Kankakee Times

Kankakee County - Criminal Justice Committee met Sept. 9.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

Members Present

Mr. Hess, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Liehr, Mr. Snipes, , Mr. Fairfield, Ms. Dunbar, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Smith, Ms. Zuccollo, Mr. Swanson, Mr. Long, Mr. Kerkstra and Mr. Hunter

Members Absent

Ms. ParkerIn Attendance

• Board Members

Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Sirois

• Department Heads 

Sheriff Mike Downey, Sandi Cianci, Jim Rowe, Anita Speckman, Tom Latham, Ed Pentuic, Robert Gessner

Media

None

1. Call to Order

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

2. Public Comment

None

3. Approval of Minutes: August 12, 2020

Mr. Long made a motion to approve the minutes, and Mr. Byrne seconded it.

Mr. Liehr, Ms. Dunbar, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Ekhoff, Ms. Zuccollo, Mr. Swanson voted aye by zoom.

Mr. Hess, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Snipes, Mr. Smith, Mr. Long, Mr. Kerkstra, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Wheeler voted aye in person.

Motion carried with a voice vote.

4. Judicial – Chief Judge Michael Kramer

There was no update from Judge Kramer

5. Circuit Clerk’s Office - Sandi Cianci

• Monthly Report

• Computerization Update

Mr. Long made a motion to combine and approve the monthly report, and Mr. Smith seconded it.

Ms. Cianci reviewed and discussed the reports with the committee. There were no questions or comments from the committee regarding the reports.

Mr. Hess asked how long the Roadside Memorial fund has been included in the report.

Ms. Cianci advised that she will look up when that particular item was added.

Mr. Liehr, Ms. Dunbar, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Ekhoff, Ms. Zuccollo, Mr. Swanson voted aye by zoom.

Mr. Hess, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Snipes, Mr. Smith, Mr. Long, Mr. Kerkstra, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Wheeler voted aye in person.

Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Hunter asked what the road blocks and difficulties in switching to the new program.

Ms. Cianci advised she recently had a conference call with all involved in an effort to speed the process. Another meeting with the venders to check the process.

Ms. Cianci reviewed the computerization update with the committee and advised that they are integrating the systems and continuing to work on the update.

There were no questions or comments from the committee.

6. State’s Attorney’s Office – Jim Rowe

• Grand Jury Report

• Grand Jury Statistics Report

Mr. Rowe stated this is the first report since April due to the pandemic and reviewed the reports with the committee.

Mr. Byrne made a motion to approve, and Mr. Snipes seconded it. 

Mr. Liehr, Ms. Dunbar, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Ekhoff, Ms. Zuccollo, Mr. Swanson voted aye by zoom.

Mr. Hess, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Snipes, Mr. Smith, Mr. Long, Mr. Kerkstra, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Wheeler voted aye in person.

Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Rowe updated the committee on the community outreach coordinator that is in the State’s Attorney’s Office and how he will benefit the community.

Mr. Wheeler asked Mr. Rowe to clarify the ordinance that the city of Kankakee voted ony in regards to them fining for not wearing masks.

7. Public Defender’s Office – Ed Pentuic

• Monthly Report

Mr. Kerkstra made a motion to approve, and Mr. Long seconded it. Mr. Liehr, Ms. Dunbar, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Ekhoff, Ms. Zuccollo, Mr. Swanson voted aye by zoom.

Mr. Hess, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Snipes, Mr. Smith, Mr. Long, Mr. Kerkstra, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Wheeler voted aye in person.

Motion carried with a voice vote.

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

8. Probation – Tom Latham

• Monthly Report

Mr. Kerkstra made a motion to approve, and Ms. Dunbar seconded it. Mr. Liehr, Ms. Dunbar, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Ekhoff, Ms. Zuccollo, Mr. Swanson voted aye by zoom.

Mr. Hess, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Snipes, Mr. Smith, Mr. Long, Mr. Kerkstra, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Wheeler voted aye in person.

Motion carried with a voice vote.

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

There were no further questions or comments from the committee.

9. Sheriff/EMA Department – Sheriff Mike Downey

• Monthly Report

Sheriff Downey reviewed and discussed the report with the committee.

Mr. Long made a motion to approve, and Mr. Hunter seconded it. Mr. Liehr, Ms. Dunbar, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Ekhoff, Ms. Zuccollo, Mr. Swanson voted aye by zoom.

Mr. Hess, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Snipes, Mr. Smith, Mr. Long, Mr. Kerkstra, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Wheeler voted aye in person.

Motion carried with a voice vote.

• Animal Control Update

Sheriff Downey updated the committee on the status of Animal Control. Sheriff stated that COVID had the shelter almost empty and now that is changing to almost being full again.

Sheriff stated that he wanted the committee to be aware that soon there will be a need to update the Animal Control vehicles.

10. Coroner’s Office – Bob Gessner

• Monthly Reports

• Monthly Receipts of Money

Eric Cavender was present to review and discuss the reports with the committee.

Mr. Kerkstra made a motion to approve, and Mr. Long seconded it. Mr. Liehr, Ms. Dunbar, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Ekhoff, Ms. Zuccollo, Mr. Swanson voted aye by zoom.

Mr. Hess, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Snipes, Mr. Smith, Mr. Long, Mr. Kerkstra, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Wheeler voted aye in person.

Motion carried with a voice vote.

11. Old Business/New Business

Chairman – Courthouse Grants

Mr. Wheeler advised the first payment from the ADA improvements has been received.

There is another $400,000 for the Courthouse that was set aside by the governor for updates in 2021. Mr, Wheeler thanked Representative Parkhurst for her help with obtaining those funds.

12. Adjournment

Mr. Kerkstra made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:34 a.m., and Mr. Snipes seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

https://www.k3county.net/files/committees/criminal_justice_9920.pdf