Carbondale Reporter

Jackson County Legislative and Public Safety Committee met May 16.

Here is the agenda provided by the Committee:

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

Also Present: John S. Rendleman, Orval Rowe, Andrew Erbes, Bart Hagston, Kerri Gale, Derek Misener, Lloyd Nelson, Charles Koehn,

Stacey Ballard, Kay Creese, Gwen LeBeau, Mary Rudasill, Chelsea Trieb, Luna Miller, Erin Steele, Sarah Abeseth, Lindsey Hurli ng,

Chelsea Coetzee, Brittni Wagner, Hannah Rodgers, Dawn Legier, Casey Parker

Approval of Minutes

I. 17-2426 April 11, 2017 Minutes

A motion was made by Mendoza, Jr., seconded by Maxwell, to approve the April 11, 2017 minutes as presented. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

Health Department & Solid Waste

II. 17-2428 Jackson County Health Department

The Health Department continues to closely monitor the state budget process. Hagston stated that it is anyone's guess as to what is happening in Springfield. They are starting to project out their cash flow to October and appear to have adequate cash on hand at least through the summer. They will continue to share updates as they know more. Hagston went on to report that they are starting to get grant applications for FY18 and are submitting them as requested. However, the payments for this year have been very slow and on one of their latest grants they have received no payments. The Comptroller is currently paying reimbursement requests that were submitted 7-8 months ago. The new Public Health Administrator, Sarah Patrick, started on May 15th and will be working with Miriam over the next several weeks until Miriam's last day on June 29th. The committee will get a chance to meet her at the County Board meeting. Finally, Hagston reported that they have published a flyer containing useful business continuity planning resources. The Survive and Thrive Guide is available on the JCHD website under Forms.

III. 17-2429 Solid Waste Enforcement

Mr. Terry completed eight inspections or field visits at open dumping/open burning sites; five were revisits to existing sites and three were new sites. Four of the revisits resulted in closure due to compliance being achieved and approximately 135 cubic yards of waste were removed from the environment; one landfill inspection was completed. Additionally, Mr. Terry will be retiring on July 6th. The Health Department is looking to hire someone around June.

IV. 17-2430 Solid Waste Fund Update

There is no update at this time due to the change over to the new financial software program.

V. 17-2431 Solid Waste Management Plan Update

Gale handed out the narrative for the committee to review and asked if they have any comments to email her. She will bring Attachment A for review at the June meeting. Finally, she reminded the committee about the up coming Household Chemical Collection.

VI. 17-2432 Recycling Program

Emergency Management

VII. 17-2461 Flood Response Update

Misener reported that there was approximately $395,000 in damages to roads in the county from the recent flooding.

Ambulance Service

VIII. 17-2462 Updated Business Associate Agreement with Pro Com Services of Illinois Inc.

A motion was made by Maxwell, seconded by D. Bost, to approve the updated Business Associate Agreement with Pro Com Services of Illinois Inc. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

IX. 17-2433 Ambulance Monthly Claims

Due to the change over to the new financial software program the claims will be presented to the board at the May 23rd meeting.

X. 17-2434 Ambulance Director's Report

a. Accounts Receivable

b. Activity Report

Misener reviewed his presented report, there were no questions.

Legislative

XI. 17-2435 County Raffle License

Rendleman gave a brief history of the ordinance; requests from several organizations came to the board, currently there is no ordinance so raffles are prohibited, draft came from UCCI. He went on to say that the current draft includes only nonprofit organizations and he would like to see the raffle ordinance include for profit organizations that are having a raffle for a charitable purpose. The committee discussed the raffle ordinance and incorporating for profit organizations as well as nonprofit organizations. The consensus of the committee is to look at this again in June.

XII. 17-2436 Animal Control

Larkin began the discussion by outlining what the two main goals of the discussion. One look at the Animal Control Ordinance and make sure it is up to date. Two to look at the day to day operations to see how and where animals are taken. Nelson asked that since everyone just received this information could this discussion be tabled until next month so the Humane Society and everyone else could take time to make comments on suggested revisions. Parker, the president of the Humane Society board of directors, began by giving a brief description of the Humane Society and their open access policy. She stated that they work with over 25 different organizations across several states to try and place animals. However, some animals can not be placed because of a variety of reasons and those do have to be euthanized. She suggested that if the county is looking at reducing the pet population to help reduce the number of animals that need to be euthanized they could consider a Spay and Neuter Ordinance or a Feral Cat Ordinance. The committee asked her to explain what those would entail. Nelson mentioned that the feral cat issue is being discussed at the state level and that he has attended meetings with other animal control stakeholders. Burke outlined her memo where she suggests some changes to the Humane Society policy. Larkin asked if it would be possible to ask nicely if the Humane Society could work with St. Francis. Several of the citizens in attendance with Parker stated that the Humane Society and St. Francis have different philosophies about the care of animals. The two organizations bantered back and forth over what they each do and do not do with regard to the care of animals. Larkin summed up the issues by stating that St. Francis is asking the board to force the Humane Society to work with them. Rendleman asked St. Francis and Burke if they were asking for any of the contracted funds from the Humane Society and they replied that they are not. Then Rendleman asked if they were asking Nelson to change the way he currently does his job and again their response was no. Burke began discussing a positive control ordinance and Larkin stated that they should deal with one issue at a time. A motion was made by Burke and Larkin allowed each board member present to give their input then he called for a roll call vote. The motion passed. 

The committee moved on and began discussing the Animal Control Ordinance with regard to citizen complaints. Nelson explained the policy that was set up by a previous board. The committee discussed the possibility of a Positive Control Ordinance that would provide a policy to cite and fine citizens that do not have positive control of pets when not on their personal property. Burke provided a template from another ordinance that states that an individual is responsible for their pet wherever it roams. Larkin gave an example of a dog being on another persons property and being able to call a deputy to come out and give a citation. He stated that this would allow for at least one of the citizens to get some resolution. Mueller inquired about noise issues. Larkin would like to see language that includes trespassing. it was suggested that the State's Attorney's office should be asked about what they are willing to prosecute. Ballard from the IL Department of Agriculture stated that one issue would be how to provide proof. Nelson suggested changing the current policy to reduce the number of warnings before a citation is issued. He also pointed out that this would be a de facto leash law. Burke stated that she would like to see the complaint form online so citizens can access it themselves. This item will be discussed at a later meeting.

The committee then discussed shelter and water requirements. Burke presented the committee with the current Murphysboro Animal Control policy. She would like to see the county adopt a policy similar to the Murphysboro policy. Ballard and Nelson brought up several issues; humane care vs neglect. Ballard also pointed out that the State of Illinois has other laws that are not included in the Murphysboro policy and that some of the info in the Murphysboro policy is out of date. The request was made to allow Ballard, Koehn, and others in the area to review the policy and make suggestions; the committee agreed. This item will be discussed at a later meeting. 

A motion was made by Burke, seconded by Mueller, to propose an amendment to the contract between Jackson County and the Humane Society to include the practice of reaching out to other agencies and specifically requiring they work local organizations and St. Francis CARE Animal Shelter with animals before euthanasia. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 6 - Burke, Comparato, D. Bost, Maxwell, Mendoza, Jr. and Mueller

No: 1 - Larkin

Citizen Comments

Old Business

Mueller asked about the CAFO ordinance discussed at the April meeting and was informed that the item has been moved to the June meeting to accommodate the Animal Control discussion. Comparato has drafted a revision and the committee coordinator was asked to email it to the committee members.

New Business

Adjourn (6:36 PM)