Rock Island Today

The Rock Island County Executive Committee met Oct. 13 to review committee reports.

Her are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the committee:

"Members of the Executive committee consist of the chairperson of each standing committee of the board along with the President of the Forest Preserve Committee. The County Board Chairperson is the chairperson. Each committee chairperson, including the executive committee, shall select from its members a person to be vice chairperson of the committee and to attend the executive committee meeting when the chairperson of the committee is unable to attend."

Executive Committee Minutes Thursday October 13, 2016 9:30 am

The Executive Committee of the Rock Island County Board met at the above date and time in the Conference Room of the Administration Office on the second floor of the County Building, 1504 Third Ave, Rock Island, IL. Chairman Kenneth Maranda called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. Minutes as follows:

1) Call to order and roll call

Committee members present: Ken Maranda, Nick Camlin, Steve Ballard, Larry Burns, Kim Callaway-Thompson (arrived at 9:31 a.m.), Mia Mayberry, Rod Simmer (arrived at 9:32 a.m.), Richard Brunk

Committee members absent: Scott Terry

Others present: Hayleigh Covella

2) Approval of the minutes from the September 15, 2016 meeting

Motion to approve: Richard Brunk 2nd: Mia Mayberry Voice vote Motion carried

3) Public Comments

There were no public comments.

4) Reports from Committee

a) Finance Committee – Mr. Brunk

Ms. Callaway-Thompson is present.

Mr. Brunk reported that the Finance Committee met prior to this meeting. They heard all routine reports. They approved transfers from various committees. The committee approved appropriations resolutions from various committees including budget adjustments for some legal settlements, a reduction in expenditures for Hope Creek, as well as money for the bonds for the courthouse project amongst others. The committee reviewed the delinquent tax resolutions. They also forwarded the abatement ordinance for the Hope Creek bonds to the full County Board. They approved claims and TDs.

Motion to approve: Richard Brunk 2nd: Mia Mayberry Voice vote Motion carried

b) Human Resources – Mr. Camlin

Mr. Camlin reported that the HR committee met on Tuesday. They did not hear any of the routine reports because they didn’t even get to that point in the meeting, but they did authorize the TDs and appropriation resolutions for funds. They also recognized Ms. Palmer and the Auditor’s Office for being awarded the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The committee reviewed drafts of proposed employee policies for the county and heard extensive comments on each. Mr. Ross will send the policies to the State’s Attorney for review and send drafts with recommended changes back to the committee over the next month.

Mr. Simmer is present.

Motion to approve: Nick Camlin 2nd: Kim Callaway-Thompson Voice vote Motion carried

Mr. Camlin noted that within the last month, all County Board members should have been emailed those policies. The committee is going through them almost line by line at this point. They’re not going to lay anything on display. Mr. Maranda noted that they probably won’t review them until next month because the State’s Attorney is busy with a murder trial. Mr. Camlin said hopefully they’ll be approved in November at the soonest, then. Mr. Camlin noted that if anyone has any remarks or suggestions, they can let Mr. Ross know right away. The union leadership and county officials have had them. This is the time to provide input.

Mr. Simmer noted that the only input he has is this is for general employees. It is not for any appointed or elected officials and he really doesn’t like that. He thinks they should all adopt them and that they should put pressure on them in some way. It’s a good thing. They should try to get them all to take this on for best practices. Mr. Maranda noted that there is a signature line for everybody. Most of them are signing on with a little amendment for their office. Mr. Simmer agreed that each one has different needs, but he thinks they should all at least adopt and modify. It’s a good idea. Ms. Callaway-Thompson said it sounds to her like the Elected Officials are willing to. Mr. Maranda agreed and reiterated that there’s a signature line for everybody.

c) Public Works – Mr. L. Burns

Mr. L. Burns noted that the Public Works committee met on Wednesday, October 12. Minutes of the previous meeting and all routine reports were approved. The committee considered claims, TDs, transfers of appropriations, and appropriation resolutions for funds. They considered ZBA findings as follows and recommended approval for all: RZ-16-110, Kenneth and Connie White, AG-2 to SE-1, Coal Valley Township. They considered updates to the Responsible Bidder Ordinance to reflect drug prevention policies and OSHA policies and approved the changes. The committee approved the 2017 highway program.

Motion to approve: Larry Burns 2nd: Kim Callaway-Thompson Voice vote Motion carried

d) Health and Human Services – Ms. Callaway-Thompson

Ms. Callaway-Thompson reported that the Health and Human Services committee met on Tuesday, October 11. They approved minutes of previous meetings and heard all routine reports. They considered claims, TDs, transfers of appropriations, and appropriation resolutions for funds and recommended approval of all. They heard extensive updates on Hope Creek staffing, census, and finances.

