Carbondale Reporter

Jackson County Legislative and Public Safety Committee met Sept. 11.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Call to Order (5:00 PM)

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

Members Absent: Mendoza, Jr.

Also Present: Kenton Schafer, Sarah Patrick, Bart Hagston, Kerri Gale, Lisa Jacquot, Jonathan Prudencio

Approval of Minutes

I. 18-3655 August 14, 2018

A motion was made by Nehring, seconded by Comparato, to approve the August 14, 2018 minutes as presented. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

Animal Control

Health Department & Solid Waste

A. Jackson County Health Department

B. Solid Waste Enforcement

C. Solid Waste Fund Update

D. Recycling Program

A. Hagston reported that they are preparing to amend the Jackson County Food Code due to the changes from the State of Illinois. The Health Department is in the process of letting the restaurants know of the changes. The major change is that the new inspection form does not allow for scores. He went on to say that there is a new web page with the food code updates and they will be holding three informational sessions for restaurant managers in November. Maxwell inquired about why the scoring has been removed. Hagston reported that the old FDA code allowed the state some flexibility but the 2017 update no longer allows for scores and the State of Illinois has elected to go with the new forms. The new forms will require that inspections take longer so there will be fewer inspections of lower risk establishments like convenience stores.

Patrick reported that flu season is starting and the Health Department is setting up it's vaccination schedule, the plan is to try to get more people vaccinated at one time. The Health Department is rolling out hepatitis A tests for high risk populations. This is helping to create partnerships and get support from the State to do clinics. Back-to-school vaccinations went well. They are still waiting on the funding apps for the tobacco grant but people are still interested.

B. Gale reported that nine inspections or field visits were conducted at open dumping/open burning sites; eight were revisits; two revisits resulted in closure due to compliance being achieved; approximately 250 cubic yards of waste was removed from the environment; there were three citizen complaints and one landfill inspection.

C. Gale reviewed the solid waste fund update presented.

D. Gale reported that the next Shred/Med Disposal Day is set for October 27th from 8am to noon at the Jackson County Health Department's front building parking lot, flu shots will also be provided. She went on to say that the school recycling education packet registration went out a couple of weeks ago and they have eight of the 22 schools registered. She also provided information from the questions the board asked at the August meeting. She provided recycling program stats from 2013 to present (click here). Gale reported that curbside pick up is offered at single family households and four plex housing units within all municipalities. She is going to be doing a survey with the Jackson County Haulers later this fall to determine if they a re interested in providing service in the unincorporated areas. She went on to report that she has contacted two other counties that have commercial recycling ordinances and she is reviewing them to see if they would work for Jackson County.

Emergency Management

Ambulance Service

A. Payment of Ambulance Monthly Claims

B. Ambulance Director's Report

i. Accounts Receivable Cash

ii. Activity Report

A. Mueller moved and Maxwell seconded to pay the Ambulance monthly claims in the amount of $29,137.17, motion carried.

B. There is $276,584.85 in accounts receivable cash. There were 857 reports for 823 transports and 38 livery transports.

Schafer reported that several Ambulance employees participated with the Carbondale Community High School (CCHS) First Responder/Military Picture day. This is an opportunity for the athletes to interact with police, fire, EMS and military personnel in a relaxed setting. He went on to say that the Ambulance Department will be providing first aid service and staff at the Apple Festival including staff facilitating the grand parade. This weekend will be busy for the Ambulance staff as they have also been asked to participate in the CCHS First Responder Appreciation Game on Friday September 14 and the SIU Hometown Heros appreciation game on Saturday September 15. Schafer concluded by saying that he is looking into starting an Ambulance Facebook page. The committee discussed what this would look like and whether the county has a social media policy that the Ambulance department should consider

II. 18-3656 Supplemental Appropriation

Larkin began by saying he spoke with Schafer and wasn't going to discuss this tonight due to the financial issues of the county but this is necessary equipment. He spoke to Rendleman and Hunter and they believe that the funding is available. Larkin asked Schafer if the State's Attorney's Office reported on whether it was necessary to go out for bid, they reported that it is not necessary because of the sole source letter. Schafer reported that Ferno would require getting all new cots. Larkin reviewed the total cost and what it will be purchasing, the total cost is $462,726.04 to be taken from the balance of the Ambulance fund to purchase 10 heart monitors, 4 power loading cots, 5 stair chairs, 9 quick release mounts and a full maintenance contract. Schafer was asked to review the pros and cons of each of the companies. He reported that he has done that but he did not know it would be discussed this evening so he did not bring the handouts. He reviewed a few of them that he remembered: with Physio there is the discounts offered, the familiarity of the staff of working with the equipment so no training costs involved. Schafer also pointed out the possible savings in work comp costs if the power cots and stair chairs were purchased. Nehring asked to see that data and was informed that it has been put together but is not in the packet because it wasn't known the topic would be discussed. Nehring asked about other priorities for the Ambulance Department like a new building. Larkin stated that he believes that is under the purview of the Public Building Commission and they are not considering it at this time. Mueller said she thought the Ambulance Department needed more storage. Schafer reported that since getting the shed for equipment and moving the EMS trailer there is more room. Also, at one time the Ambulance Department was looking at having their own oxygen filler which would have required their own building but now they do not have to be in a separate building and they cost significantly less than they have in the past. Comparato asked if it has to be done now especially given the cash flow issues the county is facing. Mueller stated that the heart monitors are needed now or else the Ambulances cannot run. Larkin reminded everyone that the money will come in and suggested not letting the short term issue affect long term decisions. He concluded by stating that the cash flow is doable and the board has to decide it the equipment is valuable. The committee asked Schafer to provide the pros/cons and the work comp numbers at the board meeting.

A motion was made by Mueller, seconded by Maxwell, to authorize a supplemental Appropriation for the Ambulance Department equipment purchase in the amount of $462,726.04 to be taken from the balance of the Ambul ance fund to purchase 10 heart monitors, 4 power loading cots, 5 stair chairs, 9 quick release mounts and a full maintenance contract. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 6 - Burke, Comparato, Larkin, Maxwell, Mueller and Nehring

Absent: 1 - Mendoza, Jr.

Legislative

III. 18-3657 Elkville Clean-up Request

Nehring reminded the committee that last month she spoke about the bill from Elkville from the clean up they did in the unincorporated area of the county after the tornado. Schafer explained how the situation happened. Comparato commented that they knew they needed to contact Emergency Management before they attempted any clean up and they chose to do it anyway. Larkin agreed that this should not have happened the way it did, but it did. He went on to point out that it did benefit the people of the unincorporated area and the expense is something the board would have paid through EMA anyway. Larkin requested that the Emergency Management Director draft a memo to go out to all the townships and other county leaders reminding them that in an emergency or disaster all purchases should go through EMA. Comparato stated that this is a lesson they should learn by having to pay the bill. Mueller asked if they have exhausted all of their resources. Nehring commented that the citizens did the work in the unincorporated area of the county and the county should be responsible for the bill. A motion was made by Nehring, seconded by Mueller, to authorize payment for the clean up outside of Elkville out of the Solid Waste fund in the amount of $3,102.92. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

Citizen Comments

Old Business

New Business

Larkin asked that the Executive Committee consider a social media policy for the county.

Executive Session

Adjourn (5:52 PM)

Compara to moved and Mueller seconded to adjourn, motion carried.

http://www.jacksoncounty-il.gov/Home/Components/MeetingsManager/MeetingMinutes/ShowPrimaryDocument/?minutesID=4762&isPub=True&includeTrash=False