Carbondale Reporter

Jackson County Board of Trustees met July 8.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Call to Order (5:10 PM)

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

Members Present: Calandro, Comparato, D. Bost, Erbes, Hunter, Mueller, Nehring, Peterson and Snyder

Members Absent: J. S. Rendleman, Larkin, Mendoza Jr. and S. Bost

Also Present: Sharon Harris-Johnson, Maureen Berkowitz, Kenton Schafer, Mitch Burdick, Josh Barringer, Bart Hagston, Jennifer Lindsey, Jeff Whitbeck, Frank Byrd, Kevin Kern, Lisa Jacquot, Dana Dailey

I. 19-4250 Supervisor of Assessments building issues

Berkowitz began with a brief review of what has been happening. The roof on the building next to the Assessments office fell in and the building is leaning onto the Assessments building. The structural engineer has said the building is not safe to be occupied. The Assessments office worked on Monday and then was not able to work the rest of the week. The staff began working again today out of various offices in the Courthouse. The time estimate for being able to get back into the building is a minimum of six months. Berkowitz looked at seven different spots in Murphysboro. The Health Department has space that could work for a short time but since no one knows how long they will be displaced she would like a place that could be more permanent. She also discussed issues she saw with staying in the Courthouse and a few other places she looked at, she wants to try and stay near the Courthouse especially with taxes being due soon and her office working so closely with the Treasurers office. The place she thinks would work best is six blocks down Walnut Street from the Courthouse, it is $920 a month, about $200 for utilities, and IT has said about $700 a month for internet and not sure of the additional cost for phones. She would like to be settled in the new place before tax bills go out. Kern explained that most of the costs are reimbursable and can be submitted on a monthly basis to the adjuster and once established the reimbursement time should be around a month. He went on to say that the adjuster will arrive sometime this week and he suggested finding a place with an indefinite rental time period. Berkowitz said that the place on Walnut can be month to month for an indefinite time. She went on to say that it was for sale at one time in case the County would want to look into that option. Hunter stated that discussions of that would take place at Real Property meetings. D. Bost asked about moving Assessments to the basement of the Courthouse, Berkowitz has concerns about senior citizens navigating the stairs and there is probably not room for all the file cabinets that Assessments has, plus they need space for the Board of Review. Nehring suggested that if they could be housed temporarily in a County building that should probably be what happens. Peterson reminded the Board that there are temporary modular offi ces that could be rented or bought and put in the parking lot of the Sheriff's office and that might make more sense especially if the Assessments building might have to come down. She also mentioned that there may be storage space on McClafferty Road if needed. Erbes asked about the maintenance of the new place, Berkowitz said that she and her staff can take out the trash, vacuum, and do basic cleaning and the larger maintenance would be done by the landlord. Comparato commented that not knowing a more specific time frame is concerning and inquired about how long the owner of the building that fell in is allowed to hold up the County, no one knew. The Board discussed what the owners options and possible plans might be. Hunter said the Assessments office and staff are displaced and something needs done now. Berkowitz reminded the Board that her office is responsible for at least a third of the County's revenue.

A motion was made by Mueller, seconded by D. Bost, to approve recommendation of Berkowitz to move Assessments to the space in the 1600 block of Walnut Street. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 9 - Calandro, Comparato, D. Bost, Erbes, Hunter, Mueller, Nehring, Peterson and Snyder

Absent: 4 - J. S. Rendleman, Larkin, Mendoza Jr. and S. Bost

II. 19-4251 Contract for outside counsel on the Grand Tower Energy case

Mileur informed the Board that the contract is for outside counsel for the Grand Tower Energy appeal. The attorney they are hiring is a retired judge with experience in the 5th Appellate

Court where the appeal is being handled. He has agreed to bill the County on a monthly basis instead of a retainer and the contract can be ended at any time. Hunter reminded the Board that the County is appealing the 2014 & 2015 ruling and there are still more years to come. She suggested paying for the attorney out of the Housing of Prisoner fund.

A motion was made by Peterson, seconded by D. Bost, to approve the contract for outside counsel for the Grand Tower Energy appeals. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 9 - Calandro, Comparato, D. Bost, Erbes, Hunter, Mueller, Nehring, Peterson and Snyder

Absent: 4 - J. S. Rendleman, Larkin, Mendoza Jr. and S. Bost

Recess

D. Bost moved and Calandro seconded to recess, motion carried.

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