Peoria Standard

Peoria County Board - Executive Committee met May 23.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:	James Dillon – Chairperson; Sharon Williams – Vice-Chairperson; Jennifer Groves Allison, Eden Blair, Camille Coates, Linda Daley, Betty Duncan, Daniel Kelch, Danny Phelan, Rob Reneau, Steven Rieker, Paul Rosenbohm, Phillip Salzer
MEMBERS ABSENT:	Brandy Bryant, Matt Windish
STAFF PRESENT:	Scott Sorrel - County Administrator; Shauna Musselman – Assistant County Administrator; Jennie Cordis Boswell - State's Attorney's Office; Heather McCord – Chief Financial Officer; André Allen; Brittany Graves Gretchen Pearsall, Angela Loftus – County Administration; Rachael Parker – County Clerk; Amy McLaren – County Highway; Nicole Bjerke – Treasurer
VISITORS:

Call to Order

Chairperson Dillon called the meeting to order at 3:43 p.m.

Approval of Minutes

A motion to approve the minutes of April 25, 2023 was made by Ms. Daley and seconded by Ms. Duncan. The motion carried (13 -0).

Informational Items/Reports/Other Minutes/Updates

➢ Springdale Cemetery

No questions or comments from committee.

➢ County Auditor

No questions or comments from committee.

➢ Heddington Oaks Financials

No questions or comments from committee.

➢ American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Summary

No questions or comments from committee.

➢ Peoria County Enterprise Zone Report

No questions or comments from committee.

➢ Joint Commission on Racial Justice and Equity Update

No questions or comments from committee.

Mr. Dillon motioned to receive and file all informational reports with the exception of “Small Business Microgrants”.

➢ Small Business Microgrants

Dr. Blair noted that since StartaBusinessGP.org went live in October 2022, 149 participants have joined the platform. She stated that participants who successfully complete the program and obtain the approval of two mentors become eligible for a $5,000.00 microgrant. She advised that 19 grant applications have been received; of those, 10 applicants were reviewed and deemed eligible by the Advisory Committee on Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, with 6 grant applicants ultimately being awarded a grant. She remarked that two grants were awarded to women business owners and two were minority owned businesses. Additionally, two of the grants were awarded to businesses located in unincorporated Peoria County.

Dr. Blair advised that grant applications will be reviewed again by the committee on July 15, 2023.

Resolution

➢ West Peoria Township Parcel Correction

A motion to approve was made by Ms. Groves Allison and seconded by Ms. Williams. Mr. Sorrel advised that with the the voters of West Peoria Township approving a referendum to dissolve the township, 34 parcels which were a part of that township are now not a part of any township. He stated that under the Township Code, the County Board has the ability to assign these 34 parcels to another township, with Limestone Township being the most applicable and appropriate. Mr. Sorrel advised that a statutory Public Hearing was noticed and held, with no public testimony given. Mr. Sorrel advised that staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance, which allows the 34 parcels to be recognized as part of Limestone Township. He noted that although there are no voters located on those 34 parcels, both the County Clerk’s Office and the Election Commission will be sufficiently notified pending the action of the County Board.

A motion to amend the Ordinance to revise the applicable statute from “10-25” to “10-5” was made by Mr. Rieker and seconded by Ms. Williams. The motion to amend carried (13-0). The motion to approve as amended carried (13-0).

Discussion

The following Standing Committee meetings were summarized by their respective Chairperson as follows:

Infrastructure

CANCELED

Ways and Means

The following resolution was recommended to the County Board for approval. • Monthly Delinquent Taxes

Land Use

The following was recommended to the County Board for approval.

Zoning Case

• #ZBA-2023-0020, Petition of Ravikumar A. Patel

County Operations

No resolutions were recommended to the County Board for approval.

County Health

No resolutions were recommended to the County Board for approval.

Public Safety and Justice

The following resolutions were recommended to the County Board for approval. • Police Service Agreement with Pleasant Valley School District #62

• Police Service Agreement with Princeville Unit School District #326 and Village of Princeville

• Police Service Agreement with Village of Norwood

• Petco Love Grant Award

Finance Audit and Legislative Affairs

The following resolution was recommended to the County Board for approval. • FY2023 budget appropriation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds

Rules

The following resolution was recommended to the County Board for approval. • Amendment #1 to 2023-2024 Peoria County Board Rules of Order

Discussion

➢ American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Policy

Mr. Sorrel summarized available ARPA funding, eligible and ineligible uses, reporting requirements, and funds appropriated and expended to date. He commented that Peoria County received a total of $34.8 million and was required to obligate the funds by December 31, 2024. He remarked that the county has done so based upon policy discussion held in 2021, although the county can modify that reporting to the U.S. Treasury. He added that all funding must be expended by December 31, 2026.

Mr. Sorrel stated that the remaining balance for use totals $6,911,504.00, and advised that policy questions for the committee include how to allocate the remaining funds across eligible categories and how best to allocate earned interest income (EIC). He noted that $500,000.00 from the Capital Projects Fund was incorporated into the Health and Human Services (HHS) Campus project, with the caveat being that the work done by the County Treasurer on investments has allowed the County to earn a significant amount of EIC on remaining ARPA funds, and which may be utilized at the prerogative of the County. He stated that FY2024 budget discussions will include a recommendation to take the initial $500,000.00 of the EIC and re-appropriate that amount back into the Capital Projects Fund.

Mr. Sorrel noted that the County Board took action to fund the $2.6 million gap in total construction costs and available funding for the HHS Campus Project. As a way of funding a portion of that obligation, he advised that staff is bringing forward several recommendations: Reduce Peoria County’s obligation to the Health Equity Fund from $2.4 million to $1.2 million, which would effectively add $1.2 million back into the FY2024 budget. He also advised that $700,000.00 is currently appropriated from the ARPA Fund for the acquisition of the Election Commission, and would recommend delaying the purchase and reappropriating those funds back into the FY2024 budget. He stated that these two actions would reduce the $2.6 million commitment by $1.9 million, with approximately $740,000.00 remaining to fund. Additionally, he remarked that after a decision is made regarding funding allocation for capital projects, it is recommended that the Infrastructure Committee be charged with identifying and prioritizing which capital projects to fund.

Concerns and questions were discussed and addressed, including the continued importance of broadband efforts and the reluctance to further deplete the Capital Projects Fund. Mr. Rieker noted that $596,000.00 has been appropriated from the ARPA Fund for IT Cyber Security and commented that the IT Department has a sizable reserve and suggested that the IT Cyber Security funding come from IT Department reserves as opposed to the ARPA Fund. Mr. Sorrel advised that CIO Little has communicated that there are adequate unobligated reserves in the IT Fund to absorb that project. He noted that funding of the project from a different source would require action by the County Board.

Mr. Dillon noted that $1 million remains budgeted for the demolition and redevelopment of the Gift Avenue property. He commented that the project will not necessitate the entire $1 million, and suggested that the budgeted amount could potentially be reduced to $800,000.00. He recommended $50,000.00 of that $200,000.00 be provided to small business microgrants and the remaining $150,000.00 be put toward the $2.9 million deficit.

Mr. Rosenbohm asked the amount of interest income accrued by the ARPA Fund to date and how the county will utilize that income. Ms. Bjerke advised that approximately $980,000.00 in interest income has been accrued in the ARPA Fund to date. Mr. Sorrel advised that $500,000.00 would be utilized to recapitalize capital projects, with the remaining amount being subject to discussion by the Board, particularly in regard to adding to the reserves of the Capital Project Fund.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned by Chairperson Dillon at 5:04 p.m.

https://www.peoriacounty.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06272023-1451