Rock Island County Governance, Health, and Administration Committee met June 12.
Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:
The Governance, Health, and Administration 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. Chair Mia Mayberry called the meeting to order at 10:00. Minutes as follows:
1) Call to order and roll call
Committee members present: Mia Mayberry, Pat Moreno, Kim Callaway-Thompson (via phone), Mike Steffen, Ron Oelke, Drue Mielke, Scott Terry (arrived at 10:01 a.m.), Cecilia O’Brien (via phone)
Committee members absent: None
Others present: Dave Ross, Hayleigh Covella, Trent Vandersnick, Jerry Clyde, Ed Langdon, Dewayne Cremeens, Bill Long, Nita Ludwig, Amanda Van Daele, Tammy Weikert, Darren Hart, Jens Lape, Kurt Davis, Louisa Ewert, Karen Kinney, Doug Lindstrom
2) Public comments
There were no public comments.
3) Approval of minutes from the May 8, 2017 meeting
Motion to approve: Mike Steffen
2nd: Pat Moreno
Voice vote
Motion carried
4) Reports to the committee
County Administration-
Mr. Ross reported that staff is working on the budget right now. They are starting that process. He and Mr. Brunk were meeting quite extensively last week about it. Mr. Ross was giving him an update on where things are at and some things they’re going to need to do. They got finished with their discussions and it showed how precarious the General Fund budget is going to be at the end of this year. They all know it’s in that situation.
Mr. Terry is present.
Mr. Ross explained that then he received an email from the Treasurer’s Office unfortunately letting him know about what the State of Illinois sent her, which was a letter stating that the state has overpaid Rock Island County in two different sales tax type accounts. They’re going to start taking payments from the county. They are deducting them this year starting in July. The amount they are going to deduct, give or take, over the course of the next several months is right around $150,000. In their letter they were kind enough to say that per state law, they’re not going to tell the county how they made the error, what formula they used to determine this, or much of anything. They’ll just start taking the money. That’s what’s happening.
Mr. Ross noted that he needs to, along with others, reach out again to local representatives and voice his concern over this method of doing business, especially considering that they haven’t paid Probation Officer salary reimbursements. The last they paid was August 2016. They are continuing not to make their payments and yet they’re taking from the county without the county having a say in it. Now the county has to adjust its revenues and decrease it by $150,000. Mr. Ross thinks it was $130,000 for just this fiscal year. They are doing that. Mr. Ross noted that he’s just updating the committee on another situation the county has. He has copies of the letter if anyone wants one. Ms. O’Brien asked for a copy.
County Clerk-
Ms. Kinney provided her April and May reports. She noted that there was an issue with last month’s report; it was the right report but someone had put the wrong date on it. Ms. Kinney pointed out that May shows an increase, which is a good thing. It usually does in the summer months. More people get married.
Ms. Kinney noted that she has nothing in elections other than it was brought to her attention that someone is considering putting some pressure on her to open more vote centers. That’s why her office has four early vote centers and also encourages voting by mail. They don’t have any money to open any new vote centers. She was told that some people are willing to pay for it themselves. That’s against the law. That’s considered electioneering. That won’t be happening. Ms. Kinney asked the committee to help her get the word out if they find anyone thinking they’ll open their own vote center that it’s not going to happen.
5) Consider public hearing for Community Health Care non-profit organization
Ms. Mayberry explained that this item is to consider holding a public hearing for the Community Health Care nonprofit. They are a nonprofit in Iowa with clinics in Rock Island, Moline, East Moline, and they are seeking to refund existing bonds to save money. The nonprofit requires a public body to pass the bonds on behalf of the city of Buffalo, Iowa. Buffalo agreed to do this. The public hearing would be held at full County Board, not today. There’s no cost to the county for this. The county is not even really a pass through. No money passes through. It’s just a public hearing that has to be held.
Mr. Ross added that this is a public hearing and the County Board would be passing a resolution saying the County Board held a public hearing giving the public an opportunity to talk. Rock Island County has zero liability with this. He confirmed with the bond attorneys because he was a little concerned when he got the request. The county has zero liability. This is so the nonprofit is able to obtain have tax exempt status on their bonds so they can save money. Buffalo, Iowa, is doing this but because CHC has clinics in Rock Island County, either each city the clinics are in has to have a public hearing or the county can do it. Mr. Ross said he sees no reason not to help them out since there’s zero liability. Rock Island County just holds a public hearing and signs the resolution saying it held the public hearing. Mr. Ross noted that someone is here representing the organization.
Mr. Lindstrom, an attorney at Lane & Waterman, said there’s not much more to add. It’s exactly that. The internal revenue code requires the approval of the government authority where each facility is located. Mr. Oelke noted that it’s easier for Rock Island County to hold one than for each city. Mr. Ross agreed.
Motion to approve: Scott Terry
2nd: Mike Steffen
Voice vote
Motion carried
Mr. Steffen asked for the date of the hearing. Mr. Ross said at the next full Board. Mr. Ross added that CHC is taking care of all publication notices. The county is not paying a dime.
6) Consider resolution re: Participation of Elected Officials in IMRF – Sheriff
Ms. Mayberry reminded the committee that about a month ago they passed an IMRF resolution for Elected Officials. At the time, the Sheriff was not included at his request because he doesn’t participate in IMRF. However, IMRF requires the county to pass a resolution including the Sheriff to let them know he works at least 6,000 hours annually regardless of his participation. This is just a formality.