Motion to approve: Kim Callaway-Thompson 2nd: Richard Brunk Voice vote Motion carried

e) Governmental Affairs – Mr. Terry

Mr. Maranda read Mr. Terry’s report. Governmental Affairs met on Tuesday. They approved minutes and heard routine reports from Ms. Palmer and Ms. Kinney. They approved transfers of appropriations, claims, and TDs. They set trick-or-treat hours in Rock Island County on October 31 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Motion to approve: Ken Maranda 2nd: Richard Brunk Voice vote Motion carried

f) Administration – Ms. Mayberry

Ms. Mayberry reported that the Administration Committee met on Tuesday. They approved minutes from the previous meeting and heard all routine reports. They considered claims, TDs, transfers of appropriations, and appropriation resolutions for funds. Mr. Davis from IT let the committee know that he has purchased five new cameras to replace the old ones in the building. They also purchased a new wireless mic for the County Board room for the public speakers so they won’t have someone pulling the mic over Mr. Doye anymore. Ms. Mayberry guesses they tried to test that out and there have been a few hiccups, but they’re hoping to get that working for next week. Mr. Shirk informed the committee that Randy Heisch, who has been with the Sheriff for about 20 years, will be the new EMA Coordinator. That’s been moved under the Sheriff’s Department.

Motion to approve: Mia Mayberry 2nd: Nick Camlin Voice vote Motion carried

Mr. Camlin asked about the security cameras. Ms. Mayberry noted that she’s just going off of minutes because she was in Alaska for a wedding. Mr. Maranda explained that they had someone’s car broken into and the camera was fuzzy like when they stole the pickup truck. There are going to be some new cameras out there. Mr. Maranda asked if they ever heard any more on that deal out in the parking lot. No one had heard any updates. Ms. Mayberry said the minutes just say they’ll replace the antiquated ones in the building. There are five of them.

g) Forest Preserve – Mr. Ballard

Mr. Ballard noted that the Forest Preserve Committee met on Wednesday. They approved September committee meeting minutes, public hearing minutes, claims for the Forest Preserve Fund, the Niabi Zoo Fund, the Liability Fund, and the TDs. The committee approved transfers of appropriations in the Forest Preserve General Fund. The committee approved a levy ordinance for the General Fund for the District, the Niabi Zoological Preserve Fund, the IMRF Fund, the Liability Fund, the FISSA Fund, and the Development of Forests and Construction of Improvement Fund. The committee heard a presentation from Mindfire. The committee reviewed bids for the train tunnel foundation repair at Niabi Zoo and chose GCI, General Construction Incorporated, at a low bid of $67,000. The committee removed from display and approved changes to the District purchase policy. The committee discussed the FLSA Salary Exemption’s impact on District employees. Routine reports from Department Heads were approved.

Motion to approve: Steve Ballard 2nd: Larry Burns Voice vote Motion carried

Mr. Ballard noted that Tuesday night, the Zoo Director will be giving his 90 day assessment of the zoo. He wanted to do that in front of the whole group. Everybody will get that emailed to them today or tomorrow so they have a chance to look at it and read it.

h) Updates/Comments – Mr. Simmer

Mr. Simmer reported that the Hope Creek Care Center Board of Directors had an emergency meeting a couple of weeks ago about staffing issues, which Ms. Callaway- Thompson touched on. Hope Creek is short 14ish CNAs, three or four LPNs, and a couple of RNs. It’s tough to keep them on. They are looking at changing some more of the structure out there for how they hire them and when they hire them. Mr. Simmer noted that there’s a job fair and they’re looking at different options to recruit people in there. They just can’t seem to hang onto them. He explained that in December, the facility’s IJ tag comes off that prevents them from having students come through there. Students coming through and seeing the operation makes them more comfortable to hire on. That will help get them back in there and rotating through. Hope Creek can possibly sell its goods to them and start their own classes within so they can build our own staff within the facility. They’re having trouble with outside staffing. It’s too expensive.

