Carbondale Reporter

Jackson County Real Property Committee met April 15.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

Call to Order (4:49 PM)

Members Present: D. Bost, Erbes, Morris, Mueller and Peterson

Members Absent: Edmond and Mendoza, Jr.

Also present: Gene Basden, Brooke Guthman, Maureen Berkowitz, Mitch Burdick, Gene Turk.

A quorum was not reached until 4:46pm. The committee began discussing informational items at 430 until the quorum was reached.

Approval of Minutes

I. 20-4926 Approval of February 19, 2020 Minutes

A motion was made by Erbes, seconded by Morris, to approve the February 19, 2020 minutes as presented. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

Communication

II. 20-4927 EECA Loan Article

Peterson noted that this item was merely informational for the committee.

III. 20-4928 Welcome Back Murphysboro Article

Peterson noted that this item was merely informational for the committee.

IV. 20-4929 Shawnee Forest Land Purchase

Peterson noted that this item was informational. It was for land proposed for purchase by the Shawnee National Forest from Heartlands Conservancy.

Land Use & Economic Development

V. 20-4930 Greater Egypt Regional Planning & Development Commission

A. CEDS

Peterson reviewed the 2020 CEDS. She also noted that if more information was needed by the committee members, they should utilize the Greater Egypt website.

VI. 20-4931 Supervisor of Assessments

A. COVID-19 Impact on Tax Exemptions

Berkowitz gave an information presentation concerning legislation permitting certain Homestead Exemptions granted in 2019 to be granted in 2020 without application. Each of these exemptions targets a population that is particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, they require specific documentation to be submitted on an annual basis, they have an application form of varying complexity so that many of the applicants seek personal assistance to complete (additionally, the SCAFHE affidavit must be notarized), and this leads to taxpayers seeking to file it in person rather than by mail, email, or fax so that they can verify the CCAO has received it.

She noted the following issues:

 The vulnerable populations which qualify for these exemptions tend to leave their homes to seek assistance filling out forms, notaries to witness their signatures, and comfort in personally filing the applications, all at a time when they will be vulnerable to contracting and/or spreading the COVID-19 virus.

 By coming in large crowds to CCAO offices, this process risks exposure of BOTH the vulnerable populations AND CCAO staffs is significant.

 While some applicantS will delay their applications and ask for a Certificate of Error to be issued in 2021 to correct the 2020 tax bills; but if only 50% of the applicants choose this option, it will cost local governments in Illinois over $250 million. Berkowitz wanted the committee to be aware of this legislation and the potential issues that could arise with reduced office hours due to COVID-19.

VII. 20-4932 Jackson Growth Alliance

Guthman gave a quick recap of what she has been working on in her new position as Executive Director of JGA which includes updating the current website, revisiting the by-laws and reframing JGA's goals, creating a networking circle of leaders in Jackson County, working with the CEDS committee and the Murphysboro Downtown Revitalization Program. Guthman also noted that she would like input from the Committee on what they would l ike to see from JGA, there were not suggestions from the Committee.

VIII. 20-4933 Comprehensive Plan

IX. 20-4934 River Levee Project Update

Burdick noted that they have seen a drop in river levels over the last month, but they still have some concerns with getting through the spring season. They will revisit this topic one month from now and create new plans for the project. Highway Department

X. 20-4935 SIMPO- Southern Illinois Metropolitan Planning Organization

Peterson relayed to the committee that SIMPO has two consultant studies in Jackson County right now. The Carbondale Wayfinding Study and the Murphysboro downtown study. The Carbondale study had a virtual open house on April 14 and the Murphysboro study canceled its March meeting. SIMPO anticipates receiving extra funding for mass transit because of the COVID emergency. Jackson County should receive an extra $1.7 Million dollars. The Policy committee approved TIP amendments 15 and 16 to put reflective backplates on traffic signals on IL13/149 from Murphysboro heading east and the Chautauqua/McLafferty roundabout construction will begin in 2020. Both those projects are HSIP funded, so there will not be any local cost share.

XI. 20-4936 Jackson County Bike Routes

XII. 20-4937 County Highway Department Update

Burdick noted that the results of the bids were similar to last year in that they were equal to or below what was paid last year. A motion was made by D. Bost, seconded by Mueller, to approve the resolution to Award 2020 Motor Fuel Tax Bids. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

County Buildings & Grounds

XVII. 20-4941 Willis Building

Peterson stated there was no new news to report concerning the building and that all things had been halted due to COVID-19. Mueller questioned if it was the Real Property Committee's function to deal with the issue of the building. The County Administrator noted that it was the committee's responsibility, but for now it was just a matter of thinking about what wi ll be done with the building (repair or demo, and cost) for when the committee is at that point.

Old Business

New Business

Executive Session

Adjourn (5:05 PM)

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