Peoria Standard

Peoria County Executive Committee met October 24.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

County Board Members Present: Andrew Rand - Chairman; Stephen Morris - Vice-Chairman; James Dillon, James Fennell, Allen Mayer (via teleconference), Thomas O'Neill, Rachael Parker, Steven Rieker, Paul Rosenbohm (via teleconference), Phillip Salzer

Members Absent: Robert Baietto, Sharon Williams

Staff Present: Shauna Musselman - Assistant County Administrator; Larry Evans - State's Attorney's Office; Eric Dubrowski – Chief Financial Officer; Julie Ciesla – Finance; Angela Loftus – Asst. Director of Human Resources; Steve Sonnemaker – County Clerk; Dan O’Connell – Facilities Director; Rena' Parker, Jennifer Shadid - Courts; Nicole Demetreas - Treasurer; Doug Gaa - Sheriff's Office

Visitors

Call to Order:

Chairman Rand called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.

A motion to approve the participation of Mr. Mayer and Mr. Rosenbohm via teleconference was made by Mr. Morris and seconded by Mr. Dillon. The motion carried.

Approval of Minutes:

A motion to approve the minutes of September 26, 2017 was made by Mr. Fennell and seconded by Mr. O’Neill. The motion carried.

Discussion

• Elected County Auditor

Mr. Mayer reiterated the three alternatives discussed previously in relation to the elimination of an elected County Auditor, those being the elimination of the Auditor with absorption of those duties into the Finance Department, contracting out various functions of the Auditor, and converting the elected Auditor to an appointed Auditor. He commented that previous discussion indicated a preference for the third option.

Mr. Mayer recommended establishing an Ordinance for an independent, appointed Auditor who shall answer only to the County Board and the taxpayers, shall be appointed by the County Board Chairman with the advice and consent of the Board to at least a 5-year term of office, and only be terminated for malfeasance or official misconduct. He also stated that minimum professional qualifications could be established by Ordinance. He stated that the office would have both comptroller and internal auditor type duties. Mr. Salzer suggested that the position require Peoria County residency.

Mr. Evans clarified that although an elected official has a right to serve out their full term of the office, the current Auditor is appointed due to the retirement of the previously elected Auditor, and an argument could be made that the term of this Auditor could be subject to a referendum, with the balance of the current term ending December 1, 2018. Mr. Rieker proposed placing the question on the March 2018 ballot.

Mr. Rosenbohm questioned if the Auditor would have his/her own staff, and how any additional staff would be funded. Mr. Mayer commented the model at the state level is to set a salary and provide a lump sum budget that cannot be reduced; the office then makes the determination on utilization of that budget.

Committee discussion also brought about a consensus to clarify and simplify ballot language.

Informational:

• Springdale Cemetery

No report. No questions or comments from committee.

• CDAP/GAP/Macro/Other Loan Report

Ms. Ciesla advised that all loans are current. She noted that Hick'ry Stick payments are issued by the bankruptcy court, and not Hick'ry Stick directly, and advised that a payment was received in October. She stated that the Trefzger's and Quest loans are both current. She stated that $598,897.88 is available to be loaned in the CDAP/GAP Loan Fund, and as of September 30, 2017 over $7 million in cash and investments in the Keystone Fund, of which $2 million is available without the need to liquidate any assets.

• Metro Peoria Committee Update

Mr. Morris advised that has been in discussion with the City Manager and Assistant City Manager on reviewing potential agenda items, and encouraged County Board members, or any interested parties to forward to him any suggestions for agenda topics.

• Heddington Oaks Financials

No report. No questions or comments from committee.

Resolution:

• Participation in the Property Tax Abatement Incentive in the Rivers Edge Redevelopment Zone

A motion to approve was made by Mr. O’Neill and seconded by Mr. Salzer. Ms. Musselman advised that the redevelopment zone is a separate zone not included in the Urban Enterprise Zone, and the resolution would allow abatement of property taxes within the zone. She advised that the Rivers Edge Redevelopment Zone was excluded intentionally from the Urban Enterprise Zone as both Zones offer similar incentives.

Mr. Rieker noted that the Redevelopment Zone was created in 2013, and asked if the process was the renewal of a prior abatement, or if the process is just being initiated. He also asked what the impact would be on tax funding over the term of the property tax abatement. Mr. Fennell asked for clarification on the term of the property tax abatement.

A motion to defer the resolution to allow staff to further review the questions raised was made by Mr. Salzer and seconded by Mr. Rieker. The motion to defer carried, with Mr. Rosenbohm voting aye via teleconference.

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Rand at 4:10 p.m.

http://www.peoriacounty.org/download?path=%2Fcountyboard%2FCommittee_Agenda_and_Minutes%2F2017%2FNovember%2F28+-+Joint+Budget+and+Executive+Budget+and+Regular%2FJoint+Budget+and+Exec+Agenda+11-28-17.pdf