Rock Island Today

Rock Island County Budget Committee met Sept. 21.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

1) Call to order and roll call

Committee members present: Richard Brunk, Don Johnston, Ginny Shelton, Rod Simmer (arrived at 4:02 p.m.), Kai Swanson

Committee members absent: Mia Mayberry, Scott Terry

Others present: Kenneth Maranda, Hayleigh Covella, Gerald Bustos, Sylvia Gomez, Samantha DeYoung, John McGehee, Gary Bryant, Kurt Davis, Larry Wilson, Trent Vandersnick, Tammy Muerhoff, John Massa, Kelly Fisher, Amanda Van Daele, April Palmer, Tammy Weikert, Vicki Bluedorn, Louisa Ewert, Karen Kinney, Walter Braud, Nick Camlin, Brian Gustafson

2) Approval of September 12, 2017 minutes

Motion to approve: Ginny Shelton 2nd: Kai Swanson Voice vote Motion carried

3) Consider the FY18 budget

Mr. Brunk noted that his understanding is Ms. Fisher would like to speak briefly on behalf of the group.

Ms. Fisher thanked everybody for being here. She explained that the Elected Officials met yesterday and they’re just here to say that if the committee has any questions about the individual budgets, they are more than happy to answer them. They’ve been pounding out numbers for months working with Mr. Ross and nothing has changed on any of their parts. As the committee can see, they have done everything they possibly can to cut costs and drum up revenue where necessary. Everyone has done a really good job on their previous budgets. Ms. Fisher noted that she can’t speak for everybody, but her budget has come in less and her revenue is looking good for next year. They are all doing what they can and they hope they have the Budget Committee’s approval.

Mr. Brunk asked if any Department Heads had any statements. No one did.

Mr. Brunk explained that as he has told the committee in prior meetings, he believes this budget is basically a package that is ready to go. He has met a number of times with Mr. Ross on it. His understanding is that everyone is on board with it.

Mr. Simmer is present.

Mr. Brunk continued that the budget is ready to go. It accomplishes a number of things as Mr. Ross has said previously: there are no additional layoffs, the General Fund is actually balanced, a number of deferred maintenance items at the Sheriff’s Department are starting to be addressed, and the property tax rate remains flat.

Mr. Johnston asked what the procedure is. He asked if Mr. Brunk wants the committee to recommend the budget to the Finance Committee and to County Board. He noted that he knows they’re not doing that tonight. Mr. Brunk said the tentative agenda he and Mr. Ross laid out is that the Budget Committee will meet one more time prior to the October Committee of the Whole meeting, where the budget would be forwarded to the Committee of the Whole for full discussion with the full County Board just to allow them the opportunity to discuss things collectively. At that point, there shouldn’t be a whole lot of questions. Everybody knows the full board was told that a copy of the budget is readily available here with Ms. Covella for review. He would imagine that any questions should be answered by then, but he wants to make sure everyone has ample opportunity.

Mr. Simmer noted that the Elected Officials are well represented and asked if there are any objections. Mr. Brunk noted that Mr. Simmer missed it, but Ms. Fisher spoke for the Chief Elected Officials and they are all on board. No other Department Heads or Elected Officials had any comments. Mr. Simmer asked if Ms. Fisher has somewhere to go. Ms. Fisher said it’s as good as it gets here.

Mr. Brunk continued that the Budget Committee will meet one more time on October 3rd at 4:00 p.m. to accept the completed budget, including the schedules and resolutions. He noted that Ms. Palmer will have the final schedules completed. Ms. Palmer confirmed. Mr. Brunk said they’d also accept the Risk Management Plan and all that and make the recommendation to the full County Board from there.

Mr. Maranda asked if they’d have it at October’s meeting and present it in November. Mr. Brunk confirmed, they’ll meet October 3rd, and then do the presentation to the Committee of the Whole, and then October 17th will be the Truth in Taxation Public Hearing because the levy ask is increasing. The tax rate is remaining flat but the county is asking for additional funds. The majority of those funds come from the deal with Exelon. The rest is from new construction. Following that hearing, the full County Board would hopefully vote to lay the budget on display for approval in November.

Mr. Johnston noted that Mr. Simmer asked if Ms. Fisher had somewhere to go and asked if Ms. Fisher was told she has to move or if it was just a suggestion. He has no idea where the authority comes from to tell her she has to move her office. Ms. Fisher asked if Mr. Johnston was asking about moving from the courthouse and not the budget. Mr. Johnston noted that Mr. Simmer mentioned her move and he thought he would follow up because that is a question that’s out there. Ms. Shelton said they just want to know where she is going to be.

Judge Braud explained that they’re at a place where they’re working toward getting Ms. Fisher moved. Ms. Fisher confirmed. Judge Braud said Ms. Fisher is very happy about that and asked if she agreed. Ms. Fisher said she will be. She doesn’t have all her questions answered, to be honest, but her understanding in working with the Chief Judge is that the architects are the ones pushing up the move out date, so to speak, so they can get some things done within the courthouse. Mr. Johnston said the only point he is making is that Ms. Fisher shouldn’t do it until she’s completely satisfied. No individual has the authority to make her move. Ms. Fisher said absolutely. She has expressed to Mr. Maranda and Judge Braud that she’s always been willing to do things for the county, but this is something that is not going to be shoved down her throat. They may not know where the move is going to be right now until the architects come in and they know how much space. One thing that was floated around is part of her staff could be on one floor and part on another, but that won’t work. She knows how her staff works and she will insist on that.

