Carbondale Reporter

Jackson County Executive Committee Met March 25.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

Call to Order (5:00 PM)

Members Present: Basden II, Calandro, Comparato, Erbes, Larkin, Mueller and Peterson

Also present: Robert Burns, Jennifer Lindsey, Orval Rowe, Jason Peach, Maureen Berkowitz, Allan Karnes, Kyle Fager, Jim Stewart, Richard Turner, Josh Barringer, Mitch Burdick, Stephen Schauwecker, John Rendleman, Sharee Langenstein, Paige Rodewald, Liz Hunter, Jan Phillips, Jeff Whitbeck, Joshua Hellmann, Kenton Schafer, Erin Ashley, Debbie Jackanicz

Approval of Minutes

I. 21-5959 Approval of April 8, 2021 Minutes

A motion was made by Calandro, seconded by Peterson, to approve the April 8, 2021 minutes as presented. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 7 - Basden II, Calandro, Comparato, Erbes, Larkin, Mueller and Peterson

Chairman's Remarks

Communications

Peterson communicated that she had read an article in the IACBM bulletin about Lee County using a grant to help pay for repairs to their county courthouse. Peterson asked if any similar grants had been looked into for Jackson County. Larkin asked the County Administrator if the office staff could look into those type of grants to which she responded yes.

Internal Office Matters

II. 21-5960 June Meetings Calendar

The committee discussed the calendar as is and decided to move the following: Legislative & Public Safety meeting will move to the 15th, the Real Property meeting will move to the 16th, and the County Board meeting will move to the 22nd. The changes will be made and posted accordingly.

A motion was made by Mueller, seconded by Comparato, to approve the June Meetings

Calendar with the above meeting date changes. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 7 - Basden II, Calandro, Comparato, Erbes, Larkin, Mueller and Peterson

Appointments

III. 21-5962 Open Appointments in May 2021 {19}*

1. 708 Board (1)*

2. Alto Pass Water District (1)*

3. Blairsville Water District (1)

4. Board of Review (2)*

5. Buncombe Water District (1)*

6. Devil’s Kitchen Water District (1)*

7. ETSB 911 (2)

8. Jackson/Union Regional Port District (2)

9. Kinkaid-Reed’s Conservancy District (1)*

10. Liquor Advisory Board (2)

11. Murdale Water District (1)*

12. Natural Resource Economic Development Board (1)

13. Oraville Water District (2)

14. Southern Most Illinois Tourism Bureau (1)

Comparato questioned the conflict of interest with the Alto Pass nomination. Langenstein replied that she had clarification that he is self employed and is aware that he can not accept jobs in the water district due to his line of work. She had no further issues after her clarification.

Larkin asked Mr. Schauwecker to clarify to the committee his party affiliation with the Board of Review (which is democrat). Basden questioned who Schauwecker is replacing to which Larkin responded that Paulette Curkin had resigned. Basden also questioned Karnes what percent of the cases go to the State for hearing. Karnes noted that most cases are settled before going that far and he noted that in the past 18 months, only 1 case had went to hearing. Langenstein noted that with the Boards approval, she wanted to have a conversation with Schauwecker to ensure there was no conflict of interest with his current banking job. The committee agreed.

Larkin clarified the parameters for the Kinkaid-Reed's Creek Conservancy District appointment. He noted that there was one open appointment for the County to fill. He nominated Green party candidate Joshua Hellmann. Basden questioned Hellmann on why he thought he would be an asset to the Kinkaid District and what he knew about the District. Hellmann responded accordingly. Rodewald questioned Larkin what disqualified her as a candidate. Larkin noted that she had voted Democrat in the last election which disqualified her. He also mentioned that she was welcome to apply again for the next available appointment. She asked if there was time to plead her case and Larkin reiterated his stance and nomination for appointment. Erbes questioned Larkin about hearing from all the candidates and Larkin noted it was ok as long as it pertained to the motion on the floor. No one spoke up so Larkin asked for a roll call vote.

