PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNTY BOARD

KNOX COUNTY, ILLINOIS

September 22, 2004

STATE OF ILLINOIS )

                                     )

COUNTY OF KNOX )

            Proceedings of the regular meeting of the Knox County Board, held at the Knox County Courthouse, Galesburg, Illinois on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 at 6:00 p.m.

            The meeting was called to order by Chairman Sally Keener and upon roll call the following members reported present:

                                                District 1         Russell Idle

                                                District 2         Gayle Keiser

                                                District 3         Dale Parsons

                                                District 4         Sally Keener

                                                District 5         Ricardo Sandoval

                                                District 1         Allen Pickrel

                                                District 2         Dana Shallenberger

                                                District 4         Lowell Mannhardt

                                                District 5         Gerald Link

                                                District 1         Linda Roberts

                                                District 2         William Abel

                                                District 3         Janet Occhi

                                                District 4         Wayne Saline

                                                District 5         Stephen Johnson

 

and members absent:          District 3         Paul Hevland

and also present were James Thompson, Sheriff and Scott Erickson, County Clerk.

            Sheriff Thompson delivered the proclamation, Chairman Keener led the members in the pledge to the flag and Rev. John Grimes gave the invocation.

            Chairman Keener asked if there were any changes to the agenda.  There were none.

            Public comments: Kit Wilcox, GREDA, referenced agenda item on further discussion and possible litigation of Maytag.  He would ask consideration to table this item until next meeting to secure more time for negotiating a settlement.  Jeff Klinck also expressed his opinion to table this item.  Andy Franey, Knox County Highway Dept. of twenty years addressed the Board in favor of wage increase.  Ruth Link, non-union employee at Knox County Nursing home addressed wage increase.  She feels they give quality care at the nursing home and deserve 2% increase in pay. 

            Chairman Keener presented the following consent agenda for approval: l) Minutes of the Board Meeting held August 25, 2004 and Special Meeting held September 15, 2004; 2) Claims against Knox County, Illinois, for the period of August 26, 2004 - September 22, 2004, ordering that invoices be accepted and approved and that the County Clerk and County Treasurer be authorized and directed to issue County Warrants in payment of the bills; 3) Claims by members for per diem and mileage for the meeting of September 22, 2004; 4) Financial Reports of Scott G. Erickson, County Clerk, Robin E. Davis, Treasurer, Nancy J. McCune, Recorder, Kelly Cheesman, Circuit Clerk and James K. Thompson, Sheriff for the month of September, 2004, filed with the Clerk; 5) Sales tax and various taxes for the month of June, 2004 in the amounts of $91,391.81 and $21,862.26 and public safety tax in the amount of $75,893.35.  Steve Johnson requested Item 2 be voted on separately.  Motion to approve agenda items l, 3-5 by Jan Occhi seconded by Dale Parsons and vote by roll call as follows: Ayes - Idle, Keiser, Parsons, Keener, Sandoval, Pickrel,  Shallenberger, Mannhardt, Link, Roberts, Abel, Occhi, Saline , Johnson - (14); Noes - (0).  Motion carried.  Motion by Jan Occhi to approve item 2 seconded by Dana Shallenberger and vote by roll call as follows: Ayes - Idle, Keiser, Parsons, Keener, Sandoval, Shallenberger, Mannhardt, Link, Roberts, Abel, Occhi, Saline - (12); Noes - (0); Abstain - Pickrel, Johnson - (2).  Motion carried.

            Chairman Keener referred further consideration and possible authorization of Maytag litigation to Paul Mangieri, State’s Attorney.  Paul Mangieri has had opportunity to meet with all other taxing bodies on this issue and Carl Sandburg College followed Knox County’s lead in authorization.  District #205 authorized their attorney, Tom West, to investigate logistics and possibilities relative to claims on possible law suit.  Galesburg Sanitary District passed resolution they are in support of recovery of District #205 abatement.  Galesburg City Council took no action but that item will appear on next month’s agenda for consideration.  Paul Mangieri asked if the Board wanted to take leadership role and actively pursue this issue or become passive and see what happens.  Motion by William Abel we hold off another thirty days because we do not want to jeopardize any further business opportunities seconded by Allen Pickrel and vote by roll call as follows: Ayes - Idle, Keiser, Parsons, Keener, Sandoval, Pickrel, Mannhardt, Link, Roberts, Abel - (10); Noes - Shallenberger, Occhi, Saline, Johnson - (4).  Motion carried. 

