Clinton County Board met September 16

By Philip Gonzales

Nov 4, 2019

Clinton County Board met Sept. 16.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

1. OPENING PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

2. CALL TO ORDER

Sheriff Doug Maue called the meeting of the Clinton County District Board to order at 7:00 p.m. on September 16, 2019.

ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS

Present: Fix, Heinzmann, Him, Johnson, Knolhoff, Kreke, Middendorff, Netemeyer, Nordike, Rakers, Sullivan, Taylor, Wessel and Wesselmann. Absent: Cain. Let the record reflect that we have a quorum.

3. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS AND GUESTS

4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion – Wessel made a motion to approve the minutes from the August 19, 2019 meeting. Him seconded the motion. Motion Carried.

5. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS

6. PUBLIC MAY APPROACH THE BOARD

a. Bonnie Kueper of Carlyle expressed her concerns about the Clinton County Board of Health. She noted that there’s been a lot of controversy reported on social media and in local newspapers. She has concerns about the board’s lack of transparency and failure to make timely appointments to fill vacant board seats. She questioned why the name of Dr. Deanna DuComb had not been placed on the County Board agenda for reappointment after the Board of Health voted to recommend her reappointment. She said meetings have been cancelled with no warning and the public would like to know what’s going on. Fix said the board would not be discussing the Health Board business at that time; however, they would let her voice her opinion. Kueper said that she was told to present her questions to the full County Board, but apparently, she said, no one is providing answers.

7. REPORTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS

8. STANDING COMMITTEES

a. Zoning/Subdivision Committee – Craig Taylor 1. Zoning Report – Jami Staser

i. Motion to Approve – Pine Tree Estates–St. Rose Township - Final Plat Taylor noted that the property is located at 10221 Surge Road.

Taylor made a motion for a roll call vote. Him seconded the motion.

Cain (Absent); Heinzmann (Yes); Him (Yes); Johnson (Yes); Knolhoff (Yes); Kreke (Yes); Middendorff (Yes); Netemeyer (Yes); Nordike (Yes); Rakers (Yes); Sullivan (Yes); Taylor (Yes); Wessel (Yes); Wesselmann (Yes). Motion Carried 13-0.

b. Economic Development/Enterprise Zone – Keith Nordike. No Report.

c. Tourism Committee – Matt Cain No Report.

d. Environmental Concerns/Unincorporated/Solid Waste – Nelson Heinzmann No Report.

e. Assessment Committee – Bryan Wessel

Wessel reported that declarations sold for August 2019 were 86 which was a decrease of 32 from the previous year. The county’s township assessors are close to completing their work.

f. Insurance/ICIT – Larry Johnson

Johnson reported that the committee is discussing implementation of a new pharmacy plan to save the county and its’ employees money on prescription drugs. Informational meetings will be held in the near future with Bill Schmaltz of Einstein Consulting. Health insurance costs for the first nine months of the year, without reimbursements, were $1,282.244.17, which is 12.2% over budget. With reimbursements, the costs were $743,895.85 which is $306,104.20 under budget or 29.2% under budget. The 025 Liability Fund was unchanged from last month and has a balance of $553,256.74. The 016 Worker’s Compensation Fund was also unchanged and has a balance of $247,526.93. The committee also approved the bill for cyber security insurance.

g. Facilities Committee – Brad Knolhoff No Report.

h. Animal Control/County Farm Committee – Craig Taylor

Taylor said the committee had some general discussion concerning the overpopulation of cats and dogs. The county took in 67 cats. There were nine spay and neuters. A new law takes effect January 2020 requiring that all house cats are vaccinated. He noted that there will be limited Animal Control services available for a few weeks as the animal control warden is off work and a temporary employee is filling in.

i. Education Committee – Rafael Him No Report.

j. Veterans Committee – Bob Netemeyer

Netemeyer reminded board members that the countywide Veterans Day Program and Parade will be hosted by Germantown American Legion this year.

k. Finance/Health/Revolving Loan Committee/General Services/Judiciary – Jim Rakers 1. Treasurer’s Monthly Report – Denise Trame

i. Motion - Approval of Monthly Budget and Financial Report Knolhoff requested approval be made by roll call vote.

Taylor made a motion for a roll call vote. Middendorff seconded the motion. Cain (Absent); Heinzmann (Yes); Him (Yes); Johnson (Yes); Knolhoff (No); Kreke (Yes); Middendorff (Yes); Netemeyer (Yes); Nordike (Yes); Rakers (Yes); Sullivan (Yes); Taylor (Yes); Wessel (Yes); Wesselmann (Yes). Motion Carried 12-1.

Gaming collected for the previous month was $3,738.66. The second property tax installment was due today.

ii. Motion to Approve – Lodging for an Assistant State’s Attorney to Attend an Illinois Impaired Driver Summit in Chicago Nov. 13-14. Per Section IV of Ordinance 2017-3-14

Board approval is required since the lodging cost is above the limit set by the Governor’s Travel Control Board. The amount authorized for lodging is $95 per night and the rate for this summit is $139 per night.

