Carbondale Reporter

Jackson County Legislative and Public Safety Committee met Wednesday, Feb. 8.

The committee is responsible for reviewing all judicial actions affecting the by-laws of the county, and the general health and safety of the county.

Here are the minutes as provided by Jackson County:

LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 4:30 PM

JACKSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE

Call to Order (4:30 PM)

Members Present: Burke, Comparato, D. Bost, Larkin, Maxwell and Mendoza, Jr.

Members Absent: Mueller

Also Present: John S. Rendleman, Orval Rowe, Andrew Erbes, Derek Misener, Lloyd Nelson, Mark Tincher, Cindy Nelson, Bart

Hagston, Kerri Gale, Miriam Link-Mullison, Kay Creese

Approval of Minutes

I. 17-2176 January 11, 2017 Minutes

A motion was made by D. Bost, seconded by Maxwell, to approve the January 11, 2017 minutes as presented. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

Health Department & Solid Waste

II. 17-2177 Jackson County Health Department

a. Health Department Performance Numbers

Link-Mullison updated the committee on the Health Department's budget; stating that this is the smallest budget they have had in a lot of years. She was asked to list the programs that have been cut due to budget cuts; Family Planning, Tattoo and piercing inspections, genetics program and HIV for parolees. Link-Mullison presented the committee with several handouts (attached to minutes) on fiscal changes, services, staff time and the Health Department annual report from 2015.

III. 17-2178 Solid Waste Enforcement

Gale reported that Mr. Terry completed seven inspections or field visits at open dumping/burning sites; three were revisits to existing sites and four were new sites; Six citizen complaints were received; one landfill inspection was completed and one landfill visit was completed.

IV. 17-2179 Recycling Program

V. 17-2180 Solid Waste Fund Update

Gale presented the committee with two handouts that outline the programs funded with solid waste funds, annual solid waste expenditures chart, solid waste fees and the EPA act that governs solid waste. The committee reviewed the fund update and Gale noted the change from January to February is due to the annual county deposit.

Emergency Management

VI. 17-2181 Change Order for Demolition Contract at Reed Station

Misener showed the committee a series of photos that show the remaining areas that require clean up in the Reed Station Road project. He informed the committee that an additional $4,300 will be need to complete the clean up.

A motion was made by Maxwell, seconded by Compa rato, to approve the change order for the contract with Maier Excavation for the Reed Station Mobile Home Park. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

Ambulance Service

VII. 17-2182 Ambulance Monthly Claims

Misener presented the committee with the Ambulance Monthly claims and noted that the ambulance January payroll is $236,756.83

A motion was made by Maxwell, seconded by Comparato, to approve payment of the

Ambulance Monthly Claims in the amount of $32,648.62. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

VIII. 17-2183 Ambulance Director's Report

a. Accounts Receivable Cash

b. Activity Report

Misener reported that the ambulance department accounts receivable cash is $218,249.28. The ambulance department activities in the last month included 861 ambulance reports and 46 livery van transports.

Legislative

IX. 17-2184 Animal Control in Jackson County

Burke began by stating that she has made some calls around the county to get information on Jackson County Animal Control. She spoke with Lloyd Nelson, Jackson County Animal Control Officer who stated that Burke called him and asked him to attend the meeting to answer questions that the committee has about policies and procedures. Since the cities of Carbondale and Murphysboro have their own policies and procedures L. Nelson requested that the animal control officers from Murphysboro and Carbondale attend the meeting to answer any questions regarding their policies and procedures. L. Nelson also stated that if any board member ever has a question they are welcome to call him or stop by his offi ce in the basement of the courthouse; he is happy to assist in anyway he can. Burke then handed out the animal control information she printed from the Jackson County website. J. S. Rendleman asked questions about coyotes and the difference between a no kill shelter vs one that can euthanize. L. Nelson informed the committee that with regard to coyotes and other wild animals the recommendation is to contact the DNR. Next, L. Nelson stated that the law changed a few years ago so a dog must have been seen to have caused injury or death to a domestic animal in order to be pursued and killed. Animals that are picked up by animal control are taken to the Humane Society, which is the contracted impounding facility for the county, held for the required seven days and if they are not claimed then it is up to the discretion of the Humane Society to decide what will happen to the animals after that; if it is deemed that they will euthanized the procedure is done by a certified veterinarian. Burke asked what the county policy is on a nuisance animal; the committee reviewed the Animal Control policy and procedures in the packet. Burke then asked if the policies were humane and stated that she believes there should be more education of the community on the animal control policies. Burke then stated that she would like to see links on the Jackson County website to St. Francis Animal Shelter and gave out information about the no kill shelter and how it could have a positive impact on the community. Burke then asked Creese from St. Francis to speak to the committee. Creese then stated that St. Francis has issues with the animal control policies and procedures and wanted to express them. She began by stating that sometimes when St. Francis calls animal control about an animal they feel is a nusance or being neglected there is legally nothing that animal control can do about it, she does not agree. Creese then stated that the law has changed in January 2017 to allow no kill shelters to take in animals from animal control offices. Then Creese gave her version of an incident where she did not like the way that Jackson County Animal Control handled a situation with a dog. Creese stated that she believed that a dog was being neglected and each time that the county animal control officer responded she was not satisfied with the response. Creese took it upon herself to find a way to get St. Francis to have custody of the dog so they could care for it in the manner they felt was appropriate. Larkin then asked if L. Nelson could investigate and ticket animal cruelty issues; L. Nelson stated that the IL Animal Control Act, the IL Welfare Act and the IL Humane Care for Animals Act are three acts that the local animal control officers are empowered to enforce. Then L. Nelson reminded the committee that not everyone cares for animals in the same manner but that does not mean that animals are being neglected. He went on to state that the laws states that the requirements for animal care are a sufficient quantity of food, water and shelter and veterinary care as needed. This does not mean that there has to be food and water all the time or that the shelter has to be a dog house like is defined by the city of Carbondale animal control zoning requirements. Larkin stated that there are citizens that are concerned about the county animal control policies and procedures and that the ordinance should be reviewed/revised to give the animal control officer guidelines that are more specific than the state law. The consensus of the committee is to review the ordinance at the March meeting. The committee coordinator was instructed to ask a representative from the State's Attorney's office to attend. Burke stated that she would like the no kill shelters to be included in the places that animals are taken. This lead to L. Nelson, Tichner and C. Nelson all stating various issues with the statement. The Chair recommended that Creese, L. Nelson and any other interested party submit suggested changes to the ordinance to the committee coordinator prior to the next meeting.

X. 17-2185 Ordinance Regulating Recreational Trailer Parks

The committee reviewed the ordinance. Rendleman stated that he has heard from other board members and citizens that the $100 registration fee be changed to $50. Then discussion took place about the name of the ordinance. The request was made to include the word "camping" in the name of the ordinance. Link-Mullison requested that their should also be an indication that the resolution is for the short term. The committee was agreeable and discussed what the wording should be. The consensus of the committee is to change the fee to $50 and to change the name of the ordinance to "Ordinance Regulating Temporary Campgrounds". This item will move to the February County Board meeting for approval. A motion was made by Maxwell, seconded by Comparato, to approve changing the fee in the ordinance from $100.00 to $50.00. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

XI. 17-2186 Discussion of Meeting Day/Time

The consensus of the committee is to move the meetings to the second Tuesday of the month

at 5pm.

Citizen Comments

Old Business

Erbes reminded the committee that the Zoning Subcommittee had recommended that the county look into developing an Economic

Development Plan.

New Business

Adjourn (5:46 PM)

D. Bost moved and Comparato seconded to adjourn, motion carried.