Peoria Standard

Peoria County Board met June 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Attendance

Present:

Members: Jennifer Groves Allison, Eden Blair, Camille Coates, Linda Daley, Jimmy Dillon, Betty Duncan, Brian Elsasser, Nathan Hoerr, Daniel Kelch, Danny Phelan, Rob Reneau, Steve Rieker, Paul Rosenbohm, Terrence Ruhland, Phil Salzer, Sharon Williams, Matt Windish

Absent:

Members: Brandy Bryant

CALL TO ORDER

MOMENT OF SILENCE

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL BY THE COUNTY CLERK

I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Member Daley moved to approve the May 9th, 2024, minutes, and Member Duncan seconded. The minutes were approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 17 ayes.

II. PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

A. A proclamation recognizing Peoria Proud and Pride Month.

B. A proclamation honoring the 50th Anniversary of the Limestone Girls Softball Association

III. CITIZENS' REMARKS

Jess Sturges, a Program Manager and Community Organizer of Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, which is the political and advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, spoke on the reopening of the Knoxville Ave Planned Parenthood building with the ribbon cutting to be on June 18th from 10am to 12pm. He noted that Planned Parenthood of Illinois reopening allows for a missing availability of healthcare for all members of the community. He concluded by thanking the City and County of Peoria for making it possible for them to return and reopen their doors. He invited all council members and anyone in the community to attend the ribbon cutting.

Darren Harding, a resident of Trivoli, spoke on the Hanna City Work Camp. He inquired about the tree issue around the property that has been invading out into the surrounding fields. He noted that it was great in 2022 but has since returned and is creating a small problem. He concluded asking about possible plans at the Work Camp to deal with the overgrowth that is happening around the edge.

Judd Giffin, a civil engineer and farmer, spoke about the Edelstein water co-op. He noted the system is very old and in years past the Water Board has doubled the rates to try to raise funds, as well as tried to go after different funds. He stated the well has been slowly losing production, with an old pump jammed down in the well that is unable to be fixed or removed. He expressed a need to be able to drill 2 new wells, though that would not remove a radium issue. He noted looking to connect to Princeville water supply, a pre-treated water source, with a transmission line. He stated with the transmission line being put in, it would open up additional opportunities with LaHood's office moving forward, for both Princeville and Edelstein. He concluded that they are asking for ARPA funds assistance to go with the money the Edelstein Water Co-op has and the Princeville match, at $250,000 each.

Member Daley recognized her summer intern, Scott Anderson, who was Valedictorian at Notre Dame, now attending De Paul University with a perfect GPA, is a physics major, on the tennis team, and an accomplished pianist. She stated that he lives in member Kelch's district and hopes Member Kelch will always be appropriately helping out with anything

Mr. Anderson might need. She concluded that he is a great young man.

Scott Anderson thanked Member Daley for the recognition and stated he has only been under her wing for 9 days and he is learning so much, and that it is so much fun, and that he couldn't ask for a better boss.

IV. CONSENT AGENDA

Member Blair moved to approve the consent agenda, and Member Hoerr seconded.

Member Ruhland asked to pull item C12. Member Daley requested a timeline regarding the completion of item C14 as well as having dollar figures provided within the resolutions.

The consent agenda, except item C12, was approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 17 ayes.

Chairman Dillon spoke about the chairman appointments and why they were listed the way they were. He thanked Monica and Nancy for getting the health department appointments aligned.

Member Salzer moved to approve item C12, and Member Ruhland seconded. Member Ruhland expressed that Mr. Unes was part of the reason he pulled item C12 to add a bit of discussion. He noted that to honor transparency, the Hein Construction bid came in around $410,000. He wanted to make a point of it being our first project after hiring Bob Unes as a construction manager, who met with Highway Department officials and visited the site, understood what the requirements were, wrote an outline of specifications, and then brought it to the board for proper legalese. He noted in this process, it saved roughly $80,000 eliminating the need for an outside engineering or architecture firm. He expressed the satisfaction in having this position and its allowance of tremendous savings on smaller projects going forward.

Member Salzer thanked Member Ruhland for making his points to the Board. He noted Member Ruhland was correct on the bid amount and that 3 other additions as well as the 5% on the contingency fun were added that would all be taken care of from the ARPA money.

Chairman Dillon added there was another project that would be starting soon that Mr. Unes did.

