Sangamon Sun

Sangamon County Board met February 13.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

The Sangamon County Board met in Reconvened Adjourned September Session on February 13, 2018 in the County Board Chambers. Chairman Van Meter called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Hall gave the Invocation and Linda Fulgenzi led the County Board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call:

Chairman Van Meter asked the County Clerk to call the roll. There were 25 Present – 4 Absent. Mr. Bunch, Mr. Fraase, Mr. Preckwinkle and Mrs. Scaife were excused.

Minutes:

A motion was made by Ms. Sheehan, seconded by Mr. DelGiorno, for approval of the Minutes of January 9, 2018. A voice vote was unanimous.

Motion Carried

Minutes Adopted

Correspondence:

A motion was made by Mr. DelGiorno, seconded by Ms. Sheehan, to place correspondence on file with the County Clerk. A voice vote was unanimous.

Motion Carried

Correspondence Filed

Public Speakers:

Chairman Van Meter announced there are five people who would like to speak regarding the Economic Development Commission. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to speak.

Keith Tuxhorn addressed the County Board. He appreciates all of their efforts on this. He thinks everybody regarding that project is in support of doing something to better develop the economic future of Sangamon County. Nobody is against that. He thinks the issue is they want to do it right from the start to make sure everybody gets represented well. They want to make sure they have the kind of representation that makes a difference for everybody including all populations, ages, and demographics. Carpenters say “measure twice and cut once.” He thinks that is the whole point of this. They are right at the beginning, so they can make sure they can do the formation of this organization right from the beginning. They still have time to do that. His concern is the proposed makeup of the board that will be running the Economic Development Commission. They have 27 people proposed in the report including 26 of them that are white, 23 are men, and 1 is African American. Compare this to the County statistics, it just does not reflect the County’s makeup in that board. Our County’s population is 52% female, 16% non-white, 51% under the age of 40, and the median household income is just over $50,000 annually. The makeup that was a requirement for those board members to essentially pay in was $25,000 to $50,000, so they had to pay to play. He understands the reasons for that, because it was partly a fundraising role. In his mind, a fundraising role and a leadership role is not the right way to put a committee like this together, especially when you end up with the results they have. He knows the people that put this together had good intentions, but they did it the way it has always been done, and that’s the kind of things that lead to the problems they have. He hates to say it this way because it is not a pleasant thing. It’s a method of systemic racism, a method of systemic classism, sexism and ageism. There are ways to correct this. He asked that they consider composing the board a little bit differently. One way is to change the composition within those 27 members. A second way, that may be easier, is to add additional board members with equal voting power that represent the demographics of the County, give them that power, and do not require them to spend that kind of money to get involved in the board. A third way would be to merge those two ideas in some way. He hopes they consider this. They have a chance to represent the entire County the right way. They are all going to be living here in the future, and they all need to have a voice in the future. He thanked them for listening and for their consideration.

Cinda Klickna addressed the County Board. She is here to ask them what the plans are under the commission for workforce preparation and business education partnerships. She was a teacher and has taught in Springfield and at Southeast. She had a 44 year career in education. She was the president of the Illinois Education Association. They started Business Education Day that has now been taken over by the Chamber’s professionals in the classroom. She has been on the Chamber Education Committee, Business Education Partnership, etc. since 1991. She just recently retired as president of the Illinois Education Association. The teachers and the teacher’s union have always cared about workforce preparation and what they are doing in their communities’ to help students understand possibilities for jobs.

Most recently, the Business Ed Department of the Chamber was disbanded, and that gives many of them pause because over the years the Business Ed Partnership was put together in 2005 by many business and education leaders, the Mayor at the time, the Editor of the SJ-R at the time, and the Catholic Dioses. They came together with this as the mission, and that was to work with the educational community, the business community, and other stakeholders to provide the highly skilled, literate and productive workforce necessary to support a successful economic development environment. Under the Business Education Partnership they have done a lot of things. She could go through what has been happening in education and business partnerships for the last 25 years. One of those things is what’s called Inspire, also known as Connect and Career Cruising. If you take a look at the Quad Cities, there are over 200 business that are now involved in this online program where students take an assessment of their interest in different fields they might want to go into. Businesses can then interact with them and help them think about careers. The price tag for a school district to be involved as part of the commission is beyond what they can afford. She was Chair of the English Department at Southeast High School and she only got $1,000 a year for all of the teachers in that department. So to ask a district to spend $25,000 is just not done. They want to bring in businesses to this area, but need to have skilled workers. In order to do that they have to work with students to help them become professionals in many fields.

