Rock Island Today

Rock Island County Board Committee of the Whole met Aug. 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Committee of the Whole of the Rock Island County Board met on Wednesday August 14th at 5:30pm in the County Board Chambers on the third floor of the County Office Building located at 1504 3rd Ave, Rock Island, IL. Meeting minutes are as follows:

1. Call to order and roll call:

Vice-Chairman Vyncke called the meeting to order at5:34pm and noted that Dr. Luis Moreno would need to attend via zoom due to a medical issue.

Motion to allow Dr. Luis Moreno to attend via zoom-Dave Adams Second: Kai Swanson motion carried via voice vote.

Members present: Melissa Moreno-Baker, Porter McNeil, Dave Adams, Tim Foster, Edna Sowards, Kai Swanson, Dr. Luis Moreno (via zoom) Richard Brunk, Brian Vyncke, Larry Burns, Carla Enburg, Enyo Dewith, Dr. Rodney Simmer, Johnnie Woods, Chuck Layer, Bob Westfpahl.

Members absent: Bob Perkins, Richard Morthland, Drue Mielke

Others Present: Sheriff Darren Hart, ASA Patricia Castro, Captain Mindy Meyers, Circuit Clerk Tammy Weikert, County Auditor April Palmer, County Administrator Jim Grafton, IT Director Kurt Davis, Bray Architect Woodard, Chenowith Contractor, Jim Nelson.

2. Public Comment: Vice Chairman Vyncke made three calls for public comment: There were no requests for public comment.

3. Approval of the minutes from July 10th, 2024

Motion to approve as presented: Enyo Dewith Second: Larry Burns Members voting yes: Melissa Moreno-Baker, Porter McNeil, Dave Adams, Tim Foster, Edna Sowards, Kai Swanson, Dr. Luis Moreno, Brian Vyncke, Larry Burns, Carla Enburg, Enyo Dewith, Dr. Rodney Simmer, Johnnie Woods, Chuck Layer, Bob Westfpahl.

Motion Carried

4. Presentation: None

5. Condition of Funds Report: County Auditor April Palmer reported that she had reported to the Finance Committee yesterday, other than that she had nothing else to report, she did say she is available for questions.

6. Staff Reports:

Sheriff Darren Hart thanked the County Board for the funds for storage lockers or weapons in the vehicles. Sheriff Hart also gave an update on the painting of the jail. Then Sheriff Hart gave an update on election preparedness. Sheriff Hart noted that he is sending three individuals to help with security at the DNC next week in Chicago.

7. Finance & Personnel Report:

Vice Chairman Brian Vyncke read the Finance & Personnel report as follows:

The Finance & Personnel Committee met on Tuesday August 13th at 8:30am

Vice Chairman Vyncke called the meeting to order, and following roll call, requested a motion to allow Dr. Moreno to attend the meeting remotely

Auditor April Palmer gave a report which included the following items:

The upcoming Forest Preserve Audit

Efforts to organize all contracts on file by expiration date, to help with future audits. Work on updating periodic fixed assets, keeping track of purchases, tagging items, and inspecting inventory items more frequently, and

The State move toward paperless transactions through ACH payments.

Treasurer Nick Camlin reported on a new assistant in the office.

Finance Director Ryan Berger briefed on the status of the FY25 budget process; that the FY2025 Budget Requests are due at the end of the week.

All routine reports were approved

The committee considered and recommended approval of the following:

• A request from Animal Care & Control, for the creation of one new Clerical Specialist II and two new Domestic Animal Caretaker I- positions. The creation of these positions will address a separation of duties concern reported out in our annual audits for the last several years, and ensure proper care of the hundreds of animals, as well as greatly reduce burn-out among staff members.

• Creation of a New Systems Specialist Position in the Circuit Clerks Office, effectively replacing the current Lead Operations Specialist position.

• Bids for the Juvenile Justice Center Roof, to be funded by ARPA, with the low bid being from Economy Roofing for $66,300.00

• Bids for Juvenile Justice Center Parking Lot, with the low bid being from Valley Construction for $37,830.00

• The committee also considered Bids for Juvenile Justice Center Interior Renovations. The low bid received was from Chenoweth Construction for $524,500.00. Aligning with the action of the Public Works & Facilities Committee, this item was forwarded without recommendation, pending clarification on questions related to the low bid received.

• It is my understanding that representatives from Chenoweth Construction are here with us tonight to help clarify any remaining questions.

