DeKalb Times

DeKalb County Committee of the Whole met Feb. 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Committee of the Whole of the DeKalb County Board met in Sycamore, Illinois on Wednesday, February 14, 2024. Chair Suzanne Willis called the meeting to order at 7:00pm. Those Members present were Tim Bagby, Scott Campbell, Mary Cozad, Rukisha Crawford, Patrick Deutsch, Meryl Domina, Laurie Emmer,John Frieders, Benjamin Haier, Rhonda Henke, Savannah Ilenikhena, Kathy Lampkins, Maureen Little, Jim Luebke, Terri Mann-Lamb, Stewart Ogilvie,

Jerry Osland, Michelle Pickett, Roy Plote, Chris Porterfield, Amber Quitno and Ellingsworth Webb. A quorum was established with twenty-three Members present, one absent.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Mann-Lamb moved to approve the agenda as presented. Porterfield seconded the motion and the motion was approved via voice vote.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

It was moved by Campbell, seconded by Emmer and it was carried by a voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative, to approve the minutes of the January 10, 2024 Committee of the Whole Meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Steve Duchrow addressed the Committee and endorsed Anna Wilhelmi for appointment to the DCRNC Oversight Board and expressed concern over Jim Holliday being considered for appointment to the DCRNC Oversight Board due to his position on the Sycamore Township Board.

Joyce Klein also expressed concern over Jim Holliday being considered for appointment to the DCRNC Oversight Board due to his position on the Sycamore Township Board.

Anna Wilhelmi stated her concerns with the timeline of the opening of the Nursing Home Expansion due to delays in approval of an extension on the project by the Illinois Health Facilities Review Board (IHFSRB). Additionally, Wilhelmi noted that she has forwarded three letters of recommendation to the members of the Ad Hoc Nominating Committee.

CHAIR’S COMMENTS

Chair Willis stated she has called for a Special County Board Meeting to take place following the Executive Committee Meeting with the purpose being approval of appointments to the General Assistance Appeals Board. She called the Special Meeting due to time constraints associated with the Appeals Board formulating a decision.

Chair Willis explained that the Ad Hoc Nominating Committee has forwarded a recommendation to the Executive Committee for individuals that should be considered for appointment to the DCRNC Oversight Board. She stated that if members of the County Board who are not on the Executive Committee wish to share their thoughts, the proper time to do so is during the Committee of the Whole.

PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

DCRNC Update from Jordan Healthcare Group/Bart Becker, DCRNC Administrator

Andrew Cutler of Jordan Healthcare Group (JHG) joined the Committee via Zoom to present the following report detailing the current position of the DCRNC as compared to the JHG Business plan that was approved by the County Board in 2023:

https://dekalbcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/fn-rpt24jan-dcrnc.pdf

Becker and Cutler reviewed the information with the Committee and stated that the DCRNC is moving in a positive direction. They outlined the next steps with the Committee which include opening the Transitional Care Unit (TCU) which is part of the DCRNC expansion project. Brian Gregory explained that staff was prepared to attend the January IHFSRB meeting to seek approval of an extension for the Certificate of Need for the project so that it can be completed. The meeting was canceled due to lack of quorum so the matter was pushed back to the IHFSRB meeting in March.

The other step outlined by Becker and Cutler is to continue working with insurance companies to become providers with additional insurance agencies. They stated that the UnitedHealthcare contract that was forwarded to the County Board will be of great benefit to the facility.

E911 Board Report

Heather Butler, the 9-1-1 Coordinator of the DeKalb County ETSB, provided the Committee with the following presentation:

https://dekalbcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/packet-cow-02142024.pdf

Precinct Realignment Update

County Clerk Tasha Sims provided the Committee with an update on the Election Precinct Realignment that the County Board approved in June of 2023. Sims stated that the precinct realignment has produced favorable results, most notably a significant reduction in the number of ballot styles that are issued to voters.

Sims also noted that the Elections department is preparing an “Elections 101” guide to help educate members of the public on the elections process within DeKalb County. She stated that she plans on presenting it to the County Board at the June Committee of the Whole Meeting.

Reports from Appointed Boards & Commissions

There were no Reports from Appointed Boards & Commissions.

