Peoria County Ways & Means Committee met July 26.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
| MEMBERS PRESENT: | Steven Rieker – Chairperson; Eden Blair, James Fennell, Rachel Reliford, Phillip Salzer, William Watkins, Jr. |
| MEMBERS ABSENT: | Jennifer Groves Allison |
| STAFF PRESENT: | Scott Sorrel - County Administrator; Shauna Musselman – Assistant County Administrator; Dana Hughes - State's Attorney's Office; Gretchen Pearsall – County Administration; Rachael Parker, Mike Deluhery – County Clerk; Tom Bride – Election Commission; Dave Ryan – Supervisor of Assessments; Nicole Bjerke – Treasurer; Mike Brooks – Veteran’s Assistance Commission |
| OTHERS PRESENT: |
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Rieker at 3:30 p.m.
Approval of Minutes
A motion to approve the minutes of April 26, 2021 was made by Ms. Reliford and seconded by Mr. Watkins. The motion carried unanimously.
Informational Items/Reports/Other Minutes/Updates
County Clerk
⮚ Collections and Transactions Report
Ms. Parker directed committee members to the submitted Collections and Transactions Report for June 2021. She also provided a report which highlights additional operations of the office during the 2nd quarter of the year, and includes a summary of state laws directly affecting the department.
Ms. Parker advised that the Peoria County Official and Services Directory is being updated and will be available online and as a hard copy.
Peoria County Election Commission
• CTCL Correspondence
Mr. Bride directed committee members to the submitted background documentation related to the Center for Tech and Civil Life (CTCL) grant.
Mr. Bride commented that recently passed election related legislation moves the 2022 primary from March to June 28th and created a permanent vote-by-mail option allowing a voter to sign up for a vote-by-mail ballot for ongoing elections.
Supervisor of Assessments/Board of Review
• Tax Cycle
Mr. Ryan advised that 2021 assessments should be complete within a month. He remarked that HB3289, concerning automatic renewals for exemptions, has been signed into law. As a result, the Supervisor of Assessments Office will automatically renew the Disabled Person, Disabled Veterans, and Senior Freeze Homestead Exemptions. He stated his office did not send out renewal notices in anticipation of that legislation, resulting in savings in both expense and staff time.
Treasurer
Ms. Bjerke advised that the second distribution totaled $173 million, of which $14.8 million came to Peoria County. She advised that the third distribution will be August 10, 2021. She remarked that total distribution is estimated at $324 million.
Ms. Bjerke advised that the Trustee’s Auction will take place August 27, 2021. She stated that the catalogs for the auction are available for purchase in the Treasurer’s Office and on the Trustee’s website.
Ms. Bjerke advised that the second property tax installment is due by September 8th. She commented that Delinquent Notices will go out mid-October and the tax sale is scheduled for November 8, 2021.
Veteran's Assistance Commission
Mr. Brooks advised that the Commission currently has 600 active claims, of which 451 are awaiting decision and 149 are being appealed. He stated that the VAC has brought in $3.946 million in new money, and noted two significant back-payments for veterans of $75,000.00 and $65,000.00. He stated that 2021 compensation to date totals just over $23 million.
Mr. Brooks advised that “Walk-in Wednesdays” will return September 29, 2021.
Committee Action
• Review of Executive Session Minutes
Ms. Hughes advised that it is the State’s Attorney’s Office recommendation 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. Salzer and seconded by Dr. Blair. The motion carried unanimously.
Resolutions
• Monthly Delinquent Taxes
A motion to approve was made by Ms. Reliford and seconded by Dr. Blair. The motion carried unanimously.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Rieker at 3:45 p.m.
https://www.peoriacounty.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_07262021-1007
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