Peoria County Health Committee Met April 27.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
| MEMBERS PRESENT: Sharon Williams - Chairperson, Betty Duncan - Vice Chairperson; Jennifer Groves Allison, Eden Blair, Brandy Bryant, Kate Pastucha, Rachel Reliford (via teleconference), Rob Reneau, Steve Rieker, Phillip Salzer |
| MEMBERS ABSENT: Linda Daley |
| OTHERS PRESENT: Scott Sorrel - County Administrator; Jennie Cordis Boswell - State's Attorney's Office; Gretchen Pearsall – County Administration; Rebecca Cottrell – Sustainability & Resource
Conservation; Monica Hendrickson – Health Department; Jason Marks – EMA; Elizabeth Crider, George McKenna – Regional Office of Education |
Chairperson Williams called the meeting to order at 10:32 a.m.
Approval of Minutes
A motion to approve the minutes of February 23, 2021 was made by Mr. Reneau and seconded by Ms. Pastucha. The motion carried unanimously.
Informational Items / Reports / Other Minutes / Updates
⮚ Board of Health
⮚ Monthly Update
Ms. Hendrickson directed committee members to the submitted Board of Health minutes of March 15, 2021. She provided an update on COVID-19 related matters, noted that Peoria County has seen over 22,000 cases to date and 311 deaths. She also commented that that 31% of the Peoria County population has been fully vaccinated, with 59,000 having received at least one dose of the vaccine. She noted that vaccinations have slowed somewhat, primarily due to concerns over vaccine availability and ease of access. She stated that the Health Department will run several vaccination clinics throughout the community, and a Friday clinic at the Heddington Oaks facility will be converted into a Johnson & Johnson vaccine site coordinated by the National Guard. She commented that vaccination locations are posted on the Health Department website. She remarked that the Department will continue to address vaccine hesitancy by increasing one-on-one conversations and emphasizing the protection of the vulnerable.
⮚ Care & Treatment Board
⮚ Monthly Update
No verbal report. No questions or comments from committee members.
⮚ EMA
⮚ Monthly Update
Mr. Marks advised that an Emergency Operations Plan has been submitted to and approved by IEMA. He stated that accreditation paperwork has been initiated for the upcoming IEMA accreditation cycle. He noted that the City of Peoria has elected not to seek re-accreditation with IEMA to remain an accredited EMA, and the County will be taking on those City responsibilities. Mr. Reneau asked if policy or ordinance updates will be necessary with the transition of responsibilities. Mr. Marks advised that a review and revision of the ordinance will be necessary.
Mr. Marks advised that batteries have been replaced in an outdoor warning siren as part of ongoing and routine maintenance. He stated that two meetings have been held with County Weather Spotters.
Mr. Rieker asked if there are plans to begin the Complex Coordinated Terrorism Attack Exercises which were approved by the County Board in early 2020. Mr. Marks advised that EMA drafts multi-year training and exercise plans for both the Health Department and Peoria County, and discussions have begun on the next four-year County plan, which will include recommendations for tabletop, functional, and full-scale exercises. He did note that the exercise plan will change from terrorism attacks to other forms of training to better reflect the events of the past year.
⮚ Regional Office of Education
⮚ Monthly Update
Ms. Crider provided an update on the activities of the Regional Office of Education:
• The Illinois Virtual School is preparing to be the remote solution for the upcoming fall term
• The Arts in Education Spring Celebration begins this week and will be held virtually.
Different schools will be featured on the ROE’s Facebook page and Youtube channel daily beginning April 30th.
⮚ Sustainability & Resource Conservation
⮚ Sustainability Update
Ms. Cottrell provided highlights on the activities of Sustainability & Resource Conservation:
• An electronics collections event is being held this week at Kuusakoski Recycling. 90,000 lbs. of electronics were collected in the first day of the event.
• The IT Department recycled 266 monitors this month.
• Unit of Local Government Tire Collection collected 600 tires from Peoria County units of local government on April 12th.
• Food scrap collection starter kits will be given away on the County’s Sustainability page to be used at the food scarp composting kiosks in both Peoria and Tazewell County.
• Food scrap composting began at the courthouse on April 12th.
• The Clean Water Celebration will be held virtually this year.
⮚ Landfill Committee Update
• January and February 2021 saw declining receipts, although March 2021 receipts were up 17% over 2020.
• An updated Sustainability Plan is included in the committee packet.
Discussion
⮚ Health & Human Services Campus
Ms. Crider gave a presentation on the mission, roles and structure of the Regional Office of Education (ROE) and how the Office would integrate into a Health & Human Services Campus. She outlined the various roles within the Office and delineated between core responsibilities and grant related positions. She remarked that ROE services are currently spread out over several different locations, with the main office located at the courthouse and several satellite services positioned throughout the community.
Ms. Crider remarked that a courthouse does not provide the best placement of the services provided by the ROE and a more neutral and comprehensive campus encompassing the entire Regional Office of Education would positively benefit both the students and the employees.
Mr. Sorrel advised that a Health & Human Services Campus project delivery method will be the next decision point for both the committee and the County Board. He stated that the two decision points for the committee as policymakers are a definitive decision on a delivery method and awarding contracts for service to design team members. He commented that procurement of a design team will be via the RFP process. He remarked that an additional committee consideration will be an evaluation as to procuring a Construction Manager and if the Construction Manager should be At Risk. Mr. Sorrel noted that in additional to the option of choosing a construction manager at risk, there are several other project design options such as a traditional design/bid/build; and design/build.
Mr. Sorrel explained that after the committee comes to a consensus on a project delivery method, RFP’s will be released for architectural services, civil engineering services, and potentially, construction manager at risk services. He commented that staff does not recommend the option of an owner-representative at this time, adding that an owner representative is not necessary for a project of this size. He further noted that the project consists of solely county facilities and offices, with no intergovernmental or outside third-party interaction involved which would necessitate an owner-representative.
Mr. Sorrel advised that in order to maximizing the ability to make changes and minimizing the cost of the project, staff will initiate discussion on the types of services to be delivered by the new facility. He also commented that after a design team is chosen, discussion will begin on facility renovation vs. replacement. Mr. Rieker cautioned that a suitable and convenient location for constituents be of the utmost importance if replacement is considered. He also stressed that delineation must be considered between administrative services and delivery of services to the community.
Ms. Pastucha commented that Strategic Planning sessions, which would include an examination of the entire organization’s services, should be held prior to implementing this major project. Ms. Hendrickson advised that due to the age, condition, and inefficient layout of the Health Department, renovation or replacement of the facility is imperative. She noted that the Dewberry Plan County Health Department’s Strategic Plan have included both the Health Department and the Coroner’s Office as the two oldest facilities as well as the two in most need of repair. She remarked that delay in a decision as to renovate the replace the facility will result only in further deterioration. Mr. Reneau stressed that the County Board must be able to justify the cost of a large renovation of the Health Department or construction of a new facility to constituents. Mr. Rieker
Ms. Williams advised that a tour of the Health Department facility will take place after adjournment.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned by Chairperson Williams at 12:05 p.m.
https://www.peoriacounty.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_04272021-971
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