DeKalb Times

DeKalb County Committee of the Whole met Dec. 1.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Committee of the Whole of the DeKalb County Board met in the Legislative Center’s Gathertorium. Chairman John Frieders called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Those Members present were Mr. Tim Bagby, Mr. Scott Campbell, Ms. Mary Cozad, Ms. Rukisha Crawford (via phone), Mrs. Karen Cribben, Mr. Bill Cummings, Mr. Patrick Deutsch, Mrs. Laurie Emmer, Mr. Steve Faivre, Mr. Tim Hughes, Mrs. Kathy Lampkins, Ms. Dianne Leifheit, Ms. Maureen Little, Mr. Jim Luebke, Ms. Terri Mann-Lamb, Mr. Roy Plote, Mr. Craig Roman, Ms. Linda Slabon, Mr. Ellingsworth Webb, Mr. Larry West, Vice-Chair Suzanne Willis, and Chairman John Frieders. Those absent were Ms. Kiara Jones and Mr. Jerry Osland. A quorum was established with twenty-two Members present and two absent.

Others present included Brian Gregory, Jim Hutcheson, Greg Millburg, John Lyon, Katie Finlon, Maggie Niemi, Ferald Bryan, and some additional members of the public.

Mr. Campbell moved to allow Ms. Rukisha Crawford to attend the meeting by other means via phone as per County Board Rule Sec. 2-21(D). Mr. Roman seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously by voice vote.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Mr. Faivre moved to approve the agenda as presented. Mr. Webb seconded the motion and it was carried with one opposition from Mr. Campbell.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

It was moved by Ms. Cozad, seconded by Mrs. Emmer and it was moved unanimously to approve the minutes from the November 10, 2021 meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were no public comments.

CHAIR’S COMMENTS

Chairman Frieders made no additional comments.

PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center Financial Update

County Administrator Brian Gregory updated that since the Committee last met, an additional $1 million was borrowed to the DCRNC for cashflow purposes. This brings the total borrowed now to $4.5 million. There is a company that is coming in to work on past receivables as well as current billings issues, which has been part of the cashflow issue. All avenues are being explored to hopefully generate revenue to hopefully minimize the continued need for continued cashflow to the home.

Low census and staffing both continue to be ongoing issues at the home that have not seen much relief either, Mr. Gregory and DCRNC Administrator Maggie Niemi expressed.

Reports from Committee Chairs

Mr. Faivre, Chair of the Planning & Zoning Committee, reported that the Committee is bringing one Ordinance forward for the Board’s consideration. The Ordinance would impose a county wide limit of 12,000 total acres on Commercial Solar Energy Systems, not including ancillary uses, such as panels installed on rooftops or private solar energy systems installed for the purpose of powering that particular property.

Mr. Plote, Chair of the County Highway Committee, shared that the Committee had no actionable items and that the Committee would not be meeting tomorrow evening.

Mrs. Emmer, Chair of the Economic Development Committee, shared she had no report. Ms. Crawford, Chair of Health & Human Services Committee, shared she had no report. Ms. Leifheit, Chair of the Law & Justice Committee, shared that she had no report.

Mr. Bagby, Chairman of the Finance Committee, shared that the Committee forwarded and would be presenting for the Board’s consideration, the FY2022 Levy and Appropriation Ordinances. Mr. Bagby additionally reiterated that this is the first time in many years that the County will not be levying to the Tax Cap. Property owners should see their portion of the tax bill going to the County stay roughly the same in 2022 as it was in 2021.

Mr. Roman, Chairman of the Forest Preserve Operations Committee, shared that the Forest Preserve District would also be presenting their FY2022 Levy and Appropriation Ordinances for the Commission’s consideration.

Vice-Chair Willis provided a brief summary of the items that would be discussed at the Executive Committee that immediately follows the Committee of the Whole Meeting. Those items included two property tax sale Resolutions, approval of the annual Appellate Prosecutor Program, establishing a Self-Represented Litigant Help Room as well redirecting the $10.00 fee from Children’s Waiting Room to SLR Self Help Room, dissolving the DCRNC Operating Board, and approving a Request for Information for Brokerage and Consulting Services related to the DCRNC. This allows the solicitation of proposals for services to gather information to ensure the County Board has the necessary information needed to determine the future of the DCRNC.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Mr. Gregory shared that the County’s Finance Team is gearing up for year-end work and starting to look ahead to next year’s audit. He is excited to have his first budget cycle under his belt and expressed that he looks forward to identifying more efficiencies in the future within different reporting and budgeting procedures.

Note: These minutes are not official until approved by the Committee of the Whole at a subsequent meeting. Please refer to the meeting minutes when these minutes are approved to obtain any changes to these minutes.

The full budget document will be prepared and on-line for Board’s consideration by Friday. Mr. Gregory also noted that the Forest Preserve District is its own taxing body and is audited separately from the County. Therefore, they are going to have their own separate budget document for FY2022 and going forward.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Mrs. Lampkins, seconded by Mr. Luebke and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7:37 p.m.

https://dekalbcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/min21-cowdec.pdf