For the Murdale Water District nomination, Peterson questioned why Stewart was being re nominated since he had been last month. The County Administrator noted that yes he was nominated last month, but there was a second appointment application turned in so the fair thing to do was to submit both applications to the committee for voting due to only one open appointment available.

A motion was made by Peterson, seconded by Basden II, to approve recommendation to the full Board the appointment of Richard V. Turner to the 708 Mental Health Board. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 7 - Basden II, Calandro, Comparato, Erbes, Larkin, Mueller and Peterson A motion was made by Erbes, seconded by Calandro, to approve recommendation to the full Board the re-appointment of Stephen Marks to the Alto Pass Water District. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 7 - Basden II, Calandro, Comparato, Erbes, Larkin, Mueller and Peterson A motion was made by Peterson, seconded by Mueller, to approve recommendation to the full Board the re-appointment of Allan Karnes to the Board of Review. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 7 - Basden II, Calandro, Comparato, Erbes, Larkin, Mueller and Peterson

A motion was made by Peterson, seconded by Mueller, to approve recommendation to the full Board the appointment of Stephen Schauwecker to the Board of Review pending a conversation with the State's Attorney Office. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 7 - Basden II, Calandro, Comparato, Erbes, Larkin, Mueller and Peterson

A motion was made by Peterson, seconded by Calandro, to approve recommendation to the full Board the re-appointment of Patricia Brierton to the Buncombe Water District. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 7 - Basden II, Calandro, Comparato, Erbes, Larkin, Mueller and Peterson

A motion was made by Comparato, seconded by Calandro, to approve recommendation to the full Board the re-appointment of Stephen D. Wilson to the Devil's Kitchen Water District. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 7 - Basden II, Calandro, Comparato, Erbes, Larkin, Mueller and Peterson

A motion was made by Calandro, seconded by Comparato, to approve recommendation to the full Board the appointment of Joshua Hellmann to the Kinkaid-Reed's Creek Conservancy District. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 5 - Calandro, Comparato, Larkin, Mueller and Peterson

No: 2 - Basden II and Erbes

A motion was made by Calandro, seconded by Basden II, to approve recommendation to the full Board the appointment of James Stewart to the Murdale Water District. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 7 - Basden II, Calandro, Comparato, Erbes, Larkin, Mueller and Peterson

IV. 21-5965 Crosswalk Community Action Agency Update

Old Business

V. 21-5963 Alstat Award

Mueller spoke about the creation of the award and her support for the nominee.

A motion was made by Mueller, seconded by Calandro, to approve recommendation to the full board to honor Bart Hagston with the Alstat Award. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 - Basden II, Calandro, Comparato, Erbes, Larkin, Mueller and Peterson

New Business

VI. 21-5964 Redistricting Discussion

Larkin began a discussion on the required County redistricting. He noted the guidelines he used to determine the new map which were that all districts must be of similar size, must be contiguous, and all board members remained in their districts. He also noted that the 2020 Census data was not available to use and that the 2019 Census data was used for the process. Basden questioned who helped Larkin create the map and when it was done. Larkin noted that he worked with Brandon Brown to create the map over the last few months. Basden questioned why Board members input was not requested in the creation, and Larkin responded that it wasn't required and that there was no set procedure for the process. He also mentioned it was a political act. Basden noted that he was not in favor of the map as presented and questioned Langenstein with a point of information about the census data that was used. Larkin noted that it was not required to use current 2020 Census data, however Langenstein stated that she believes it is necessary to use 2020 Census data.

A motion was made by Comparato, seconded by Mueller, to approve recommendation to the full Board to approve the new redistricting map as presented. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 6 - Calandro, Comparato, Erbes, Larkin, Mueller and Peterson

No: 1 - Basden II

Executive Session

Adjourn (6:06 PM)

Comparato moved and Basden seconded to adjourn, motion carried.

https://www.jacksoncounty-il.gov/Home/Components/MeetingsManager/MeetingMinutes/ShowPrimaryDocument/?minutesID=6516&isPub=True&includeTrash=False