DeKalb County Committee of the Whole met Nov. 13.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
The Committee of the Whole of the DeKalb County Board met Wednesday, November 13, 2019, in the Community Outreach Building’s Five Seasons Room in DeKalb, Illinois. Chairman Mark Pietrowski called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Those Members present were Mr. Tim Bagby, Mr. Scott Campbell, Ms. Rukisha Crawford, Mrs. Karen Cribben, Mr. Steve Faivre, Vice-Chairman John Frieders, Mr. Tim Hughes, Ms. Dianne Leifheit, Ms. Maureen Little, Mr. Jim Luebke, Ms. Terri Mann-Lamb, Mr. Roy Plote, Ms. Sandra Polanco, Mr. Chris Porterfield, Mr. Craig Roman, Mr. Paul Stoddard, Mr. Larry West, Mr. Jeff Whelan, Ms. Sue Willis, and Chairman Pietrowski. Those absent were Mr. Tracy Jones and Mr. Jerry Osland and Ms. Linda Slabon. A quorum was established with twenty-one Members present and three absent. Ms. Linda Slabon arrived at 7:48 p.m.
Others present included Derek Hiland, Terry Hannan, Jim Hutcheson, Greg Millburg, Matthew Wells, and two other members of the public.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Mr. Faivre moved to approve the agenda as presented. Mr. Whelan seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously by voice vote.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
It was moved by Ms. Mann-Lamb, seconded by Mr. Luebke and it was moved unanimously to approve the minutes from the October 9, 2019 Committee of the Whole Meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Discussion and Guidance to Staff on Allowing Cannabis Businesses in Unincorporated DeKalb County
DeKalb County Community Development Director Derek Hiland presented a PowerPoint presentation to the Board that broke down the six classifications of businesses that are associated with the legalization of cannabis after January 1, 2020. Mr. Hiland also shared where other Illinois Counties and Municipalities are in their Board’s decisions of either approving or denying the ability to allow recreational cannabis to be sold within their respected jurisdictions.
Regardless, of what DeKalb County decides yet, Mr. Hiland informed the Board Members that on January 1, 2020 it will be legal in the State of Illinois for adults 21 & over to possess up to 30 grams of Marijuana (without medical purpose), and up to 5 grams of cannabis concentrate (oil, vape fluid, etc.), and up to 500 milligrams of edibles.
Mr. Hiland shared that after the presentation and questions, the goal was for the Board Members in attendance to convey to staff how they “lean” for allowing each of the six cannabis business opportunities in Unincorporated DeKalb County. This will help Mr. Hiland and his staff author a draft Ordinance that will be presented to the Planning & Zoning Committee at their next meeting on December 9th. Once the Committee agrees on a draft Ordinance it will be forwarded to a Hearing Office to conduct a Public Hearing.
Mr. Hiland reiterated that there are six types of businesses allowed under the new cannabis law that is effective as of January 1, 2020. The County may allow, none, one, some, or all of these types of businesses. In order to provide some general direction to staff as to what regulations, if any, should be written to allow for the most appropriate location, as well as conditions of operation, of such approved businesses, a survey was passed out for the Board Members to indicate what types of businesses they would be open to allowing in Unincorporated DeKalb County. That would be if the eventual regulatory parameters meet their expectations. Mr. Hiland detailed the following six types of businesses to the Members:
1. Craft Grower – a facility that cultivates, dries, cures, and packages cannabis to make it available for sale at some other location.
2. Cultivation Center – a facility that cultivates, processes, and transports products to a business establishment at some other location.
3. a. Dispensing (Off-Site Consumption Only) – a facility operating for the purpose of selling or dispensing cannabis and related products.
b. Dispending (On-Site Consumption) – a facility operating for the purpose of selling or dispensing cannabis and related products.
4. Infuser – a facility operating to infuse cannabis into products to be sold at another location.
5. Processor – a facility operating to extract chemicals or compounds to produce cannabis concentrate or incorporate cannabis into a formulation or product.
6. Transporter – a business that transports cannabis on behalf of a cannabis business establishment or a community college.
