Rock Island Today

Rock Island County Governance, Health, and Administration Committee met Oct. 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

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

1. Roll Call: Carla Enburg, Drue Mielke, Enyo Dewith, Johnny Woods

Members absent: Melissa Moreno Baker

Chairwoman Enburg noted that County Board Chairman Richard “Quijas” Brunk will not be at the meeting as he is in Springfield advocating for the Moline to Chicago rail project. Also present: Ellen Anderson Auditors Office, Elaine Kaple, Patty Castro SAO, Jim Nelson, Jared VanTieghem, Nick Camlin County Treasurer, Derrick Hendrickx Court Services, Captain Mindy Meyers, Kurt Davis IT, Jim Grafton County Administrator, Tammy Weikert Circuit Clerks Office, Tammy Muerhoff Regional Superintendent of Schools, Greg Thorpe Director of Zoning & Building.

2. Public Comment: None

3. Approval of the minutes from September 8th Governance, Health & Administration meeting Motion to approve: Drue Mielke Second: Johnnie Woods

voice vote

Motion carried

4. Reports to Committee:

• Elaine Kaple, of the University of Illinois Extension Services reported on various 4-H events throughout the area. Elaine noted that this last weekend they were at the “Imagination Station” at WIU and this is WQPT’s largest event of the year. This evening we have our teen t-shirts kick-off meeting. The Teen T- shirts group is kind of a State-wide initiative. We had it many years ago here in Rock Island County the and group kind of waned. We give high-schoolers leadership and teaching opportunities and training. We teach them different leadership skills that they go out into the community with us and do after school programming and some of the summer enrichment programming that we do. We have wrapped up our Fair season and now are into our award season. So, now we will Segway into our school enrichment programming, we will be at Thurgood Marshal for the nutrition programming, then we will be back at Washington Jr. High doing visual arts. We will be at the College and career readiness program at United Township later this month. We are just coming off National 4-H week and some 4-H’rs will be coming the whole County Board meeting to show their thanks for your support.

• Tammy Muerhoff Regional Superintendent of Schools gave her annual report on bus driver training, refresher courses. The number of active drivers, and criminal background checks. Superintendent Muerhoff also reported on Professional Development. She also reported GED Transcripts and High School Equivalency Diplomas, health and life safety, Early Childhood birth to three prevention initiative program and the three to five pre-schools for all program, Early childhood preschool expansion, the McKinney-Vento homeless children grant, the TAOEP Grant, Regional safe schools’ program and 21st Century Community learning centers.

• County Treasurer Nick Camlin noted that on the Treasurer’s report the number from last month was carried over to this report under interest earned. It should be for FY2025 interest received in September 2025 should be $346,971.00 it is correct on the printout of all the funds it didn’t just carry over right on the cover letter. Mr. Camlin noted that at this time the post office has not been a good job delivering mail and it seems that in August they misrouted mail and some tax payments were not delivered to us.

• County Clerk Karen Kinney gave her vital records report. Clerk Kinney noted that the election petition packets. Petitions circulation started August 5th, Petition filing period is August 27th at 8:00am through November 3rd at 5:00pm. We stay open an extra ½ hour for those who work until 4:30pm so they have time to get here. Hopefully they will get them in before that. Just a reminder the packet should contain the statement of candidacy, petitions that are numbered, and the optional loyalty oath. All this must be bound together. Big paperclips or staple something like that. Drue Mielke said he was curious about that when we get to the point of mailing ballots and the post office is in disarray that is a problem. Clerk Kinney noted that our mail is being forwarded to Des Moines and then back to us. Mr. Mielke noted that when it is taking a couple of months to get the mail that is a problem. Clerk Kinney said that when they first started this she wrote a letter to our Senators and Representatives and I received no response. Chairperson Enburg asked if there was any way she could emphasize getting the ballots back in the mail as soon as possible.

Motion to approve: Enyo Dewith Second: Johnnie Woods

voice vote

Motion carried

5. Consider Ordinance 22025-02 an ordinance related to Urban Chickens pending review by Civil Discussion: Mr. Mielke noted that he is glad that this is being addressed Mr. Mielke noted that he attended a Coal Valley Village Board meeting and this was the topic of discussion. Mr. Mielke said he actually forwarded this to the Village President just to let him know what is going on around them. I think it is a good thing to have this in place, I looked it over and I know it is pending Civil but it looks like a good ordinance.

