Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Community Service Committee met Oct. 15.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

Members Present

MINUTES

Ms. Webber, Ms. Parker, Ms. Polk, Mr. Snipes, Ms. Peters, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Fetherling and Mr. Swanson

Members Absent

Mr. LaGesse, Ms. Dunbar, Ms. Zuccollo, Mr. Zenz and Mr. Carrico

In Attendance

 Board Members

Mr. Sirois

 Department Heads

Julie Boudreau, Dan Hendrickson, Erich Blair, Lori Gadbois, Anita Speckman, Ben Wilson, Delbert Skimerhorn and Nancy Nicholson

 Media None

1. CalltoOrder/RollCall

The meeting was called to order by the Committee Chairperson, Ms. Webber, at 9:00 a.m. Quorum present.

2. Public Comment

Jen Chapman, Bourbonnais – Ms. Chapman spoke regarding the over population of cats in the area.

3. Approval of Minutes: September 17, 2019

Ms. Parker made a motion to approve the minutes and Ms. Polk seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

4. County Clerk – Dan Hendrickson

 Monthly Report

Ms. Webber advised that Mr. Hendrickson was unable to attend the meeting today.

Ms. Polk made a motion to approve the monthly report, and Mr. Ekhoff seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

5. Assessor – Erich Blair  Monthly Report

Ms. Peters made a motion to approve the monthly report, and Mr. Swanson seconded it. Motion carried with voice vote.

Mr. Blair reviewed and discussed the report with the committee.

Mr. Blair advised the committee that the Board of Review will start to hold meetings on the appeals that were received.

Mr. Sirois asked about the EAV for the county and what equalization is.

Mr. Blair explained the process of equalization and how the formula is figured. Mr. Sirois asked if the property values will increase for our area.

Mr. Blair confirmed that is very likely.

 Board of Review Salary Discussion

Mr. Blair advised that the members of the Board of Review have not had an increase in their pay in about 7 years. Mr. Blair asked for approval from the committee to send to finance for a 2.5% increase. It’s a total change of $700 for the pay increase.

Mr. Sirois made the motion to recommend the 2.5% increase as the amount is in the Assessor’s Budget, and Ms. Peters seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

6. Recorder – Lori Gadbois 

• MonthlyReports

Mr. Fetherling made a motion to approve the monthly report, and Mr. Fairfield seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

There were no questions or comments from the committee.

Ms. Gadbois reviewed the report with the committee.

Ms. Gadbois has bids out on a new scanner for her office and she is working through that now.

7. Animal Control – Julie Boudreau

Ms. Boudreau reviewed and discussed the report with the committee.

Ms. Webber distributed maps of the various townships for the committee to review and discuss which areas have agreements with Animal Control.

• Monthly Report

Mr. Snipes made a motion to approve the monthly report, and Mr. Swanson seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Ms. Boudreau reviewed and discussed the report with the committee.

• Monthly Statistical Data

Ms. Boudreau reviewed and discussed the statistics with the committee.

Community Services Committee Meeting October 15, 2019

8. Animal Welfare Advisory Committee – Tinker Parker  Monthly Update

Ms. Parker updated the committee on the progress of AWAC.

 Amending Section 10-9 of the Kankakee County Code – Inhumane or Cruel Treatment

Ms. Parker reviewed the amendments and advised that the State’s Attorney’s Office has reviewed the document changes.

Mr. Snipes asked about the measurement that will be used to determine cruel treatment.

Ms. Nicholson advised that the ordinance is written from state statute language and taken from the state laws. This is an expansion of the statutory language. A lot of this is at the discretion of the Animal Officer and the purpose of this is compliance.

Ms. Webber stated that AWAC voted 7-0 to approve this amendment to Section 10-9 of the Kankakee County Code.

Ms. Peters voiced concern over fees that an owner could accrue that causes hardship for them. Ms. Nicholson advised that this ordinance is to establish compliance.

Officer Griffiths gave examples of how judgement is used with each specific situation. Officer Griffiths advised that the goal is to educate and compliancy.

Ms. Snipes asked about the jurisdiction that the county has with animals.

Ms. Parker advised that as of right now, it is the same jurisdiction that we have always had.

Mr. Snipes asked if that will change once the Sheriff manages Animal Control.

Ms. Webber stated that the question is a good question, but they don’t have those answers yet.

Mr. Fairfield made a motion to approve as recommended by the State’s Attorney’s Office, and Ms. Polk seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

 Proposed Amendment to Section 10-11 of the Kankakee County Code – Reckless Dog Owners

Mr. Ekhoff made a motion to approve sending the document to State’s Attorney Office for review and revisions, and Mr. Fairfield seconded it.

Ms. Boudreau reviewed and discussed the amendments with the committee.

Ms. Parker advised that all they are asking for today is for this language to be sent to the State’s Attorney’s Office to review.

Motion carried with a voice vote.

Ms. Parker thanked Ms. Nicholson and Officer Griffiths for taking the extra time to assist AWAC in making these recommendations and how the enforcement is falling into place.

9. New/Old Business

 Amending Section 10-1 of the Kankakee County Code

Ms. Nicholson reviewed the possible changes with the committee.

Ms. Nicholson stated that she doesn’t have the entire section modified as she needs some clarification before it is completed.

Ms. Nicholson advised that she is updating the ordinance to be more in line with what the County is envisioning for AWAC and other amendments.

Ms. Parker advised that changing the wording of “specific” shelters, just have partnering shelters.

Ms. Nicholson advised that she will rewrite the ordinance and bring it back to the committee. This could also go to the Executive Committee.

There was no further new or old business for the committee.

10. Adjournment

Ms. Peters made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:13 a.m., and Ms. Polk seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

http://www.co.kankakee.il.us/files/committees/comm_services_101519.pdf