Peoria Standard

The Peoria County Board met June 9.

Peoria County has a board-administrator structure. The 18-member board (one representative per district) has a peer-elected chairperson and delegates the day-to-day duties to a hired administrator who supervises various county departments. The board meets the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Peoria County Courthouse, 324 Main St., Peoria.

Here are the minutes of the meeting as provided by Peoria County:

CALL TO ORDER MOMENT OF SILENCE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL BY THE COUNTY CLERK

Attendance was taken with the Roll Call-Pro voting system, and the following members of the Board were present: Ardapple, Dillon, Elsasser, Fennell, Harding, Mayer, Morris, O’Neill, Parker, Pearson, Rand, Rosenbohm, Salzer, Watkins, and Williams, with Baietto, Phelan, and Trumpe absent.

I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

- Approval of May 12, 2016, County Board Minutes

- Approval of May 12, 2016, County Board Executive Session Minutes

O’Neill moved for approval of the minutes, Elsasser seconded. The minutes were approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 15 ayes.

II. PROCLAMATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

- A presentation of the Annual "Deputy of the Year" Award.

- A presentation of the Annual "Correctional Officer of the Year" Award.

- A proclamation recognizing the 2016 Civic Leadership graduates.

• A proclamation recognizing June 2016 as "Adopt a Shelter Cat" month.

- A proclamation recognizing June 14, 2016, as NATIONAL FLAG DAY.

III. CITIZENS’ REMARKS

There were no citizens' remarks.

IV. CONSENT AGENDA

C1. The Treasurer report consisting of the Bank and CD's Portfolio for the month of April 2016 and Revenue & Expenditures for the month of March 2016.

C2. A resolution (items 1 and 5 conveyances; items 2 and 4 reconveyances) from the Ways and Means Committee recommending that the County Board Chairman be authorized and directed to execute deed of said property to the highest bidder, and be authorized to cancel the appropriate Certificates of Purchase. This resolution shall be effective ninety days from June 9, 2016 and any transaction between the parties involved not occurring within this period shall be null and void.

C3. An Ordinance from your Executive Committee authorizing execution of Amendment #2 to the Peoria Urban Enterprise Zone Designating Ordinance and Intergovernmental Agreement.

C4. A resolution from your Budget Subcommittee recommending adoption of a Peoria County Budget Rollover Policy.

C5. A resolution from your Health, Public Safety and Justice Committee recommending approval of upgrades to the technology and furnishings in Courtroom 214 and amendment of the FY 2016 budget to appropriate the shared savings funds approved in FY 2015 in the amount of $168,681.00, to fund the project.

C6. A resolution from your Land Use and Infrastructure Committee recommending approval to execute a Termination and Release Agreement with Clean Zone Marketing Inc.

C7. A resolution from your Land Use and Infrastructure Committee recommending approval to apply for the Illinois Department of Transportation's (IDOT) Consolidated Vehicle Procurement (CVP) Capital Assistance Grant.

C8. A recommendation from your Land Use and Infrastructure Committee to approve an Ordinance reducing the speed limit on Harkers Corner Road between Lancaster Road and Riekena Road to 45 mph.

C9. A recommendation from your Land Use and Infrastructure Committee to approve an Ordinance reducing the speed limit on Riekena Road between Harkers Corner Road and Hanna City Glasford Road to 45 mph.

C10. A recommendation from your Land Use and Infrastructure Committee to approve an Ordinance reducing the speed limit on Riekena Road between Smithville Road and Harkers Corner Road to 35 mph.

C11. A resolution from your Ways and Means Committee recommending adoption of an updated Peoria County Purchase Order Policy.

C12. A resolution from your County Operations Committee recommending approval of the purchase and installation of ten (10) water treatment systems for the fountains, cooling towers, boilers and chillers at the Courthouse, Jail and Juvenile Detention Center from Quantum Manufactured Systems Technologies Inc., at a total estimated cost of $80,240.00.

