Carbondale Reporter

Jackson County Finance and Administration Committee met Feb. 11.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

Call to Order (5:00 PM)

Members Present: Comparato, D. Bost, Endres, Erbes, Hunter, Peterson and S. Bost

Also Present: Keith Larkin, Laurie Nehring, Dana Dailey, Kenton Schafer, Michelle Tweedy, Sheriff Robert Burns, Mary Beth Varner, Jennifer Lindsey, Jeff Whitbeck, Sarah Patrick, Josh Barringer, Sharon Harris-Johnson, Maureen Berkowitz, Frank Byrd, Ed Ford Nehring asked if there is a way to get the committee packets sooner. Since the information comes in the day of the meeting the committee coordinator is not able to do that. Larkin requested a letter to department heads and elected officials requesting that they get any packet information to the board office sooner.

Approval of Minutes

I. 19-3986 January 15, 2019 and January 31, 2019 minutes

Peterson has some corrections for the January 15th minutes:

-Under Insurance letter C it should say "this" not "is"

-Under Finance B it should be "Barke" not "Burke"

-On page 2 number 4 it should be "an" not "and"

-On page 2 number 4 it should be "shes" not "she's"

-On page 2 paragraph 5 it should say "they require" not "required"

A motion was made by Erbes, seconded by Peterson, to approve the January 15, 2019 minutes with the mentioned corrections and the January 31, 2019 minutes as presented. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

Chair's Report

Hunter informed the committee that she has resigned as Chair of the committee due to work requirements. She went on to say what an honor it has been to serve. Larkin will serve as Chair for now. He began Chairing the meeting from this point.

Insurance

A. Worker's Compensation Update

B. Payment of Health Insurance Claims

C. Health Insurance Update

A. The committee coordinator reported that the end of the year reports have all been filed and posted.

B. Tweedy reviewed the health insurance totals, there are currently about $352,000 in claims. She informed the committee that the county did receive some stop loss reimbursement and asked the committee where they would like her to put the funds in county general or in health insurance, the consensus of the committee is to keep it in health insurance since it will be needed. D. Bost moved and S. Bost seconded to pay the health insurance claims in the amount of $308,895.89, motion carried.

II. 19-3993 Insurance Plan

Larkin began by reviewing all of the meetings that have been had to try and deal with the current financial issues the county is having. He went on to say that the counties third party administrator has recommended the county not cover spouses since it is not required by ACA and it would save the county money. He gave the committee a handout that shows the expected savings to be around $250,000 a year. Then he reviewed the different options for eliminating the coverage: 1. Charge spouses the actual cost. The concern is that it would be more than what some employees make and it is then not a qualifying event so they would not have the option of going to get coverage elsewhere. 2. Stop offering coverage which seems to be the more humane option because then it is a qualifying event and spouses can get coverage on the open market. Additionally, Dave Schermer has offered to assist with finding spouses comparable coverage. There are some collective bargaining concerns and some ACA timing requirements. Larkin then said the county will continue with the Health Insurance Taskforce (HIT) with Endres as Chair and Erbes and S. Bost serving on it. Patrick requested that Tracy Hagston represent the Health Department on the HIT. The HIT will continue to look at other options and nothing is permanent. Larkin would like the committee to recommend to the Board removal of spouse coverage as quick as legally possible within ACA and collective bargaining requirements.

A motion was made to approve recommendation to remove spouse coverage from the county health insurance plan as quick as legally possible within ACA and collective bargaining requirements. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 4 - D. Bost, Endres, Erbes and S. Bost

No: 3 - Comparato, Hunter and Peterson

Finance

A. Payment of County Monthly Claims

B. Payment of Board Member Tra vel Expenses

A. Hunter moved and Comparato seconded to pay the county monthly claims in the amount of $289,511.57, motion carried.

B. Peterson moved and Comparato seconded to pay the board members' travel reimbursement in the amount of $3,730.92, motion carried.

III. 19-3987 Delinquent Tax Resolution 2019-10 Parcel# 15-16-462-042

A motion was made by Endres, seconded by Erbes, to authorize Delinquent Tax Resolution 2019-10 Parcel# 15-16-462-042. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

IV. 19-3988 Petitioning State Government-Not for profit hospitals

S. Bost reported that he spoke with Schimf's office and he is waiting on return calls.

V. 19-3989 Financial Statement Review

a. Bonds Update

b. Tax Anticipation Warrants

Tweedy recommended that this discussion be held until the second Finance meeting of the month, the committee agreed.

VI. 19-3990 County Clerk Office Renovations

Byrd would like some improvements made to his office and is requesting that the board pay for them due to their not being funds in his budget for improvements. Hunter suggested holding off on this until taxes come in. Byrd asked about doing part of it now like the painting and fan. Larkin said to keep it on the agenda for the meeting on the 28th to be further discussed.

VII. 19-3991 IRS Civil Penalties Update

Tweedy began by giving a history of the IRS penalties. She informed the committee that the county's appeal has been denied and that the county property and liability coverage does not cover this. D. Bost asked what the penalty is for, filing taxes late due to some computer conversion issues. Larkin asked if there were still funds in the Rehab & Care fund, Tweedy said yes and she does not anticipate any additional bills coming in. Peterson suggested the county send a letter to elected officials from the Board asking for assistance, Larkin said he was fine with that. Hunter suggested closing the Rehab & Care fund and moving the money to county general contingency line item.

A motion was made by Hunter, seconded by S. Bost, to authorize closing the Rehab & Care fund and moving the money to county general contingency line item. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 6 - Comparato, D. Bost, Endres, Erbes, Hunter and S. Bost

No: 1 - Peterson

A motion was made by D. Bost, seconded by Erbes, to authorize paying the IRS penalties in the amount of $53,479.02 out of contingency with the continuation of the appeal and a letter to elected officials. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

VIII. 19-3992 County Fee Study

Sheriff Burns reported that he can have a county wide fee study completed. He informed the committee that some fees will be going away but that some may be added. He can schedule it for March 1, 2019.

A motion was made by Endres, seconded by Hunter, to authorize the Sheriff to engage a Bellweather, LLC to conduct a county wide fee study. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

Labor

Old Business

New Business

Executive Session

IX. 19-3994 Executive Session 2 (c) 2 of the Illinois Open Meetings Act to discuss labor

A motion was made by Erbes, seconded by Endres, to enter into Executive Session under 2 (c) 2 of the Illinois Open Meetings Act to discuss labor. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 7 - Comparato, D. Bost, Endres, Erbes, Hunter, Peterson and S. Bost

Adjourn

Comparato moved and Hunter seconded to adjourn, motion carried.

https://www.jacksoncounty-il.gov/Home/Components/MeetingsManager/MeetingMinutes/ShowPrimaryDocument/?minutesID=4891&isPub=True&includeTrash=False