Jackson County Board met June 18.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
Invocation
Given by S. Bost
Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
Members Present: Calandro, Comparato, D. Bost, Erbes, Hunter, Larkin, Mendoza Jr., Nehring, Peterson, S. Bost and Snyder
Members Absent: Endres, J. S. Rendleman and Mueller
Recognition of Visitors
Citizen Comments
Communications
Agency Reports
Erbes reported that UCCI-United Counties Council of Illinois is planning a legislative trip to Washington, DC sometime in September or October. The time and date will be announced at the annual conference being held in July 2019.
Peterson reported that Greater Egypt did get their budget passed for the year and in other news the staff has been working with Kinkaid Reed's Creek Conservancy District and they are looking at updating their lake recreation master plan which has not been done since 1974. They are also working on possible USDA grants for rural areas affected by flooding.
Erbes reported that SIMPO-Southern Illinois Metropolitan Planning Organization met last week and approved several road projects on North Giant City Road and the frontage road north of Highway 13 near the Carbondale shopping center.
Chairman Report
I. 19-4215 Endres Resignation
A motion was made by Erbes, seconded by Calandro, to accept the resignation of Cheryl Endres. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
II. 19-4216 Erbes Acting Chair of Legislative & Public Safety Committee
A motion was made by S. Bost, seconded by D. Bost, to appoint Andrew Erbes as acting chair of the Legislative & Public Safety Committee. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
III. 19-4217 July Executive Committee meeting moved to July 11, 2019 The Chairman reported that the County has been in the appeal process with the Grand Tower Energy Center and Power Plant over property tax liability from 2014 through 2018. The judgment was against the County for the year 2014 and 2015 equaling a liability that they will have to pay in an amount of roughly $900,011.00 Currently the County has 30 days to appeal which they are looking at their options. A judgement has not been reached on the 2016, 2017 and 2018 taxes but some liability with the County is anticipated.
Approval of Consent Agenda
A motion was made by Erbes, seconded by Hunter, to approve the amended Consent Agenda. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
IV. 19-4218 May 21, 2019 Minutes
V. 19-4219 June 10, 2019 Special Meeting Minutes
VI. 19-4221 Payment of Board Member's Travel Reimbursement in the amount of $3,022.58
VII. 19-4222 Approval of the selection of the phase in IMRF contribution rate for 2020
VIII. 19-4223 Ordinance 2019-03 Authorizing the Jackson County Sheriff's Office to Increase Fees for Bond and Institute New Fees for Court Escorts, Inmate Sick Calls, and Medical/Dental Escorts
IX. 19-4224 Payment of Ambulance Service Monthly Claims in the amount of $37,946.26
X. 19-4225 Authorization to increase the Ambulance Service fees as recommended
XI. 19-4226 Payment of Highway Monthly Claims in the amount of $162,883.03
XII. 19-4227 Ordinance 2019-04 for the Establishment of an Altered Speed Zone-Jones Road-DeSoto Township
XIII. 19-4228 Ordinance 2019-05 for the Establishment of an Altered Speed Zone-Oak Street-DeSoto Township
XIV. 19-4220 Payment of County Monthly Claims in the amount of $262,949.29
A motion was made by S. Bost, seconded by Peterson, to approve the payment of claims. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
Standing Committee Reports
The new employees to the County Board Office, Braden Drake and Melanie Aldridge, were introduced to the Board.
Executive Committee
XV. 19-4229 Open Appointments in June 2019 {15}
i. Board of Health (3+1)*
ii. Buncombe Water District (1)
iii. Elverado Water District (3)
iv. Jackson/Union Regional Port District (1)
v. Lakeside Water District (1)
vi. Liquor Advisory Board (1)
vii. Natural Resources Economic Development Board (2)
viii. Oraville Water District (1)
ix. Southern Illinois Economic Development Authority (1)
A motion was made by Peterson, seconded by Comparato, to appoint Melodi Ewing to the Jackson County Board of Health. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Comparato, seconded by Calandro, to appoint Connie Favreau to the Jackson County Board of Health. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
Finance & Administration Committee
XVI. 19-4230 Payment of Health Insurance Claims in the amount of $335,000 A motion was made by Hunter, seconded by Peterson, to approve the payment of claims. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
XVII. 19-4231 Cash Flow Discussion
XVIII. 19-4232 Ordinance 2019-02 Authorizing the Issuance of Tax Anticipation Warrants in Anticipation of Taxes Levied for the General Fund of Jackson County, Illinois Hunter stated that Ordinance 2019-02 would not be needed at this time because the County is holding enough to get through the month of July. The 2018 tax process will be completed in the County Clerk's Office within the next 30 days. The process will then roll to the Treasurer's Office and hopefully be completed by the end of July. If all goes well the first installment will be due sometime in August 2019.
Legislative & Public Safety Committee
Real Property Committee
Assessor Maureen Berkowitz was asked to give a report on the Township Assessors and their work on assessments for the County. She stated that they were deep into the 2019 assessments that are due in 2020. The Assessors by law had to have their work turned in by June 15, 2019. Seven out of nine assessors have turned in their work. She is still waiting on Murphysboro and Carbondale Township Assessors to turn in their work.
Chairman Larkin said moving the payment of the tax bills up to obtain cash-flow is good for the county but for the public this could be a problem with escrow accounts. He asked for suggestions to either notify the tax payers or not send the bills out as early. It was a consensus to make a public announcement.
The Board went over the finances for the month of July and determined they should be okay without having to make anymore withdrawals from other accounts.
Mr. Burdick updated the Board on the road closures due to flooding around the county
Special Committee Reports
Erbes reported that the new Health Insurance Task Force will meet at the Sheriff's Department on July 26, 2019 at 5:00 pm.
The Chairman reported that the negotiating team is looking to re-engage with the FOP and hopefully by the end of the month they can work out a deal.
Executive Session
No action needed by the Board.
Old Business
None
New Business
None
Recess
A motion was made by D. Bost, seconded by S. Bost, to recess.
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