C13. A resolution from your County Operations Committee recommending approval of the lowest qualified bid of Illinois Oil Marketing Equipment Inc., Pekin, IL, in the amount of $58,633.39, to replace and upgrade Peoria County's fuel dispensing system.

C14. Chairman Appointments

Mayer moved to approve the Consent Agenda and Watkins seconded. Williams asked to pull item C3. The Consent Agenda, except for Item C3, was approved by roll call vote of 14 ayes and 1 nay, with Harding voting nay.

C3. An Ordinance authorizing execution of Amendment #2 to the Peoria Urban Enterprise Zone Designating Ordinance and Intergovernmental Agreement.

Mayer moved to approve Item C3 and Fennell seconded.

Williams stated that she will be voting against the item because of the prevailing wage threshold.

Item C3 was approved by a roll call vote of 13 ayes and 2 nays, with Pearson and Williams voting nay.

V. ZONING ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTIONS

1. Case 024-16-U, Cross Creek Farms Inc. A Special Use as required in Section 20-6.2.1.1.b of the Unified Development Ordinance. This section allows for a special use when a proposed land split does not meet the 40-acre minimum lot size requirement in the A-1 Agricultural Preservation District. The petitioner proposes to divide 26.62 acres from a 142.08 acre tract. The parcel is located in Brimfield Township. The Zoning Board of Appeals recommends approval. The Land Use and Infrastructure Committee concurs.

Dillon moved to approve the ordinance and Rosenbohm seconded. The ordinance passed by a unanimous roll call vote of 15 ayes.

2. Case 025-16-Z, Sean Landers. A Rezoning request from "A-2" Agricultural Use to "R-1" Low Density Residential. The petitioner proposes to rezone 1-acre from an existing 20-acre parcel in order to combine it with the adjacent parcel to the north. The parcel is located in Hallock Township. The Zoning Board of Appeals recommends approval. The Land Use and Infrastructure Committee concurs.

Dillon moved to approve the ordinance and Rosenbohm seconded. The ordinance passed by a unanimous roll call vote of 15 ayes.

3. Case W02-16, Walnut Point Partners. A resolution from your Land Use and Infrastructure Committee recommending approval with restrictions of a waiver of compliance from Section 20- 3.16.2.3.b.2.a of the Unified Development Ordinance. This section requires a minimum of 30 feet of public road frontage for parcels less than 10 acres to be created via Tract Survey. The property is located in Limestone Township.

Dillon moved to approve the ordinance and O’Neill seconded.

Dillon explained that this is an unusual circumstance, and it is not something the Board typically would approve. He stated that approval means that there can be development on the land for recreational use which could not have been built on previously because there is a dam to be driven across. He said that the Planning and Zoning department created restrictions on the property for a little bit of protection. He reported that the Land Use Committee, instead of flatly denying it, worked out something to make everyone happy. He said it came straight to the committee instead of going to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Chairman Rand congratulated the staff because it probably was not going in the right direction, but Mr. Sorrel, his team, and the Land Use Committee paused to find the right construction of conditions that would satisfy the parties. He stated that to the benefit of the property owners, they get to resolve their late-stage estate planning needs.

The ordinance passed by a unanimous roll call vote of 15 ayes.

4. A resolution from your Health, Public Safety and Justice Committee recommending approval of the lowest responsible bid of Bob Ridings Inc., Taylorville, IL, in the amount of $31,335.00, to replace food truck unit #641 at the Juvenile Detention Center.

O’Neill moved to approve the resolution and Salzer seconded.

Elsasser explained that in the committee there was quite a debate and discussion regarding the truck. He noted that he agreed that a new truck was needed, but the current truck hadn’t been washed in 13 years and he found that to be a disappointment. He said that he hopes in the future, when spending this kind of money, better care is taken.

Rosenbohm inquired on how this could be set up so this doesn’t happen again. He remarked that the truck has only 70,000 miles on it and is only a 2003 model. He suggested that because so few miles are put on the truck, maybe it should be sent back to committee to have staff look for a used one for half the price. He believed it is an awful lot of money to be spending for something that is getting very little mileage use, and suggested trading it maybe every 5 years.