            Wayne Saline made motion to approve job description of Knox County Nursing Home Administrator as presented in the Board Packet seconded by William Abel.  Motion carried.  Applications are due October 1^st and will be reviewed by Nursing Home Committee and Alan Hallberg, County Administrator, and will be narrowed down.  From there William Abel, Alan Hallberg and Sally Keener will do interviews; final interviews will be at the Nursing Home with committee and Alan Hallberg, County Administrator.     

            Alan Hallberg, County Administrator, addressed the Board on “An Ordinance Regulating Cable Television Franchising in Knox County”.  Motion by Jan Occhi to approve seconded by Dale Parsons.  Motion carried.

            Alan Hallberg, County Administrator, presented agreement with Mid Century Co-op, Canton, Illinois which will use telephone lines to unincorporated areas in Knox County.  This is a l5-year agreement with 5% fee to be paid to Knox County on annual basis based on gross revenues.  Motion to approve cable TV agreement with Mid Century by Steve Johnson seconded by Jan Occhi.  Motion carried. 

            Chairman Keener presented resolution to convey property in Cedar Township, Parcel No. 13-33-386-004 to City of Abingdon with bid price of $25.00 to be paid to Recorder of Deeds for recording fees.  Motion to approve by Linda Roberts seconded by Jan Occhi.  Motion carried.

            Gerald Link, Highway/Landfill/Zoning Committee, reported Zoning has collected $4,809 in fees.  There are several violations the committee and Zoning Officer are looking at. 

            Gerald Link, Highway/Landfill/Zoning Committee, reported Highway Dept. has been working on CH-6 with end-of-season projects being wrapped up.  A two-year proposal  was presented for Highway Department employees with 3% wage increase and longevity increase of $.02 per hour after 5 years of continued service and $.03 per hour after 10 years of continued service.  Motion by Gerald Link we enter into salary agreement with union employees seconded by Gayle Keiser.  After discussion, motion by Russel Idle to table for one month to allow committee to renegotiate seconded by Gayle Keiser and vote by roll call as follows: Ayes - Idle, Keiser, Parsons, Roberts - (4); Noes - Keener, Sandoval, Pickrel, Shallenberger, Mannhardt, Link, Abel, Occhi, Saline, Johnson - (10).  Motion failed.  Vote on original motion as follows: Ayes - Keiser, Parsons, Keener, Mannhardt, Link, Roberts, Abel - (7); Noes - Idle, Sandoval, Pickrel, Shallenberger, Occhi, Saline, Johnson - (7).  Motion failed.  Motion by Gerald Link to approve 3% increase for non-union employees at Highway department.  Motion died for lack of second.  Committee will renegotiate.

            Gerald Link, Highway/Landfill/Zoning Committee reported gate receipts were $304,376 for the month.   The major item is increase in tipping fees for Landfill.  The last increase was nine years ago and will go from $23.55 to $24.50 (3.6%) effective January 1, 2005.  Motion to approve increase by Gerald Link seconded by Dale Parsons.  Motion carried.

            Allen Pickrel, Public Safety Committee, reported 36 juveniles are currently at the Mary Davis Home.  Two Crown Victorias and two Impalas were purchased with a savings of $3,500.00.  The Knox County Law Enforcement Center has 86 inmates and 26 Federal prisoners.  The committee is still in negotiations with the union.

