Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Executive Committee met Aug. 20.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Members Present

Mr. Hess, Dr. Polk (Zoom), Mr. Sirois, Ms. Webber, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Fetherling, Mr. Kerkstra, Mr. Hunter (Zoom), Ms. Foster, Ms. Munday (Zoom), Mr. Alexander-Hildebrand, Ms. Parker

Mr. Carrico made a motion to allow Mr. Hunter and Ms. Munday to attend the meeting by Zoom and Mr. Sirois seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Members Absent

Mr. Smith, Mr. Ashcraft, Mr. Long

In Attendance

Department Heads

Erich Blair, Eric Peterson, John Bevis, John Coghlan, Jason Shane, Dr. Patricia High, Anita Speckman, Dan Hendrickson, Delbert Skimerhorn, Eric Cavender, Ben Wilson

Media

Absent

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by the County Board Chairman, Mr. Alexander-Hildebrand, at 9:00 a.m.

Quorum

Yes

Public Comment

None

Presentations

None

Approval of Minutes: July 16, 2025

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

Legislative – Anita Speckman

Information was covered during the County Administrator’s report.

Information Services – Jason Shane

Mr. Shane gave an update on what his department has been working on. They continue to replace computers to get the offices up to Windows 11 and they also continue to do their daily service calls. The department is on budget as always.

Health Department – John Bevis

• Administrators Report

Mr. Fetherling made a motion to accept and put his report on file and Mr. Kerkstra seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Bevis reviewed his report with the committee. Discussion was held. They are still receiving and applying for federal grants.

Mr. Bevis stated that the next Board of Health Meeting is tomorrow, Auguat 21, at 5:00 at the Health Department. He reviewed what is on the agenda for that meeting.

Mr. Hunter stated that since Prime has taken over St. Mary’s they have curtailed or cut the community outreach programs in the eastern communities and he was wondering how that will impact the Health Department.

Mr. Bevis stated that as a Health Department they are looking to try to incorporate services out to the eastern communities.

Schools – Patricia High

• Monthly Report

Dr. Patricia High reviewed the regional office’s core function of student services and the programs provided for student services. Discussion was held.

Veterans Assistance Commission – Eric Peterson

• Monthly Report

Mr. Peterson reviewed the report with the committee. Discussion was held.

Mr. Fetherling made a motion to accept and put on file the report and Ms. Foster seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Peterson updated the committee on what his department has been doing to help our veterans. They currently have six participants in Veteran’s Treatment Court with one graduating this month.

Mr. Peterson stated that Bear Construction is doing a fundraiser for the Liberty Lodge on October 25. They currently have 10 residents in the Liberty Lodge.

Ms. Munday stated that she was asked about PTSD and who diagnoses it.

Mr. Peterson stated that an individual should go to their medical provider for diagnosis, get their treatment set up, and then contact the Veteran’s Commission with regards to benefits.

Mr. Peterson stated that they lost a very real advocate for the veterans in this community with the recent passing of Don Ball. He was a mentor to him and many others. He will be greatly missed.

County Administrator – Anita Speckman

• Monthly Report

Ms. Speckman gave a brief legislative update on the recently passed bills that will impact the County. She also provided the monthy update on job postings. The renewal for our liability insurance will be coming up soon.

• Paylocity Contract Renewal

• Paylocity Proposal for COBRA/FSA/HRA TPA Service

Ms. Speckman reviewed the contract and proposal from Paylocity. She explained the process that was taken in coming to the proposed renewal and proposal from Paylocity and the cost savings that will come with them.

Mr. Sirois made a motion to combine and approve the renewal and contract with Paylocity and Ms. Parker seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 11 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were Mr. Hess, Dr. Polk (Zoom), Mr. Sirois, Ms. Webber, Mr. Fetherling, Mr. Kerkstra, Mr. Hunter (Zoom), Ms. Foster, Ms. Munday (Zoom), Mr. Alexander-Hildebrand, Ms. Parker

Community Services

• County Assessor’s Monthly Report

Mr. Fetherling made a motion to accept the report and put it on file and Mr. Hunter seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Blair reviewed this report with the committee. He updated the committee on what his office has completed and what is pending.

• County Clerk’s Monthly Report – Dan Hendrickson

Mr. Hendrickson asked if there were any queations on his report. There were none.

Mr. Kerkstra made a motion to accept the report and put it on file and Ms. Foster seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

• Recorder’s Monthly Report – Lori Gadbois

Ms. Hess made a motion to accept the report and put it on file and Mr. Sirois seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Ms. Gadbois was not in attendance.

• AWAC Update – Tinker Parker

Ms. Parker stated that AWAC met last week and had a good turn-out. Shelters are lacking food for puppies and kittens. They would like to have a Meet and Greet in November for the new Animal Control location.

Administrative

Appointments/Reappointments/Resignations

Mr. Alexander-Hildebrand read the appointments into the record.

• Reappointment of Dennis Schafer to the Baker Creek Drainage District

• Reappointment of David Kohl to the Canavan Drainage District

• Reappointment of Naomi Endres to the Grinnell Special Drainage District

• Reappointment of John P Gricius to the Grinnell Special Drainage District

• Reappointment of Mark P O’Connor to the Joe Benes Drainage District

• Reappointment of Devin Nugent to the Manteno Drainage District #3

• Reappointment of Scott Grise to the Manteno Drainage District #6

• Reappointment of Jason O’Connor to the Raymond Drainage District #1

• Reappointment of Thomas Peterson to the Regional Planning Commission

• Reappointment of Bruce Paarlberg to the Regional Planning Commission

• Appointment of John Keigher to the Rockville Drainage District #1

• Appointment of Ashu Bansal DDS to the Board of Health (Dentist)

Mr. Fetherling made a motion to combine and approve the appointments and reappointments and Ms. Foster seconded the motion. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Openings:

• Two Openings on the Historic Preservation Commission (Two Historians)

• One Opening on the Regional Planning Commission

• One Opening on the Kankakee County Housing Authority (Tenant)

• Five Openings on the Kankakee County Animal Welfare Advisory Committee

• Two Openings on the Kankakee River Conservancy District

• One Opening on the Merit Commission

• One Opening on the B.M. Lewis Drainage District

• One Opening on the Claussen Park Drainage District

• One Opening on the Exline Creek Drainage District

• One Opening on the Manteno Drainage District #3

• Two Openings on the Momence-Pembroke Union Drainage District #1

• One Opening on the Momence and Yellowhead Drainage District #1

• One Opening on the Raymond Drainage District #1

Mr. Alexander-Hildebrand read the openings to the committee.

New Business

• Amending County Code Section 2-62 – Committees Generally

Mr. Alexander-Hildebrand stated that he wanted to amend the county code to reflect the current committees. Some of the committees were consolidated but the county code was never updated to reflect the changes.

Mr. Kerkstra made a motion to approve and Ms. Munday seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote Old Business

Adjournment

Mr. Hess made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:07 a.m. and Mr. Fetherling seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

https://www.k3county.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08202025-2223