Carbondale Reporter

Jackson County Legislative and Public Safety Committee met Jan. 23.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Call to Order (5:00 PM)

Members Present: Burke, Comparato, Larkin, Mueller and Nehring

Members Absent: Maxwell and Mendoza, Jr.

Also Present; Andrew Erbes, Steven Bost, Liz Hunter, Derek Misener, Sarah Patrick, Kerri Gale, Christina Diamond, Roy Oellermann,

Matt Whalen, Jesse Sell, Stephen Roberts, Charles D. McCann, Dick Stokovich, Koehn Flynt, Rebecca St. John, Dorie Wilburn, Jessica Terry

Approval of Minutes

I. 18-3079 November 14, 2017 Minutes

A motion was made by Burke, seconded by Nehring, to approve the Novermber 14, 2017 minutes as presented. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

Health Department & Solid Waste

A. Jackson County Health Department

B. Solid Waste Enforcement

C. Solid Waste Fund Update

D. Solid Waste Management Plan Update

E. Recycling Program

A. Patrick spoke to the committee about training that the Health Department provides, data on poverty levels, housing rates and then reviewed the handout that she provided the committee.

B. Ms. Johnson and Kyle Scerena completed 15 inspections or field visits at open dumping/open burning sites; 10 were revisits to existing sites, 2 resulted in closure due to compliance. Approximately 20 cubic yards of waste was removed from the environment. Three citizen complaints were received and 2 landfill inspections were completed.

C. Gale reviewed the solid waste fund handout with the commtitee.

D. This item will be removed until decisions about the plan have been made.

E. Gale reported that she is working on a contract for the FY18 Electronics program; she continues to work with Illinois Counties Solid

Waste Management Association to inform members about the Consumer Electronics Recycling Act (CERA) new electronics law that will take effect in 2019-there is a webinar on January 31, 2018; she participated in an IL Product Stewardship Council conference call whose primary focus is sharps disposal options for residents. Gale reported the following totals for the 2017 Recycling program:

-435,700 pounds of recyclables collected at the 4 drop-off locations in the county.

-620,072 pounds of electronics recycled

-242,620 pounds of recyclables collected at 24 schools enrolled in our education program.

-413 households participated in the spring and fall shred/med day

-313 pounds of medications disposed of at the 2 DEA Drug Take Back Days

Emergency Management

II. 18-3078 Reed Station update-Delay in sewage lagoon removal awaiting FEMA budget approval

This is for informational purposes.

Ambulance Service

A. Ambulance Director's Report

i. Accounts Receivable Cash

ii. Activity Report

Misener reported on the accounts receivable cash and the ambulance activity.

III. 18-3114 2018 Ambulance RFP

Misener spoke to the committee about the proposal for a new ambulance.

A motion was made by Comparato, seconded by Burke, to approve the 2018 Ambulance RFP pending legal approval. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

IV. 18-3080 AFSCME Thank You Letter

The committee thanked the AFSCME members for their letter.

Legislative

V. 18-3081 Animal Control RFP

Larkin began the discussion by explaining that going with an RFP is probably not the best way to make changes to the county Animal Control. The committee went on to discuss the issue of the number of euthanized animals in Jackson County. The consensus of the committee is to add an Animal Control section to the Legislative agenda. Additionally, they would like the Animal Control officer to provide a report each month and to attend the February meeting to answer some questions and discuss the county rabies fees and how those fees are used.

VI. 18-3082 Best Friends Letter

Burke informed the committee that she has received some information from Best Friends Animal Shelter about the services they provide and how they can work with the county. This information will be shared with the Animal Control officer and discussed at the February meeting.

VII. 18-3083 1% School Tax Referendum

The committee asked to leave this on the agenda and ask the email writer to attend the February meeting.

Citizen Comments

Oellermann spoke to the committee about two ambulances being down and that the past practice is to put in new engines and not to replace the ambulances; he and other employees feel like this is a safety issue when the ambulances breakdown. Misener informed everyone that it makes more sense to repair the ambulances especially when they can be used for many more miles.

McCann spoke to the committee about a Verizon cell tower that is going up on the property next to his. He spoke about the health and safety risks that he sees and suggested that the tower be moved. Larkin agreed to contact Verizon to see if anything can be done to accommodate McCann's request.

Old Business

New Business

Executive Session

VIII. 18-3115 Executive Session under 2 (c) 1 to discuss personnel

A motion was made by Nehring, seconded by Burke, to approve entering into Executive Session under 2 (c) 1 to discuss personnel. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 5 - Burke, Comparato, Larkin, Mueller and Nehring

Absent: 2 - Maxwell and Mendoza, Jr.

Adjourn (5:47 PM)

https://www.jacksoncounty-il.gov/Home/Components/MeetingsManager/MeetingMinutes/ShowPrimaryDocument/?minutesID=3578&isPub=True&includeTrash=False