Mr. Hiland additionally described where these possible facilities could be located within the County. The surveys were then passed out to the Board Members and collected once completed and the results of the “straw poll” were presented.
| Business | Yes | No | Uncertain |
| 1. Craft Grower | 16 | 3 | |
| 2. Cultivation Center | 16 | 2 | 1 |
| 3. Dispensing
(Off-Site Consumption) | 13 | 5 | 1 |
| 3. Dispensing
(On-Site Consumption) | 6 | 11 | 2 |
| 4. Infuser | 13 | 6 | |
| 5. Processor | 15 | 3 | 1 |
| 6. Transporter | 16 | 1 | 2 |
December 9: Planning & Zoning Approve Language & Send to Hearing Officer
January: Public Hearing Conducted by County’s Hearing Officer
February 26: Planning & Zoning Make Recommendation to County Board on Cannabis Businesses
March 18: County Board Action Regarding Cannabis Businesses
Reports from Committee Chairs
Mr. Faivre, Chairman of the Planning & Zoning Committee, shared and reviewed the four Ordinances that the Committee forwarded to the full County Board with their recommendation to approve. He reminded that the Committee will not have a regularly scheduled November or December Meeting but will meet Monday, December 9th to discuss the draft cannabis Ordinance.
Mr. Plote, Chairman of the County Highway Committee, shared that the Committee forwarded two MFT Resolution to the full Board for consideration. They were very standard Resolutions. He also shared that the final phase of the Peace Road Safety Study was shared and reviewed with the Committee. Findings were similar to the north end of Peace Road. A summary of all phases will be placed on the County’s website in the near future. The Committee heard from a large amount of public that was present at their meeting regarding safety of Plank Road, Mr. Plote shared.
Mrs. Emmer, Chair of the Economic Development Committee, shared that the Committee had forwarded one Resolution to the full Board which was a follow-up to the item they had last month regarding amendments to the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone. This Resolution codifies those approved amendments within the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone’s Intergovernmental Agreement.
Mr. Porterfield, Chairman of Health & Human Services Committee, shared that the DeKalb County Health Administrator Lisa Gonzalez brought forth some amendments within the DeKalb County’s Code Chapter 10 – Animals that were approved by the Board of Health. The amendments were regarding feral cats and are being done in accordance with Illinois State Statutes. Ms. Gonzalez additionally provided a presentation on the impact of cannabis legalization on health providers. DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board Director Deanna Cada was additionally present and provided a presentation on the same topic but on the impact that the legalization will have the County’s social service agencies.
Ms. Leifheit, Chair of the Law & Justice Committee, shared that the Committee forwarded one Resolution for consideration to the full Board regarding the State’s Attorney’s Appellate Prosecutor Program. The Resolution is an annual house-keeping item, Mr. Leifheit described. The Committee additional discussed personnel with the Public Defender as well as with Court Services and had a very informative discussion regarding the legalization of cannabis and the impacts it will have on law enforcement.
Mr. Bagby, Chairman of the Finance Committee, shared that the Committee has forwarded the FY 2020 Levy and Budget Ordinances to the full County Board recommending their adoption. In addition, the Committee after a couple months of discussions, decided not to purchase liability & excess workers compensation insurance coverage and remain self-insured. They also approved the hiring of an Actuary to provide the County with a suggested amount of Fund Balance that the Tort & Liability Fund should have. Mr. Bagby also shared that at the full County Board Meeting there will be an Executive Session for the purposes of discussing Collective Bargaining. More specifically, the Board will obtain details on the Sheriff’s MAP Contract and will be asked to approve said contract.
Mr. Stoddard, Chairman of the Forest Preserve Operations Committee, shared the Committee is forwarded the Forest Preserve District FY 2020 Levy and Budget Ordinances as well as a Resolution approving a bidder for the Afton South Prairie Wetland Project.
The Ad Hoc Rules Committee has forwarded an Ordinance to the full County Board recommending an amendment the DeKalb County Code to set new parameters for the appointment of a Deputy County Administrator.
ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Mr. Porterfield, seconded by Ms. Mann-Lamb and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:28 p.m.
https://dekalbcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/min19-cownov.pdf
Alerts Sign-up