DeKalb Times

Dekalb County Board met April 15.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The DeKalb County Board met virtually in regular session through a cloud-based, peer-to-peer software platform called Zoom beginning at 7:00 p.m. Chairman Pietrowski called the meeting to order and the Clerk called the roll. Those Commissioners virtually present were Ms. Linda Slabon, Mr. Larry West, Mr. Jeff Whelan, Ms. Suzanne Willis, Mr. Tim Bagby, Mr. Scott Campbell, Mrs. Karen Cribben, Mrs. Laurie Emmer, Mr. Steve Faivre, Vice-Chairman John Frieders, Mr. Tracy Jones, Ms. Dianne Leifheit, Ms. Maureen Little, Mr. Jim Luebke, Ms. Terri Mann-Lamb, Mr. Jerry Osland, Mr. Roy Plote, Mr. Chris Porterfield, Mr. Craig Roman, and Chairman Mark Pietrowski, Jr. Those absent were Mr. Paul Stoddard, Ms. Rukisha Crawford, and Mr. Tim Hughes. A quorum was established with twenty Members virtually present, three absent and one seat vacant.

Ms. Rukisha Crawford and Mr. Paul Stoddard arrived shortly after roll call. The roll call then reflected twenty-two Members present, one absent and one seat vacant.

Chairman Pietrowski asked Ms. Slabon to lead in the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Motion

It was moved by Mr. Whelan and seconded by Ms. Crawford to approve the agenda as presented.

Voice Vote

Chairman Pietrowski called for a voice vote to approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion

Mr. West moved to approve the minutes of the March 18, 2020 County Board Meeting. Mr. Luebke seconded the motion.

Voice Vote

Chairman Pietrowski asked for a voice vote on the approval of the minutes. All Members voted yea. Motion carried unanimously.

COMMUNICATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS

Chairman Pietrowski provided an update on the COVID-19 pandemic in DeKalb County. As of today there were an additional five positive tests which brings the total to 42 positive lab cases in DeKalb County and 1 death. The Health Department’s website provides a breakdown of in what location the cases are and the age of the individual who have tested positive. The Chairman also noted that testing has been limited so these numbers may not be as accurate as they could be.

The Chairman additionally shared that he and Vice-Chairman Frieders have been conducting multiple conference calls with organizations throughout the County. They have done with the all of the School Superintendents, one with small businesses, non-profits, and with Mayors, Village Presidents, and Township Supervisors. All of these conference calls have been to assess to the various responses and needs associated with COVID-19.

The Chair and Vice-Chair’s next COVID-19 Weekly Conference Call Series will be held on Friday, April 17, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. The featured speaker will be DeKalb County Public Health Administrator Lisa Gonzalez.

Employee Service Awards for April 2020

Chairman Pietrowski recognized the following County Employees who were celebrating Service Awards in the month of April 2020: Five Years: Steve Sells – Court Services; Fifteen Years: Ligita Ragan – Rehab & Nursing Center; Twenty Years: Carolyn Parnow – Sheriff’s Office; Twenty-Five Years: Molly Nicholson – Health Department.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Mark Charvat of DeKalb Township, shared that he would really like to see budget numbers crunched now rather than later to assess any budget shortfalls that may be happening due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He suggested that the County itemize and get together with the County Board’s Finance Committee and Executive Committee to have budget discussion very soon. He continued that small and large businesses have already made cuts right now and he is shocked that local governments have not been discussing budgets yet. He would like to see the County be proactive and not reactive. Nearly one-third of the people across the country that pay rent were unable to do so as of April 1st. That is going to affect property owners along with people who own businesses and restaurants who are not going to be able to afford their tax bills when they come out this spring. Mr. Charvat additionally suggested that the County address reducing their levy or delaying property taxes for DeKalb County citizens. He lastly inquired if the Chair and Vice-Chair’s Weekly Conference Call Series was recorded and archived for the public to listen to and if not; he suggested they be recorded in the future.

Joel Barczak of Sycamore Township and co-owner of Blumen Gardens, requested a letter of support from DeKalb County Government to help convince state official to ease restrictions on garden center, deemed essential businesses amid shutdowns and stay-at-home order due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Illinois Department of Commerce, garden centers and landscaping operations are allowed to remain open, provided customer interaction is limited to online or telephone orders and pickup only. Yet, big box stores like Lowes, Menards, and Home Depot are fully selling gardening equipment and plants. Mr. Barczak shared that he was requesting support from countywide governing bodies in the form of letters to send to political leaders to help persuade the Illinois Department of Commerce to amend their verbiage and allow garden centers to operate beyond just delivery and curbside pickup during the current pandemic.

