DeKalb Times

DeKalb County Executive Committee met Aug. 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Executive Committee of the DeKalb County Board met in Sycamore, Illinois on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. Chair Ellingsworth Webb called the meeting to order at 7:30PM. Those Members present were Scott Campbell, Rukisha Crawford, Patrick Deutsch, John Frieders, Kathy Lampkins, Jerry Osland, Michelle Pickett and Roy Plote. A quorum was established with nine Members present.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Mann-Lamb moved to approve the agenda as presented. Deutsch seconded the motion and it was carried by voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

It was moved by Crawford, seconded by Plote and it was carried by voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative to approve the minutes of the June 12, 2024 Regular Executive Committee Meeting and the July 31, 2024 Special Executive Committee Meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Janet Berkes addressed the Committee regarding the criteria for holding the position of County Administrator and urged the Executive Committee to add members of the public to the selection panel.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

It was moved by Lampkins to enter into Executive Session at 7:35PM for the purposes of “The appointment, compensation and employments of personnel pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) and the discussion of litigation that is pending before the courts pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11). The motion was seconded by Mann-Lamb.

The motion carried by a roll call vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative. Those voting in favor were Campbell, Deutsch, Frieders, Lampkins, Mann-Lamb, Pickett, Plote and Chair Webb.

The Executive Committee returned to Open Session at 9:12PM.

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution R2024-087—A Resolution Authorizing the DCRNC Administrator to Execute the Nursing Facility Hospice Services Agreement with Hospice Advantage LLC on behalf of the DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center.

Resolution R2024-087 authorizes the DCRNC to enter into a Residential Hospice Care Agreement with Transitions Hospice LLC. This agreement has been reviewed by Staff and the State’s Attorney’s Office. This Resolution would approve the agreement pending final legal review.

Resolutions R2024-087 and R2024-88 were brought to the Health & Human Services Committee on August 5th for consideration. Due to lack of quorum, the Committee was unable to take action.

It was moved by Frieders to forward Resolution R2024-087 to the full County Board. The motion was seconded by Crawford and carried by a voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

Resolution R2024-088—A Resolution Authorizing the DCRNC Administrator to Execute the Residential Hospice Care Agreement with Transitions Hospice LLC on behalf of the DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center.

Resolution R2024-088 authorizes the DCRNC to enter into a Residential Hospice Care Agreement with Transitions Hospice LLC. This agreement has been reviewed by Staff and the State’s Attorney’s Office. This Resolution would approve the agreement pending final legal review.

It was moved by Frieders to forward Resolution R2024-088 to the full County Board. The motion was seconded by Mann-Lamb and carried by a voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

Resolution R2024-093—A Resolution Authorizing the Extension of the Special Use Permits Granted to Owens Creek Solar, LLC for Projects MY-21-13, MY-21-14, MY-21-15, MY-21-16, SG-21-17, MY 21-18, MY-21-19, MY-21-20, & MY-21-21 in Mayfield and South Grove Townships, and to Red Maple Solar, LLC, for Projects AF-21-06, AF-21-07, AF-21-08, AF-21-09, AF-21-10, AF-21-11, & AF-21-12 in Afton Township.

On November 17, 2021, the County Board approved Ordinances O2021-12 and O2021-13, which granted nine (9) Special Use Permits to Owens Creek Solar, LLC and seven (7) Special Use Permits to Red Maple Solar, LLC respectively, subsidiaries to Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC, on behalf of itself and the participating landowners. Ordinance O2021-12 is proposing to build and operate a 500MW solar farm, said solar farm will be spread out over forty-one (41) separate parcels, said properties being zoned A-1, Agricultural District, and covering approximately 3,557.51-acres, in Mayfield and South Grove Townships. Ordinance O2021-13 is proposing to build and operate a 300MW solar farm, said solar farm will be spread out over twenty-two (22) separate parcels, said properties being zoned A-1, Agricultural District, and covering approximately 1,839.49-acres, in Afton Township.

The position DeKalb County has taken is to place time limits on all the Special Uses with the understanding that if the developer chooses not to move forward as proposed within that timeframe, then the permit would expire.

Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) and PJM (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland) control the local and regional grid systems for all of DeKalb County and challenges and delays by both agencies have made it challenging for larger Solar Energy System projects to enter the queue for construction. Without any fault of the developers, the largest of the County’s projects are finding that the original Special Use Permits approved by the County Board are now set to expire in the next few months. Because of this, Owens Creek Solar, LLC and Red Maple Solar, LLC, have requested an extension of the Special Use Permits issued under Ordinances O2021-12 and O2021-13. The Planning, Zoning, & Development Committee has considered this request and forwarded it to the Executive Committee for approval. Resolution R2024-093 grants a twenty-four (24) month extension on the Special Use Permits for these projects.