Reports from Committee Chairs

Terri Mann-Lamb, Chair of the Planning, Zoning, and Development Committee, reported that the Committee has forwarded two Ordinances: O2024-01—An Ordinance Approving a Special Use Permit to establish and operate a landscaping business located at 16711 South First Street, in Afton Township. The property is zoned A-1, Agricultural District; and O2024-02—An Ordinance Approving a Special Use Permit for a 32-Acre, 5-Megawatt Commercial Solar Energy Systems (CSES) located on the south side of State Route 64, approximately 3,340 feet east of Clare Road, in Mayfield Township.

Patrick Deutsch, Chair of Highway Committee, shared that the Highway Committee has forwarded Resolution R2024-012—A Resolution Awarding purchase and installation of two (2) of each snow plow, frame, hydraulic system, dump body, wing, spreader & pre-wet tank system to Monroe Truck Equipment, of Monroe, WI in the amount of $330,746.00

Rukisha Crawford, Chair of Human Health & Services Committee, reported that the Committee has forwarded five Resolutions: R2024-011—A Resolution Authorizing an Open Purchasing Order for the Procurement of a Health Department Cargo Van in the Amount Not to Exceed $48,950, R2024-013—A Resolution Authorizing an Open Purchasing Order for the Procurement of a Health Department Truck in the Amount Not to Exceed $60,000, R2024-014—A Resolution Authorizing an Open Purchasing Order for FY2024 Health Department Related Advertising and Marketing with Shaw Media of Crystal Lake, Illinois, in the Amount Not to Exceed $145,000, R2024-015—A Resolution Approving an Updated Procurement Policy for Federal & State Grants, and R2024-016—A Resolution Authorizing the County Administrator to Execute the UnitedHealthcare Ancillary Provider Participation Agreement.

Ellingsworth Webb, Chair of the Facilities & Technology Committee, reported that the Committee did not have any actionable items.

Kathy Lampkins, Chair of Law & Justice Committee, reported that the Committee met and received an update on the SAFE-T Act from State’s Attorney Rick Amato and Public Defender Chip Criswell.

Scott Campbell, Chair of Finance & Administration Committee, reported that the Committee did not meet but a Resolutions approving the payment of County Claims for February 2024 and the reports of County Officials have been forwarded to the County Board for approval

Vice-Chair Frieders shared that following this meeting, the Executive Committee would be considering two Resolutions: R2024-018—A Resolution Selecting the DeKalb County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau as DeKalb County’s Agency of Record for Tourism Promotions for the Illinois Office of Tourism FY2024 and R2024-019—A Resolution Authorizing the Procurement of Four Para-Transit Vehicles from the IDOT Consolidated Vehicle Procurement Program, in the Amount of $462,050.00 and Repealing Resolution R2023-102.

Additionally, the Executive Committee would be considering the appointments for the Special County Board Meeting which includes appointments to the General Assistance Appeals Board, as well as the recommendation by the Ad Hoc Nominating Committee for appointments to the DCRNC Oversight Board:

Option 1: 

Kay Riley 

Charlotte Hodder 

Jim Holliday 

Frank Roberts 

Anna Wilhelmi Mary Hatch

Option 2:

Kay Riley

Charlotte Hodder

Jim Holliday

Frank Roberts

Mary Hatch

Chair Willis asked the Committee of Whole to provide feedback on the Ad Hoc Nominating Committee’s recommended options prior to the Executive Committee convening. Several members expressed concern over Jim Holliday’s position on the Sycamore Township Board conflicting with a position on the DCRNC Oversight Board because the Township provides funds to the DCRNC.

Bagby stated that he feels that the state statute regarding conflicting positions was rather vague and he did not feel that appointing Holliday to that position would create a conflict. Campbell agreed that the statute was vague and stated that he could not find any applicable case law because this is a unique circumstance, however, he feels that the County Board should not consider appointing Holliday as a precaution.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Mr. Gregory shared that the County has received a quote for the remodel of “Guest Services” which is an underutilized copy/break room in the downstairs of the Legislative Center. He stated that the goal is to turn that room into an office to allow for Court Services to have adequate space for their staff, all on one floor, so that the Human Resources Manager can work out of the finance office on the second floor.

Gregory stated that the first review of applications for the Human Resources Manager position has begun. At this time, the County has received over ninety applications.

Additionally, The March Committee of the Whole meeting will start at 7:30PM due to early voting taking place in the Gathertorium until 7:00PM.

Lastly, Gregory turned the floor over to Nathan Schwartz who provided the Committee with an overview of upcoming improvements to Peace Road.

Old Business

New Business

There were no New Business items.

ADJOURNMENT

Crawford moved to adjourn the meeting. Pickett seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.

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