The Peoria County Ways and Means Committee met Jan. 4 to plan a happy hour fundraiser.
Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the committee:
Approved 1/24/17
MINUTES
Ways and Means Committee
January 4, 2017
@ 1:00 P.M.
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Mayer at 1:00 p.m.
Mr. Evans introduced Mr. Ben Ciravolo, the new Assistant State's Attorney appointed to the Civil
Division.
Approval of Minutes
A motion to approve the minutes of November 15, 2016 and November 22, 2016 was made by
Mr. Watkins and seconded by Ms. Williams. The motion carried.
Informational Items/Reports/Other Minutes/Updates
County Auditor
No report. No questions or comments from committee.
County Clerk
Mr. Sonnemaker advised that expenses of $345,000.00 related to the backscanning project were
paid on the contract, however, only $255,000.00 was appropriated. He requested a resolution be
drawn in order to appropriate the additional amount. He commented that the scanning of plats
was not included in the contract bid, and the County Clerk is utilizing available funding it its 2016
budget to scan the plats.
Peoria County Election Commission
Mr. Bride advised that a February 28 Consolidated Primary will be held in the City of Peoria,
Township of Peoria, Limestone Township and the Village of Bartonville on February 28, 2017.
He stated that early voting and vote by mail begins January 19, 2017. He commented that work has
begun on the Consolidated General Election in April 2017.
Mr. Bride advised that an Electoral Board was held for several objections for City Council, and an
Electoral Board is scheduled next week for objections for the Chillicothe Park District.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Allen Mayer - Chairman; William Watkins, Jr., Sharon Williams
- Committee Members
MEMBERS ABSENT: Brad Harding, Paul Rosenbohm
OTHERS PRESENT: Scott Sorrel - County Administrator; Shauna Musselman - Assistant
County Administrator; Larry Evans, Ben Ciravolo - State's
Attorney's Office; Andrew Rand - County Board Chairman; Eric
Dubrowski - Chief Financial Officer; Randy Brunner, Kim Hudson
- Finance; Gretchen Pearsall - Director of Strategic Communications;
George McKenna - Regional Office of Education; Steve
Sonnemaker - County Clerk; Tom Bride - Election Commission;
Mark Little - Chief Information Officer; Kerry Heiden - Auditor;
Nicole Demetreas - Treasurer; Michael Brooks - Veteran's
Assistance Commission; Carol Van Winkle - Citizen
Regional Office of Education (ROE)
Mr. McKenna provided an update on activities of the Regional Office of Education:
• A Happy Hour fundraiser to benefit the Peoria Regional Learning Center will be held at Two 25
on January 13, 2017.
• A meeting with local Superintendents was held regarding the county school facility sales tax.
The Superintendents have responded by formulating plans for their respective school districts.
• An upcoming Teen Summit for approximately 200 8th grade students will include a keynote
address and breakout sessions on topics such as drugs, social media awareness and alcohol and
suicide prevention. He added that this year's Summit will provide opportunities for parent
involvement.
Supervisor of Assessments/Board of Review
• Tax Cycle
No report.
• Board of Review
No report.
Treasurer
Ms. Demetreas advised that November and December reconciliation is concluding, and the office is
focusing on mobile homes and distribution of those bills by March 1, 2017.
Veteran's Assistance Commission
Mr. Brooks advised that the VAC has brought in over $6.7 million in VA compensation in 2016.
Mr. Brooks advised that he was recently added to the Veteran's Court team, which meets weekly to
hear cases of military veterans.
Mr. Brooks advised that a member of the VA will provide suicide prevention training this week to
VAC staff.
Resolutions
• Monthly Delinquent Taxes
A motion to approve was made by Mr. Watkins and seconded by Ms. Williams. The motion
carried.
• Additional Appropriation for the purchase of Electronic Pollbooks for the Peoria County
Election Commission
A motion to approve was made by Ms. Williams and seconded by Mr. Watkins. Mr. Sorrel advised
that as part of compliance with changes in voter act requirements, the purchase of electronic
pollbooks was approved by the County Board in January 2016. He noted that the purchase, in the
amount of $308,307.00, was not appropriated into the FY 2016 Election Commission budget.
Mr. Mayer noted that the Election Commission was awaiting the release of funds from the City of
Peoria to offset the cost; however, the City will not transfer the funds until the Election
Commission vacates their current facility. The motion carried.
• Additional Appropriation for the lease of 4412 N. Brandywine Drive for the Peoria County
Election Commission
A motion to approve was made by Mr. Watkins and seconded by Ms. Williams. Mr. Mayer advised
that the County Board approved a lease for the new location of the Peoria County Election
Commission; however, the cost of the lease was not appropriated in the FY 2016 Election
Commission budget. The motion carried.
Committee Action
• Review of Executive Session Minutes
Mr. Evans recommended that all previously held executive session minutes continue to be held
closed as the need for confidentiality still exists, and to destroy executive session audio recordings
more than two years old, except those that relate to pending litigation. A motion to accept the
recommendation of the State's Attorney's Office was made by Mr. Watkins and seconded by
Ms. Williams. The motion carried.
A motion to go into executive session to discuss Internal Audit was made by Mr. Watkins and
seconded by Ms. Williams. The motion carried.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Regular session was resumed upon a motion by Ms. Williams and second by Mr. Watkins.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Mayer at 2:00 p.m.
Recording Secretary: Jan Kleffman