Marlain Beard addressed the County Board. She thanked them for the opportunity to speak this evening. She shared a little bit about herself. She worked for the State of Illinois for the last 39 1⁄2 years. She just recently retired in December 2016. Her background has always been in the financial realm. She has paid the medical schedules for the State of Illinois for many years. She is passionate about financial issues and how it affects their community. She has requested to speak today because she has a passion for the underrepresented people within this community. She has invested into this community, has lived in this community, and has worked within this community, and she sees the need within this community. She believes the EDC is doing great work, but also believes there is so much more that can be done by including everyone. She started a ministry called Empowerment Ministries after she retired. This ministry helps young people to move forward right from where they are at. Sometimes it is situations where they need to build their credit scores, and sometimes it is situations where they need jobs. In the past 10 months, since the ministry was started in January 2016, they were able to help three young people get State jobs. They were able to help two young mothers purchase their first homes. They were young ladies that could not see their way to that American dream. She was a cheerleader and a coach for them, and somebody that told them they could do it. She does believe that within this board there are opportunities for more minorities to come on board. They would be people that are at the grassroots of this situation and are people who understand how to affect the people that are in this community. They have been able to clean up credit histories, do expungements, and all sorts of things where they are teaching young people that they have a voice and the ability to move forward. They have young businessmen and women within their community that need to sit at this table. They can’t afford to pay the $25,000 or the $50,000, but they need to be present.

Tracy Buckley-Jones addressed the County Board. She was unaware of some of the things that were spoken about today until she was made aware just recently. She began to think about the fact that she never thought about boards that help people get jobs and encourage some sort of financial output for them. She just worked and lived in the neighborhoods. She has a passion for people and wants to see them succeed. In no way is it just some people, but she wants to see all people come to the best of their abilities and be able to be a part of their communities. Every day she sees individuals who come out of correctional facilities where people are trying to surround them and give hopes and dreams, and be able to get clemency, and get their lives on track. They hit brick walls because there is no place they can go above a certain level unless they begin to start businesses themselves. There are people who need someone to represent them and who knows exactly what it is they are being limited in so they can gain some sort of economic development and hopefully pour into the community. That is really where she comes from in that concern. She feels bad that she didn’t think about the representation of people of all colors, backgrounds and classes, and what would be needed for them to have the opportunity to have a voice as well. She is hoping the Board will consider the things that have been said by her and the other speakers today ensuring that whatever changes needed to be made will make that opportunity happen.

Sam Cahnman addressed the County Board. He thanked them for allowing him to address the Board in support of the Faith Coalition’s efforts on behalf of the Economic Development Commission. He also thanked them for getting the ball running to kick start local economic growth through the creation of the Economic Development Commission. For the new Economic Development Commission to work it must be representative of their community just like this 29 member democratically elected Board is representative of their County. The Board proposed for the Economic Development Commission to contain 27 of their best leaders in banking, healthcare, insurance, builders, engineers, car sales, institutions of higher learning and more. But there are a lot more leaders of contributions who were left out of the Board, which includes only one African American and three women. Looking out at the democratically elected members of this Board, he sees a lot more than three women and one African American. Also, the proposed Board appears to take only a top down approach, but economic development is also bottom up. While they do need strong economic leaders to create economic development and jobs, they also need forces that will help folks at the bottom of the economic scale who want to work but just can’t figure out how to move up the economic ladder. Bottom up is economic development too. One impediment to a more diverse board of directors is a requirement that each of the directors contributes $25,000 to $50,000 a year; however, many that have a lot to contribute to the Economic Development Commission and have brain power and ideas simply cannot afford that amount of money per year. This requirement should be eliminated for those who cannot afford it. Finally, the Economic Development Commission may not be a government entity that is subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act, but still needs to be accountable to the community and to have street credibility. It should, through its bi-laws, make itself subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. With these changes and those recommended by the Faith Coalition for the Common Good, and with the strong will of those leading the Economic Development Commission, the commission has a good chance to give our local economy the kick in the rear that it really needs.

