DeKalb Times

DeKalb County Executive Committee met March 13.

Here is the agenda provided by the committee:

1. Roll Call

2. Approval of Agenda

3. Approval of Minutes

a. Minutes from February 14, 2024

4. Public Comments

Any member of the public may address the Committee 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.

5. Ordinances

a. Ordinance O2024-03—An Ordinance Authorizing Boundary Modifications to the Area Known as the DeKalb County, Illinois Enterprise Zone, Amendment 4 (ChicagoWest Business Center).

The DeKalb County Enterprise Zone is an economic development tool used to attract industrial development by providing certain benefits to prospective businesses that qualify for local property tax abatements, along with state-level benefits. Between 2016 and 2023, the Enterprise Zone has administered 58 projects with a cumulative capital investment of $2,637,131,907 in DeKalb County. Recent projects have utilized a number of available Enterprise Zone sites, and coupled with a continued demand, there is a need for the addition of parcels suitable for large scale projects.

The DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) is in the process of applying to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to amend the existing boundary of the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone by adding 14 parcels totaling approximately 794.24 acres. The additions of Region II and Region III will bring the total acreage of the Enterprise Zone to 7,040 across the County of DeKalb, the City of DeKalb, the Town of Cortland, the City of Sycamore, the City of Genoa, the City of Sandwich, and the Village of Waterman. As part of the process for the approval of the boundary modifications to the Enterprise Zone by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, each signatory body must approve the modifications.

6. Resolutions

a. Resolution R2024-037—A Resolution Authorizing Execution and Amendment of Federal 5311 Grant Agreement.

Voluntary Action Center provides rural transit services for DeKalb County under Section 5311 and the Illinois Downstate Operating Assistance Program (DOAP) transportation grants. The Voluntary Action Center, in conjunction with DeKalb County Administration, is preparing an application on behalf of the TransVAC program to secure up to $450,695 in Federal and $1,284,000 in State grants through these programs. As part of the process, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) requires the DeKalb County Board to hold a public hearing on the project, which is scheduled to take place during the March 20th County Board Meeting, and pass a resolution that authorizes the submittal of an application for the project.

Action by the Executive Committee would be to place Resolution R2024-037 on the County Board agenda for consideration after the public hearing.

b. Resolution R2024-038—A Resolution Authorizing the County Administrator to Execute the Facility Services Agreement with Preferred Podiatry Group. P.C.

The DCRNC partners with a variety of local medical institutions to provide medical services for the residents of the facility. In February of this year, the previous provider of podiatry services discontinued their services with the DCRNC. Resolution R2024-038 authorizes the County Administrator to execute a facility service agreement with Preferred Podiatry Group P.C. This agreement authorizes Preferred Podiatry to become the podiatry care provider for the DCRNC, allowing residents to have access to podiatry care at the facility.

This type of agreement would typically come through the County Health & Human Services Committee, however, given the timing and need for expediency, it comes to the Executive Committee to place on the County Board agenda with authorization to make any language changes suggested by legal review.

c. Resolution R2024-039—A Resolution in Support of Studying the Feasibility of Reviving the Twin Cities Zephyr Amtrack Route from Chicago to East Dubuque.

Representatives of the Coalition to Revive Twin Cities Zephyr have reached out to the County to solicit support in the form of a non-binding resolution that calls for the reinstitution of passenger rail service by Amtrak to the Twin Cities. Municipalities in the 17th and 14th Illinois Congressional districts including the City of DeKalb and Northern Illinois University have approved similar resolutions, and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood is aware of the initiative. The initiative aims to secure funding to evaluate the economic viability of expanding the passenger rail network in northern Illinois while encouraging Amtrak to set aside annual targeted funding for further preliminary studies.

d. Resolution R2024-040—A Resolution Recognizing National Agriculture Day.

Resolution R2024-040 recognizes the significant impact agriculture plays within our county, state and country. Agriculture is Illinois’ number one industry and is a major employer across the state. From farm fields to urban farms, and to the manufacturing of food and fiber, agriculture is essential to the daily lives of American citizens.

7. Considerations

8. Approval of Appointments

Regional Planning Commission

∙ Todd Latham (Sandwich) reappointed for a three-year term beginning April 1, 2024 and expiring March 31, 2027.

∙ Bob Pritchard (Hinckley) reappointed for a three-year term beginning April 1, 2024 and expiring March 31, 2027.

∙ Ellingsworth Webb (DeKalb County) appointed immediately to fill the unexpired term of Suzanne Willis, expiring March 31, 2026.

Regional Planning Commission - Alternate

∙ Lucas Smith (Genoa) appointed to fill a three-year term beginning April 1, 2023 and expiring March 31, 2026.

∙ Geoff Penman (Sandwich) appointed to fill a three-year term beginning April 1, 2022 and expiring March 31, 2025.

∙ Michael Constant (Hinckley) appointed for a three-year term beginning April 1, 2024 and expiring March 31, 2027.

9. Approval of County Board Meeting Agenda

10. Adjournment

https://dekalbcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/packet-exe-03132024.pdf