Board Member David Adams had questions for Mr. Chenoweth about compliance with the Rock Island County PLA in other words preforming 51% of the work.

Mr. Chenoweth answered that as the General Contractor they will reach out to all of the subcontractors to acquire the best pricing and the best craftsman for the job. The General contractor has many hats to wear. In the documents it does say that the contractor has to complete 51% of the work so Chenoweth pursued contractors to perform the work. We (Chenoweth) can do 51%of the work I chose to build a team that Chenoweth has under contract to do the work. I look at specialized teams. So the interior systems of this particular build are going to meet the requirements as specialized interior systems contractors. We have River City Cutting who specializes in Demo, that is what they do. Precise demo of walls and cutting. As a General Contractor that is what I look for, we set a project up to be successful. In the documents it specifically says 51% of contractors, I didn’t see General Contractor as the General Contractor we are going to do 100% of the project, generating the schedules, communicating with the owners, making sure the project is being done successfully and building the right team. So, if you are asking Chenoweth to self-perform 51% of the work, is that what you are asking? Board Member David Adams answered yes. Mr. Chenoweth then stated that Chenoweth is not a licensed plumber, or a mechanical license, and we do not have an electrical license so out of those three contractors none of which we can do other than hire a sub. Chenoweth can supply laborers, supply carpenters to do the work. The way we set this up was to hire specialized teams that still have signatory carpenters, signatory laborers. We can do this but I choose probably not to do the project unless I have my team. These guys are literally trained to do the best framing. They are the best dry wall installers Chenoweth can do that I have no problem with that, but the best thing to do is to build the best team for this project. So yes, we can do the 51%, again I will say though, I will not do the project unless I have the team that I entered with. Union Laborers, Union Carpenters, Union Electricians all in the impact agreement. I have worked with these team members for the last 27 years. I have the upmost confidence I can put together. The 51%, I interpreted it as contractors & subcontractors. This is vague for me, as I try to put together the best team possible. Mr. Adams replied, does Chenoweth have any work in the project? Mr. Chenoweth answered yes, we will do the base work and the finishing. General contractors do a lot of that, there are General Contractors that do sub out everything. Board Member Kai Swanson asked Mr. Adams to review the rational of the proviso of the PLA that the Board adopted in December of 2023. Mr. Swanson said he did understand the desirability of the IMPACT agreement, but the particular proviso of the PLA. Mr. Adams said the PLA has a lot of things in it like-All Contractors perform work that falls within the job classifications, as defined by the Illinois Department of Labor Prevailing Wage Rate Determinations, shall be signatory to the craft listed with such craft classification. Mr. Adams said #3 was put in “All contractors must directly perform at least 51% of the services identified in the project solicitation”. The reason we put in there that we wanted the contractors to perform 51% of the work is there is more ownership of the project to it. That is where a lot of PLA language it kind of eliminates the CM or the GC, that is nothing against Chenowith, there are a lot of General Contractors that just come in and sub out all the work they have no scope of the job whatsoever. CM’s just put the schedule together and do no work on the job. Mr. Adams did state that they understand that General Contractors don’t carry electrician’s licenses and they don’t carry plumbers’ licenses, HVAC people, usually General Contractors carry laborers and carpenters and some have operators. Vice-Chair Vyncke noted that there is a representative from Bray Architects if anyone has questions for him.

Mr. Chenoweth returned to the podium (with the permission of the Board) and stated that the statement that he had about performing the work with the team that he has make it clear that he cannot meet the 51% unless I have this team. The only way that Chenowith can meet the 51% is that I have to take away Builders Sales & Service my specialized services. I will not be able to meet the 51% If I take those two teams. That is the clarity that I want to make sure we all understand. I did say that I can do that I want to make it clear I am not going to do that unless I have those two teams.

7. Finance & Personnel Report: (continued)

The committee also considered the following, recommending approval:

The Creation of a Fleet Manager Position

The Quad Cities Power Station Real Property Tax Assessment Settlement Agreement. This agreement is similar to the agreement approved by all the taxing bodies approximately five years ago, determining the assessment of the facility and the taxes to be collected.

Delinquent Tax Resolution #08-32-425-001 Tax Payer ID (08) 1408 Moline Township Transfers of Appropriations

Appropriations Resolutions for Fund

Claims in the amount of $1,655,106.67

Treasurers Disbursements in the amount of $2,639,602.36, and

The Board Member Per Diem/Mileage Report, as amended.