Chairman Van Meter stated he thinks he can speak for the County Board in that they thank all of the thoughtful voices who spoke this evening. He thinks he can say with some confidence that the wheels are turning slowly to try and address some of these very thoughtful comments from the public.

Resolution 1:

1. Resolution approving the low bids for the township aggregate supply contracts.

A motion was made by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Mendenhall, to place Resolution 1 on the floor. Chairman Van Meter asked the County Clerk to call the roll. Upon the roll call vote, there were 24 Yeas – 0 Nays.

Motion Carried

Resolution Adopted

Resolution 2:

2. Resolution authorizing application for Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program funds.

A motion was made by Mr. O’Neill, seconded by Mrs. Deppe, to place Resolution 2 on the floor. A motion was made by Ms. Sheehan that the roll call vote for Resolution 1 stands as the roll call vote for Resolution 2. A voice vote carried. Mr. Hall and Mr. Sullivan voted no on Resolution 2.

Motions Carried

Resolution Adopted

Resolution 3:

3. Resolution authorizing application for Statewide Planning and Research funds.

A motion was made by Mr. Snell, seconded by Linda Fulgenzi, to place Resolution 3 on the floor. A motion was made by Ms. Sheehan that the roll call vote for Resolution 1 stands as the roll call vote for Resolution 3. A voice vote was unanimous.

Motion Carried

Resolution Adopted

Resolution 4:

4. 2018-002 – Simon Levin, 10220 N. Pawnee Road, Pawnee – Denying a Rezoning and Granting a Use Variance and Variances. County Board Member – Jeff Thomas, District #4.

A motion was made by Mr. Thomas, seconded by Mrs. Hills, to place Resolution 4 on the floor. A motion was made by Linda Fulgenzi to waive the reading of the professional staff’s report. There were no objections. A voice vote was unanimous for the adoption of Resolution 4.

Motions Carried

Resolution Adopted

Resolution 5:

5. 2018-003 – Weldon Ladage, 12000 Block of Alexander Road, Auburn – Granting a Rezoning and Variances. County Board Member – Craig Hall, District #7

A motion was made by Mr. Hall, seconded by Mrs. Small, to place Resolution 5 on the floor. A motion was made by Linda Fulgenzi to waive the reading of the professional staff’s report. There were no objections. A voice vote was unanimous for the adoption of Resolution 5.

Motions Carried

Resolution Adopted

Resolution 6:

6. 2018-004 – Angela Muse, 1729 W. State Route 29, Athens – Granting a Rezoning and Variance. County Board Member – Todd Smith, District #2.

A motion was made by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Madonia, to place Resolution 6 on the floor. A motion was made by Linda Fulgenzi to waive the reading of the professional staff’s report. There were no objections. A voice vote was unanimous for the adoption of Resolution 6.

Motions Carried

Resolution Adopted

Resolution 7:

7. 2018-005 – Steven R. Walker, 3500 Block of Tuxhorn Road, Springfield – Granting a Rezoning and a Variance. County Board Member – Tom Madonia, Jr., District #9.

A motion was made by Mr. Madonia, seconded by Mr. Miller, to place Resolution 7 on the floor. A motion was made by Linda Fulgenzi to waive the reading of the professional staff’s report. There were no objections. A voice vote was unanimous for the adoption of Resolution 7.

Motions Carried

Resolution Adopted

Resolution 8:

8. 2018-006 – ECL 2, LLC, 6100 S. 2nd Street, Springfield – Granting a Variance. County Board Member – Brad Miller, District #13.

A motion was made by Mr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Stumpf, to place Resolution 8 on the floor. A motion was made by Linda Fulgenzi to waive the reading of the professional staff’s report. There were no objections. A voice vote was unanimous for the adoption of Resolution 8.

Motions Carried

Resolution Adopted

Resolution 9:

9. 2018-007 – Ann Kolaz, 3364 Hazlett Road, Springfield – Granting a Rezoning. County Board Member - Tom Fraase, Jr., District #1.

A motion was made by Mr. DelGiorno, seconded by Mr. Snell, to place Resolution 9 on the floor. A motion was made by Linda Fulgenzi to waive the reading of the professional staff’s report. There were no objections. A voice vote was unanimous for the adoption of Resolution 9.

