it out soon.

• Staffing Sheriff Downey stated that they currently have 43 deputies, and he is hoping to hire two more.

Mr. Vickery asked what full staff would be for corrections.

Sheriff Downey stated that they are currently at 122, and they are anticipating 130 to 135 at the most.

• Paylocity Issues (Information Only)

Sheriff Downey stated that they have issues with the system erasing the schedules of the officers. The system does not keep track of comp time, so they have to keep track of it themselves manually. When payroll is submitted, the system is locked down for 24 hours. Mr. Snipes made a motion to move the Paylocity issue to the Executive Committee, and Mr. Liehr seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

• Vehicle Request/Maintenance Update

Sheriff Downey stated that they were previously authorized to lease 11 more vehicles, but they were asked to wait until the fourth quarter to lease them. That means that the vehicles will not on be on the road until April or May of 2019. In December of 2017 and January 2018, they spent $32,000 on repairs, which is equal to a lease payment. They are requesting that the committee consider moving the vehicle purchase date up. He will get the pricing information together. Ms. Dunbar made a motion to move the vehicle request to the Finance Committee, and Mr. Fairfield seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

11. Old Business/New Business

• EXECUTIVE SESSION: - Review of Executive Session Minutes 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21) The executive session was not held, but was discussed earlier during the State’s Attorney’s portion of the meeting.

12. Adjournment

Mr. Sirois made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:06 a.m., and Mr. Snipes seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

http://www.co.kankakee.il.us/files/committees/criminal_justice_21418.pdf