Carbondale Reporter

Jackson County Executive Committee met April 4. 

Here is the minutes as provided by the committee:

Call to Order (5:00 pm)

Members Present:  Endres, Erbes, Hunter, J.S. Rendleman, Nehring and Peterson

Members Absent:   Larkin

Also Present: Tamiko Mueller, Josh Barringer, Michelle Tweedy, Vickie Dagner, Kenton Schafer, Stephen Roberts, Roy Oellermann

Approval of Minutes

I.    18-3253    March 1, 2018 Minutes

                        Peterson pointed out a spelling mistake in item 18-3184.

                        A motion was made by Erbes, seconded by Peterson, to approve the March 1, 2018 minutes with the spelling correction. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

Chairman's Remarks

Internal Office Matters

II.   18-3254    May Calendar Adjustments

                        The committee discussed making changes to the May County Board calendar to accommodate the committee meetings. The consensus of the committee is to move the May County Board meeting to May 22nd at 6pm. Endres indicated that she will be unable to attend due to a previous engagement. The committee coordinator was asked to send notice to the media of the meeting change.

III.   18-3255    Compensatory Time Policy

                         This item will remain on the agenda for the May meeting.

IV.   18-3256     Employee Evaluations

                          Hunter informed the committee that all the employees have completed self-evaluations and that she has met with Endres to do prep work for the evaluations. The next step is for Rendleman, Hunter and Endres to schedule a meeting with executive session to discuss the evaluations. The committee coordinator will contact each of them to work out a date and time of the meeting.

Computing Services

V.   18-3257    Ipads

                        Barringer asked the committee if the board wants to keep using the iPads. The consensus is that the board members like the iPads when they work and would like to continue working with them. Several committee members indicated that they would like to know how to better use them and Barringer suggested they contact the committee coordinator to schedule a time to come in for training. This announcement will be made at the full Board meeting on the 17th.

                        Barringer presented the committee with a draft memo he would like to send to each department in the county. The memo outlines new guidelines for asking for IT help. It provides a website where employees can create an IT help desk ticket that will be sent to the IT department. This will be helpful for a few reasons: it creates a paper trail for requests, it allows IT to better prioritize work and it will allow IT to provide status updates to users. The consensus of the committee is that this is a good thing and that he should move forward. Barringer also informed the committee that he will be providing a monthly IT memo to provide department heads with communication about what work is being done by the IT department.

Appointments

VI.   18-3258    Interim Ambulance Service Director

                         There was no appointment made at this time. The interim position is posted on the Jackson County website, resumes are still being accepted. The committee discussed the need for a job description for the Ambulance Administrator position.

VII.   18-3259    Open Appointments in April 2018 {16}

                          A. Buncombe Water District (2)*

                          B. ETSB 911 (2)*

                          C. Jackson County Housing Authority (2)*

                          D. Kinkaid-Reed's Creek Conservancy District (1)*

                          E. Lakeside Water District (2)

                          F. Murphysboro-Pomona-Somerset Fire Protection District (1)*

                          G. Murdale Water District (2)*

                          H. Oraville Water District (2)*

                           I. Public Building Commission (1)

                           J. South Highway Water District (1)*

                           The committee reviewed the applications for various boards. Appointments will be made at the April 17th board meeting.

Old Business

VIII.  18-3260    Resolution to include 125 Plan as IMRF earnings

                           The consensus of the committee is to remove this item at this time.

New Business

Mueller reminded the committee that nominations are being accepted for the Alstat award.

Peterson informed the committee that she received a noise complaint from a citizen. Mr. Rhymer's neighbors have cars with loud mufflers and it is disturbing to him. He would like the county to do something. The consensus of the committee is to send this to the Legislative & Public Safety Committee to discuss whether the county would like to institute a noise ordinance. The committee also discussed the citizen compliant from the March County Board meeting and the possibility of working with the Health Department to increase fines and/or create a Keep Jackson County Beautiful campaign.

Peterson spoke to the committee about an article in the Southern Illinoisan on gun control. The article lists several House and Senate Bills that are being considered. Peterson suggested the board consider resolutions in support of the bills. This item was referred to the Legislative & Public Safety Committee for consideration at the April meeting. Rendleman suggested having the House and Senate Bills available at the meeting for review.

IX.   18-3261    Electronic Participation at Meetings

                         Mueller began by explaining that she originally brought this up because she had some family health issues and could not be in attendance at all the meetings she wanted. She believes it would be a good idea for the county to consider electronic participation at meetings as a move toward the future and to accommodate any board member who has an issue arise. The committee discussed the idea and the consensus is to see if the policy presented can be revised to allow for board members to listen to meetings but not participate or vote. The committee coordinator was asked to contact legal to see if the policy can be revised. Barringer was asked what the costs associated with equipment needed to make this possible. He will provide information at the May meeting on costs.

X.    18-3262    Hotel Tax Allocation

                         Hunter began the discussion by giving the committee some background on why this issue is being addressed. There was a request for marketing funds from the 1% of the Hotel tax that the county keeps for administrative costs and there is no money left in the fund at this time. Tweedy was asked to estimate how much is in the total fund each year. She estimated about $20,000. Rendleman pointed out the county does not have to allocate that money to any one but right now the county gives 2% to Murphysboro Tourism Bureau and 2% to Southernmost Illinois Tourism Bureau for marketing and tourism efforts in Jackson County. The final 1% is reserved for the previously mentioned administrative costs. In recent years the 1% has been given to other organizations for specific events like wine trail advertising and the upcoming sesquicentennial. Hunter stated that she brought this up so the committee could look at the process and see if it is still working. Peterson gave some background on how hard it was to come to an agreement in the past. Erbes commented that if it is working as it is then perhaps it should be left alone. Mueller mentioned finding a way to inform citizens of how and what the hotel tax is spent on.

XI.   18-3263    IL Bicentennial-IL Dept. of Human Rights

                         Erbes began by informing the committee that he and Peterson found some information in the County Council magazine on the IL Bicentenni al support of the IL Human Rights activities. It encourages other counties to join in and even hold their own events if they want. Erbes was asking if the committee supported Jackson County joining, the consensus of the committee is to move forward.

Executive Session

Adjourn (6:02 pm)

Erbes moved and Hunter seconded to adjourn, motion carried.

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