Peoria Standard

The Peoria County Board met Jan. 12 to accept resignations.

Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the board:

"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."

PEORIA COUNTY BOARD MEETING MINUTES Thursday, January 12, 2017 6:00 PM County Courthouse • 324 Main Street • County Board Room 403 • Peoria, Illinois 61602 Voice: (309) 672-6056 • Fax: (309) 672-6054 • TDD: (309) 672-6073 www.peoriacounty.org/countyboard

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: Baietto, Dillon, Elsasser, Fennell, Harding, Mayer, O'Neill, Parker, Rand, Rieker, Robinson, Salzer, Watkins and Williams, with Adamson, Morris, Phelan, and Rosenbohm absent.

I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

• Approval of December 1, 2016 County Board Budget Meeting Minutes

• Approval of December 5, 2016 Regular County Board Meeting Minutes

• Approval of December 5, 2016 County Board Organizational Meeting Minutes

O’Neill moved for approval of the December 1st minutes, Baietto seconded. The December 1st minutes were approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 14 ayes.

II. PROCLAMATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

• Introduction of new Chief Judge

Adamson and Phelan entered the meeting.

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 October 2016 and Revenue & Expenditures for the month of September 2016.

C2. The Treasurer report consisting of the Bank and CD's Portfolio for the

month of November 2016 and Revenue & Expenditures for the month of October 2016, with the exception of Heddington Oaks which is through September due to time constraints.

C3. The Auditor's report of expenditures from Accounts Payable system is

accessible at www.peoriacounty.org/auditor/transparency.

C4. A recommendation from your County Board Chairman and your County

Administrator to accept the resignation of Carol Van Winkle as Peoria County Auditor effective December 31, 2016. C5. A resolution (items 1 - 13 conveyances) 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 January 12, 2017 and any transaction between the parties involved not occurring within this period shall be null and void.

C6. A resolution (items 1 - 17 conveyances and item 18 defaulted

reconveyance) 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 January 12, 2017 and any transaction between the parties involved not occurring within this period shall be null and void.

C7. A resolution from your Land Use and Infrastructure Committee

recommending approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of Peoria and Elmwood Road District for the purpose of culvert replacement on West Schaffer Road.

C8. A resolution from your Land Use and Infrastructure Committee

recommending approval of a Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement with Maurer-Stutz Inc., Peoria, IL, for Phase 1 and Phase 2 Engineering of the West Schaffer Road Culvert Replacement, at a cost not to exceed $112,310.00.

C9. A recommendation from your Land Use and Infrastructure Committee to

approve an Ordinance reducing the speed limit to 30 mph on the section of Swords Avenue from Alice Avenue to Kenwood Avenue.

C10. A resolution from your Ways and Means Committee recommending

approval of an additional appropriation into the FY 2016 budget in the amount of $308,307.00 for the purchase of electronic pollbooks for the Peoria County Election Commission.

C11. A resolution from your Ways and Means Committee recommending

approval of an additional appropriation in the amount of $20,300.00 for the lease of 4412 N. Brandywine Drive for the Peoria County Election Commission.

C12. A resolution from your County Operations Committee recommending

approval of the renewal of an Intergovernmental Data Sharing Agreement between IDOT-HERE North America, LLC and Peoria County IT Services-GIS Division.

C13. A resolution from your County Board and Elected Officials Collaborative

Committee recommending approval of Peoria County's 2017 Legislative Program.

C14. Chairman Appointments.

Mayer moved to approve the Consent Agenda and Fennell seconded. The Consent Agenda was approved by a roll call vote of 14 ayes and 2 nays, with Elsasser and Harding voting nay.

V. ZONING ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTIONS

1. A recommendation from your Executive Committee to approve Amendment #3 to the Peoria Urban

Enterprise Zone Designating Ordinance

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

Mr. Sorrel explained that under the intergovernmental agreement for the Urban Enterprise Zone, all jurisdictions must approve amendments. He stated that it is a map amendment adding or deleting territory. He said that all of the other bodies have approved the amendment.

Williams noted that she will be voting no because of the prevailing wage threshold.

The ordinance passed by a roll call vote of 14 ayes and 2 nays, with Harding and Williams voting nay.

2. A resolution from your County Operations Committee recommending approval of a Voluntary

Retirement Incentive and Agreement.

Phelan moved to approve the resolution and Salzer seconded.

Adamson asked for information on whether there has been a financial cost benefit analysis performed on the decision.

Mr. Sorrel reported that there has been extensive financial analysis. He reported that there are 136 employees eligible under the plan, with 71 in the General Fund. He said that there are funds available for the cash payout, the unemployment liability for any layoffs necessary, reimbursement to the Employee Health Fund for health reimbursement accounts, and any payout for earned time off. He stated that during the budget process, the average wage and benefit was identified as $50,000, but the employees eligible under the program would have an average at almost $75,000; which could achieve savings. He emphasized that there will be layoffs, but the program will decrease the number.

Rieker requested information on how backfilling of positions would be handled.

Mr. Sorrel detailed that the Board adopted a budget in the General Fund that would allow for only 9 months of wages, and if the workforce is not shrunk, an office would run out of money. He said he has met with offices on backfilling concerns, and the Sherriff, specifically, has a restructuring plan based on his estimate of eligible employees who could take the incentive.

