Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Community Services Committee met June 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The meeting of the Kankakee County Community Services Committee was called to order by Committee Chairman, Mrs. Webber at 9:00am. The following members were present:

Mrs. Webber, Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Polk, Mr. Snipes, Mrs. Peters, Mr. Kerkstra, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Kenneth Smith, Mr. Alexander-Hildebrand, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Sirois

Members Absent – Mr. Tholen, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Darrel Smith, Ms. Bryan, Ms. Hudson Quorum – Present

Mrs. Peters made a motion to allow Mrs. Polk to be present via Zoom at the Community Services committee meeting. Mr. Ekhoff seconded the motion. Motion carried by voice vote.

Mrs. Peters made a motion to allow Ms. Hudson to be present via Zoom at the Community Services committee meeting. Mrs. Polk seconded it. Discussions were held.

Mr. Snipes expressed concerns on voting members in and asking for the SAO opinion on voting members in by zoom.

Mr. Coghlan, Assistant States Attorney, commented that according the Open Meetings Act and the County Code this procedure is proper and appropriate. The procedure is to notify of the request and the committee will vote to allow a member to be present by zoom.

Mr. Wheeler gave his concerns and reasoning for opposing this particular request.

Mr. Snipes gave his concerns regarding COVID-19 and reasoning for voting in favor of the request.

Mr. Coghlan confirmed that a general request for medical should be submitted, but not a specific condition.

Mrs. Webber requested a roll call vote and clarified that an aye vote is allowing Ms. Hudson into the meeting for today and nay is voting to reject her attendance by zoom for this meeting. Motion fails by roll call vote of 4 ayes and 6 nays. Voting aye were: Ms. Polk, Mr. Snipes, Ms. Peters, Mr. Kerkstra. Voting nay were: Mrs. Webber, Mrs. Parker, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Kenneth Smith, Mr. Alexander and Mr. Wheeler. Motion Failed.

Department Heads Present – John Coghlan, Lori Gadbois, Dan Hendrickson, Anita Speckman, Kari Laird, Erich Blair

Media Present – None

Public Commentary – None

Presentations - None

Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the May 18, 2021 meetings were submitted to the Committee for approval. Mrs. Webber, Committee Chairperson, asked to combine the minutes of May 18, 2021 and all reports.

Mrs. Parker made a motion to combine and approve the minutes, Assessors report, Recorders report, and Animal Controls report. Mr. Ekhoff seconded the motion. Motion carried by voice vote.

County Clerk

Opening of Proposals for Election Solutions

Mr. Hendrickson, County Clerk, advised that there were three sealed bids to be opened.

Mr. Ekhoff made a motion to open the sealed bids. Mr. Kerkstra seconded the motion. Motion carried by voice vote.

Mr. Hendrickson, County Clerk, opened, reviewed and read each submitted bid to the committee. Governmental Business Systems - $779,420 and $67,798 for supplies

Liberty Systems - $678,871

Electronic Systems & Software - $684,949 and $48,595 for supplies

Mr. Hendrickson advised the committee that he would be requesting additional time to review each bid and be certain that he is comparing apples to apples, software abilities and supplies.

Discussions were held. Mr. Hendrickson requested additional time to review and bring to the Finance Committee meeting on June 23, 2021 for approval.

Mr. Kerkstra made a motion to accept the sealed bids for review and presentation to the Finance Committee. Mr. Alexander seconded the motion. Motion carried by voice vote.

Recommending the Purchase of Poll Pads

Mr. Hendrickson, County Clerk, reviewed the proposal for the purchase of poll pads. Discussions were held. Mr. Hendrickson advised that the poll pads are no longer supported by the software and can not be used. The new ipads and case would cost $74,738 for 162 ipads. This would not have to be sent out to bid due to this being a professional service agreement.

Mr. Hendrickson advised that the old ipads would be repurposed within the County departments. Mr. Wheeler stated that 28 of those ipads will be for the County Board members to receive their committee packets and eliminate the paper and ink cost when printing.

Ms. Parker made a motion to accept the proposal and send to the Finance Committee. Mr. Kerkstra seconded the motion. Motion carried by voice vote.

Mr. Hendrickson, County Clerk, advised the committee that the County Clerks monthly report will be submitted to the Finance Committee for approval.

Assessor

Monthly Report

Mr. Blair, Assessor, reviewed the monthly reports with the committee and updated them on upcoming items. Discussions were held.

Mr. Blair advised that the Farmland Review Assessment meeting will be held June 29th, 2021 at 10am.

Mr. Blair is awaiting the certification of the 2020 sales ratio study from the Department of Revenue and is expected to be completed in the next couple of weeks.

Recorder

Monthly Report

Ms. Gadbois, Kankakee County Recorder, reviewed the monthly reports with the committee. Discussions were held.

Ms. Gadbois stated her office has been busy with the positive growth within the county. The Recorders office is fully open.

Animal Control

Monthly Report

Ms. Laird, Animal Control Director, reviewed the monthly report with the committee, highlighting areas of the report.

Ms. Laird stated that the number of animals handled has been increasing. Discussions were held regarding microchipping.

Ms. Webber commented on agreements with Villages for Animal Control services. Ms. Laird stated that with temperatures rising, do not leave animals in vehicles.

Monthly Statistical Data

Ms. Laird, Animal Control Director, reviewed the monthly statistical data with the committee. Ms. Webber asked for Ms. Laird to clarify Behavior/Sick/Injured Euthanasia with the committee.

Ms. Laird was available by Zoom while away at official county business.

Animal Welfare Advisory Committee

Monthly Update

Mrs. Parker, AWAC Chairperson reviewed and discussed the monthly update with the committee. Discussions were held.

Mrs. Parker stated that the committee has been educated on wildlife and fawn season. Mrs. Parker thanked Sheriff Downey, Mrs. Laird and John Coghlan for their assistance in answering questions and attending the AWAC meetings.

Mrs. Parker updated the committee on the Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate & Release program. This program will not cost the county money. More updates will come as the project moves forward. Mrs. Parker stated that she would like to increase education to the public.

Mrs. Webber added that there are thousands on stray cats in the area.

Mr. Wheeler requested that Ms. Laird and Mrs. Parker assists in letting people within the animal community that the property south of town was not purchased with BARK money. Social Media feeds false information, but it is important that our partners know that BARK funds were not used.

Mrs. Parker stated that there have been many conversations confirming that the partners are aware that BARK monies were not used for the property.

New/Old Business

None

Adjournment

Mr. Kerkstra made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:06 a.m. Mrs. Peters seconded the motion. Motion carried by a voice vote.

https://www.k3county.net/files/committees/minutes_cs_61521.pdf