Motions Carried

Resolution Adopted

Resolutions 10 – 16:

10. Resolution approving funding for a project to implement a new power system for the Information Systems Department.

A motion was made by Mr. Ratts, seconded by Mrs. Deppe, to place Resolution 10 on the floor. A motion was made by Mr. DelGiorno, seconded by Ms. Sheehan, to consolidate Resolutions 10 – 16. Chairman Van Meter asked the County Clerk to read Resolutions 11 – 16.

11. Resolution approving funding for a project to implement a new County voice mail system.

12. Resolution approving funding to update the County computer network.

13. Resolution authorizing the execution and amendment of the Downstate Operating Assistance Grant Agreement.

14. Resolution authorizing the execution and amendment of the Federal 5311 Grant Agreement.

15. Resolution approving a contract with Fishes and Loaves Outreach for the Land of Lincoln Workforce Alliance WIOA Program.

16. Resolution approving a contract with Thomson Reuters Westlaw Pro and the Circuit Court for an online research platform.

A voice vote was unanimous on the consolidation. A motion was made by Ms. Sheehan that the roll call vote for Resolution 1 stands as the roll call vote for Resolutions 10 – 16, as consolidated. A voice vote carried. Annette Fulgenzi abstained from voting on Resolution 15.

Motions Carried

Resolutions Adopted

Waiver Of Ten-Day Filing Period:

A motion was made by Mr. DelGiorno, seconded by Ms. Sheehan, to waive the ten-day filing period. A voice vote was unanimous.

Motion Carried

Ten-Day Filing Period Waived

Resolution 17

17. Resolution approving the proposed property leases between Sangamon County and the Sangamon Mass Transit District.

A motion was made by Mr. Ratts, seconded by Mr. Tjelmeland, to place Resolution 17 on the floor. A motion was made by Ms. Sheehan that the roll call vote for Resolution 1 stands as the roll call vote for Resolution 17. A voice vote was unanimous.

Motions Carried

Resolution Adopted

Resolution 18

18. Resolution approving a contract between Sangamon County and the Development Consortium for various projects.

A motion was made by Mr. Thomas, seconded by Mr. Forsyth, to place Resolution 18 on the floor. A motion was made by Ms. Sheehan that the roll call vote for Resolution 1 stands as the roll call vote for Resolution 18. A voice vote was unanimous.

Motions Carried

Resolution Adopted

Old Business:

A. Resolution 8 – Tabled 12/12/17

2017-055 – Mike Hoyle, 12750 Edgewater Way, New Berlin – Denying a Variance. County Board Member – Craig Hall, District #7.

Resolution 8 remains Tabled.

New Business:

A. Resolutions

There were no new resolutions.

B. Appointments

Appointment of Allen Entwistle to the Citizens Advisory Committee on Animal Control for a term expiring January, 2019.

Appointment of Reverend Jerry Doss to the Sangamon Mass Transit District for a term expiring February, 2023.

Appointment of Clyde Bunch to the Sangamon County Workplace Safety Board for a term expiring February, 2021.

Appointment of Tim Krell to the Sangamon County Workplace Safety Board for a term expiring February, 2021.

Appointment of Colleen Kelley to the Sangamon County Workplace Safety Board for a term expiring February, 2021.

Appointment of David Mendenhall to the Sangamon County Extension Board for a term expiring May, 2018.

Appointment of Craig Hall to the Sangamon County Extension Board for a term expiring May, 2018.

A motion was made by Ms. Sheehan, seconded by Mr. DelGiorno, for approval of the appointments. A voice vote was unanimous.

The nominations for appointment in March were also submitted.

Motion Carried

Appointments Adopted

Reports Of County Officials, Reports Of Special Committees, Reports Of Standing Committees, Committee Report On Claims:

A motion was made by Ms. Sheehan, seconded by Mr. DelGiorno, to place the reports on file with the County Clerk. A voice vote was unanimous.

Motion Carried

Reports Filed

Recess:

A motion was made Mr. DelGiorno, seconded by Ms. Sheehan, to recess the meeting to March 13, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. A voice vote was unanimous.

Motion Carried

Meeting Recessed

https://www.sangamoncountyclerk.com/County-Board/documents/February132018_000.pdf