Carbondale Reporter

Jackson County Legislative and Public Safety Committee met Feb. 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Call to Order (5:00 PM)

Members Present: Basden II, Calandro, Comparato, Erbes and Scott

Members Absent: Morris and Snyder

Also present: Kerri Gale, Bart Hagston, Jennifer Lindsey, Kenton Schafer, Ben Killman, John Rendleman, Orval Rowe

Approval of Minutes

I. 22-6701 Approval of December 14, 2021 Minutes

A motion was made by Comparato, seconded by Scott, to approve the December 14, 2021 minutes as presented. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 5 - Basden II, Calandro, Comparato, Erbes and Scott

Absent: 2 - Morris and Snyder

Animal Control

II. 22-6702 Animal Control Monthly Update

The County Administrator updated the committee on the following items the Animal Control Officer has been working on:

∙ 2022 Rabies Tags distributed

∙ 2021 unused Rabies Tags being collected/Invoices being prepared

∙ First Intergovernmental Agreement with Village of Vergennes

III. 22-6703 Animal Control Citations

The County Administrator and the Animal Control Officer explained to the committee the need for issuing citations rather than using the impoundment option. They explained that while impoundments are effective in certain cases, there are instances where a citation would be more effective and would have a better impact on the pet and the owner. The committee discussed the option. The consensus of the committee was to allow the Animal Control Officer to move forward with issuing citations when needed beginning March 1st.

Health Department & Solid Waste

IV. 22-6704 Jackson County Health Department

Hagston reported the following:

January was a record month with around 5,300 new Covid cases in Jackson County. That’s about 4X the number in our previous record month of August 2021, and about one-third of the County's total Covid cases to date. For the month Jackson County averaged 171 new cases per day. Cases have been declining the last three weeks, with a daily average of 43 new cases/day last week. The changes in contact tracing initiated at the State level have meant only slightly less work for the team. JCHD is still the main contact tracing entity for cases at congregate care facilities, and most of them have had large outbreaks this past month. JCHD still answers countless phone calls, provides guidance and work with schools, institutions and other employers as they deal with exposures and outbreaks. Local Covid hospitalizations are down over the past two weeks. Eleven Covid-related deaths were reported over the past month.

As previously reported, home testing results are not reported to public health. They make up an increasing number of the actual positive cases within the community, as their availability increases. The Federal government has made a limited quantity for free home tests available at www.covidtests.gov, in addition to requiring health insurance plans to cover the cost of purchased tests. Also, a program between IDPH and the Rockefeller Institute has made one free test kit available to all residents with 62966 zip codes. IDPH utilized data from the CDC’s Social Vulnerability index and picked residents in 57 zip codes in 14 counties to be initially eligible to order a kit inc. 5 tests. That project plans to expand over time, based upon available funding. These tests can be ordered at www.AccessCovidTests.org.

Vaccinations have slowed considerably since the holidays. JCHD continues to administer vaccines, including booster doses, Monday-Friday at the Health Dept. by appointment. 54.9% of Jackson County residents are fully vaccinated, and 26.5% of residents have received a booster dose (CDC vaccination data using 2020 Census population). Jackson County is in the top one quarter of Illinois counties as far as having children vaccinated (5-11 year olds 18.1% and 12-17 year olds 42.6%). In other vaccination news, Pfizer this week delayed presenting their case to FDA for approval of a 3-dose primary vaccination series to kids age 6 months-4 years. JCHD expects that approval won’t occur until April.

JCHD greatly appreciates the affirmation of ARPA funding allotted to the health department by the County Board. JCHD's plan is to continue to employ a dedicated Covid team through the end of this year, which will help answer all the calls, provide updated guidance, and be able to respond as Covid cases ebb and flow.

V. 22-6705 Solid Waste Enforcement

Ms. Gale reported that JCHD is currently advertising for a Solid Waste Inspector and that IEPA has stated that Marion regional office inspectors will assist in landfill inspections until JCHD is able to fill a full-time inspector position. She also reported 2 open dumping inspections were conducted, 0 revisits to existing sites, 0 visits to new sites, 0 revisits to sites resulted in closure due to compliance, 3 citizen complaints were received, and 0 routine landfill inspections were completed.

VI. 22-6706 Solid Waste Fund Update

No update was given this month.

VII. 22-6707 Recycling Program

Ms. Gale reported the following:

Activities Completed for General Recycling Programming - 12/9/21 - 2/15/22:

∙ Completed 2022 Q1 newsletter – see attached.

∙ Completed 2022 Green Guide – see attached.

∙ Confirmed date for Spring Shred/Med Day event April 23 – see attached flyer.