Motion to approve: Drue Mielke Second: Enyo Dewith

voice vote

Motion carried

6. Consider Purchase of Properties related to Floodplain program

Motion to approve: Enyo Dewith Second: Drue Mielke

Discussion: Director of Zoning and Building explained that there are 5 properties that are in the current tax sale that we would like to pull them out and purchase them for the County. There will be no new money as the money for this will come out of my budget we will tear them down and keep them as open space. Drue Mielke asked about the property in Fruitland on 14th Street there is an adjoining property with house that would then just be an open space. Will that effect that open property. What will be the designation once we purchase it? Z&B Director Thorpe asked what he meant by that. Mr. Mielke said it will never be built on again. Mr. Thorpe answered correct. Mr. Mielke asked is there a designation given to that property noting that it is not buildable? Mr. Thorpe said we are not changing the zoning or anything like that, our intention would be to keep it as open space. So, part of our community rating system is the amount of properties that we have that are kept as open space and not buildable. Mr. Mielke said so the designation is open space? Mr. Thorpe said there is no official designation. Mr. Mielke said then no one will buy it. Mr. Thorpe said that will be up to the board if they want to sell it. Mr. Mielke said that is what he was kind of wondering. It does not lock it in as a non-buildable lot for eternity. Mr. Mielke said a future board could decide to sell it if they want. Mr. Thorpe noted that if it were purchased through the grant program it would then be a non-buildable property but we are purchasing this with County money from zoning and building budgeted money. If FEMA gave us Federal money to purchase it then there would be a restriction on it so it could never be built on again. Mr. Mielke asked if these properties are all vacant? Mr. Thorpe said that there are structures on the properties but no one living in them. Of Course, unless there are squatters.

voice vote

Motion carried

7. Consider Court Services Agreement with Kane County for Detention Services Motion to approve: Johnnie Woods Second: Enyo Dewith

Discussion: Court Services Director Derrick Hendrickx noted that Court Services is looking to enter into this agreement with Kane County Detention Services as an alternative and our intention is to continue to take our Juveniles to the Mary Davis Center in Galesburg as our primary detention facility, this agreement will just allow us to have a reliable second option if we were to need it. To be able to do this they are requesting us to enter into this Intergovernmental agreement. The Agreement is for 3 years for $225 per day. For comparison sakes Mary Davis daily rate is $200 per day we have been notified as of December 1st their rate is going up to $250 per day. This will lock us into the rate with Kane County with this 3-year agreement. Enyo Dewith asked what were the ages of the kids that are in Juvenile detention? Mr. Hendrickx noted that the Statute states as young as 12 years old which we very rarely send a 12 year old to detention and we can actually hold them until 21 years old if they are on a Juvenile case but usually when they hit 18 years old they get transferred to County Jail.

voice vote

Motion carried

8. Consider a Proclamation for National Veteran and Military Families’ Month 2025 Motion to approve: Enyo Dewith Second: Johnnie Woods

voice vote

Motion carried

9. Consider Change Order for Evergreen Services related to legal review

Motion to approve: Enyo Dewith Second: Johnnie Woods

Discussion: Drue Mielke asked that he wondered if it was needed and noted that it was already determined that it was needed regarding separation of duties. Mr. Mielke said the $5,000 is additional costs. Chairwoman Enburg noted that in a message from CBC Brunk that Evergreen is having the recommendation reviewed by an Illinois Law firm that is extremely well versed in Illinois County Government and this was discussed with the States Attorney who is fine with the change order. Mr. Grafton noted this is a not to exceed $5,000 but the 93-page document that they have prepared we just wanted legal to look through it to make sure it is set.

voice vote

Motion carried

Rock Island County

Governance, Health & Administration

Carla Enburg, Chair

October 14th 2025, Committee Minutes

10. Review of Pending/Proposed legislation affecting Rock Island County:

Chairwoman Enburg noted that she can add that CBC Brunk is in Springfield advocating for the Moline to Chicago Rail Program funding to make the service a reality. That reality bringing with it an economic impact of $30M annually to our region alone.

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: Enyo Dewith Second: Drue Mielke voice vote

Motion carried

The Governance, Health & Administration meeting adjourned at 10:33am

https://www.rockislandcountyil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/1983?fileID=2091