Chairman Brunk provided an update on the Monuments Project and an impending new timeline for the project’s completion, as the contractor has now secured a performance bond. Mr. Westphal noted that he had heard that Rock Island County had received a $100,000 Grant No one knew anything about it.

This concludes the report of the Finance & Personnel Committee

8. Governance Health & Administration Report:

Governance Health & Administration Chairman Carla Enburg gave the August report: The Governance, Health and Administration Committee met on Monday August 12th 2024 at 10:00am

• County Clerk Karen Kinney reported on fees collected and the status of new elections equipment.

• Treasurer Nick Camlin reported on the hire of a new Employee.

• Chairman Brunk provided an update on the Monuments Project.

All routine reports were approved by the Committee

The Committee considered and recommended approval of the following:

• A County Title VI civil rights plan to meet Federal requirements.

• Certification of Election Judges

• Ordinance 2024-08-A, an ordinance updating the age for sale and possession of tobacco from 18 to 21 to align with State Statute.

The Committee also considered and approved the Proclamation for Women’s Equality as August 26, 2024.

August 26th being the date the 19th Amendment was certified.

This concludes the August report of the Governance, Health & Administration Committee

The Public Works & Facilities Committee met on Monday August 12th at 8:30AM

• Zoning and Building Director Greg Thorpe reported on revenue of $51,573.00 on $4.7M building permits- year to date, which puts the department 200 receipts and $150,000.00 ahead of this time last year. To date, the office has received 126% of its projected revenue.

• GIS Director Josh Boudi reported on department revenues $16,163.00 for July.

• Highway Engineer Matt Miller reported on the hiring of 2 new employees, and routine road maintenance activities. Mr. Miller also clarified that there are currently 2 to 3 crews at a time, catching up on mowing of the right-of ways.

• Treasurer Nick Camlin reported on a new employee.

• Chairman Brunk provided an update on the Monuments Project and an impending new timeline for the project’s completion.

All routine reports were approved

The committee considered and forwarded the following items to the Finance & Personnel Committee, recommending approval:

• Two Engineering Agreements for Phase II of projects approved in December of 2023. One for CH-50-23-004000-00-BR at a cost of $23,392.00 and a second for CH-55-23-004000-01-BR at a cost of $29,146.00

• Bids for the Juvenile Justice Center Roof, to be funded by ARPA

• Bids for Juvenile Justice Center Parking Lot

The committee also considered Bids for Juvenile Justice Center Interior Renovations, which were forward to Finance & Personnel Committee without recommendation, pending clarification on questions related to the low bid received. (Questions out of committee- Mr. Adams: Architect &/or Contractor Present)

The Committee also considered and recommended approval of five zoning board of appeals cases as follows:

a. SU-24-209 Riverstone Group, Inc Resource Extraction ZU

b. SU-24-210 Riverstone Group, Inc Resource Extraction ZU

c. SU-24-211 Nichollette Rider Veterinary Clinic AN

d. RZ-24-108 Shane & Maryssa Albert AG-1 to SE-1 CO

e. RZ-24-109 Mark & Janet Clark AG-2 to SE-1 DR

f. SU-24-212 Snowstar Extreme Sports Renew/Update SUP AN

This concludes the report of the Public Works and Facilities Committee.

10. Approval of the County Board Agenda

Vice Chairman Vyncke asked for a motion to approve the County Board Agenda for Tuesday August 20th 2024

Motion: Bob Westpfahl Second Dr. Rodney Simmer

Voice Vote

Motion Carried

11. Closed Session – None

12. Consider action based on closed session-None

13. Committee member opportunity for brief comment-Bob Westpfahl commented about the condition of the right of ways on County roads due to grass and weeds. Dr. Rodney Simmer thanked the Community and the Board for the condolences for the passing of his mother. Kai Swanson commented on Dr. Simmer’s family’ legacy and tradition within the County. Mr. Swanson also thanked ASA Patty Castro’s team for the work on the Quad Cities Power Station property tax assessment settlement agreement. Mr. Swanson said he was very grateful for every headache I did not get having to work on that settlement, thank you for representing the interests of the citizens of Rock Island County

14. Adjourn

Motion to adjourn: David Adams Second by: Tim Foster

Voice Vote

motion carried

Meeting adjourned at 5:59 pm

https://www.rockislandcountyil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/1582?fileID=1792