Rakers made a motion for a roll call vote. Middendorff seconded the motion. Cain (Absent); Heinzmann (Yes); Him (Yes); Johnson (Yes); Knolhoff (Yes); Kreke (Yes); Middendorff (Yes); Netemeyer (Yes); Nordike (Yes); Rakers (Yes); Sullivan (Yes); Taylor (Yes); Wessel (Yes); Wesselmann (Yes). Motion Carried 13-0.

iii. Motion to Approve – Purchase of New Tax Software

Supervisor of Assessments Linda Mensing noted that the tax software, to be purchased from Computer Information Concepts (CIC), is used by multiple offices and will be phased into service over the next year. The new software will work hand in hand with the county’s current financial software. The new contract will save the county over $100,000 during the next five years.

Him made a motion for a roll call vote. Wessel seconded the motion.

iv. Motion to Approve – Purchase of New Election Equipment

County Clerk & Recorder Vicky Albers explained that the new voting system with updated standards for security, auditability and accessibility will be implemented in time for the March 2020 Primary Election. It replaces the county’s current 15-year-old voting machines which run on technology that was actually developed in the 1980s. She said counties across the country are faced with buying new equipment and the hope is that federal grant money will eventually be available. The $241,425 cost will be paid over a five-year period. Nordike made a motion for a roll call vote. Wesselmann seconded the motion. Cain (Absent); Heinzmann (Yes); Him (Yes); Johnson (Yes); Knolhoff (Yes); Kreke (Yes); Middendorff (Yes); Netemeyer (Yes); Nordike (Yes); Rakers (Yes); Sullivan (Yes); Taylor (Yes); Wessel (Yes); Wesselmann (Yes). Motion Carried 13-0.

Rakers noted that a Time Clock Demonstration for all department heads is slated for Monday, October 7 at 9 a.m. in the board room. Budget meetings with department heads are scheduled for September 23 and 24.

l. Law Enforcement/EMA/Welfare/Safety/Liquor – Jim Sullivan

Sheriff Maue said he presented the following figures to the committee. As of the committee meeting date, the Sheriff’s Office had brought in $47,000 to the General Fund through Sheriff’s sales, various fees, and town patrols. Housing federal prisoners has brought in $568,695 and the sheriff’s office is averaging $71,000 per month for the housing and reimbursement for transporting prisoners. Calls of service are averaging 33 calls in a 24-hour shift.

m. Road and Bridge Committee – Bryan Wessel

1. Monthly County Engineer Report – Dan Behrens

i. Motion to Approve – Resolution for the Purchase of a Single Axle Dump Truck from CIT Trucks LLC of Troy, IL for $104,887.

Two other bids were received from McBride for $112,934 and Truck Centers for $108,881. The price does not include a trade-in. A new truck will not be received for several months, and the existing truck will be sold by sealed bids at that time.

Taylor made a motion for a roll call vote. Knolhoff seconded the motion. Cain (Absent); Heinzmann (Yes); Him (Yes); Johnson (Yes); Knolhoff (Yes); Kreke (Yes); Middendorff (Yes); Netemeyer (Yes); Nordike (Yes);

Rakers (Yes); Sullivan (Yes); Taylor (Yes); Wessel (Yes); Wesselmann (Yes). Motion Carried 13-0.

ii. Motion to Approve – Resolution for the Purchase of a New Tractor with the Trade-In of the County’s 2006 New Holland TL100A (SN/HJS031016) from Midwest Tractor Sales in Breese for $53,261.

Behrens said two companies turned in bids for tractors that met the county’s specifications. A second bid was received from Riechmann Bros. for $58,500. Sullivan made a motion for a roll call vote. Wessel seconded the motion.

Cain (Absent); Heinzmann (Yes); Him (Yes); Johnson (Yes); Knolhoff (Yes); Kreke (Yes); Middendorff (Yes); Netemeyer (Yes); Nordike (Yes);

Rakers (Yes); Sullivan (Yes); Taylor (Yes); Wessel (Yes); Wesselmann (Yes). Motion Carried 13-0.

Behrens reported that Howell Paving started the Boulder Road resurfacing

project on September 3. Main line paving should be completed by September 17. Behrens said the state had promised that it would reinstate the funding for the county’s needy townships fund to the original level contingent on the state issuing a supplemental appropriation in the Fall veto session.

Nordike said he had a taxpayer call him about his tire getting blown out on Breese- Germantown Road. Behrens said there was a pothole but it was off to the side of the road.

n. Personnel/Labor Committee – Mike Kreke

Kreke reported that two of the county’s highway engineers are still pursuing the formation of a separate union. A hearing is set for December for a third highway employee who is attempting to join the Policemen’s Benevolent Labor Committee.

10. SPECIAL COMMITTEES

a. 708 Mental Health Board/Area Agency on Aging – Rafael Him No Report.

b. County Health – Rafael Him

1. Motion Health Department Monthly Report.

Him made a motion to approve the report. Netemeyer seconded the motion.

Motion Carried.