Member Rieker thanked Member Ruhland for challenging everyone on the board to look outside the box when it came to looking into an outside architecture and engineering firm.

Item C12 was approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 17 ayes.

C1. May 2024 Treasurer's Board Report

C2. The Finance Department's report of expenditures from Accounts Payable system is accessible at www.peoriacounty.gov/199/Transparency-Portal.

C3. A resolution from Ways and Means recommending that the County Board Chairperson be authorized and directed to execute deeds of said property to the highest bidder and be authorized to cancel the appropriate Certificates of Purchase.

C4. A resolution from Ways and Means recommending that the County Board Chairperson be authorized and directed to execute deeds of said property to the highest bidder and be authorized to cancel the appropriate Certificates of Purchase.

C5. . A resolution from your Executive Committee recommending approval of the low bid of $27,101 from Johnson Mechanical Services for the purchase and installation of commercial kitchen equipment for the Community Kitchen in the Health and Human Services Building

C6. A resolution from the Public Safety and Justice Committee recommending approval of the lowest responsible bid from Mazarini Inc. to remove and replace the laminate tops on three judges’ benches.

C7.A resolution from your Public Safety and Justice Committee recommending approval to enter into an updated agreement with Dr. Justin Brown and Western Veterinary Partners DBA Brown Animal Hospital to serve as the Deputy Administrator and for veterinary medical services

C8. A resolution from your County Operations Committee recommending approval of a contract award of the RFP for meeting & agenda management software to ClerkBase of Cranston, Rhode Island in the amount of $178,988 and a term of five (5) years

C9.A resolution from the Infrastructure recommending approval of financial commitment of local funds for a funding application through the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission for the resurfacing of Cameron Ln. from IL Route 116 to Smithville Rd.

C10. A resolution from Infrastructure Committee recommending approval of financial commitment of local funds for funding application through Tri-County Regional Planning Commission for reconstruction of Radnor Rd. from Willow Knolls Rd. to a point nine hundred feet north of Ridgeview Rd.

C11. A resolution from Infrastructure Committee recommending approval to use $362,000.00 in surplus reserves from the Highway Matching Tax Fund 2505 and appropriate expenditures in the Highway Matching Tax Fund 2505 FY24 budget to purchase a new chip spreader.

C12. A resolution from the Infrastructure Committee recommending approval of the lowest responsible bid of Hein Construction for the construction of a storage building at the Highway Department’s North Station.

C13. A resolution from the Infrastructure Committee recommending approval of appropriating Motor Fuel Tax Funds for the purchase of easements for the Maxwell Road reconstruction project.

C14. A resolution from the Infrastructure Committee recommending approval of a contract with Dewberry to provide architecture and consulting services for the Probation Department remodel.

C15. Chairman Appointments

V. ZONING ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTIONS

1. Case #ZBA-2024-027, Petition of Holly Hayden

Member Rosenbohm moved to approve the petition, and Member Daley seconded. The petition was approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 17 ayes. 2. Case #ZBA-2024-034, Petition of JM 901 Ventures Inc.

Member Rosenbohm moved to approve the petition, and Member Daley seconded.

Member Rosenbohm mentioned the location is that of the old Kickapoo Creek Winery.

Member Elsasser asked if someone new was currently purchasing the property as he received calls from some of the residents with concerns while getting everything ironed out.

Chairman Dillon stated it was the same person that owns Venue Chisca and has a long history of operating similar facilities.

The petition was approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 17 ayes.

3. Case #ZBA-2024-037, Petition of Matt Longcor

Member Rosenbohm moved to approve the petition, and Member Daley seconded. The petition was approved by a unanimous roll call vote of 17 ayes. 4. A resolution from the County Infrastructure Committee recommending approval of waste and recycling hauling contracts for multiple county facilities.

Member Salzer moved to approve the resolution, and Member Duncan seconded.

Member Williams stated that she would be voting no because there was only one bidder.

Member Salzer noted that it was explained to the infrastructure committee that the garbage will be picked up for a cheaper rate. He stated that Administrator Sorrel was going to investigate as to why there was only 1 bidder, Green For Life, whom we have had recent battles regarding the landfill, but the garbage has to be picked up.

Member Blair asked if we could put the bid request out again in hopes of more bidders.

Chairman Dillon stated that typically you cannot because once the number is out there it is no longer a fair bidding process because one person's number is already out there.

Member Blair asked Administrator Sorrel to clarify why we requested new bidding.

