Jo Daviess County Executive Committee met June 4.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
PRESENT:
Brandon Behlke
Scott Toot
Steve Allendorf
Bill Bingham
Don Hill
John Lang
ABSENT:
LaDon Trost
Lucas Bourquin
A quorum was established.
Other Board Members: Don Zillig
Others: Angela Kaiser, Dan Reimer, and John Hay.
1. Minutes Approval
a) Minutes of the May 7, 2019 Executive Committee meeting – John Lang made a motion to approve the May 7, 2019 Executive Committee meeting minutes as presented. Seconded by Steve Allendorf and motion carried.
2. Citizens’ Comments – None.
3. Unfinished Business
a) Update on the Bautsch Gray and Marsden Mine Sites on Blackjack Road – Leonard Zintak spoke to the County Administrator of planned remediation work that will take place this fall. The EPA plans to spend approximately $15 million dollars. They plan to update the board in August, 2019.
b) Update on Jo Daviess County FOIA requests – The committee reviewed the updated FOIA request report.
c) Jo Daviess County Social Media – Brandon Behlke reported he recently attended a meeting where the importance of having a social media presence was discussed. He plans to do more research on this topic.
d) Update of Jo Daviess County Special Service Area Commissions – Scott Toot reported he needs three more homestead property owners for the various commissions. He indicated the need for a resolution to grant authority to the commissions once they are officially appointed. No tax distributions will be made until the commissions are formed.
e) Report from May 31, 2019 Ad-Hoc DMO Committee meeting and update on Destination Marketing Management Agreement – Scott Toot feels the meeting went well and is optimistic about the future relationship with GGMI.
f) Review, discuss and possible action on the Jo Daviess County Mission Statement – Scott Toot made a motion to move forward to the County Board an amendment the Jo Daviess County Board Mission Statement to read “To provide county government services to the citizens and visitors of Jo Daviess County in a financially responsible manner without undue regulation of the citizenry.” Seconded by Steve Allendorf and motion carried.
4. New Business
Chairman Behlke moved ahead agenda items c. and d. to accommodate citizens present.
a) Consideration and review of a purchase agreement between the City of East Dubuque and Jo Daviess County for the assets, water and sanitary sewerage system of the Jo Daviess County Special Service Area Three in Jo Daviess County, Illinois to determine what action, if any, will be taken in response to the increase of water rates – John Hay spoke to the committee about a 1997 purchase agreement that was entered into with the City of East Dubuque for the SSA #3 water system and the language it contained regarding water rates. Rates have increased beyond what was provided for in the original agreement. The City of East Dubuque justify this increase based on the expense of maintaining the system and their attorney believes the terms of the contract are no longer valid. They indicate if they cannot raise the rates, would the County take the water system back? John Hay is asking for guidance from the committee and County Board as to whether or not they want to pursue possible litigation to attempt to enforce the contract with the understanding that this could result in ownership and maintenance expense for the system. Scott Toot made a motion to move forward to the County Board a recommendation to take no action on this contract. Seconded by Brandon Behlke and motion carried with a nay vote recorded for John Lang and an abstention recorded for Steve Allendorf.
b) Discussion and possible action on a Resolution to Amend and Dissolve the Sobriety Court Fund and Transfer the Remaining Fund Balance to Probation Services Fund – Dan Reimer explained the process to dissolve the fund and transfer funds. This would require amending the budget, which takes a 2/3 majority vote of the County Board. Scott Toot made a motion to move forward to the County Board a recommendation to approve a Resolution to Amend and Dissolve the Sobriety Court Fund and Transfer the Remaining Balance to Probation Services Fund. Seconded by John Lang and motion carried.
c) Review, discussion and possible action on FY2019/FY2020 Strategic Goals and Plans and Committee Assignments from 2019 County Board Retreat - Bill Bingham noted one goal for the Executive Committee was not worded properly and offered this revision: Incorrect - “Increase our involvement with GGMI with a focus on significant long-term county financial stability instead of early proportionately insignificant fees.(14)” Revised – “Collaborate with GGMI with a focus on long-term financial stability and not focus exclusively on fees.(14)” The goals for “All Committees” were reviewed and decided to move “Conduct a thorough evaluation of future labor needs (15)” to the list of goals for the Executive Committee.
d) Discussion on IACBM Legislative Update: Adult Use Cannabis Bill and Summary – The committee discussed the bill, which becomes law on January 1, 2020. John Hay summarized the bill by saying the County cannot prohibit individual possession, but they can prohibit cannabis businesses within the county.
e) Review and discuss the Maximus Space Needs Assessment – The study was passed out to be reviewed and discussed at the next meeting.
Scott Toot made a motion to enter into closed session at 7:52 p.m. for the purpose of Personnel Section 2(c)1 “The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.” Topic of discussion: IT Technician position, Sheriff Chief Deputy position, Sheriff Lieutenant position, Litigation section 2(c)11 “Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.” Topic of discussion: Case No. 2019-MR- 18, and Purchase/lease property section 2(c)5 "The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired. Section 2.06.” Topic of discussion: Purchase of property, Lease of Property, Galena, IL. Seconded by Steve Allendorf and motion carried. At 8:44 p.m. Scott Toot made a motion to reconvene to open session. Seconded by Don Hill and motion carried. A roll call vote followed resulting in all ayes from Steven Allendorf, Brandon Behlke, Don Hill, John Lang, and Scott Toot.
Bill Bingham left the meeting at 8:15 p.m.
5. Closed Session
1. Personnel section 2(c)1
"The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity." Topic of discussion: IT Technician position, Sheriff Chief Deputy position, Sheriff Lieutenant position.
2. Collective bargaining section 2(c)2
“Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees.”
3. Litigation section 2(c)11
“Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.” Topic of discussion: Case No. 2019-MR-18
4. Purchase/lease property section 2(c)5
"The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired." Section 2.06.” Topic of discussion: Purchase of property, Lease of Property, Galena, IL.
6. Possible action as a result of closed session.
a) Scott Toot made a motion to move forward a recommendation to approve the advance step hire of the IT Technician position to a Grade 9, Step 5. Seconded by Steve Allendorf and motion carried.
7. Staff Reports
a) County Clerk/Recorder: Angela Kaiser had nothing to report at this time.
b) County Administrator: Dan Reimer discussed the current financial condition and the upcoming FY20 Budget Workshop meeting schedule. The recent legislation regarding the increase of Motor Fuel Tax from.19 to.38 was discussed.
8. Summary of Committee Activities – None.
9. Citizens Comments – None.
10. Board Member Concerns – Steve Allendorf let the board know that a recommendation from the Finance Committee to pass a resolution to rescind the hiring freeze would be presented at the County Board meeting on June 11, 2019.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. following a motion made by Steve Allendorf. Seconded by Scott Toot and motion carried.
The next meeting of the Executive Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, July 2, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.
https://www.jodaviess.org/vertical/sites/%7B7C77C92D-D4A3-4866-8D3D-FE560FE5CFC8%7D/uploads/06.04.19_Executive_minutes_approved.pdf
Alerts Sign-up