Judge Braud noted that implicit in Mr. Johnston’s question is a mud ball that is posed for no useful reason other than to create unhappiness where sunshine is existing. He and Ms. Fisher have spent maybe two or three hours together in the past few days. Ms. Fisher said yes, easily. Judge Braud said they’ve talked. There’s no question that the move needs to be made. What they have been talking about is how they can finance that, basically, so Ms. Fisher would have a really nice space. Ms. Fisher agreed. Judge Braud explained that, in other words, they will use the architects to design it, pay for it, and move her. It’s been a pretty picture all along. He asked if Ms. Fisher agreed. Ms. Fisher said yes. She has said all along that it makes sense. She knew from the beginning before the ground was ever broken across the street that her office has nothing to do with that.

There are sides that want to save the courthouse and sides that don’t want to save the courthouse. Ms. Fisher said that’s not her decision to make. She is an officeholder and brings in a great deal of money for the county. She can only do that if her office works effectively and efficiently. She still believes they can do that. She is also realistic to the fact that things change in life. She has no idea what it would be like over here, but she is willing to find out. Her staff is on board. She is on board. She plans to work with Mr. Maranda, the County Board, the Chief Judge, and the architects. They all have to work together and can’t be picking sides. She has the job she was elected to do. Ms. Fisher noted that she thought she was here to talk about budgets, but she’s willing to talk about anything. Nothing is going to be forced down her throat at all. She’s a grown up and an Elected Official. She knows how to run her office and will do so to the best of her abilities. She also wants to be able to work. She knows that there is going to be compromise on each side and she is willing to do that, but she is not willing to be walked over. Everyone in this room knows she’s not afraid to say it.

Judge Braud noted that his last comment is that they have to contend with the asbestos problems in the existing courthouse, whether that courthouse stays or not. That process has to take place almost immediately. Whether the courthouse goes or stays is not a question he’s addressing one way or the other, but whether Ms. Fisher goes or stays is a must and an immediate. That time has to happen soon. When he walks through her space, he realizes the move is massive. There are records in there from after Blackhawk rolled over. The movement of them.they are housed in massive document racks. Everything about that office is massive. What the architects have to do, frankly, they negotiated this in the contract. Basically the money is already there to do that because they knew this would have to be done. They have money to do this, but they really can’t move what she has to any place, whether it’s the courthouse or the administration building down the street. They’ll have to build something for Ms. Fisher wherever she goes. The good news is he thinks Ms. Fisher has way more space than she needs because it was built in 80 years and he has always said a horse could go through it. Judge Braud said he’s no architect, but they have architects thanks to the annex who are going to design it and figure it out. Gilbane is going to move it because it’s in the budget. Ms. Fisher is going to like it.

Ms. Fisher noted that she thinks her office will work even better. She never liked the idea that when you walk into her office, there’s the big hallway and stuff on each side. It makes more sense to have it all together, but it wasn’t possible. She works with the conditions they have in the current space and can easily change positions around and things like that, but it has to flow. Judge Braud said since he believes she will be able to have a substantial reduction in space, he believes Mr. Maranda will find her space on one floor. He can’t promise that because he’s not Mr. Maranda. Mr. Maranda is the chairman and that’s his desire and wish and hope. Judge Braud thinks that with the help he gets from the architects, they can pull that off. Ms. Fisher agreed that they can’t pull it off without the architects. That’s what they do. It’s their expertise and they will be vital.

Mr. Johnston noted that what he said wasn’t implicit in anything and it certainly was not a mud ball. He thinks his record is clear around here. Since he has been back on this board, he has always been concerned about Elected Officials and their treatment. That’s simply what he was inquiring about. He knows no authority can force Ms. Fisher to move. Ms. Fisher said she appreciates that. Mr. Johnston said he wanted to make sure that was not happening. What the Honorable Judge Braud said, he can understand about asbestos and that. He sees the reasoning for that. That’s why he was asking the question. It was not implicit toward a mud ball; it was just a question. Ms. Fisher said she hears him and understands and appreciates it. She thinks her office and the County Board have always worked well together.

Mr. Simmer asked about the money and the architects they are going to use and what space they are looking at. Judge Braud asked if he meant in this building. Mr. Simmer asked if they’re looking in this building. Judge Braud said they’re only looking in this building. Mr. Simmer asked if that is within the PBC’s purview, to work within this building. Judge Braud said the move is. Part of what they do in a construction project is negotiate for a sum of money that moves everybody out of wherever they are coming from. Every time you build a jail or courthouse, you have a fund of money to clear the courthouse. Judge Braud explained that this fund is only for moving out the occupants of the facility, whether they go into the new facility or go anywhere else.

Mr. Brunk noted that this is related to county finances; it is not directly to the budget. He would like to move on and get back to the FY18 budget.

Mr. McGehee asked if other County Board members have looked at this budget now that it’s on display. Mr. Brunk said he doesn’t know if anyone has come in and asked Ms. Covella. Ms. Covella said no. Mr. McGehee asked if there’s been any discussion or review. Mr. Brunk explained that the County Board was given a broad overview by Mr. Ross. He has discussed it at Committee of the Whole in a broad sense. The full County Board is aware that the budget is available down here. Mr. Brunk added that if someone actually wants a hard copy, that can be produced for their review. They don’t necessarily have to sit down here. The full board is very well aware that it’s available for review.

4) Committee member opportunity for brief comments (no action can or will be taken based on any comments from committee members but the matter might be placed on a future agenda for consideration)

There were no additional comments.

5) Adjourn

Meeting adjourned at 4:16 p.m. by Chair Richard Brunk.

http://www.rockislandcounty.org/CountyBoard.aspx?id=40517#CAW