∙ Confirmed date for IEPA sponsored Household Hazardous Waste Collection June 4 – see attached flyer.

∙ Licensed new solid waste hauler - Rapid Roll Off (Long Haul Leasing LLC).

∙ Attended Illinois Recycling Assoc. webinar on CERA January 11 & 18.

∙ Assisted with JCHD COVID-19/Immunization clinic scheduling system.

Activities Completed for K-12 Recycling Education – 9/1/21 – 2/1/21

∙ To date the recycling educator has had 784 student contacts. This number is smaller due to COVID and being able to present in the classroom.

∙ Presentations have been completed at Parrish Elementary and Giant City School Unity Point school is on the schedule for presentations.

∙ City of Carbondale Refuse and Recycling has been scheduled to visit schools in conjunction with JCHD educator’s presentation.

∙ A new online survey has been developed to gain feedback from schools on current and new programming.

Emergency Management

Mr. Rowe reported the following:

∙ Continue to work with Greater Egypt on collecting Hazard Mitigation Strategics Worksheets from County Stakeholders for the next planning meeting on February 22 @10:00 on Zoom.

∙ Continue to order and deliver County Stakeholders with PPE supplies to combat the spread of COVID.

∙ Assisted in teaching two sets of ICS-400 classes in January and February.

∙ Completed Review of the County's IL-CATT Document and Completed TEP Worksheets Due in January.

∙ Attended And Participated in The Quarterly IEMA Region 11 And SPARC Meetings in Marion.

∙ Began To Roll Out a New County-Wide Mass Notification System – CodeRED. Registration Link on the County Website.

∙ Completed the IS-247 IPAWS FEMA Online Training Class.

∙ Continuing To Complete All Required Documents and Meetings to Successfully Accomplish Our Full-Scale Exercise on April 12.

∙ Attended the Coordination Response Exercise (CORE) Pipeline Training Class in Marion.

∙ Scheduled A NWS Basic Storm Spotter Class for February 23 at the Murphysboro High School Auditorium.

∙ Completed and Sent IEMA Exercise Approval Request Form for Full Scale Exercise.

∙ Continued Updating County Stakeholders with Winter Weather Information from the latest storm: 5” of Snow and 1.5” of Sleet/Ice.

∙ Attended and Participated in the SPARC Multi-Year Regional Training and Exercise Planning Workshop at JALC.

∙ Conducted Situational Awareness Response to the Plane Crash/Power Outage this past weekend in the County.

Ambulance Service

VIII. 22-6708 Director's Report

Schafer communicated the following:

Monthly Claims: deferred to full board for approval-BS & A issue

Accounts Receivable Cash: $407,975.90

Activity Report: 943 patient care reports for 919 incidents

Other Information:

Our EMT course finished with a 100% pass rate. Much appreciation and credit to the instructors for a job well done.

IX. 22-6795 ZOLL EMS Charts Program

Schafer noted that the ambulance department recommended the Board approve a 3-year contract with Zoll EMS Charts. The employees and command staff have had the opportunity to view this patient care reporting program, all agree this program will fit the needs for patient care reporting. This program will work with the Zoll billing program and will bring further efficiency to the departments documentation and billing process. It is recommended to pay the total fees for the initial term which would qualify the department for a substantial discount and fixed costs for 3 years.

A motion was made by Erbes, seconded by Comparato, to approve the ZOLL EMS Charts Program. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 5 - Basden II, Calandro, Comparato, Erbes and Scott

Absent: 2 - Morris and Snyder

X. 22-6794 Disposal of Ambulance-2009 Chevrolet Express 4500

Schafer noted that the ambulance department needed Board approval to dispose of the ambulance listed as an agenda action item. This ambulance was listed as the ambulance which would be disposed of in the AFG grant application for the bariatric ambulance. The fleet manager has determined the transmission must be replaced. The department does not want to invest the money in a vehicle which must be disposed of to comply with the grant. The department has contacted the grant management specialist, disposing of the intended vehicle now does not affect the grant.

A motion was made by Comparato, seconded by Basden II, to approve disposal of Ambulance 2009 Chevrolet Express 4500. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 5 - Basden II, Calandro, Comparato, Erbes and Scott

Absent: 2 - Morris and Snyder

Legislative

Citizen Comments

Old Business

Basden questioned whether the committee should write a letter to the State's Attorney Office requesting their opinion on the Board paying back solid waste funds from previous years. It was the consensus of the committee to have the County Administrator draft the letter.

New Business

Executive Session

Adjourn (5:36 PM)

Basden moved and Comparato seconded to adjourn, motion carried.