Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Finance Committee met Sept. 28.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Members Present 

Mr. Liehr, Ms. Webber, Ms. Parker, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Miller, Mr. Dunnill, Mr. Long, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Fetherling, and Mr. Wheeler

Members Absent 

Mr. Swanson, Mr. Hess, Ms. Polk, Mr. Rayman and Mr. Sirois

In Attendance 

Department Heads 

Theresa Goudie, Anita Speckman, Nick Africano, John Coghlin, Lori Gadbois and Steve McCarty 

Media 

None

Call to Order 

Roll Call 

The meeting was called to order by the Committee Chairman, Mr. Liehr at 9:00 a.m. Quorum present

Public Comment 

None

Minutes 

Mr. Long made a motion to approve the minutes of August 24, 2022 and Mr. Fairfield seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote. 

Finance Department – Steve McCarty 

Miscellaneous Financial Reports & Discussion 

Mr. McCarty reviewed the reports with the Committee, there were no questions or comments from the committee.

Cash Flow Update 

Mr. McCarty provided the committee with an update.

Claims Recommended/Not Recommended for Approval 

Mr. McCarty reviewed one claim with the committee that was not approved for payment. Discussions were held.

Mr. Hunter made a motion to approve, and Mr. Ekhoff seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 11 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were: Mr. Liehr, Ms. Webber, Ms. Parker, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Miller, Mr. Dunnill, Mr. Long, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Fetherling, and Mr. Wheeler 

Monthly Claims Report 

Mr. McCarty reviewed the claims with the committee. There were no questions or comments.

Mr. Long made a motion to approve, and Mr. Fairfield seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 11 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were: Mr. Liehr, Ms. Webber, Ms. Parker, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Miller, Mr. Dunnill, Mr. Long, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Fetherling, and Mr. Wheeler 

Tax Year 2022 Property Tax Abatement 

Mr. McCarty and Mr. Wheeler spoke regarding the property tax abatement. A way to give back to the taxpayers. A presentation was given.

Discussions were held.

Mr. Liehr confirmed that the motion would be to both approve the policy and also submit the payment.

Mr. Fetherling made a motion to approve and Ms. Parker seconded it. The committee requested a unanimous second. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 11 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were: Mr. Liehr, Ms. Webber, Ms. Parker, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Miller, Mr. Dunnill, Mr. Long, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Fetherling, and Mr. Wheeler 

Draft FY23 Budget Update 

Mr. McCarty provided an update to the committee. Discussions were held.

ARPA Requests 

Funding Requests 

Mr. Liehr advised the committee that each request will be reviewed and discussed and a voice vote will be taken on each. Once they have all been reviewed, a roll call vote will take place.

Lost Revenue 

None

ARPA FUND REQUESTS 

Andrade Pizza Inc. dba Luconi’s Pizza 

Approve for $5,000

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

Black Positive Concepts 

Not Approved. Discussions were held. A Business Plan is required, concerns were expressed over the cost of the startup.

Mr. Fetherling made a motion to reject the application, and Ms. Parker seconded it. Motion carried to reject the application.

Ganeer Township Road District 

Approve for $20,000

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

Grant Park Fire Protection District 

Approve for $8,995

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

Limestone Park District 

Approve for $14,410

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

Village of Buckingham 

Approve for $20,000

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

Yellowhead Township Road District 

Approve for $20,000

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

Mr. Miller made a motion to combine and approve, and Mr. Fairfield seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 11 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were: Mr. Liehr, Ms. Webber, Ms. Parker, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Miller, Mr. Dunnill, Mr. Long, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Fetherling, and Mr. Wheeler 

EXECUTIVE SESSION – COLLECTIVE BARGAINING – 5 ilcs 120/2 (C)(2) 

Mr. Long made a motion to enter executive session at 9:46am, and Mr. Ekhoff seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 11 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were: Mr. Liehr, Ms. Webber, Ms. Parker, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Miller, Mr. Dunnill, Mr. Long, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Fetherling, and Mr. Wheeler 

The committee exited Executive session at 9:55am. 

• Authorizing the County Board Chairman or his Representative to Sign the Corrections Collective Bargaining Agreement

Ms, Webber made a motion to approve, and Mr. Ekhoff seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 11 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were: Mr. Liehr, Ms. Webber, Ms. Parker, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Miller, Mr. Dunnill, Mr. Long, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Fetherling, and Mr. Wheeler 

Insurance Renewal 

2023 Employee Insurance Renewals – Mike Lynch

Mike Lynch from MSL Benefits was available to review each renewal.

o Dental Insurance Renewal – 5% increase for first 3 tiers and 9% lower for family 

o Vision Insurance Renewal – No increase

o Life Insurance Renewal

o Continued County Funding of HSA for High Deductible Health Insurance Option 

o Health Insurance Renewal Update

• Continued Funding of Employee Assistance Plan

Discussions were held.

Mr. Fetherling made a motion to combine and approve, and Mr. Hunter seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 11 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were: Mr. Liehr, Ms. Webber, Ms. Parker, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Miller, Mr. Dunnill, Mr. Long, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Fetherling, and Mr. Wheeler

Treasurer’s Office – Nick Africano 

Mr. Africano was present and reviewed the report with the committee.

• County Treasurer’s Report – August 2022

• County Collector’s Report – August 2022

• Monthly Resolutions for October 2022

Discussions were held.

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

Auditor’s Office 

No Report submitted.

Other Business 

None

Old Business/New Business 

Approving the Courthouse Lower Level Remodeling Project 

The committee discussed the project.

Mr. Long made a motion to approve not to exceed $1.3M for the project for PSI, and Ms. Webber seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 10 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were: Mr. Liehr, Ms. Webber, Ms. Parker, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Miller, Mr. Long, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Fetherling, and Mr. Wheeler 

Kankakee County Corrections Food Service Pricing 

Ms. Webber provided the committee with pricing. The contract would go from $3.75 per day to $4.35 per day per inmate. Discussions were held.

Ms. Webber made a motion to approve, and Mr. Ekhoff seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 10 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were: Mr. Liehr, Ms. Webber, Ms. Parker, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Miller, Mr. Long, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Fairfield, Mr. Fetherling, and Mr. Wheeler 

Adjournment 

Mr. Long made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:34 a.m., and Ms. Webber seconded it. Meeting was adjourned. 

https://www.k3county.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09282022-755