Terry Lozier residing on Gerry Lane in Sycamore Township spoke in regards to the need of installing double striping and establishing a no passing zone with appropriate signage on Plank Road eastward from the southern edge of Moose Range curve to eastern edge of S-curve that is just beyond Lukens Road. She was pleased to see that the speed limit was reduced and understanding that the Highway Department is currently collecting data regarding speed but her and her neighbors are still primarily concerned and continues to request that the County establish a no passing zone in front of Gerry Lane on Plank Road.

APPOINTMENTS

Chairman Pietrowski recommended approval of the following appointments:

a. DeKalb County Board Member – District 5: Kiara Jones appointed immediately to fill the unexpired term of Sandra Polanco until November 30, 2020.

b. County Board Committee Assignments: Linda Slabon appointed immediately to move from the Health & Human Services Committee to the Finance Committee until November 30, 2020; Scott Campbell appointed immediately as Finance Committee Vice- Chair until November 30, 2020; Kiara Jones appointed immediately to the Economic Development Committee and the Health & Human Services Committee until November 30, 2020.

c. Farmland Assessments Review Board: Nicholas Moore reappointed for a three-year term beginning May 1, 2020 until April 30, 2023.

Motion

It was moved by Ms. Mann-Lamb and seconded by Mr. Porterfield to approve the recommended appointments as presented.

Voice Vote

Chairman Pietrowski called for a voice vote. The motion carried unanimously.

REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES

COUNTY HIGHWAY COMMITTEE

Motion

Mr. Plote moved that the DeKalb County Board hereby approves the following Engineering Agreements as detailed in Resolutions R2020-27 and R2020-28. Mr. Jones seconded the motion.

Resolution R2020-27: Engineering Agreement for Suydam Road Bridge Replacement. The DeKalb County Board hereby approves to enter into an agreement with the Engineering Firm of Ciorba Group Inc. from Chicago, Illinois for certain engineering services associated with the removal and replacement to the bridge over Indian Creek carrying Suydam Road, in the Paw Paw Road District in an amount not to exceed $315,221.04; and further authorizes the Chairman of the Board to execute the appropriate Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement with Ciorba Group Inc.

Resolution R2020-28: Engineering Agreement for McGirr Road Bridge Replacement. The DeKalb County Board hereby approves to enter into an agreement with the Engineering Firm of Engineering Resource Associates from Warrenville, Illinois for certain engineering services associated with the removal and replacement to the bridge over Battle Creek carrying McGirr Road, in Pierce Road District in an amount not to exceed $80,250.18; and further authorizes the Chairman of the Board to execute the appropriate Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement with Engineering Resource Associates.

Roll Call Vote

Chairman Pietrowski called for a roll call vote on the motion as presented. Those Members voting yea were Ms. Slabon, Mr. Stoddard, Mr. West, Mr. Whelan, Ms. Willis, Mr. Bagby, Mr. Campbell, Ms. Crawford, Mrs. Cribben, Mrs. Emmer, Mr. Faivre, Vice-Chair Frieders, Mr. Jones, Ms. Leifheit, Ms. Little, Mr. Luebke, Ms. Mann-Lamb, Mr. Osland, Mr. Plote, Mr. Porterfield, Mr. Roman, and Chairman Pietrowski. All Members present voted yea. The motion carried unanimously.

Motion

Mr. Plote moved that the DeKalb County Board hereby approves the following Award Resolutions as detailed in Resolutions R2020-29 and R2020-30. Mr. West seconded the motion as presented.

