Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Criminal Justice Committee met Aug. 11.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Members Present

Mr. Hess, Mr. Long, Mr. Liehr, Mr. Snipes, Ms. Peters, Ms. Parker, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Darrel Smith, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Collins, Mr. Kenneth Smith, Mr. Swanson, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Kerkstra and Mr. Wheeler

Members Absent

None

In Attendance

• Board Members

• Department Heads

Eric Cavender, Mike Downey, Tom Latham, Sandi Cianci, Ed Pentuic, Jim Rowe, Marlow Jones, John Coghlan, Anita Speckman

Media

None

Call to Order

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

Public Comment

None

Approval of Minutes: June 9, 2021 and July 14, 2021

Mr. Ekhoff made a motion to approve and Mr. Long seconded it. Motion carried with 14 ayes and 1 nay. Voting nay was Mr. Collins.

Mr. Collins requested that the minutes from July 14th be corrected, due to a conversation being omitted.

Mr. Rowe advised that the minutes are not transcripts, but the minutes could be amended. Mr. Collins made a motion to amend the minutes, and Ms. Peters seconded it. Mr. Wheeler commented that the official record of the meeting is the video.

Motion carried with a roll call vote. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 9 ayes and 6 nays. Voting aye were: Mr. Liehr, Mr. Snipes, Ms. Peters, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Swanson, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Collins, Mr. Smith and Mr. Wheeler.

Voting nay were: Mr. Hess, Mr. Long, Ms. Parker, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Kerkstra

Judicial – Chief Judge Michael Kramer

None

Circuit Clerk’s Office - Sandi Cianci

• Monthly Report

Ms. Cianci reviewed the reports with the committee.

Mr. Hunter asked about cross training and absenteeism within her office. Ms. Cianci gave an overview of staffing and training within her office.

Mr. Swanson questioned the document storage amount on the cash book. Ms. Cianci explained the dollar amount and how it is calculated.

Mr. Snipes stated concerns about the office space within the Circuit Clerks office and suggested that the Circuit Clerks office be moved off site to assist with the storage and work space.

Mr. Wheeler asked about the ARPA funding request and documentation storage funding. Mr. Wheeler suggested that the files be digitized rather than moved from place to place.

Ms. Cianci advised she does have a quote for digitizing the files.

Mr. Wheeler stated the planning for the courthouse basement is moving forward and we need the space for the basement and suggested a meeting with the Chief judge and committee chairman to get moving forward.

Mr. Hunter asked for the plan for the circuit clerk’s office going forward. Ms. Cianci advised of her long-term plans for the office.

Discussions were held.

Ms. Cianci updated the committee on other areas within her office that she is working on.

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

Mr. Rowe advised that the agenda needs to be amended for the Public Defender to go first in order to attend a meeting.

Mr. Snipes made a motion to amend the agenda to allow the Public Defender to give his report next, Mr. Liehr seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Public Defender’s Office – Ed Pentuic

• Monthly Report

Mr. Fairfield made a motion to approve, and Mr. Swanson seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Hess asked about the number of cases.

Mr. Pentuic invited the board to see his office and the process.

State’s Attorney’s Office – Jim Rowe

• Grand Jury Report

• Grand Jury Statistics Report

Mr. Long made a motion to combine and approve, and Mr. Hunter seconded it.

Mr. Rowe reviewed the reports with the committee. Mr. Rowe noted the concerns of the increasing Domestic Violence numbers within the county.

Mr. Hunter asked for a review of the Grand jury process and needs of the State’s Attorney’s Office.

Discussions were held.

Mr. Rowe stated that he is submitting his request for ARPA funds to the committees. Mr. Snipes asked about special programs for Domestic Violence.

Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Collins asked about gun ownership and violence and the correlation between the two. Mr. Collins provided statistics to Mr. Rowe and the committee to support his view of the 2nd amendment right.

Mr. Collins suggested going through the traffic cases and dismissing cases not including injured parties to reduce the workload on the courts.

Mr. Rowe commented on the questions from Mr. Collins.

Discussions were held.

Mr. Snipes requested the meeting be brought back to the agenda items. Mr. Rowe updated the committee on Teen Court.

• Draft Amendment to the County Code Section 30.1-Vehicle Seizure and Impoundment

Ms. Parker made a motion to approve, and Mr. Kerkstra seconded it.

Mr. Coghlan explained the resolution for the amendment to the County Code. This allows the county to collect funds from a vehicle being impounded. A portion of the $500 fee would come back to the county.

Mr. Collins asked about not having the proper documentation during a traffic stop. Mr. Rowe discussed due process with the committee. Mr. Rowe continued to explain the process to the committee.

Discussions were held regarding the county code amendment.

Motion carried with a voice vote. Voting nay was Mr. Collins

• Presentation on Secret Service/NCFI Training – Marlow Jones

Mr. Rowe introduced Marlow Jones to the committee.

Marlow Jones presented the committee with a review of a training that he had recently attended.

Probation – Tom Latham

• Monthly Report

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

Mr. Hunter made a motion to approve, and Mr. Swanson seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Discussions were held regarding community service and Mr. Latham distributed cards to the board members.

• Declaring Vehicle as Surplus

Mr. Latham advised the vehicle is a 2007 Impala that no longer runs.

Mr. Ekhoff made a motion to approve, and Mr. Hunter seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Sheriff/EMA Department – Sheriff Mike Downey

• Monthly Report

Sheriff reviewed the report with the committee, noting that local numbers have gone down.

Mr. Long made a motion to approve, and Mr. Kerkstra seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

• Jail Inspection

Sheriff updated the committee on the most recent jail inspection.

• Animal Control Update

Sheriff Downey stated that animal control is full with dogs and cats. Sheriff expressed the need for a new building for Animal Control and the current state of the building. Sheriff advised that a request will be submitted for ARPA funds to assist with the project.

Sheriff stated that they have started new housing units for Domestic Violence abusers and also Opioid abusers that will provide them with specific treatment programs.

Discussions were held.

Sheriff stated that Representative Haas and Senator Joyce participated in a ride a long with the Sheriff’s department.

Coroner’s Office – Bob Gessner

• Monthly Reports

• Monthly Receipts of Money

Mr. Cavender was present and reviewed the reports with the committee.

Mr. Ekhoff made a motion to combine and approve, and Mr. Liehr seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

• Declaring Equipment as Surplus

Mr. Ekhoff made a motion to approve, and Mr. Hunter seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Cavender updated the committee on the items that were requested by the Coroner’s office with ARPA funds.

Discussion were held.

11. Old Business/New Business

12. Adjournment

Mr. Kerkstra made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:28 a.m., and Ms. Peters seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote

https://www.k3county.net/files/committees/criminal_justice_81121.pdf