DeKalb Times

DeKalb County Board met Aug. 16.

Here is the agenda provided by the board:

1. Roll Call

2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

3. Approval of Agenda

4. Approval of Minutes:

a. June 21, 2023

5. Communications & Proclamations:

a. Employee Service Awards – July 2023

b. Employee Service Awards – August 2023

c. Proclamation P2023-02 – Rail Safety Week

6. Public Comments

Any member of the public may address the County Board for up to 3 minutes on any topic of their choosing. There will be no yielding of time to other members of the public and agenda time for public comments is limited to 30 minutes in total.

7. Approval of Appointments for this Month:

a. Drainage Districts:

• Shabbona Milan District: Dennis Johnson reappointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2023 and expiring August 31, 2026.

• Clinton-Shabbona District: Wayne Overby reappointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2023 and expiring August 31, 2026.

• Coon Creek District: Matt Klein reappointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2023 and expiring August 31, 2026.

• Somonauk-Victor District: Charles Kessler reappointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2023 and expiring August 31, 2026.

• Victor-Clinton District: Tom Bangert reappointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2023 and expiring August 31, 2026.

b. East Pierce Cemetery Association:

• Merwin Plapp reappointed for a six-year term beginning September 1, 2023 and expiring August 31, 2029.

• Greg Pritchard reappointed for a six-year term beginning September 1, 2023 and expiring August 31, 2029.

8. Reports of Standing Committees with Ordinances & Resolutions

PLANNING, ZONING & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

a. Ordinance O2023-016—An Ordinance Approving a Special Use Permit Request for a 31.2- Acre, 5-Megawatt Solar Garden Located on the Northeast Corner of Pratt and West Sandwich Road in Sandwich Township.

Amp Solar Development Inc is seeking to establish and operate a 5-megawatt commercial solar garden, to be known as ASD – Castle Solar LLC, on 31.2-acres of a 76.28-acre property located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Pratt and West Sandwich Roads, in Sandwich Township. Solar gardens are a special use in the A-1, Agricultural District, and Amp Solar Development Inc has submitted an application for approval of a Special Use Permit for the proposed solar garden. The required public hearing for a Special Use Permit was conducted by Hearing Officer Dale Clark on May 4, 2023. Mr. Clark has made his findings of fact and recommended that the Special Use Permit be granted with conditions.

Committee Action: The Planning, Zoning & Development Committee considered Ordinance O2023-016 on June 28th and forwarded the Ordinance to the County Board with a favorable recommendation by a roll call vote of four in favor, one opposed and one abstention.

b. Ordinance O2023-018—An Ordinance Amending a Special Use Permit for a Kennel on Property Located at 703 Eva Lane, Sandwich in Sandwich Township.

Beau & Traci Bartulis are recent buyers of the property located at 703 Eva Lane, Sandwich, in Sandwich Township, including the “doggy daycare” business operating on the property. They are seeking to expand the services offered by the business to include overnight boarding. The subject property is zoned A-1, Agricultural District, with a Special Use Permit for the operation of the kennel via Ordinance O2016-08. Before the business can expand, an amendment to the Special Use Permit is needed. The required public hearing for a Special Use Permit was conducted by Hearing Officer Dale Clark on May 18, 2023. Mr. Clark has made his findings of fact and recommended that the Special Use Permit be granted with conditions.

Committee Action: The Planning, Zoning & Development Committee considered Ordinance O2023-018 on June 28th and forwarded the Ordinance to the County Board with a favorable recommendation by a voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

COUNTY HIGHWAY COMMITTEE

a. Resolution R2023-077—A Resolution Approving a Joint Funding Agreement for State Let Contract for Perry Road Bridge.

This resolution is to enter into an agreement with the State of Illinois for the use of federal State Only & LBFP-OFF funds for the improvements to structure #019-3043 on Perry Road. This resolution replaces some of the language of previously passed Resolution R2023-058 (null and voids), original “COVID” has been replaced with “STATE ONLY” and “as much as needed” statement included as directed by IDOT.

Committee Action: The Highway Committee considered Resolution R2023-077 on August 3rd and forwarded the Resolution to the County Board with a favorable recommendation by a voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

b. Resolution R2023-078—A Resolution Awarding the 2023 Rollo Road Culvert Replacements Project to Martin & Company Excavating of Oregon, IL in the amount of $825,477.25.

For the bid opening held on August 2, 2023, Resolution #R2023-078 involves the removal and replacement of existing culverts on Rollo Road and awards the low bid meeting specification out of 2 bidders in the amount of $825,477.25 to Martin & Company Excavating of Oregon, IL. The estimate of cost was $933,247.00.

Committee Action: The Highway Committee considered Resolution R2023-078 on August 3rd and forwarded the Resolution to the County Board with a favorable recommendation by a voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

No Actionable Items

FACILITIES & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

No Actionable Items

LAW & JUSTICE COMMITTEE

No Actionable Items

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

a. Resolution R2023-075—A Resolution Approving the Payment of County Claims for July 2023, and Off-Cycle Claims Paid During the Previous Month, Including All Claims for Travel, Meals, and Lodging, in the Amount of $6,143,429.67.

Committee Action: The Finance & Administration Committee considered Resolution R2023-076 on August 2nd and forwarded the Resolution to the County Board with a favorable recommendation by a voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

b. Resolution R2023-076—A Resolution Approving the Payment of County Claims for August 2023, and Off-Cycle Claims Paid During the Previous Month, Including All Claims for Travel, Meals, and Lodging, in the Amount of $7,920,743.32.

Committee Action: The Finance & Administration Committee considered Resolution R2023-076 on August 2nd and forwarded the Resolution to the County Board with a favorable recommendation by a voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

DeKalb County Board Agenda Page 3 of 5

c. Reports of County Officials: Accept and place on file the following Reports of County Officials.

Cash & Investments in County Banks – June & July 2023 Public Defender’s Report – June & July 2023

Adult & Juvenile Monthly Reports – June & July 2023 Pretrial Report – June & July 2023

Sheriff’s Jail Report – June & July 2023

Building Permits & Construction Reports – June & July 2023

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

a. Resolution R2023-079—A Resolution Increasing Election Judge Daily Compensation for DeKalb County, Illinois.

In July of 2023, HB3817 85-5 partially amended 10 ILCS 5/13-10 to increase the reimbursement amount for each election judge’s daily compensation from the State Board of Elections by $20, provided that the increased reimbursement “be used to increase each judge’s compensation” and “not be used by the election authority or election jurisdiction to reduce its portion of a judge’s compensation.” A resolution to adopt this $20 increase in election judge daily compensation would allow the election judges to receive a $20 increase without any additional cost to the county, bringing their total daily compensation to $170 for a 15-hour day, which averages to just over $11 an hour.

Several other counties in Illinois are matching the $20 increase from State Board so that their election judges will receive at least a $40 increase. If the County Board raises election judge compensation by an additional $30, for a $55 total increase, election judges would receive $200 for the day, which is comparable to the election judge compensation in other Illinois counties.

Committee Action: The Executive Committee considered Resolution R2023-079 on August 9th and forwarded the Resolution to the County Board with a favorable recommendation by a voice vote, of seven votes cast in the affirmative and two abstentions.

9. Executive Session

a. Probable or Imminent Litigation per 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11)

10. Old Business

11. New Business & Referral of Matters to Committee

a. Appointments scheduled to be made in the month of September 2023

12. Adjournment

https://dekalbcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/agenda-cb-08162023.pdf