Sangamon Sun

Sangamon County Board met March 7 

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Sangamon County Board met in Reconvened Adjourned September Session on March 7, 2023 in the County Board Chambers. Chairman Williams called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Schackmann gave the Invocation and Mr. Fraase led the County Board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL 

Chairman Williams asked County Clerk Gray to call the roll. There were 26 Present – 3 Absent. Mr. Hall was present by phone. Ms. Ayers, Mr. Stumpf, and Chairman Van Meter were excused. There were 26 Present – 3 Excused. Chairman Williams stated Mr. Hall notified the Chairman and Clerk he wished to attend by phone. This is allowed under the Open meetings Act when a quorum of this body is present, which it is. A voice vote was unanimous for Mr. Hall to attend by phone.

GIFT OF HOPE PRESENTATION 

Chairman Williams recognized Gina Martin and Coroner Jim Allmon for a presentation on the Gift of Hope. Ms. Martin with Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donation addressed the County Board. She stated she is here tonight to recognize a special group. Sometimes we think we have a hard job, but the hard job is for those, including some present tonight, who have to notify someone that their loved one is not coming home tonight, or that they are on a ventilator and there is nothing more they can do other than the gift of donation. There are 104,000 people currently waiting for some type of organ transplant. In this County last year, 26 families graciously gave, in the worst time of their life, the gift of donation. That was with the help of Jim and his staff being able to walk them down that journey, which is a hard journey to walk through. Out of those, 76 recipients are able to have a better life and to see their kids walk down an aisle or to see their grandkids.

They all play a role in this with phone calls, the hospital’s time, and the work of the forensic pathologists. Ms. Martin took the opportunity to thank Coroner Jim Allmon and his staff, and Forensic Pathologist Dr. Patterson and his staff for all that they do to help families. She also thanked the families in this County that gave on their worst day and gave graciously to help someone else. We are very privileged to work with all of you and it is a privilege to work here tonight. She presented Coroner Allmon and his staff with a plaque thanking them for ensuring the opportunity for every individual and family to save and enhance life through organ and tissue donation, and for exceptional partnership and commitment.

Coroner Jim Allmon thanked them and addressed the County Board. He stated hearing those statistics and hearing her talk about numbers, it is tough for them. Each one of those numbers is a family. There is someone behind the numbers. What he has learned in the 20 years he has been doing this is how important it is for the recipients and their families to receive the gift. What he didn’t realize before is how important it is for the donor families as well. They are given an opportunity to change the end to their loved ones story. It no longer has to end with something tragic. Their story can end with something good. They are really working hard and are trying to spearhead this with other Coroner’s in the state to allow donation to take place and still be able to do their job. It is tough and it takes work, but in the end, they get to hear the success stories and see how the families are so appreciative of it. They even come up to his office months and even years later talking about how proud they are that they were able to make a decision for their loved one knowing their loved one would have made that decision if they had the opportunity. He thanked them for pushing through the Jail Committee and Finance Committee meetings and the training they had. He mentioned his staff, who are the heart and soul of what it is they do.

PROCLAMATIONS 

There were no proclamations.

MINUTES 

A motion was made by Mr. Bunch, seconded by Mr. O’Neill, for approval of the Minutes of February 14, 2023. A voice vote was unanimous.

MOTION CARRIED

MINUTES ADOPTED

CORRESPONDENCE 

A motion was made by Mr. Bunch, seconded by Mr. O’Neill, to place Correspondence on file with the County Clerk. A voice vote was unanimous.

RESOLUTION 1 

1. Resolution approving the low bids for the FY2022 County MFT aggregate supply contracts.

A motion was made by Mr. Fraase, seconded by Mr. Mendenhall, to place Resolution 1 on the floor. Chairman Williams asked County Clerk Gray to call the roll. Upon a roll call vote, there were 25 Yeas – 0 Nays.

MOTION CARRIED

RESOLUTION ADOPTED

RESOLUTION 2 

2. Resolution approving the drainage petition for the Village of Mechanicsburg.

A motion was made by Mr. Fraase, seconded by Mr. Madonia, to place Resolution 2 on the floor. A motion was made by Mr. Preckwinkle, seconded by Ms. Small, that the roll call vote for Resolution 1 stands as the roll call vote for Resolution 2. A voice vote was unanimous.