Mr. L. Burns asked why they can’t keep people. Mr. Simmer said they discussed that. He explained that they haven’t had exit interviews with the trade off, but Ms. Vogt is definitely on top of it and doing a darn good job. Mr. Simmer is really impressed with what she’s been up to. He’s not sure about exit interviews and what’s been found out. They normally have fluctuation, but as they’ve lost more they haven’t been able to keep up. They just haven’t been able to maintain. They talked about high schools. Mr. Simmer explained that Rocky has it where they have a class in the school for CNAs. Students can come out of high school with a CNA certificate. He told them to tackle that source. He thinks a couple of them have them onsite. They need to get in there and scoop those kids up as they come out. There’s no other place that makes that kind of money as a CNA and the benefits they have. Ms. Mayberry said especially right out of school. Mr. Simmer noted the benefits they have are unbelievable. He said they might be able to find kids looking for something like that and get their foot in the door while they get an LPN or RN. They’re looking at different avenues to pick up more people. Mr. Maranda added that Partners in Job Training is going to do something too. Mr. Simmer said that they’re trying to work with all the regular avenues. It’s not just Hope Creek; it’s other facilities around community. There’s a shortage on LPNs, RNs, and stuff. Quite frankly, he thinks Hope Creek’s CNAs are paid quite well. The LPNs and RNs are paid market at best. They could raise the LPN and RN rate up to be more competitive with the hospitals. The CNAs are $2 more plus benefits that nobody gets in the area. They’re making good money. The RNs and LPNs are not equally compensated. He doesn’t think they should make more, but they should make them equal. He’s surprised they’re not more on that. It does take a special kind of person to do that job.

Mr. Maranda asked if Mr. Simmer touched on the new incentive package on the MOU. Mr. Simmer explained that there are incentives they’re trying to put out there. They give them so much up front, so much after 90 days, and so much after six months to try to get them. It’s kind of nominal, but can put Hope Creek on top. Ms. Callaway-Thompson added that they’re raising the shift differential for second and third shifts. That may attract some first shift nurses to second or third. A lot of CNAs work for the agencies and get paid a little more. They don’t think about the offset with benefits. They don’t get benefits with those agencies. They’re getting a few dollars more. Mr. L. Burns asked if they get paid more at agencies. Ms. Callaway- Thompson said they do in hourly wage, but not benefits. They’re thinking about the paycheck and that’s it.

Mr. Simmer explained that some of these folks out there, like in his wife’s unit, not only have a full-time job in the hospital, but a part-time with the agency. If they’ve got days off, then they get called by the agency and they’ll work the agency job at $50/ hour instead of the $30/hour regular job and use a sick day. He doesn’t know if Hope Creek has that going on out there, but that does happen in the hospitals. They’re addressing that with a non-compete type thing. Mr. Maranda mentioned the PRNs. Ms. Callaway-Thompson said they’re addressing that. Hope Creek was paying $1/hour more and they’re not going to be doing that now. Mr. Simmer explained that they’re closing loops. It’s tough. They want more money.

Ms. Callaway-Thompson noted that Ms. Vogt is doing a fantastic job given the short amount of time she’s been in that position.

Mr. Simmer added that they’ve already gotten good solid numbers from Gabelmann. It took them a while to sift through the junk and smoke screens from before. He’s much happier where they’re at now.

i) Updates/Comments – Mr. Ross

Mr. Maranda noted that Mr. Ross is ill today. There were no updates.

5) Consider Board Agenda

Motion to approve: Rod Simmer 2nd: Richard Brunk Voice vote Motion carried

6) Committee member opportunity for brief comments (no decisions will be made)

Ms. Mayberry asked when the County Board members are we going to know more about the structure of the committees going forward. Mr. Maranda said it’s already published and set. They’ll have two on Monday, Finance and Forest Preserve on Tuesday, and the full board committee on Wednesday at 5:30. That’ll give Ms. Covella, Mr. Ross, Ms. Monroe, and himself time to get any changes or anything that may come out of the Board of the Whole and do readjustments. Finance and Forest Preserve will be on Tuesday morning at 8:30 and 10:00. Mr. Maranda talked to Mr. Craver and Mr. Ballard and Ms. Sullivan and they said that wouldn’t be a problem. It might be a problem for the guys, but there again they’ll see how it all plays out.

Ms. Callaway-Thompson asked if it’s Administration at 8:30 and Public Works at 10:00 on Monday, then. Mr. Maranda confirmed and said then Finance and Forest Preserve on Tuesday. Then at 5:30 Wednesday night, the Board of the Whole will be upstairs. Ms. Mayberry asked if the Committee-of-the-Whole is like special meetings where no voting takes place. Mr. Maranda confirmed that it’s just conversation to make sure they’re ready to go. Mr. Camlin said they’d just vote on minutes and maybe the agenda. Mr. Maranda agreed. They’d answer questions and move on to full Board. They’d have Thursday and Friday to. He thought about taking a break on Wednesday, but Mr. Ross and Ms. Covella said they’d be good to go. Ms. Callaway-Thompson said she would have appreciated that.

Mr. Ballard noted that Forest Preserve won’t be talked about at the Committee-of-the- Whole. There will be no report. Ms. Mayberry asked if there will still be one at full Board. Mr. Ballard said they’d still have the regular meeting, but no discussion from Forest Preserve at the Committee-of-the-Whole. They’re trying to get it more and more separate.

7) Adjourn

Meeting adjourned at 9:51 a.m. by Chairman Kenneth Maranda.