DeKalb Times

DeKalb County Executive Committee met June 10.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

The Executive Committee of the DeKalb County Board virtually met via Zoom. Chairman Mark Pietrowski, Jr. called the meeting to order at 8:07 p.m. Those Members virtually present via Zoom and/or by phone were Mr. Tim Bagby, Mrs. Laurie Emmer, Mr. Steve Faivre, Vice-Chairman John Frieders, Ms. Dianne Leifheit, Mr. Roy Plote, Mr. Chris Porterfield, Mr. Paul Stoddard, and Chairman Mark Pietrowski, Jr. A quorum was established with all nine Members present.

Others present included Gary Hanson, Derek Hiland, David Berault, Greg Millburg, Nathan Schwartz, Katie Finlon, Deanna Cada, Pete Stefan, Anna Wilhelmi, WLBK, Scott Campbell, Rukisha Crawford, Karen Cribben, Tim Hughes, Kiara Jones, Tracy Jones, Maureen Little, Jim Luebke, Terri Mann-Lamb, Craig Roman, Linda Slabon, Larry West, Jeff Whelan, and Sue Willis.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Mr. Porterfield moved to approve the agenda with the addition of an Executive Session for the purpose of discussing pending or imminent litigation as provided for in 5 ILCS 120/2(C)(11) just before Adjournment. Mrs. Emmer seconded the amendment. Those voting yea were Mr. Bagby, Mrs. Emmer, Mr. Faivre, Vice-Chair Frieders, Ms. Leifheit, Mr. Plote, Mr. Porterfield, Mr. Stoddard, and Chairman Pietrowski. All Members voted yea. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

Mr. Porterfield moved to approve the Executive Committee Agenda as amended. Mr. Plote seconded the motion. Those voting yea were Mr. Bagby, Mrs. Emmer, Mr. Faivre, Vice- Chair Frieders, Ms. Leifheit, Mr. Plote, Mr. Porterfield, Mr. Stoddard, and Chairman Pietrowski. All Members voted yea. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

It was moved by Mr. Bagby and seconded by Vice-Chair Frieders to approve the minutes from the May 13, 2020 Executive Committee Meeting. Those voting yea were Mr. Bagby, Mrs. Emmer, Mr. Faivre, Vice-Chair Frieders, Ms. Leifheit, Mr. Plote, Mr. Porterfield, Mr. Stoddard, and Chairman Pietrowski. All Members voted yea. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were no public comments.

A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE DEKALB COUNTY ELECTION JUDGE LIST

The Chairmen of both the Democratic and Republican County Central Committees have submitted the names of capable and duly qualified electors of DeKalb County to be considered for appointment as Judges of Election for a period of two years or until their successors have been appointed as provided by law.

Mr. Bagby moved to forward the Resolution to the full County Board recommending its approval. Mr. Stoddard seconded the motion as presented. Those voting yea were Mr. Bagby, Mrs. Emmer, Mr. Faivre, Vice-Chair Frieders, Ms. Leifheit, Mr. Plote, Mr. Porterfield, Mr. Stoddard, and Chairman Pietrowski. All Members voted yea. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

BEN GORDON CENTER QUIT CLAIM DEED TO MENTAL HEALTH BOARD

Mr. Hanson and Ms. Deanna Cada shared that since 1980 the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board (MHB) as maintained the property at 12 Health Services Drive, DeKalb IL in conjunction with supporting mental health and substance use disorder services. Over the past year, the MHB has determined that it would be cost effective to sell the property and get out from under the requirements of property maintenance. While working toward this end, the MHB sought the opinion of the State’s Attorney’s Office, specifically David Berault, Chief of Civil Division. For many years, the MHB has operated under that assumption that the building at 12 Health Services Drive, DeKalb was owned by the MHB based on the following summarized information:

- 10/15/1975 – The DeKalb County Board passes a resolution that the Ben Gordon Community Mental Health Center will be owned by the Mental Health Board as enabled through Illinois House Bill 1423. 10/20/1975 – Per legal opinion, the building can be owned by the Mental Health (708) Board and the building leased to BGC.

- 7/13/1976 – The DeKalb County Board was questioned by the Ben Gordon Center board members as to who will own Ben Gordon Center. The County Board responded saying that the Ben Gordon Community Mental Health Center will be owned by the Mental Health Board.

- 8/16/1976 – Kish Health Services signs agreement to give the land at 12 Health Services Drive, DeKalb IL to the Mental Health (708) Board.

- 6/20/1977 – Chicago Title & Trust state they cannot issue the title to the Mental Health (708) Board because it is not a legal entity. The DeKalb County Board agrees to take title of the property for the sole use of the Mental Health (708) Board. A clause in the construction grant states the building cannot be transferred to another entity for 20 years or the grant must be paid back.

- 7/1977 – The Mental Health Board received title and deed to the Ben Gordon Center.