            Wayne Saline, Finance/Insurance Committee, reported the budget should be at 75% but revenues are at 69.8% (due to late distributions of tax monies) and expenses are at 81.7%.  Wayne Saline presented the following resolution:

RESOLUTION ENACTING FEE TO SUPPORT KNOX COUNTY TEEN COURT

            WHEREAS, 55 ILCS 5/5/-1101 (e) provides, in pertinent part, that in each county in which a teen court, peer court, peer jury, youth court, or other youth diversion program has been created, a county may adopt a mandatory fee of up to $5.00 to be assessed pursuant to statute; and

            WHEREAS, 55 ILCS 5/5-1101 (e) further provides that assessments collected by the clerk of the circuit court pursuant to statute and ordinance or resolution must be deposited into an account specifically for the operation and administration of a teen court, peer court, peer jury, youth court, or other youth diversion program; and

            WHEREAS, 55 ILCS 5/5-1101 (e), further provides that the clerk of the circuit court shall collect the fees to the teen court, peer court, peer jury, youth court or other youth diviersion program monthly, less 5%, which is to be retained as fee income to the office of the clerk of the circuit court; and

            WHEREAS, 55 ILCS 5/5-1101 (e) further provides that the fees collected are to be paid as follows:

(1) a fee of up to $5.00 paid by the defendant on a judgment of guilty or grant of supervision for violation of the Illinois Vehicle Code or violations of similar provisions contained in county or minicipal ordinances committed in the county;

(2) a fee of up to $5.00 paid by the defendant on a judgment of guilty or grant of supervision under Section 5-9-1 of the Unified Code of Corrections for a felony; for a Class A, Class B, or Class C misdemeanor; for a petty offense and for a business offense; and

            WHEREAS, there presently exists in Knox County a youth diversion program, known as the Knox County Teen Court, whose program and goals the Knox County Board supports;

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ORDAINED, by the County of Knox, that a mandatory fee of $5.00 is hereby established and assessed pursuant to 55 ILCS 5/5-1101 (e); and

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED AND ORDAINED by the County of Knox that assessments collected by the clerk of the circuit court pursuant to statute and this ordinance or resolution shall be deposited into an account specifically for the operation and administration of a teen court, peer court, peer jury, youth court or other youth diversion program; and

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED AND ORDAINED, by the County of Knox that the clerk of the circuit court shall collect the fees to the teen court, peer court, peer jury, youth court, or other youth diversion program monthly, less 5%, which is to be retained as fee income to the office of the clerk of the circuit court; and

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED AND ORDAINED, by the County of Knox that the fees collected are to be paid as follows:

(1) a fee of $5.00 paid by the defendant on a judgment of guilty or grant of supervision for violation of the Illinois Vehicle Code or violations of similar provisions contained in county or minicipal ordinances committed in the county;

(2) a fee of $5.00 paid by the defendant on a judgment of guilty or grant of supervision under Section 5-9-1 of the Unified Code of Corrections for a felony; for a Class A, Class B, or Class C misdemeanor; for a petty offense and for a business offense; and

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED AND ORDAINED, by the County of Knox that the effective date of the provisions of this Resolution shall be January 1, 2005.

Motion by Steve Johnson seconded by Russell Idle a $5.00 fee be added to court costs in support of teen court effective January 1, 2005 and vote by roll call as follows: Ayes - Idle, Keiser, Parsons, Keener, Sandoval, Pickrel, Shallenberger, Mannhardt, Link, Roberts, Abel, Occhi, Saline, Johnson - (14); Noes - (0).  Motion carried.

            Wayne Saline, Finance/Insurance committee, reported on results of bids on county health and life insurance.  The lowest bidder was  Blue Cross/BlueShield who bid premiums at l4% decrease from present rates.  Motion by Wayne Saline seconded by Rick Sandoval we accept bid from BlueCross/BlueShield and vote by roll call as follows: Ayes - Idle, Keiser, Parsons, Keener, Sandoval, Pickrel, Shallenberger, Mannhardt, Link, Roberts, Abel, Occhi, Saline, Johnson - (14); Noes - (0).  Motion carried.

            Jan Occhi, Planning Committee, reported the child care surveys were calculated at 39 not interested and 35 yes.  The results were turned over to the City. 

            William Abel, Social Services Committee made motion to approve 2% wage increase for non-union Nursing Home employees effective October 1^st seconded by Lowell Mannhardt and vote by roll call as follows: Ayes - Idle, Keiser, Parsons, Keener, Mannhardt, Link, Roberts, Abel - (8); Noes - Sandoval, Pickrel, Shallenberger, Occhi, Saline, Johnson - (6).  Motion carried.