Phelan urged a yes vote on the incentive because over the last couple of years expenses have been growing faster than revenues. He identified that the labor unions have offered a zero increase in wages, nearly all of the employees have been a big part of keeping the expense side down through collective bargaining, and the Board owes it to the employees to minimize the effect of the cutbacks. He noted that there are employees making salaries close to $100,000, and incentivizing senior management to take the retirement can potentially save two employees. He brought up that richer packages have been offered in the past, achieving less desirable effects due to backfilling by Elected Officials, but the Board did not have as much control then. He said the County Board made the tough decision to cut back, and the package is the right thing to do because it incentivizes senior folks to retire, saving some jobs on the other end of the spectrum. He highlighted that the program would reduce the unemployment liability when layoffs do happen.

Rieker discussed that he supports the decision to offer the package because it will allow retention of younger employees. He believed that releasing younger employees could create an obstacle in attraction and retention if they are continually released after a couple years due to not controlling the budget.

Mr. Sorrel stated that once the window closes in February, calculations will be made on how many employees will need to be laid off by office in the General Fund, and there will be two cleanup resolutions that will come to the Board. He reported that the first would be to move General Fund dollars to the Risk Management Fund for unemployment liabilities, and the second will ask to move funds from the CDAP Fund to the Employee Health Fund for HRA payouts; both should be at committee in March or April.

Chairman Rand summarized that due to the cycle of the economy, the County has been grappling with the slope of the cost line moving at 3% and the slope of the revenue line at 1% and in order to get its arms around the problem, the Board has adopted a budget that cuts $2.5 million in reoccurring expenses. He explained that the budget realizes 9/12ths of the cuts and provides a runway for the Elected Officials and department heads to reorganize their areas by the incentivizing leadership changes to save frontline employees. He said that the program is the most effective method to exact change and the discussion has been excellent.

The resolution passed by a unanimous roll call vote of 16 ayes.

3. A resolution from your Ways and Means Committee recommending approval of an additional

appropriation in the amount of $90,230.00 into the FY 2016 budget for backscanning work for the Recording Automation Fund.

(Poll Vote per Rules of Order, Article V, Section 18C)

Mayer moved to approve the resolution and Williams seconded. Mayer explained that when the backscanning project contract was approved by the Board, the appropriation was not made at the same time. He mentioned that a suggestion has been made to consult the State’s Attorney and Finance before the Board gets the resolution to avoid a cleanup resolution in the future.

The resolution passed by a roll call vote of 15 ayes and 1 nay, with Harding voting nay.

4. A resolution from your Rules Committee recommending adoption of the 2017-2018 Peoria County

Board Rules of Order. (Pending Committee Approval)

Mayer moved to approve the resolution and Fennell seconded.

Mayer informed the Board that there have been two cleanups made in committee to correct errors in wording, and major changes include changing the Collaborative Committee from a standing committee to an advisory committee and splitting the Health and Public Safety Committee and the Land Use and Infrastructure into separate committees to reduce committee meeting length.

Rieker requested information on the change to the Collaborative Committee.

Mayer noted that the Elected Officials did not show great enthusiasm to keep meeting as a committee every month; the rules change makes the committee the Joint Advisory Committee, and will only meet as necessary.

Elsasser stated that he cannot support the item because there will be too much time spent by staff in committee meetings, and the Health committee has 6 Board Members and 5 members of the public with voting rights. He believed that outside expertise is valuable, but expressed concern about whether they are willing and able to make the tough decisions and make waves.

Mayer contended that the language caps the number to 5 members of the public, but it does not require that number. He explained that the committee is being set up in this manner because the Board believed it needed more private sector input through its strategic planning sessions.

Adamson inquired on how the public members will be chosen for the committee. Chairman Rand detailed that he would choose the members with the Board’s ratification. Adamson asserted that the Board is an elected body that has oversight and questioned why it would want to relinquish its authority and oversight.

Mayer described that the Board would not be relinquishing any of its duty because the rules stipulate that the majority of the committee be made up of Board Members, and because it is a committee, it will only be making recommendations to the Board.

The resolution passed by a roll call vote of 13 ayes and 3 nays, with Adamson, Elsasser, and Harding voting nay.

VI. MISCELLANEOUS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Parker recognized Carol VanWinkle for her years of service to the County. She commended her for her time and help with the Veterans’ Memorial.

Chairman Rand said that Ms. VanWinkle will probably be around for committee meetings and she will still be a great citizen.

Fennell brought up that during the Organizational Meeting there were remarks made that amounted to character assassination; the rules do not stand for those remarks, and the Board should not tolerate that treatment. He thanked Chairman Rand for his leadership over the past two years because he challenged all to be accountable and work out the budget.

Chairman Rand thanked Fennell for his remarks and his acceptance of appointment to the Budget Committee.

Baietto stated that Clemson had the discipline, commitment, skill, and technique to win and they are a credit to college football.

Elsasser stated that the Clemson coach is an outstanding Christian man.

Baietto said the Alabama coach made complaints about calls, which does not show leadership.

Mr. Sorrel reported that regular committee meetings are planned for the week of the 23rd, and contact will be made to get to the best times for a regular schedule of meetings for all committee members with the goal of keeping the meetings to two days.

Chairman Rand noted that Clemson University graduates 91% of its scholarship athletes in all sports, with 86% in football. He said that is what NCAA sports should be about: building young people who will have a future because they had a better education and graduating is of paramount importance.

VII. ADJOURNMENT

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