Rock Island Today

Rock Island County Board Met June 9.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Call to order and roll call

Vice Chairman B. Vyncke called the meeting to order at 5:33 PM

A roll call was taken

Members Present: R. Morthland, D. Cremeens, M. Moreno, L. Burns, L. Moreno, C. Enburg, J. Deppe, D. Adams, E. Sowards, K. Swanson, E. Langdon, R. Simmer, L. Boswell-Loftin, J. Woods, D. Beck. D. Mielke, D. Clevenger, B. Westpfahl Members Absent: D. Johnston, A. Normoyle

Others Present: J. Snider, A. Palmer, M. Durbin,

Public Comments

Chairman B. Vyncke made three calls for public comment. There were no requests for public comment

Approval of the minutes from the May 12th, 2021 Committee of the Whole meeting

Motion E. Langdon. Seconded K. Swanson

A roll call was established: R. Morthland, D. Cremeens, M. Moreno, L. Burns, L. Moreno, C. Enburg, J. Deppe, D. Adams, E. Sowards, K. Swanson, E. Langdon, R. Simmer, L. Boswell-Loftin, J. Woods, D. Beck. D. Mielke, D. Clevenger-- YES Members Absent: D. Johnston, A. Normoyle

Condition of Funds Report

Auditor A. Palmer reported on the Condition of Reports with standard reports along with her memo to the Board. She reported on the COVID-19 reimbursement including CARES act funding though the State of Illinois, and still gathering to submit for reimbursements. She continued that these funds could be used to supplement lost revenue.

Member B. Westpfahl is present

Staff Reports

Public Defender M. Durbin reported a request from his office for additional support staff salaries. He spoke on a pilot program opportunity to take advantage of federal grant money for certain positions that would be reimbursed for salaries for services provided. These cases would involve the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS). He stated that previously there was one attorney representing all juvenile delinquency and juvenile abuse cases in the County from the Public Defender’s office. Several other attorneys were contracted to do similar work representing parents and other parties etc. He stated the grant money would reimburse up to 50 percent of the highest paid salaried assistants to $36,000-$39,000 a year. He continued in an effort to not request additional funds for a part time employee to address juvenile petitions, he stated that there was a staff member who volunteered for the juvenile delinquency position for $7,000 increase in salary per year. He stated he would like to request an additional $7,000 in funds in anticipation of the $36,900 annually in grant money for work on the juvenile petitions without any additional expense to the County Board and expenditures for additional salaries. He stated this person was already working in the office and would not need to be trained for the position. He also mentioned that the grant may be renewable for future years as well. He stated the salary, benefits, FICA, vacation and pension contributions for the position would all be reimbursable. He noted that he Public Defender’s office does not generate income, but is statutorily obligated to provide services for the citizens of the County. He wanted to insure the office takes full advantage of any stream of income to recompense the County for services they provide.

Ms. Beck asked if the Office works in conjunction with the Children’s Advocacy Center. Mr. Durbin replied that the office does work with the Center.

Mr. Deppe stated that he was in favor of the proposal and stated he remembered Mr. Durbin bringing staffing requests to the GHA committee and budget meetings where there were already staffing issues and workloads were falling behind.

Mr. Simmer asked if the money was guaranteed, as it is a grant, has it been received. Mr. Durbin stated he’s been coordinating on Intergovernmental Agreements with the Auditor’s Office, Court Administration, State’s Attorney’s office to make sure the agreements are done properly and the County and his clients are protected, as well as the body of the County Board when the grant money is released.

Mr. Simmer asked “yes or no? Are we guaranteed the money? Yes or no.” Atty Durbin stated that once the contracts are signed, there are no contracts. He stated he was asking for $7,000 and additional funds, and the contracts had not been drawn up yet.

Mr. Simmer asked if outside agency or attorneys fees would be saved with having the role taken over and provided by a member of the public defender’s office. Mr. Durbin stated he was trying to save salaries by not hiring another part time attorney to take full advantage of reimbursement.

Member R. Morthland stated that he was requesting clarification in reference to the term “free money” as Mr. Durbin stated in terms of reimbursement. He stated he’d never seen “free money” in government before; but low cost money or paying in advance, and asked if the money was

Atty Durbin stated he had no guarantee until the contracts passed his desk, but mentioned that he’d been in talks for the last several months on how it would work with several counties; Sangamon, Will, and Rock Island Counties as well as two others joined in the pilot program to create a stream of income where one didn’t exist.

Mr. Morthland wanted to insure that there were no strings attached to the funds.

Auditor A. Palmer stated she’d pulled some of the documentation up and replied Rock Island County was one of five other counties for the pilot program and was brought forth to the County to develop a grant system and take part in its origin with the Illinois Courts for services for DCFS Children including some of the attorneys paid for through Court Administration.

Mr. Clevenger asked if the Board would be more comfortable if the contracts were already signed or if this needed to be pushed through the Board immediately. Mr. Durbin stated that he’d begun the process and didn’t want to try to use his highest paid employee. He stated there is an agreement with an employee of the Public Defender’s Office to take over the juvenile delinquency cases in the office and wanted to take full advantage of the reimbursement opportunities.

Mr. Deppe pointed out that budget committee would be starting next month and could be dealt with in that time frame as well. Mr. Durbin stated that he could work in that time frame as well.

Vice Chairman Vyncke stated this was a non-action item for the Committee and would be considered fully in the June Board Meeting.

Finance & Personnel Committee Report

Given by Chairman L. Moreno

Governance, Health and Administration Committee Report

Given by Chairman J. Deppe

Public Works & Facilities Committee Report

Given by Chairman L. Burns

Approval of the County Board Agenda

Motion to approve as presented by D. Adams. Seconded J. Deppe

A roll call was taken

R. Morthland, D. Cremeens, M. Moreno, L. Burns, L. Moreno, C. Enburg, J. Deppe, D. Adams, E. Sowards, K. Swanson, E. Langdon, R. Simmer, L. Boswell-Loftin, J. Woods, D. Beck. D. Mielke, D. Clevenger, B. Westpfahl – YES Motion carried

The Committee of the Whole may entire into Closed Session for the following:

• 5 ILCS 120/2(c) (1) – The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body todetermine its validity.

• 5 ILCS 120/2(c) (2) – Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees.

• 5 ILCS 120/2(c) (11) – Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probably or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.

Board Member opportunity for brief comment (no decisions will be made)

Chairman Brunk stated that he was anticipating announcements from Springfield in reference to the rollback of Covid precautions in line with the Open Meetings Acts provisions and clarified that the Board would continue to meet in Zoom teleconference and in person fashion. He stated that perhaps the provisions would be changed before the final agenda would be posted but would not be rolling back the requirements at this time. He also mentioned that once the provisions would be rolled back, original seating assignments and wanted to insure spacing as well. The public would be allowed back as soon as provisions would allow.

Mr. Swanson stated on behalf of the Forest Preserve, the new rhinoceros exhibit at Niabi Zoo would be dedicated on Saturday, June 12th between 12 and 3 pm with the dedication at 1 pm and was pleased to see how many members were donors to the exhibit as well, as the zoo welcomed a male, 2 year old Southern White rhino named Keto.

Adjourn

Motion to adjourn at 6:30 PM by D. Adams

Seconded J. Deppe.

Motion for previous roll call by J. Deppe. Seconded E. Langdon

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