Rosenbohm moved to defer and to refer the resolution to committee and Williams seconded.

Mayer asked for clarification on the item being sent back to committee; what is the impact on the Sheriff’s department and Juvenile Detention Center.

Chairman Rand stated that it’s his recollection that the present vehicle is operable, but is about to rust through to the ground.

Rosenbohm requested information on who takes care of the vehicle, because the care of this one seems to have fallen through the cracks.

Mr. Sorrel identified that the Juvenile Detention Center operates the vehicle, but it is maintained by Fleet Management.

Rosenbohm asked for information on how the outside of the new vehicle will be maintained since the old vehicle rusted out so fast. He believed that if the Board is spending $35,000, it should be washed once a month and waxed once a year.

Mike Patton, Fleet Manager, explained that the unit now drives only about 2 miles a day, it does not get much activity, and does not get up to normal operating temperature. He said the box van cannot fit through normal washing facilities, but he believes JDC has protocol to wash it in the sally port. He expressed that the issue is age and four seasons a year. He explained that the vehicle is only getting 1,700 miles a year, which necessitates only one oil change a year with safety inspections. He noted that this vehicle is subject to lot rot; the vehicle is started and used every day, but it is subjected to the weather. He said that used vehicles have many miles and were not worth the money compared to new vehicles. He reported that the cost to fix the vehicle would be throwing good money at bad, and when the assets becomes that much of a liability, you move them.

Ardapple inquired if there was another vehicle in the fleet that is like this box van.

Mr. Patton said that there are some vehicles, but they would not work for this use.

Ardapple asked for confirmation on there not being an objection to a used vehicle if it met the criteria and the impossibility of purchasing a new vehicle for another use which would then allow fleet to swap vehicles since the closest vehicles are passenger vans.

Mr. Patton agreed to the statement, and explained that the used vehicles that are out on the internet are hard to get through the procurement policy of competitive bids. He said he has tried to do a RFP in the past, but couldn’t get any results. He believed the new vehicle would be an asset for the next 12 years plus.

Salzer stated that in committee the message got across to those responsible for the vehicles that a new vehicle would be better maintained and it would last the lifetime of members on the Board. He said he will vote no on the referral back to committee and yes to the original resolution.

O’Neill expressed his agreement with Salzer. He said in working for the City, he knows there is a reason not to go through with buying something you are not sure of; and with the bid process the way it is, it becomes difficult. He believes that this time they will take care of it.

Williams said she was originally not going to support the resolution because there were not a lot of miles being put on the vehicle, but after seeing the pictures, she will support it.

The motion to defer and refer back to committee failed on a roll call vote of 5 ayes and 10 nays, with Elsasser, Harding, Morris, Rand, and Rosenbohm voting aye.

Fennell asked for Fleet Management to find another use for the vehicle to raise the number of miles on it because it is an asset.

Chairman Rand inquired on who supervises the vehicle.

Mr. Sorrel stated that the vehicle is operated by the JDC who falls under the jurisdiction of the Courts.

The resolution passed by a roll call vote of 10 ayes and 5 nays, with Elsasser, Harding, Morris, Rand, and Rosenbohm voting nay.

Harding left the meeting.

5. Review of Executive Session Minutes

Mayer moved to approve the recommendation of the State’s Attorney’s Office and Morris seconded.

Mr. Giebelhausen stated that the recommendation is to have the closed session minutes that are currently being held closed, continue to be held closed because the need for confidentiality still exists.

The motion was approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 14 ayes.

VI. MISCELLANEOUS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Steve Sonnemaker, County Clerk, reported that the Peoria Policemen’s Association, Schooners, Fire Fighter’s Local 50, and Brewer’s Distributers is sponsoring a fundraiser and raffle for the veteran’s war memorial at Schooners Sunday from noon until 6pm, and invited all to attend and purchase a raffle ticket.

