Peoria Standard

Peoria County Ways and Means Committee met September 26.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Members Present: Allen Mayer - Chairman; Steven Rieker - Vice Chairman (via teleconference); Phillip Salzer, William Watkins, Jr., Sharon Williams - Committee Members

Members Absent: James Fennell, Brad Harding

Others Present: Scott Sorrel - County Administrator; Shauna Musselman – Assistant County Administrator; Larry Evans - State's Attorney's Office; Andrew Rand – County Board Chairman; Eric Dubrowski – Chief Financial Officer; Julie Ciesla – Finance; Gretchen Pearsall – Director of Strategic Communications; Beth Derry - Regional Office of Education; Dave Ryan - Supervisor of Assessments; Dan O’Connell – Facilities Director; Steve Sonnemaker – County Clerk; Tom Bride – Election Commission; Nicole Demetreas - Treasurer; Barb Bishop - Auditor; Doug Gaa - Sheriff's Office; Mark Little – Chief Information Officer;

Call to Order:

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Mayer at 1:00 p.m.

A motion to allow the participation of Mr. Rieker via teleconference was made by Mr. Salzer and seconded by Mr. Watkins. The motion carried.

Approval of Minutes:

A motion to approve the executive session minutes of June 27, 2017 and regular session minutes of August 29, 2017 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 revenues are on track to meet budget goals. He stated that a local CPA who worked with municipalities has retired, and staff has been training CPAs and attorneys from the municipalities on preparing the tax levy.

Peoria County Election Commission:

Mr. Bride commented that today is National Voter Registration Day; updates and new voter registration may be done online.

Mr. Little advised that air quality testing reports related to the most recent remediation conclude that there are no elevated mold spores within the building.

Mr. Sorrel stated that he has approved the release of the contract to Dewberry. Mr. Little advised that design work for the County was originally slated to begin in July; however, delays due to the air quality testing and an increased workload for Dewberry, design meetings are now scheduled to begin in early October, with work completed and ready to bid by February 12, 2018. Mr. Sorrel advised that with a bid award in March, construction could begin by May 2018.

➢ Election Security

Mr. Bride noted that Illinois’ state-wide voter registration database was hacked during the Presidential election, one of two databases that were breached, although attempts were made in 21 states. He stressed that “hacking” refers to voter registration data, which is contained in a state- wide voter registration database, and not voting results.

Mr. Bride advised that Peoria County utilizes three different election systems: 1) Voting System, the system with which voters primarily interact; 2) Electronic Pollbooks, a separate system used to check voters in; and 3) Voter Registration System, which handles registration for Peoria County. He stated that the three separate systems interact with each other.

• Voting System – Ballot creation and tabulation computers are stand alone and never connected to the internet. Voting equipment in polling places are stand alone and never connected to the internet. ePollbooks are connected to the internet, but are not physically connected to the voting system, leaving the system stand-alone and protected.

A 5% audit of precincts from election day are randomly selected by the state to be hand audited; in addition 5% of voting from early voting equipment are manually counted. The voting system itself is backed up in three separate locations electronically. All voting equipment includes numbered seals which are recorded by the election judges at the beginning and end of each day. All returned Vote By Mail ballots are placed in fire and fall proof safes. A chain of custody is created for equipment, and all major changes or access to system requires a two-step authorization.

• Electronic Pollbooks – Data encryption is strongly protected by a combination of cryptographic encryption methods and role-based access. Encrypting the communication channel further protects data integrity, ensuring that information is not accessible by external agents. Authenticity of data is protected by cryptographic measures using certificates to ensure data integrity and origin, and even if poll book device is lost or stolen the data is protected from access by unauthorized persons and any breach of voter privacy.

• Local Voter Registration System – County software is located on County servers. The system is behind a firewall, is access controlled, and traffic is tracked. Patches are applied at least monthly. Access to the server is logged and controlled. Authorized staff are apprised daily on cybersecurity issues. All changes to voter status are controlled at the local level. If the state database is hacked, complete control is held at the local level, and any changes at State Database must be approved and changed at the local level.

Mr. Little advised that he and pertinent staff meet regularly with both Homeland Security and the FBI in order to maintain the integrity of the County’s servers.

Finance:

Mr. Dubrowski advised that final budget meetings are being scheduled, with creation of the budget document upcoming. He stated that a second bookkeeper has been hired for Heddington Oaks, which will assist in alleviating issues with internal controls. He advised that the search for a Heddington Oaks Finance Director continues.

Mr. Dubrowski advised that Ms. Ciesla is in the process of updating records and procedures for GATA (Grant Accountability and Transparency Act).

Regional Office of Education (ROE):

Ms. Derry provided an update on activities of the Regional Office of Education:

• Safety inspections of all Peoria County school buildings has commenced. An online system for ensuring compliance with all requirements except safety is being implemented.

• The response to George Couros, the keynote speaker at the Teacher’s Institute was overwhelmingly positive. Mr. Couros has written a book encouraging innovation in high school students.

• SB1947, the bill revising the formula for funding high schools, while a positive for the majority of the school district, has resulted in issues with the amount of General State Aid for the alternative school.

• Ms. Derry has been named as a Board Member to Junior Achievement, and is sitting on the competency based Education Committee for Peoria Public Schools.

Supervisor of Assessments/Board of Review:

• Tax Cycle

Mr. Ryan advised that the filing deadline for Board of Review complaints was September 18th, and although tallying is not complete, he estimates approximately 900 complaints have been filed. Mr. Mayer commented that County Board Member Jim Fennell had suggested tracking complaints and/or appeals on assessments of parcels valued at $1 million or more, and Mr. Ryan advised that assessment information could be provided; however, there are not typically appraisals at the local Board of Review level.

• Board of Review

No report. No questions or comments from committee.

Treasurer:

Ms. Demetreas advised that $104.7 million was distributed in Distribution #4, with a total year-to- date $283.4 million in distributions. She stated that a fifth distribution is scheduled for October, as well as Delinquent Notices and publications for individuals who have not paid. She advised that the annual tax sale is scheduled for November 6, 2017.

Ms. Demetreas stated that in working closely with the bank and moving funds into different collateralized investment vehicles and products, the office has reduced fees through August by $4,618.00. She advised that beginning in September, the bank will reduce fees by another $694.00 a month.

Veteran's Assistance Commission:

Mr. Mayer advised that the Commission has brought in over $7.2 million in veterans benefits to date in 2017.

Legislative Update:

No report. No questions or comments from committee.

Resolution:

• Monthly Delinquent Taxes

A motion to approve was made by Ms. Williams and seconded by Mr. Salzer. The motion carried.

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Mayer at 2:04 p.m.

http://www.peoriacounty.org/download?path=%2Fcountyboard%2FCommittee_Agenda_and_Minutes%2F2017%2FNovember%2F21+-+Ways+and+Means+Budget+and+Regular%2FWays+and+Means+Agenda+11_21_17.pdf