MOTIONS CARRIED

RESOLUTION ADOPTED

RESOLUTION 3 

3. Resolution appropriating Motor Fuel Tax funds for the County Engineer’s salary and expenses.

A motion was made by Mr. Fraase, seconded by Ms. Deppe, to place Resolution 3 on the floor. A motion was made by Mr. Preckwinkle, seconded by Mr. Miller, that the roll call vote for Resolution 1 stands as the roll call vote for Resolution 3. A voice vote was unanimous.

MOTIONS CARRIED

RESOLUTION ADOPTED

RESOLUTION 4 

4. 2023-002 – Joel B. Muench, 5500-5900 Block of Loami Bates Road, Loami – Granting a Variance. County Board Member – Craig Hall, District #7.

A motion was made by Mr. Mendenhall, seconded by Mr. Hall, to place Resolution 4 on the floor. A motion was made by Mr. Schackmann 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. 2023-003 – Bobbe Jean’s, LLC, 4491 Old Chatham Road, Springfield – Granting a Conditional Permitted Use with a Condition and a Variance. County Board Member – Brad Miller, District #13.

A motion was made by Mr. Mendenhall, seconded by Mr. Miller, to place Resolution 5 on the floor. A motion was made by Mr. Schackmann 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. Resolution approving the procurement of goods and/or services for the Sheriff’s Office from Morrow Brothers Ford, Inc. for the purpose of purchasing patrol vehicles in the amount of $114,571.50.

A motion was made by Mr. Tjelmeland, seconded by Ms. Small, to place Resolution 6 on the floor. A motion was made by Mr. Preckwinkle, seconded by Ms. Small, that the roll call vote for Resolution 1 stands as the roll call vote for Resolution 6. A voice vote was unanimous.

MOTIONS CARRIED

RESOLUTION ADOPTED

WAIVER OF TEN-DAY FILING PERIOD 

A motion was made by Mr. Bunch, seconded by Mr. O’Neill, to waive the ten-day filing period. A voice vote was unanimous.

MOTION CARRIED

TEN-DAY FILING PERIOD WAIVED

RESOLUTIONS 7 – 15 

7. Resolution approving a grant application for the Election office from the State of Illinois (Distributed by the IL State Board of Elections) for the 2023 Illinois Voter Registration State Grant (IVRS) in the amount of $163,753.

A motion was made by Mr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Madonia, to place Resolution 7 on the floor. A motion was made by Mr. Bunch, seconded by Mr. Sheppard, to consolidate Resolutions 7 – 15. A voice vote was unanimous on the consolidation. Chairman Williams asked County Clerk Gray to read Resolutions 8 – 15.

8. Resolution approving a grant application for the Sheriff’s Office from the Illinois Department of Transportation for the Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) in the amount of $38,161.77.

9. Resolution approving an Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of Sangamon and the Sangamon Mass Transit District regarding the Springfield Sangamon County Transportation Center.

10. Resolution approving a grant application for Court Services from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority for the Family Violence Coordinating Council program in the amount of $38,000.

11. Resolution approving a grant application for Court Services from the Illinois Department of Human Services for the Juvenile Redeploy program in the amount of $416,000.

12. Resolution engaging the SSGA to conduct phase 2 of a broadband feasibility study for Sangamon County for an amount not to exceed $39,950.

13. Resolution providing ARPA funding in an amount not to exceed $3,000,000 in order to leverage private funding and state grants to expand broadband access in Sangamon County.

14. Resolution approving lease agreements for the process of upgrading Sangamon County’s emergency radio communication system.