Ardapple brought up that Collaboration Committee’s report on the efficiency update is going very well. She thanked Anita Meeks, Mr. Sorrel, and Jason Hauer for their work. She said the enthusiasm and energy is starting to coalesce around the implementation of the strategies of the efficiency study and is starting to root within the culture.

Dillon thanked Amy McLaren for her help with the closing of the Lancaster Road bridge. He mentioned that there will be a time set aside for a community meeting about the ongoing project at Illini Bluffs to address citizen concerns and explain the process. He commended the men and women with the 182nd Airlift for their work, for the opportunity to tour the base, and being taken up in a plane. He said that it’s an asset to the County. He explained that it won’t be an experience he will forget and he is glad to have them in Peoria County. He suggested that a proclamation be made to express how proud the Board is of them.

Morris asked Mr. Sorrel to recap the Metro Peoria Committee meeting, because it would be helpful for the members of the Board to hear about it.

Mr. Sorrel summarized that the committee spent much of the discussion on roads. He said that the City Council members serving on the committee were given a description of the policy discussions the Committee as a Whole has had over the past several months about roads. He explained that there was a discussion on a concept of a .5% sales tax to be put before the voters that would generate approximately $9 million a year, and generating roughly $100 million in road improvements over 15 years. He described that after it is passed, an intergovernmental agreement could be entered into with the city to allow for revenue share on a portion of the sales tax receipts that would be equivalent to .25% home rule sales tax that has gone into effect in the city. He noted that some of those dollars would be used to focus on county highways inside of the city that would then be transferred outside of the County’s network, and the remainder of the funds would be used to focus on roads in the unincorporated areas or municipalities with county highways. He mentioned another concept that would roll back the home rule motor fuel tax and create a revenue share as the equivalent to the 3 cents the city council enacted. He informed the Board that the committee tasked County and City staff members to strategize on what roads to focus on and formulate an agreement to put before the committee in July. 

O’Neill highlighted that the city thanked Mr. Sorrel, the staff, and the Board for their work in creating the committee. He believed that there was good talk back-and-forth between council members and it all went well.

Chairman Rand noted that to seek a referendum at .5% would also require by arrangement that the city would roll back its .25%, making the net change .25%. He said that the city derives a benefit presently from the tax for their operations, but it is less of an annual amount because it is not a county-wide tax. He reported that some of the dollars that would be collected in a city-wide tax could be collected county-wide and cost shared on roads under county control under the old agreement at a 50% share. He specified that the County has about 215 miles of roads that are a big problem, and the annual spend could be $4-$6 million of available funding. He identified that with a property tax increase being unpalatable, according to the survey, a sales tax that would sunset after 15 years would be the only method to raise revenue. He brought up that this tax has a lifespan on it, and it is a step to take care of the roads. He recognized that the County would need support from the city voters to pass a tax that does not have a per say benefit directly to them and would probably be pushing up a pretty steep hill, but jointly passing a tax with benefit for one another would have legs to it. He explained that joining hands with the city in this endeavor is necessary because the County needs to have the support of the citizens of the city of Peoria to get the county roads fixed in or outside of the city.

Salzer observed that an interesting item was the idea of bundling different highways together. He believed that it may not be a bad proposal to identify exactly which roads would be fixed. He proposed that City and County staff would get together to identify those roads after the referendum passes. 

Chairman Rand contended that the voters don’t trust government with their money and the Board should tell them what it will look like before voting. He said he urged the committee to not politicize the decision, and to use empirical data to decide on what needs to be fixed. 

Mayer suggested that the number one thing for local governments is roads, and that the Board must move quickly because the last day to place a referendum on the November ballot is August 22nd. He stated that this is a public good that needs to be addressed and put in front of the people.

Mr. Sorrel reported that because Ameren installed a high voltage transmission line from Mapleton to Peoria, it is required under the Public Utility Act to pay a permit fee that is $20,000 per mile, and it owes $313,000 to the County in unanticipated revenue. He said that at this time he will not be recommending it for expenditure. 

VII. ADJOURNMENT 

There being no further business before the Board, the Chairman announced the meeting was adjourned.