Administrator Sorrel stated that since Green For Life had acquired Peoria Disposal Company, who was the previous contracted company except for the Juvenile Detention Center and the Jail, there has been a 35-40% increase amounting to $10-15K per year. He noted that the bidding included garbage, recycling, and landscape waste, with the structuring of the bid allowing vendors to bid all or part of the facilities for maximum flexibility for respondents. Member Rosenbohm stated he would be abstaining due to conflict of interest. The resolution was approved by a vote of 15 ayes, 1 nay, and 1 abstention, with Member Rosenbohm abstaining.

VI. MISCELLANEOUS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Chairman Dillon announced he would take Miscellaneous and Announcements before the Board went into Executive Session. For the item, see below.

Member Reneau reminded Saturday June 22nd is County Day at the Museum with employees getting in for free so you can go see the new shark exhibit.

Member Salzer reminded about cleaning up the road that the County adopted many years ago. He noted that road is no longer in Member Elsasser's district but in Member Rieker's district.

Member Groves-Allison informed if anyone wanted to get their daughters involved in softball, the 50th anniversary is Wednesday from 5pm-8pm at Alpha Park for those interested in getting more information and learn about the organization. Member Blair reminded of Grafelman Farms Rescue Murder Mystery Dinner on July 6th, at Barrack's Hospitality Catering. She noted more information and ticket purchases can be made at gfrpets.org.

Member Duncan reminded about the grand opening of the new location for the Veteran's Assistance Commission on June 21st.

Member Coates informed of the Annual Juneteenth Celebration is on Saturday June 15th at the historic George Washington Carver Community Center, John Gwyn Park, from 11am to 5pm. She noted there will be a parade as well as morning yoga and many other activities.

Member Ruhland shared a text that he received from a constituent congratulating the mowing crews of the highway department for their fantastic job with the heat and danger of the job.

Chairman Dillon invited all to the City of West Peoria 4th of July Parade. He noted that he would have refreshments available. He thanked, from the bottom of his heart, all of the board members for picking up the slack while he had been under the weather. Member Elsasser moved to go into executive session to discuss the purchase or lease of real property update, and Member Rieker seconded.

The Board went back into regular session.

Chairman Dillon spoke about Alfred Conteh, a world-renowned artist that was commissioned to do a painting here in Peoria, his first outside of his home in Atlanta. He stated that members of the museum drove to Chicago to get him and show him around. Mr. Conteh stated that since they showed him some love, he would show them some love back. He mentioned the photo was of a father and his 3 children leaving a barber shop that was unveiled at the museum. He encouraged everyone to take time to go view the painting at the museum.

VII. DISCUSSION

ARPA Policy Discussion

Member Groves-Allison left the meeting at 7:29pm.

Member Blair left the meeting at 9:16pm.

Administrator Sorrel clarified the agreements that had already been negotiated for the Social Determinants of Public Health and they remained the same. Chairman Dillon proposed to lessen the burden by using the keystone dollars towards Congressman LaHood's Radnor Road Project and City of Peoria Galena Park Innovation Development instead of increasing the small business grant amount to $7,500. He noted this to be the consensus amongst the Board. Chairman Dillon proposed moving the broadband money to the Capital Projects Fund for projects around the interior and exterior of the courthouse for repairs that were desperately needed. He noted that Comcast would be moving forward with or without the money as there were multiple programs available to them. He noted this to be the consensus amongst the Board to move forward.

Chairman Dillon confirmed consensus of the current plan regarding Premium Pay for Essential Workers.

Chairman Dillon noted consensus that the Edelstein water co-op project will not move forward as a project without more data to qualify.

Chairman Dillon noted the agreement of everyone in digitizing to save on space before paying to construct or rent a space for record storage. He asked if the Board thought this was something they could talk to all the elected officials about in the next month. He summarized that it would come to each elected official as it is their records to decide what needs to be done along with the record

retention statutes, as noted by Administrator Sorrel. He also summarized that Capital Infrastructure needs were going to take precedent for ARPA funding going forward for the exterior projects leading into our 200-year celebration.

Administrator Sorrel noted the Grant Administration ARPA funds would be distributed amongst the existing staff managing the ARPA projects.

Chairman Dillon concluded with his appreciation for the best, longest discussion regarding ARPA dollars since they started receiving ARPA dollars.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business before the Board, the Chairman announced the meeting was adjourned.

https://www.peoriacounty.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_06132024-1615