Rock Island Today

Rock Island County Governance, Health, and Administration Committee met March 10.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Chairwoman Enburg called the Governance, Health & Administration to order at 10:00am

1. Roll Call: Carla Enburg, Melissa Moreno Baker, Johnnie Woods, Richard Brunk Members absent: Drue Mielke, Enyo Dewith, Porter McNeil.

Also present: Nick Camlin, Karen Kinney, April Palmer, Jared VanTieghem, Captain Mindy Meyers, Jim Grafton, Bridget Edgeworth, Kurt Davis, Jacob Mellinger, Derrick Hendrickx, Ryan Berger, Jim Nelson, Tammy Weikert, Austin Carlson, Elaine Kaple, Scott Dahlke

2. Public Comment: None

3. Approval of the minutes from February 10th Governance, Health & Administration meeting Motion to approve: J. Woods Second: M. Moreno-Baker voice vote

Motion carried

4. Reports to Committee

County Clerk Karen Kinney gave a vital records report for February of 2025. Clerk Kinney notified the committee that they have not certified the last election due to not counting all of the mail in votes. Clerk Kinney noted that the Clerk’s Office sent out 1677 ballots and 808 were returned. We have 30 mail ballots left in the County Clerk’s office and we will be counting those tomorrow ballots morning. They could be a game changer in the Township races. The certification will be tomorrow in the afternoon

University of Illinois Extension 4-H Metro Educator Elaine Kaple gave a report on education efforts going on within the County.

Motion to approve Reports to Committee: J. Woods Second: M. Moreno-Baker voice vote

Motion carried

5. Consider Opioid Funds distribution in the amount of $500,000.00 to the Rock Island County Council on Addictions (RICCA) for Capital projects including the funds needed for the relaunch of the Women’s Residential Program in the amount of $500,000.00

Chairman Brunk noted that item 5 & 5A are both related the first is to consider the allocation of the money and the second Authorizes the Chairman to execute an agreement based on those terms that the States Attorney’s Office will be drafting. These are funds that came from settlements from the Opioid Class Action Lawsuits. This actual ask is the culmination of numerous discussions that have taken place over the last several months. There have been several people involved in different activities, offices and positions that are related to those that would need this program, including the Chief Judge, Court Services, States Attorney’s Office, The Sheriff and so on. We do have Mr. Scott Dahlke the Director of RICCA. Mr. Dahlke spoke to the Committee about the need of a of a Women’s Residential facility due to new ADA rules from 2009 made the Women’s facility uninhabitable. Since then RICCA has been searching for the next step in bringing back a women’s facility up and open again. After investigation we found out we can reopen it as a women’s recovery home. It is a little less structured and a little less staff required. There will a lot less life safety codes to deal with. That helped lower the renovation costs from $2M down to around $650,000.00 roughly. So, we have secured three bids and we will be ready to go if we can find funding. It looks like talking to a lot of folks that are sitting around this table that we might be able to move forward and do that. All the bidders said the construction will take about six months. When I first started this position a year ago I have met with between 200 & 500 community leaders everybody kept begging to get a women’s program at RICCA, I am really thrilled with the possibility of being able to close the gap. If any of you have any questions I am more than willing to answer any questions you may have. GH&A Chairwoman Carla Enburg asked if this would be residential? Mr. Dahlke answered yes. Ms. Enburg asked if this would be a limited time stay or is there a set program to follow? Mr. Dahlke answered that he would hope to keep everyone at least 90 days, but there is no length of time they have to move out for. Typical stay would be 6 months. But, we have had in the level 3.1 we have had people there 1½ to 2 years, IDHS would stop paying for them after about 6 months anything longer would be a voluntary program. Ms. Enburg noted that the bids are all for a greater amount than we are talking about here. Mr. Dahlke noted that the cheapest bid is for $630,000.00 and the highest bid was $940,000.00 and those figures are from memory so if you need exact figures I can get them for you. With the $500,000.00 request we are 100% confident we can secure the rest of the funds. We just need to know what our strategy will be. Mr. Brunk asked if Court Services had anything to add. Court Services Director Derrick Hendrickx stated that the shelter for housing for women is the biggest issue we see going forward. Especially with our drug rehab program which we use quite often for the men, transitioning those females from incarceration back into the community is the biggest bridge we are trying to cross and getting RICCA back to where it needs to be will be a huge benefit for our clients in the community.

Motion to approve: M. Moreno-Baker Second: J. Woods voice vote

Motion carried

5.A Consider authorizing the County Board Chairman to execute an agreement with Rock Island County Council on Addictions for the distribution and use of opioid settlement funds as outlined. Motion to approve: M. Moreno-Baker Second: J. Woods voice vote

Motion carried

6. Consider Proclamation Designating National Work Zone Awareness Week April 21-25, 2025 in Rock Island County

Motion to approve: M. Moreno Baker Second: J. Woods voice vote

Motion carried

7. Consider Designating April 2025 as Earth Month in Rock Island County

Motion to approve: M. Moreno-Baker Second: J. Woods voice vote

Motion carried

8. Consider Rock Island County Public Transportation Application Ordinance

Ordinance 2025-01

Motion to approve: J. Woods Second: M. Moreno-Baker Finance Director Ryan Berger explained that this is a little different this year than normal. Typically, Rock Island County receives additional funding because they also serve Mercer County. This current fiscal year it was about $750,000.00 with a total allocation. This year Mercer County is dissolving their portion of that Intergovernmental Agreement so, that will reduce our funding. Basically, in half. So, now we will have about $350,000.00. We are still going to work with project now and we are still going to provide the service, this might just be a period of change as we kind of explore how do we make that new budget work and what the new structure will look like for the County. Chairman Brun noted that all three items 8-9-10 on the agenda are all related to the rural transportation program. voice vote

Motion carried

9. Rock Island County Resolution Authorizing Execution and Amendment to section 5311 Grant Agreement.

Motion to approve: R. Brunk Second: J. Woods voice vote

Motion carried

10. Consider Rock Island County Acceptance to the Special Warranty

Motion to approve: M. Moreno-Baker Second: J. Woods voice vote

Motion carried

11. Closed Session: None

12. Consider Action needed for Closed Session: None

13. Committee member opportunity for brief comment (no decisions will be made)

14. Adjourn

Motion to approve: J. Woods Second: M. Moreno-Baker voice vote

Motion carried

The Governance, Health & Administration meeting adjourned at 10:25am

https://www.rockislandcountyil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/1849?fileID=1964