Him explained that since the last County Board meeting he met with the Bond County Health administrator, Sean Eifert, and a partnership has been formed with Eifert for temporary consulting services until a new Clinton County health administrator is hired. He stated that the Health Board’s meeting dates are listed on the county website calendar. Him explained that the Health Board had a member who was exceeding her authority when she took out an advertisement for the health administrator’s position, collected the applications from the County Clerk’s office and took them home with her. He said he is not going to consider those applications. He noted that the board is going to review the applications received directly at the Health Department and move forward with them.

Wesselmann thanked Eifert for his open communication which she said was much more than she had ever received from the previous administrator. Wesselmann feels that there was a lot of frustration caused by the lack of communication, and she feels the board member in question had her heart in the right place. She suggested that the board member may have taken the applications home because there had been a meeting scheduled for that evening and the meeting was later canceled. She also thanked Dr, Munz for his service on the Health Board. Middendorff said a lot of the frustration was over meetings that had been scheduled and then canceled.

c. GIS Committee – Craig Taylor

Taylor announced that the committee is seeking requests for proposal for GIS Services in the county.

Motion to Approve – GIS Committee to issue an RFP for GIS Services for the County. Taylor made a motion to issue an RFP. Him seconded the motion. Motion Carried.

d. 911 Committee – Mike Kreke

Kreke said 911 has set new standards stating that 911 centers can no longer “hand off” calls, they must “work” calls. He said Clinton County has at least one service that it deals with in which this is going to be impossible. John Skain has composed a letter explaining this and the committee is awaiting an answer.

e. Technology Support – Rafael Him No Report.

f. UCCI – Jim Sullivan No Report.

11. APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Rakers made a motion for a roll call vote. Wessel seconded the motion.

Cain (Absent); Heinzmann (Yes); Him (Yes); Johnson (Yes); Knolhoff (No); Kreke (Yes); Middendorff (Yes); Netemeyer (Yes); Nordike (Yes); Rakers (Yes); Sullivan (Yes); Taylor (Yes); Wessel (Yes); Wesselmann (Yes). Motion Carried 12-1.

12. COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS

13. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Netemeyer questioned if there had been any progress on allowing ATVs on county roadways. Nordike said he is still gathering information.

Knolhoff questioned the status of the Reciprocal Agreement to receive local sales tax information from the Illinois Department of Revenue. Fix said he is still considering whether or not to approve the agreement since he will be responsible for the board members keeping the information confidential.

14. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS

a. Motion to Approve - Appointment of David Timmermann, Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman

b. Motion to Approve - Appointment of Gary Knolhoff, Zoning Board of Appeals Member

c. Motion to Approve - Appointment of Keith Alexander, Trustee-Carlyle Fire Protection District

d. Motion to Approve – Appointment of Lester Hemker, Trustee – Germantown Drainage & Levee District

e. Motion to Approve – Appointment of David Gerdes, Trustee – Germantown Drainage & Levee District

Taylor made a motion to approve the appointments. Kreke seconded the motion. Motion Carried.

f. Motion to Approve - Reappointment of Stephanie Pitt to Board of Health

Fix recused himself from this portion of the meeting and allowed Vice Chairman Rakers to run the meeting. Hudspeth noted that her term would remain the same as if she was reappointed on the day that the vacancy was created.

Him made a motion for a roll call vote. Kreke seconded the motion.

15. NEW BUSINESS

a. Nordike said he had contacted the railroad about the rough railroad crossing on Old Route 50 near Shattuc. He said a “bump” sign has been in place for almost a year, but he witnessed an oncoming vehicle nearly wreck while crossing the track. The railroad responded that they had inspected the track. They stated, “The existing track and the crossing’s concrete surface has failed causing substantial safety hazards to the public. Several panels are loose and the rocking under it is also loose. Potholes have formed along the edges and need to be filled with asphalt as soon as possible. These panels need to be reattached and the surface needs to be scheduled for reconstruction as soon as possible.”

b. Executive Session – Personnel Issues – Accrued Benefit Time & FOP Grievance Rakers made a motion for a roll call vote to enter Executive Session at 7:51 p.m. Him seconded the motion.

16. RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION

a. Knolhoff made a motion to return to Regular Session at 9:15 p.m. Wessel seconded the motion. Motion Carried.

b. Johnson made a motion for a roll call vote to authorize the Clinton County State’s Attorney’s Office to attempt the collection of any over payments for accrued benefits for any employees in the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department. Wessel seconded the motion.

Cain (Absent); Heinzmann (Yes); Him (Yes); Johnson (Yes); Knolhoff (No); Kreke (No); Middendorff (No); Netemeyer (Yes); Nordike (No); Rakers (Yes); Sullivan (Yes); Taylor (Yes); Wessel (Yes); Wesselmann (No). Motion Carried 8-5.

16. ADJOURNMENT UNTIL MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2019

Him made a motion to adjourn until Monday, October 21, 2019. Taylor seconded the motion. Motion Carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.

https://www.clintonco.illinois.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019-September-County-Board-Minutes.pdf

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