Per Mr. Berault’s analysis, while he agrees with the concept that the property is owned by the MHB and exists for the MHB to utilize, it may be difficult to convey that the MHB is the clear- cut owner. The recommendation and the desire of the MHB is that the DeKalb County Board sign a quit claim deed in regard to the property, transferring it to the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board in full. This will provide for a clean title and allow for the MHB to sell the property. The MHB is in the process of determining, by committee, how any funds from the sale of the property will be utilized both the original mission of the grant which built the facility and within the scope of the MHB’s mission to provide services to DeKalb County residents in the areas of mental health, substance use disorder and development disabilities.

Mrs. Emmer moved to forward the Resolution to the full County Board recommending its approval. Vice-Chair Frieders seconded the motion. Those voting yea were Mr. Bagby, Mrs. Emmer, Mr. Faivre, Vice-Chair Frieders, Ms. Leifheit, Mr. Plote, Mr. Porterfield, Mr. Stoddard, and Chairman Pietrowski. All Members voted yea. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

APPOINTMENTS

The following appointments were recommended for approval:

a. Board of Review: ___________ (Waiting on Confirmation) appointed immediately for a two-year term until May 31, 2022.

b. Community Mental Health Board: Perry L. Maier appointed immediately to fill an open appointment until December 31, 2020.

c. Shabbona Community Fire Protection District: Berkeley Boehne appointed immediately to fill the unexpired term of Thomas Greenwell until April 30, 2023.

d. Stormwater Management Committee: Dean Johnson and Anita Zurbrugg newly appointed and Derek Hiland, Rich Gentile, Nathan Schwartz, and John Emerson all reappointed for two-year terms beginning July 1, 2020 and expiring June 30, 2022.

e. Clinton-Shabbona Drainage District #1: Wayne Overby reappointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2020 and expiring August 31, 2023.

f. Coon Creek Drainage District: Matt Klein reappointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2020 and expiring August 31, 2023.

g. Normal Drainage District #13: Barbara Twombly reappointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2020 and expiring August 31, 2023.

h. Shabbona Milan Union Drainage District #1: Dennis Johnson reappointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2020 and expiring August 31, 2023.

i. Somonauk-Victor Drainage District: Charles Kessler reappointed for a three- year term beginning September 1, 2020 and expiring August 31, 2023.

j. Squaw Grove Drainage District #1: Donald Willrett reappointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2020 and expiring August 31, 2023.

k. Union Drainage District #4: Dean Lundeen reappointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2020 and expiring August 31, 2023.

l. Victor-Adams Drainage District #1: Bill Coultrip reappointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2020 and expiring August 31, 2023.

m. Victor-Clinton Drainage District #13: Tom Bangert reappointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2020 and expiring August 31, 2023.

n. East Pierce Cemetery Association: John Kirchman, Richard Miller, and Adam Miller all reappointed for six-year terms beginning September 1, 2020 and expiring August 31, 2026.

Mr. Faivre moved to forward the recommended appointments to the full County Board for approval. Mr. Plote seconded the motion. Those voting yea were Mr. Bagby, Mrs. Emmer, Mr. Faivre, Vice-Chair Frieders, Ms. Leifheit, Mr. Plote, Mr. Porterfield, Mr. Stoddard, and Chairman Pietrowski. All Members voted yea. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY BOARD AGENDA

Vice-Chair Frieders moved to Remove County Highway Committee Item c. – Resolution R2020-37: Engineering Agreement for Phase I Engineering for Plank Road Improvements and send it back to the County Highway Committee for further discussion. Mr. Stoddard seconded the motion. Those voting yea were Mr. Bagby, Mrs. Emmer, Mr. Faivre, Vice- Chair Frieders, Ms. Leifheit, Mr. Plote, Mr. Porterfield, Mr. Stoddard, and Chairman Pietrowski. All Members voted yea. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

Mr. Bagby moved to approve the County Board Agenda as amended and to forward it to the full County Board for approval. Mrs. Emmer seconded the motion. Those voting yea were Mr. Bagby, Mrs. Emmer, Mr. Faivre, Vice-Chair Frieders, Ms. Leifheit, Mr. Plote, Mr. Porterfield, Mr. Stoddard, and Chairman Pietrowski. All Members voted yea. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mr. Porterfield moved to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of purpose of discussing pending or imminent litigation as provided for in 5 ILCS 120/2(C)(11) at 8:25 p.m. Mrs. Emmer seconded the motion and it carried by a 9-0-0 roll call vote. Those voting yea were Mr. Bagby, Mrs. Emmer, Mr. Faivre, Vice-Chair Frieders, Ms. Leifheit, Mr. Plote, Mr. Porterfield, Mr. Stoddard, and Chairman Pietrowski. None we opposed and no one was absent. Motion carried unanimously.

The Committee entered back into their Open Meeting at 8:44 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Mr. Stoddard and it was seconded by Mr. Bagby to adjourn the meeting at 8:46 p.m. Those voting yea were Mr. Bagby, Mrs. Emmer, Mr. Faivre, Vice-Chair Frieders, Ms. Leifheit, Mr. Plote, Mr. Porterfield, Mr. Stoddard, and Chairman Pietrowski. All Members voted yea. The motion to adjourn carried unanimously by roll call vote.

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