DeKalb Times

DeKalb County Committee of the Whole met Feb. 11.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

The Committee of the Whole of the DeKalb County Board met Tuesday, February 11, 2020 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, Mrs. Laurie Emmer, Mr. Steve Faivre, Vice-Chair John Frieders, 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, Ms. Linda Slabon, Mr. Paul Stoddard, Mr. Larry West, Mr. Jeff Whelan, Ms. Suzanne Willis, and Chairman Mark Pietrowski, Jr. Those absent were Mr. Tim Hughes, Mr. Tracy Jones, and Mr. Jerry Osland. A quorum was established with twenty-one Members present and three absent.

Others present included Gary Hanson, Derek Hiland, Pete Stefan, and Matthew Wells.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Mr. Faivre moved to approve the agenda as presented. Mr. Plote 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. Whelan and it was moved unanimously to approve the minutes from the January 8, 2020 Committee of the Whole Meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were no public comments.

Chairman Pietrowski shared in 2015, the DeKalb County Board applied for an “Enterprise Zone” through the State of Illinois. This program allows for financial incentives to be given to businesses locating within the boundaries of the Enterprise Zone if certain parameters are met, such as dollars invested and new employment added. Since that time millions have been invested throughout the county by existing and new businesses. I offer my congratulations to the city of DeKalb for landing a major company that will bring large investment and employment.

He congratulated the City of DeKalb and all parties involved for securing an American confectionery company in coming to DeKalb and is bringing with it 500 jobs in the first phase of the $100 million development, known for months as Project Hammer and heralded as transforming for the future of DeKalb County.

Ferrara Candy Company, based in Chicago, known in the United States for making items such as Lemonhead, Trolli, Nerds and Red Hots, announced DeKalb has won its bid – beating out a city in Wisconsin – and will invest $100 million in the city with a move into a 1.6 million-square-foot distribution facility in the ChicagoWest Business Center near Interstate 88 by the end of 2020.

PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS Reports from Committee Chairs

Mr. Faivre, Chairman of the Planning & Zoning Committee, shared the Committee has forwarded an Ordinance Adopting Text Amendments to the DeKalb County Zoning Ordinance pertaining to Adult-Use and Medica-Use Cannabis. It was clarified that all of the business-type activities would be included in Unincorporated DeKalb County except Dispensaries.

Board Members took some additional time to ask questions about the proposed Ordinance as well as receive answers from Community Development Director Derek Hiland. Planning & Zoning Committee Members additional clarified why it was their recommendation to not allow Dispensaries in the Unincorporated parts of the County.

Mr. Plote, Chairman of the County Highway Committee, shared that the Committee has forwarded to the full Board and is recommending the approval of three Resolution and one Ordinance. Mr. Plote reviewed each of the items with the Committee of the Whole. He also announced that DeKalb County Highway Department’s Peace Road-Illinois Route 64 Intersection Safety Improvement Project was awarded the “Public Works Project of the Year” from the Fox Valley Branch of the American Public Works Association (APWA). The project was selected in the Transportation Projects less than $5 Million category. The APWA Project of the Year Award promotes excellence in the management, administration, and construction of public works projects. The Peace Road-Illinois Route 64 Intersection Safety Improvement Project added lanes at the intersection to reduce backups and decrease the number of crashes. An offset for the left turn lane was installed to provide improved sight distance for drivers turning onto Illinois Route 64. The project was funded 90% using a federal safety grant.

Mrs. Emmer, Chair of the Economic Development Committee shared that the Committee received a report from the DeKalb County Convention & Visitors Bureau as well as forwarded a Resolution to the full County Board recommending that the DCCVB continue to be the County’s Agency of Record for Tourism Promotions.

Mr. Porterfield, Chairman of Health & Human Services Committee and Vice-Chair Little shared that the Committee received and approved the timeline for the Senior Services Tax Levy Allocations. This year the Committee will be looking to allocate $425,000 to local agencies that apply with the common goal to avoid the premature institutionalization of Senior Citizens. The Committee also received an Annual Report from Regional Superintendent of Schools Amanda Christensen. The Annual Report was comprised of what the Department does as well as highlighted their newest and biggest initiative Basics DeKalb County.

Basics DeKalb County is inspired by the fact that 80% of brain growth occurs in the first three years of life. Everyday interactions between children, their parents, caregivers, and any adult in the community provide rich opportunities to develop the brains of our community’s youngest and overcome skill and learning gaps. The program is based on The Boston Basics, a set of five evidence-based, nurturing practices that help all infants and toddlers thrive cognitively, socially and emotionally. Every child from every background can benefit. Basics DeKalb County is part of a comprehensive early learning initiative known as the Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative that was founded as part of a collective impact movement at the DeKalb County Community Foundation.