15. Resolution to grant authority to settle certain opioid litigation claims.

Mr. Cahnman asked questions regarding Resolutions 11 & 13. At the last City Council meeting where the Mayor approved their budget, they had approximately $1.5 million in ARPA funds appropriated for broadband accessibility. They then voted to make an amendment to take the $1.5 million out but then they put it back in. In the end, the budget did have the $1.5 million. How do these two resolutions interface with what the City is doing in terms of that $1.5 million appropriation? Brian McFadden stated he stopped making excuses for City government a long time ago, so he does not know what is going on with their thought process. They initially reached out and wanted to work together with the County to combine the funds so they could do something including the City of Springfield, but it never happened. He does not know what the status is of that. Mr. Cahnman asked if the study the Sangamon Growth Alliance would be doing would be on how to help us to allocate ARPA funds to increase broadband accessibility. Mr. McFadden stated the feasibility study identified the need within the community for broadband expansion, which he thinks they all knew was there, but it geographically pinpointed it. Mr. Cahnman asked if the idea is they have some ARPA funds they would be spending in the future, and they guide us on how to spend those funds. Mr. McFadden stated that is correct. Mr. Cahnman asked if there is any intent or effort to work with the City so they could use the results of this study to better allocate what they are spending to increase broadband accessibility. Mr. McFadden stated he does not know. They had a very brief discussion with the Mayor some time ago about the City and County working together on a broadband study, and the next thing he knows there was a separate study being done by the City of Springfield and they were not include. He does not know what their thinking across the street is right now. Mr. Cahnman suggested administration should try work together with the City so they can have a better effort towards broadband accessibility.

A motion was made by Mr. Preckwinkle, seconded by Ms. Fulgenzi, that the roll call vote for Resolution 1 stands as the roll call vote for Resolutions 7 – 15, as consolidated. A voice vote was unanimous. Chairman Williams abstained from voting on Resolution 11.

MOTIONS CARRIED

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED

OLD BUSINESS 

There was no old business.

COUNTY BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS 

Ms. Small addressed the County Board regarding the project for the homeless. She admitted that she messed up. During the time they got the proposal for Helping Hands, she thought they were going to move the office. She did not think they were going to build a homeless shelter. When she started checking into the situation, she found out differently. She started getting phone calls, and feels they should of had a public hearing so the constituents in that area would know what is going on. They had not told the union or the employees, which was one of the biggest complaints she got from them. They found out from the news and social media. Brian McFadden and the Chairman were nice enough to meet with her and arrange the tours. She had so many concerns after the tours when she and Linda Douglas Williams went out there. She wanted them to extend the tours to everybody. That is when she asked everyone to take the tour. She thanked everyone who took the tour and for their phone calls, questions and concerns. She thought this might be a done deal. They went to Union Baptist last week and Clyde made the comment that he was “Chairing this special committee and how good this project was”, and then he told a lie right in church by saying “Nobody has complained”. They have been calling her, even though they may not be calling him. Now she had a little bit of “good fortune” because Mr. McFadden said he is going to work with her and others on their concerns and issues. She thanked them all for listening to her, taking the tour, and talking with her. If this is not a done deal, she will be appealing to them again for support.

Mr. Bunch clarified that he did not tell a lie. What he said was “He went around and talked to some of the neighbors and guaranteed there would be no pedophiles allowed into the homeless shelter”. That is the statement he made. The Board Chairman asked him to be part of this because he helped Mr. Clark with the Juvenile Center. He does not know what he lied about.

NEW BUSINESS 

A. Resolutions

There were no new resolutions.

B. Appointments

Appointment of Brad Miller to the Sangamon County Workplace Safety Board for a term expiring July 2025.

Appointment of Henry “Patt” Patterson to the Sangamon County Building Code Board of Appeals for a term expiring November 2023.

Appointment of Mark Pennell to the Sangamon County Deputy Merit Commission for a term expiring January 2029.

Appointment of Tyrone Pace to the Sangamon County Deputy Merit Commission for a term expiring February 2029.

Appointment of Theresa Smith to the Sangamon County Board of Health for a term expiring February 2026.

A motion was made by Mr. Forsyth, seconded by Mr. Miller, for approval of the appointments. A voice vote was unanimous.

MOTION CARRIED

APPOINTMENTS ADOPTED

PUBLIC COMMENT 

There was no public comment.

REPORTS OF COUNTY OFFICIALS, REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES, REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES, AND COMMITTEE REPORT ON CLAIMS 

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

MOTION CARRIED

REPORTS FILED

RECESS 

A motion was made by Mr. Bunch, seconded by Mr. O’Neill, to recess the meeting to April 10, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. A voice vote was unanimous.

MOTION CARRIED

MEETING RECESSED

https://countyclerk.sangamonil.gov/County-Board/documents/MinutesMarch72023.pdf