Resolution R2020-29: Award Resolution for Nine Road District Hot-Mix Resurface Projects. The DeKalb County Board hereby approves the lowest bids meetings specifications to Curran Contracting Company of Crystal Lake, Illinois for (a) the hot-mix resurfacing of 2.01 miles of Lee Road in Clinton Road District in the amount of $197,094.62, (b) the hot-mix resurfacing of 2.13 miles of Old State and Count Line Roads in Cortland Road District in the amount of $269,141.81, (c) the hot-mix resurfacing of 0.50 miles of Ellwood Greens Road and Madison Street in Genoa Road District in the amount of $82,132.78, (d) the hot-mix resurfacing of 1.40 miles of Pleasant Hill Road and Lanan Road in Kingston Road District in the amount of $162,180.86, (e) the hot-mix resurfacing of 0.99 miles of McGirr Road in Pierce Road District in the amount of $67,100.26, and (f) the hot-mix resurfacing of 1.56 miles of West Sandwich Road in Sandwich Road District in the amount of $208,781.81; to Peter Baker & Son Company of Lake Bluff, Illinois for the hot-mix resurfacing of 4.63 miles of Old State, Whipple, Indian Point, Swanson, Free and Kevin Roads in Sycamore Road District in the amount of $470,756.22; and to Universal Asphalt & Excavating Inc. of LaSalle, Illinois for (a) the hot-mix resurfacing of 0.99 miles of Keslinger Road in Milan Road District in the amount of $64,202.81, (b) the hot-mix resurfacing and patching of 1.12 miles of Phillips and Duffy Roads in Squaw Grove Road District in the amount of $152,257.59.

Resolution R2020-30: Award Resolution for Three County-Wide Maintenance Projects.

The DeKalb County Board hereby approves the lowest bids meeting specifications to Corrective Asphalt Materials of South Roxana, Illinois for the application of an estimated 116,113 square yards of rejuvenator-reclamite on Peace and Plank Roads in DeKalb County, and Health Services Drive and Greenwood Acres Drive in DeKalb Road District in the amount of $106,823.96; to Steffens 3-D Construction of Toluca, Illinois for the seal coating of an estimated 11.6 miles of County roadways, an estimated 44.24 miles of Road District roadways and an estimated 1.35 miles of Municipality streets in the amount of $866,405.58; and to America’s Parking Remarking Inc. of Sun City Center, Florida for the edge line and center line pavement markings on all County roads and certain Road District roads and certain Municipality streets in the amount of $193,029.22.

Roll Call Vote

The Chairman called for a roll call vote on the motion as presented. Those Members voting yea were Ms. Slabon, Mr. Stoddard, Mr. West, Mr. Whelan, Ms. Willis, Mr. Bagby, Mr. Campbell, Ms. Crawford, Mrs. Cribben, Mrs. Emmer, Mr. Faivre, Vice-Chair Frieders, Mr. Jones, Ms. Leifheit, Ms. Little, Mr. Luebke, Ms. Mann-Lamb, Mr. Osland, Mr. Plote, Mr. Porterfield, Mr. Roman, and Chairman Pietrowski. The motion carried unanimously.

DeKalb County Clerk & Recorder Doug Johnson administered an Oath of Office to newly appointed County Board Member Kiara Jones. As an official Member of the County Board, Ms. Jones added to the roll call which now reflects twenty-three Members present and one absent.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Claims – April 2020

Motion

Mr. Bagby moved to approve the payment of claims for this month, and the off-cycle claims paid during the previous month, including all claims for travel, meals, and lodging, in the amount of $6,160,106.87. Mr. Whelan seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

Chairman Pietrowski asked for a roll call vote on the approval of the April 2020 Claims. Those Members voted yea were Ms. Slabon, Mr. Stoddard, Mr. West, Mr. Whelan, Ms. Willis, Mr. Bagby, Mr. Campbell, Ms. Crawford, Mrs. Cribben, Mrs. Emmer, Mr. Faivre, Vice-Chair Frieders, Ms. Jones, Mr. Jones, Ms. Leifheit, Mr. Luebke, Ms. Mann-Lamb, Mr. Osland, Mr. Plote, Mr. Porterfield, Mr. Roman, and Chairman Pietrowski. All Members present voted yea. The motion carried unanimously.

Reports of County Officials

Motion

Mr. Bagby moved to accept and place on file the following Reports of County Officials:

1. Cash & Investments in County Banks – March 2020

2. Public Defender’s Report – March 2020

3. Adult & Juvenile Monthly Reports – March 2020

4. Pretrial Report – March 2020

5. Sheriff’s Jail Report – March 2020

6. Building Permits & Construction Reports – March 2020

Mr. West seconded the motion.

Voice Vote

The Chairman requested a voice vote to accept the Reports of County Officials as presented.

Motion carried unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS / NEW BUSINESS

Chairman Pietrowski informed the Board Members that there will be a proposal coming to the

May 6th Finance Committee Meeting regarding upcoming property taxes.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion

Mr. Porterfield moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:49 p.m. and Ms. Slabon seconded the motion.

Voice Vote

The motion to adjourn the meeting carried unanimously.

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