Carbondale Reporter

Jackson County Finance and Administration Committee met April 8.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

Call to Order (5:02 PM)

Members Present: D. Bost, Hunter, Peterson and S. Bost

Members Absent: Comparato, Endres and Erbes

Also Present: Robert Burns, Christy Solverson, Cindy Svanda, Jeff Whitbeck, Mary Beth Varner, Jennifer Lindsey, Kenton Schafer, Bart Hagston, Allison Mileur, Maurice McCann, Josh Barringer, Melissa Leffner, Michelle Tweedy, Bob Vail, Kevin Wills

Approval of Minutes

I. 19-4094 March 11, 2019 Minutes

A motion was made by Peterson, seconded by S. Bost, to approve the March 11, 2019 minutes as presented. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

Chair's Report

Insurance

A. Worker's Compensation Update

B. Payment of Health Insurance Claims

C. Health Insurance Taskforce

A. The coordinator provided a memo on the recent training she attended.

B. Tweedy gave a brief overview of the funds available and the claims that need paid. She also reminded the committee that she sees several big claims coming, possibly this summer. S. Bost moved and D. Bost seconded to pay the Health Insurance claims in the amount of $226,807.08, motion carried.

C. This item was addressed first. Mileur reviewed her written opinion. Hunter asked if this meant that the board was required to go out for bid. Mileur replied that it is her recommendation but as you can see from her written opinion there are competing opinions. She went on to say that she has spoken with the County liablity insurer about this issue and they agree. Mileur pointed out that there are some exceptions to the rule, one that says bidding is not required if the county is joining a statewide pool like Hope Trust. Hunter then asked if since HIT is an advisory board they had the power to go out for bid or if the full board has to vote to go out for bid. Miluer said it is her advise that the board vote to be safe but it is not required. The consensus of the committee is that it would be prudent for the board to vote on the bidding before the HIT just did it. Miluer then suggested that the Board hire a professional to draft the RFP for the county since neither she nor the coordinator have experience doing this. Tweedy reminded the committee that there are several samples out there that could be used and that MWM has offered to assist with the entire process from RFP to reviewing the bids at a cost of around $15,000. The committee inquired why it couldn't be done in house with staff and the State's Attorney's Office. Mileur pointed out that the board will need to decide if they are doing an RFP for a consultant, a broker, which insurance plan, etc. The committee asked if this would include Hope Trust and CIRMA plans, Mileur pointed out that they are the exception to bidding. The committee moved this item to the full board meeting next week for discussion.

A. Payment of County Monthly Claims

B. Payment of Board Member Travel Expenses

A. D. Bost moved and S. Bost seconded to pay the county monthly claims in the amount of $297,834.59, motion carried.

B. D. Bost moved and S. Bost seconded to pay the board members travel reimbursement in the amoun t of $3,739.88, motion carried

II. 19-4095 Supplemental funding for the Public Defender office Solverson reminded the committee that due to the impending retirement of Peggy Degan from the Public Defenders office there will be a need to find a replacement by August 2019. Last month she spoke about the need for additional funding, at this time the amount of additional funding is estimated to be around $12,000, and that request will come at a later date. Solverson reiterated that although the numbers show that the number of traffic and DUI cases have decreased the complexity of felony, misdemeanors, and juvenile cases has increased. Additionally, due to the way that cases have been recorded the numbers are a bit skewed. This is being corrected by separating each defendant into their own case number. With the new full time Public Defender there will be a cost increase of about $24,000 next fiscal year. Solverson did point out that the amount spent on outside counsel will be about $115,000 in 2019 and with a full time Public Defender this number is expected to decrease. She did clarify that the amount for the contracted outside attorney's will remain. The committee thanked Solverson for keeping them informed.

III. 19-4096 County Fee Study The committee looked through all the fee studies. Schafer explained that his study was done by his office looking into comparisons and projecting increases. He reminded the committee that the medicare and medicaid payments will not be increased only thos e people with private insurance. The Ambulance Department hasn't raised any fees since 2016 even though the costs have increased. Schafer is also recommended adding $25 to the event coverage fee. He went on to explain that currently there is no fee for a medical assist without transport and he would like to have a base fee of $100 plus the cost of supplies. This fee would not be billable to insurance. Svanda then explained that due to statutory requirements the Circuit Clerk fees will actually go down in the future. The fee study suggests some increases but the statutory requirements go into effect in the summer. Svanda estimates a minimum of 30% reduction upto a possible 40% reduction in funding from fees. This is due to the fact that some fees are going away and the fact that indigent peoples can have the fees waived. This will result in a major reduction and will affect the funding that the Circuit Clerks office gives to the County. Hunter stated that the fee study results will be addressed at the May finance meeting. The committee asked that all offices have their recommendations at the May finance meeting.

IV. 19-4108 Bernardi Securities Vail and Wills from Bernardi Securities gave a handout to the committee. They began by explaining who they are and what Bernardi Securities does for the county, they are the firm that handled the bonds for the county. The bonds are callable in 2020. Vail and Wills went over the current interest rates, an overview of the debt on the two bonds, numbers for refinancing and for paying the bonds off. Tweedy explained that currently the County is on track to pay the bonds off in 2020. Peterson asked how the Public Building Commission could pay for a new building, Vail and Wills gave a few options. Hunter thanked them for their time.

V. 19-4097 County Clerk Office Renovations

Nothing at this time.

VI. 19-4098 FY18 County Wide Audit Update

Tweedy updated the committee that the audit is moving along fine and should be ready for approval at the May 21st board meeting.

VII. 19-4099 Petitioning State Government-Not for Profit Hospitals

S. Bost gave an update on the work he has been doing to get information. He is reaching out to other taxing bodies to get their assistance and input. The committee thanked him for his work on finding out what is going on with this issue.

Old Business

Hunter stated that it is time to start thinking about how to pay for the early retirement. Tweedy said it is a bit early that decision does not need to be made yet. She will look into the issue and have the information at the next meeting.

New Business

Executive Session

VIII. 19-4100 Executive Session 2 (c) 2 of the Illinois Open Meetings Act to discuss collective

Adjourn

S. Bost moved and D. Bost seconded to adjourn, motion carried.

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