            William Abel, Social Services Committee, made motion to purchase new truck from Louis Lakis Ford which includes snow plow at a cost of $24,059.65 seconded by Dale Parsons and vote by roll call as follows: Ayes - Idle, Keiser, Parsons, Keener, Pickrel, Shallenberger, Mannhardt, Link, Abel, Occhi, Saline, Johnson - (12); Noes - (0); Abstain - Sandoval, Roberts - (2).  Motion carried.  This will be paid from Farm Account.   William Abel made motion to approve bid from Johnson Trucking & Blacktopping, Gilson, Illinois to resurface the nursing home parking lot, and includes striping, in the amount of $18,166.62 seconded by Jan Occhi and vote by roll call as follows: Ayes - Idle, Keiser, Parsons, Keener, Sandoval, Pickrel, Shallenberger, Mannhardt, Link, Roberts, Abel, Occhi, Saline, Johnson - (14); Noes - (0).  Motion carried.  This will be paid from referendum account.  Cash on hand as of September 10^th is $512,895.98 and the home owes the referendum account $176,000.  Census is 150 at present. The committee approved agreement with OSF Health Plans.  LZT is working on safety on freight elevator.  The committee approved write-offs of uncollectible debts of $63,298.l8,  $17,793.45 on shared risk pool. 

            Alan Hallberg, County Administrator, presented the following resolution:

RESOLUTION

            WHEREAS, Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-5 establishes the National Incident Management System (NIMS); and

            WHEREAS, the County Board of Knox County believes it is the best interest of Knox County that the National Incident Management System (NIMS) be adopted; and

            WHEREAS, the NIMS establishes a single, comprehensive approach to domestic incident management to ensure that all levels of government across the Nation have the capability to work efficiently and effectively together using a national approach to domestic incident management; and

            WHEREAS, the NIMS provides a consistent nationwide approach for Federal, State and local governments to work together to prepare for and respond to and recover from domestic incidents regardless of the cause, size or complexity; and

            WHEREAS, the NIMS provides for interoperability and compatibility among Federal, State and local capabilities and includes a core set of concepts, principles, terminology and technologies covering the incident command system, unified command, training, management of resources and reporting; and

            WHEREAS, beginning October 1, 2004, all Federal department and agencies shall make adoption of the NIMS a requirement for providing Federal preparedness assistance through grants, contracts or other activities to local governments;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF KNOX COUNTY, ILLINOIS:

SECTION ONE: That Knox County hereby adopts the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as its system of preparing for and responding to disaster incidents.

SECTION TWO: The Chairman of the Knox County Board is hereby authorized to execute this Resolution upon passage.

Motion to approve resolution by Allen Pickrel seconded by Rick Sandoval.  Motion carried.  Alan Hallberg reported a training class will be held October 20^th.  Alan Hallberg presented the following:

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT

This memorandum is a statement of intent and agreement between the City of Galesburg (hereinafter referred to as the City) and the Knox County Board (hereinafter referred to as the County Board) to conduct Emergency Management Agency services within Knox County.

Whereas the Principal Executive Officer, Chairman of the County Board, has appointed the Fire Chief of the City of Galesburg Fire Department, a political subdivision within Knox County, as the ESDA Coordinator for Knox County, Illinois, the terms and conditions of the funding of this accredited Emergency Services and Disaster Agency are as follows:

            1.  The County Board established a budget of $10,000 for operation of the Knox County Emergency Management Agency for County fiscal year 1997-98.

            2.  The fee beginning December 1, 2004 shall be $11,900.  The fee established by this agreement will be increased annually by the Consumer Price Index, Midwest —all items.

            3.  The County Board has agreed to make a lump sum payment of the fee annually in July for the operation of the Emergency Management Agency to the City’s general fund.

            4.  This funding will be used toward the salary of the coordinator and his staff who are paid through the City’s General Fund.

            5.  The Knox County Emergency Management Agency will provide the required quarterly reimbursement documents so reimbursements from the State of Illinois to Knox County will occur on a quarterly basis following the annual payment.

            6.  This agreement may be cancelled at any time by either the County Board or the City.  Any action to cancel this agreement by either party shall be communicated to the appropriate officials of the other party as the case may be.  The effective date of such cancellation shall be at least thirty (30) days from the date that such notice of cancellation is delivered to the other party.