Motion to approve: Pat Moreno
2nd: Mike Steffen, Drue Mielke
Voice vote
Motion carried
7) Consider revised Liquor Control Resolution
Ms. Mayberry noted that the committee has been dealing with this over the past couple of months. There is a link to the revised version on the committee members’ computers. They are just considering any revisions. The Chairman and Sheriff’s Office have worked on the revised language. The Sheriff’s Department is here if there are any questions.
Lt. Lape explained that the biggest thing they had was a revision on page 11, subsection B, paragraph 2. Essentially, if a premises serves a full menu at all hours, persons under 21 years of age must leave the premises by.it was 10:00. Lt. Lape said he knows there was an issue about going out to eat at local establishments, so they discussed shifting that to 11:00 p.m. The general consensus was if you get done with a football game at 9:30 and go in there to eat, Duckies closes at 10:00 as far as the grill goes. If you’re eating there still at 10:30, that’s not an issue, but after 11:00 they have a hard time understanding why anyone under 21 should be in an establishment after that. If someplace has a 24-hour grill, that really opens the door for 18, 19, and 20 year olds to come in and siphon a beer off. This helps prevent some of that. He knows there was another change having to do with a golf outing that’s changed allowing them to be open at the same time the taverns are.
Mr. Oelke noted that another concern was help. Lt. Lape said that’s covered on page 11. That talks about, under subsection A, no person under 21 years of age shall be employed in any premises licensed for the retail sale of alcohol except for purposes of preparing food, serving food, providing entertainment, and so on. That covers someone who wants to work at an establishment. Mr. Terry said if they’re cleaning up or what have you and get out of there, he’s just making sure that transportation and them leaving work is not a problem for an employee. He doesn’t want them to get in trouble for being there. Lt. Lape explained that that’s a state law violation if Mr. Terry is talking about curfew. State law curfew is even addressed that they can go to and from a job. That pertains a lot to high school students; 16 and 17 year olds working until 10:00 or 11:00, it allows them time to get home as long as they go straight from work to home.
Mr. Ross noted, from a law enforcement perspective, he thinks that’s where a lot of discretion comes in. If it looks like a person hasn’t been drinking and is just coming from work and heading home.it’s different if they’re out with a group of friends and say they’re heading home.
Mr. Steffen said there’s an underlying problem here. He asked why they are creating public policy if there have not been a lot of problems in this area. He said, “Maybe you Sheriff people can tell me: have there been problems in this area?” Lt. Lape said they’ve had issues where they can’t prove a person’s been in a tavern after 11:00 and have been drinking, but they have instances where underage kids are involved in accidents in pretty close proximity to some taverns, but unless there’s a camera or witness, they can’t prove it. Their opinion is mostly that if someone is under 21, after 11:00 should they be (inaudible). Mr. Steffen said if they’re with their parents.there are a lot of “ifs” there. Lt. Lape said that was brought up, but that also leaves the door open for an alcoholic to go into Duckies and put their kid in front of a video game with a bunch of quarters, they can drink until 1:00 a.m. Mr. Steffen asked if Lt. Lape can’t give him a number. He asked, “Have there been 30 or two?” Lt. Lape said he can’t give a specific number. Ms. Mayberry noted that a lot of the time, public policy is meant to serve as a deterrent.
Mr. Oelke said the resolution seems pretty common sense. Mr. Mielke said he’s happy with the changes.
Motion to approve: Scott Terry
2nd: Drue Mielke
Voice vote Opposed: Mr. Steffen opposed
Motion carried
8) Review of pending/proposed state legislation & policy matters affecting Rock Island County
Mr. Mielke noted that a bill was brought up.Mr. Steffen said HB-3538. Mr. Mielke explained that it was introduced by Representative Halpin. It creates the Keep Illinois Businesses Act. The Act provides that any recipient business that chooses to move all or part of its business operations and jobs created by its business out of state shall be deemed to no longer qualify for state economic development assistance and shall be required to pay to the state granting agency the full amount of any economic development assistance it received. It provides for procedures for recovery of economic development assistance, including required notice to recipient businesses and opportunity for a hearing.
Mr. Mielke noted that this is something he became aware of fifteen minutes ago. He did find it. Like Mr. Steffen said, it’s HB-3538. That’s really all he knows about it. He assumes the idea is to keep businesses in Illinois, which he thinks they’re all for. The reason he wants to bring it up is because Rock Island County is a border county, he thinks it would certainly affect Rock Island County. He doesn’t know how it would affect Rock Island County’s larger businesses that are already doing business in multiple states, for instance John Deere. He doesn’t know how that would affect or not affect them. He was hoping to find out more about it before the next meeting.
Mr. Terry said he certainly appreciates Mr. Mielke’s reservations. He’s familiar with the bill that’s been proposed. He believes it was passed out of the House. He thinks there’s a grandfather in there for existing companies. He thinks it’s for when they go to reapply for this assistance. He would like to be on the record applauding Representative Halpin’s efforts to retain.it’s not saying someone can’t have a business in Illinois and expand. It’s saying if they do this, some economic monies can be focused on folks who are building right here in Illinois.
Ms. Mayberry said absolutely. She agrees with Mr. Terry’s sentiments. Ms. Mayberry thanked Mr. Mielke for bringing it up and asked if he wanted the committee to take a better look at it for next month or just for the committee to be aware of it. Mr. Mielke said he doesn’t have reservations. It’s just that 10 minutes ago he didn’t know it existed and wanted to make the committee aware.
9) Committee member opportunity for brief comments (no decisions will be made)
There were no comments.
10) Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 10:18 a.m. by Chair Mia Mayberry.
http://www.rockislandcounty.org/CountyBoard.aspx?id=40517
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