At the request of a Board Members, Mr. Hanson shared that he asked for some information from the County’s Health Department regarding the Coronavirus. They shared: The best thing to do is to refer all to the CDC website. There is a lot of great information presented on the website. Because the information is evolving, we are happy to answer questions, but that is really the best source of information to have on internet “Speed Dial”. The website is: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html The CDC really does do a nice job of laying this out in an understandable fashion. A few things to emphasize are:

1. The Coronavirus is not new. It has been circulating for many years. This is just a changed-up version of the Coronavirus—think of it as how the Flu virus changes each year.

2. The incidence in the United States is extremely low with only 12 confirmed cases in the US with travel to China or been in close, intimate contact with someone who is infected.

3. Airports and ports of entry are doing a good job of screening and quarantining for the 14 days if there has been the China connection and they are showing any symptoms. The guidance does evolve as they see more of how the virus spreads. For example, before Feb 3rd, no one was being excluded from school if they were not symptomatic; however, after Feb 3rd, that guidance has changed and they now are excluding from school until past the 14 days with no symptoms as extra precaution.

4. The symptoms are closely related to flu-like symptoms so the history of travel to China or close contact with someone who has traveled is important.

Ms. Leifheit, Chair of the Law & Justice Committee, shared that the Committee was informed of some ongoing personnel issues in the Public Defender’s Office. They have been short-staffed for some time and are still looking to fill an open position with an experienced attorney. Court Services Director Margi Gilmour also announced that she will be retiring from the County after 30+ years in June. A panel of Judges from the 23rd Judicial Circuit will be conducting interviews for the position in the near future. Lastly, Ms. Leifheit informed the Board Members that at the Committee’s February Meeting, Sheriff Roger Scott will be presenting is Body Cam Presentation.

Mr. Bagby, Chairman of the Finance Committee, shared that the Committee received Moody’s Issuer Comment Report which detailed the County’s Aa1rating which is one notch below Aaa which is the highest quality and lowest credit risk. They also approved two three-year contract extensions for janitorial and generator maintenance with the Facilities Management Office. The Committee additionally approved the hiring of a vacant Worker 2 position in the Facilities Management Office as well as approved the hiring of an Assistant Finance Director at above the 10% range policy, which will be a Resolution to the Board. Other Resolutions they forwarded to the full County Board were for two Delinquent Tax Sales and two County Abatements for bond issues.

Mr. Stoddard, Chairman of the Forest Preserve Operations Committee, shared the Committee approve to forward a Resolution to the Board of Commissioners allowing for the District to participate in the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone. They also received a Chronic Wasting Disease Report from the IDNR as well as approved for the IDNR to enter Potawatomi Forest Preserve and perform their deer culling program to help manage CWD in that area’s deer population. The culling will be happening from now through March on Monday-Thursday evenings.

County Administrator’s Report

County Administrator Gary Hanson shared that the E-911’s Next Generation System finally has the green light. All the lawsuits and appeals are completed and the County’s system is now approved. As this system gets implemented, the Sheriff’s hopes to couple the dispatch center remodeling at the same time which includes a new raised floor and new desk consoles. This will be a major undertaking as the dispatchers will need to be temporarily located.

Las month the Board passed an Ordinance concerning the Preservation of County History. Mr. Faivre shared that with the History Center Board and they were very appreciative of the County Board taking such action as they felt this was going to help firmly establish their role as care- takes of local government history. This also comes as the DeKalb Public Library is going to close-out the local history section they have. In addition, the County is closing out the Joiner History Room Funds that have been held and moving it to the History Center, but they are reserved for Joiner History Room expenses in honor of donor wishes.

The DeKalb City TIF Joint Review Board was January 24th. The meeting highlighted a few new projects. It was noted that they have been tracking staff hours and the charge will be more like a few thousand dollars as opposed to numbers of $100,000.

Congresswoman Lauren Underwood visits the Administration Office on Friday, January 17th. She was very generous with her time, spending about 45 minutes with staff.

The County now has possession of the old Sycamore Water Department building. There are currently 14 Sheriff’s squads in the garage. By March 1st the County will receive possession of the Storage Building north of Sycamore. There will be a claim paid this month for the final payout of $85,000.00, Mr. Hanson shared.

Lastly, Mr. Hanson shared that after discussing with the Ad Hoc Rules Committee, Administration decided to bring the maintenance of the County Code in-house. So that has been, and will continue, to keep Tasha in the Administration Office busy as she has to go through each chapter for formatting and to review old minutes, Ordinance, and Resolutions for updates. The benefit will be quicker updates, probably monthly rather than once every year or two. This will also provide significant saving as well as updates can cost the County a few thousand dollars.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Mr. Faivre, seconded by Mrs. Emmer and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 p.m.

https://dekalbcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/min20-cowfeb.pdf