Peoria Standard

Peoria County Board - County Health Committee met Jan. 7.

Here is the agenda provided by the board:

Attendance

Present:

Members: Jennifer Groves Allison, Eden Blair, Brandy Bryant, Camille Coates, Linda Daley, Betty Duncan, Brian Elsasser, Danny Phelan, Rob Reneau, Steve Rieker, Phil Salzer, Sharon Williams

Staff & Guests:

Scott Sorrel, Shauna Musselman, Jennie Cordis Boswell, Monica Hendrickson, Julie Kusturin, Heather McCord, Cara Pence, Chris Watkins, Megan Bentley

I. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Reneau at 2 p.m.

II. Approval of Minutes

A motion to approve the minutes of October 29, 2024, was made by Member Coates and was seconded by Member Duncan.

Motion carried. (12-0)

III. Informational Items/Reports/Other Minutes/Updates

A. Board of Health

Ms. Hendrickson advised the project to discontinue dental services with OSF continues and the timeline is moving up to February. The Cure Violence programming is still being closed out and we are working with Juvenile Probation on a potential project to pivot those dollars to a problem-solving court. Staff will begin moving out of Human Service Center this Thursday and into the new building and will start remote access and remote work schedules. Next week, the Courthouse team and EMA team will be moving. After the holiday, staff at the coroner site, California Avenue and the Highway Department will begin moving. Postcards and mailers have started going out to notify individuals of the new address. Services will begin there on January 22nd. Dr. Blair asked when they are officially opening their doors.

Ms. Hendrickson advised they are opening their doors on January 22nd for clients. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony on January 21st as well as an open house. Clients will already be scheduled to have appointments on January 22nd.

Chairperson Reneau inquired as to when the coroner will have his services running out of the new building.

Ms. Hendrickson advised it will be January 22nd.

B. Care and Treatment Board

Mr. Sorrel advised there is nothing to report except the transfer of clerical and bookkeeping functions to County Administration.

Member Reneau requested a representative from the Care & Treatment Board be invited to attend meetings and present updates.

C. EMA

Mr. Marks directed the committee to the monthly report and gave highlights to include: Medical Reserve Corp Community Trauma Team consisting of mental health experts going out to the community and providing Mental Health First Aid following emergencies and disasters; filled open position in Emergency Preparedness Program with an Emergency Preparedness Planner; hosted Respiratory Workshop for long-term care facilities to talk about the upcoming respiratory season, we plan to do these twice a year; the week of October 21st we met with Bradley nursing students and talked about emergency management. Mr. Marks served with 30 colleagues as public health reviewers to review plans from three other local health departments. Mr. Marks stood for questions; there were none.

D. Regional Office of Education

Ms. Crider advised they have been awarded 4 new classrooms for Preschool For All as well as Peoria Public Schools. The Spring Celebration of Arts is moving to the Peoria Riverfront Museum for this coming year. Norwood has shown a 95% attendance rate, the highest in 3 years, because of the work of Attendance Student Support Specialists.

Ms. Pence directed the committee to the data. She shared a success story from one of their Support Specialists.

Member Rieker thanked Ms. Pence for the program. He further stated truancy is a large and complex issue and expressed his appreciation for their efforts.

Chairperson Reneau shared the Regional Office of Education has two podcasts available about community connections. They sit down with community organizations and give them the opportunity to discuss what they do and what they have to offer.

Ms. Crider advised the second podcast is our Peoria Resilience Podcast that highlights overcoming trauma.

E. Sustainability & Resource Conservation

Mr. Sorrel advised the Holiday Light Recycling is under way. The program was started in 2011 internally and was expanded in 2013 to the community. Since the beginning of the program, over 5200 lbs. of Christmas lights have been collected to be recycled, with 1400 lbs. last year alone. There is a public drop off at the Courthouse and a variety of community partners involved with the program. The Regional Food Council meeting is this Friday, December 6th, at Distillery Labs for policy and planning with speakers from the Stewardship Alliance and the Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs.

Mr. Sorrel stood for questions.

Member Salzer asked if we accept all types of bulbs.

Mr. Sorrel advised it is limited to Christmas lights, no fluorescent or LED bulbs that are unrelated.

Member Reneau stated it is mostly the wires they are interested in.

IV. Resolutions

V. Public Comments

Chairperson Reneau called for public comments. There were none.

VI. Miscellaneous

Chairperson Reneau called for miscellaneous comments. Chairperson Reneau thanked Member Coates for being Vice-Chair of the County Health Committee and welcomed Member Blair as the new Vice-Chairperson.

VII. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned by Chairperson Reneau at 2:22 p.m.

https://www.peoriacounty.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01072025-1697