It was moved by Frieders to forward Resolution R2024-093 to the full County Board. The motion was seconded by Deutsch and carried by a voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

Resolution R2024-094—A Resolution Approving a Letter of Support for the Village of Lee’s Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant Application.

The Village of Lee has announced their intention to apply for the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant. This Grant would provide the Village with the opportunity to enhance the Community’s public spaces, promote outdoor recreation, and improve the overall quality of life for their residents. The Village has requested that the County’s endorsement of their application in the form of a letter of support.

It was moved by Frieders to forward Resolution R2024-094 to the full County Board. The motion was seconded by Plote and carried by a voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

Resolution R2024-095—A Resolution Authorizing the Execution and Amendment of the Downstate Operating Assistance Grant Agreement.

Resolution R2024-095 authorizes and directs the County Administrator of DeKalb County to execute and file a Downstate Public Transportation Operating Assistance Agreement with the State of Illinois and amend such Agreement, if necessary Downstate Operating Assistance Grant Agreement (DOAP), if approved, provides funding for the County’s rural transportation services such as TransVac and MedVac. The County has been applying for these funds for the past twenty years and these funds are used for services outside of the DeKalb/Sycamore/Cortland areas. When the grant funds are approved, they are passed through the County to the Voluntary Action Center along with all responsibilities and liability. The proposed DOAP Agreement is for State funds. The grant amount for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025 was for an estimated $1,284,000.00.

It was moved by Frieders to forward Resolution R2024-095 to the full County Board. The motion was seconded by Mann-Lamb and carried by a voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENTS

South Grove Cemetery Association

• Richard Tindall re-appointed for a six-year term beginning September 1, 2024 and expiring August 31, 2030.

• Larry Driscoll re-appointed for a six-year term beginning September 1, 2024 and expiring August 31, 2030.

• Jason Yakey re-appointed for a six-year term beginning September 1, 2024 and expiring August 31, 2030.

Somonauk Cemetery Association

• Reid McAllister re-appointed for a six-year term beginning September 1, 2024 and expiring August 31, 2030.

• Scott Thorpe re-appointed for a six-year term beginning September 1, 2024 and expiring August 31, 2030.

• Michael Mortell re-appointed for a six-year term beginning September 1, 2024 and expiring August 31, 2030.

• A. A. Burgin re-appointed for a six-year term beginning September 1, 2024 and expiring August 31, 2030.

• Dennis Stahl re-appointed for a six-year term beginning September 1, 2024 and expiring August 31, 2030.

Drainage Districts

• Shabbona Milan Union: Robert Mullins re-appointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2024 and expiring August 31, 2027.

• Victor-Adams #1: Brian Miller re-appointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2024 and expiring August 31, 2027.

• Victor-Clinton #14: Stephen Hunt appointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2024 and expiring August 31, 2027.

• Squaw Grove #1: Bill Pfau re-appointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2024 and expiring August 31, 2027.

• Somonauk-Victor: Wayne Nelson re-appointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2024 and expiring August 31, 2027.

• Clinton-Shabbona #1: Robert Buchholz re-appointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2024 and expiring August 31, 2027.

• Coon Creek: Ed Engel appointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2024 and expiring August 31, 2027.

• Normal #13: Scott Drake re-appointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2024 and expiring August 31, 2027.

• Union #4: Alan Wiesbrook re-appointed for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2024 and expiring August 31, 2027.

Regional Planning Commission

• Brandy Williams (Cortland) reappointed for a three-year term beginning April 1, 2024 and expiring March 31, 2027.

• Joe Hengels (Kingston) appointed to fill a three-year term beginning April 1, 2023 and expiring March 31, 2026.

• Malerie Schumaker (Malta) appointed to fill a three-year term beginning April 1, 2022 and expiring March 31, 2025.

Regional Planning Commission - Alternate

• Cheryl Aldis (Cortland) appointed for a three-year term beginning April 1, 2024 and expiring March 31, 2027.

• Brenda Jergens (Malta) appointed to fill a three-year term beginning April 1, 2022 and expiring March 31, 2025.

It was moved by Mann-Lamb and seconded by Deutsch to forward the Appointments to the County Board for approval. The motion was approved by voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY BOARD MEETING AGENDA

Frieders moved to approve the County Board Agenda as presented. Deutsch seconded the motion. The motion was approved by voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

NEW BUSINESS

Crawford asked that a Special Meeting of the Health & Human Services Committee be added to the Calendar in the County Board Agenda.

Webb recommended that the Discussion of Criteria for the Position of County Administrator be moved to the County Board Meeting on August 21st.

ADJOURNMENT

Lampkins moved to adjourn the meeting. Crawford seconded the motion and it was approved by voice vote, with all votes cast in the affirmative.

https://dekalbcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/packet-exe-09112024.pdf