Quincy Reporter

Adams County Executive Committee met Sept. 9.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

The following members were present:

R. Kent Snider

Bret Austin

Les Post

Ryan Niekamp

Becky Weed

Others present:

Gary Farha

Todd Eyler

Sue Hester

John Heidbreder

Chuck Venvertloh

Bryden Cory

David Hoskins

The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Chairman Snider.

Mr. Post made a motion to approve the August 5, 2019 meeting minutes. Mr. Niekamp seconded the motion.

The meeting minutes were approved.

Resolutions

a. 2019-09-001-18 – Resolution stating the Adams County Board supports extending the term of the City of Quincy’s Central Business District West Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Redevelopment Project.

Mr. Post made a motion to recommend that the full County Board pass the resolution. Mr. Austin seconded the motion. The motion carries.

Mrs. Hester provided the committee with an update on the progress of the employee handbook. She met with the department heads for 2.5 hours on August 22, 2019 to review the handbook and accept changes and recommendations. The committee asked Mrs. Hester to provide a draft copy to the County Board members at tomorrow evening’s meeting, and to add the approval of the handbook to the October meeting.

Mr. Austin provided an update on the cannabis ordinance. The ordinance will allow the County to tax to the max of 3%. Mr. Austin continues to try to educate the public and board members that this resolution is not about whether or not the county wants cannabis to be legal – cannabis will be legal in Illinois in January 2020 and we will not be able to prevent cannabis use in our county. This resolution is just to establish the retailer’s occupation tax. Mr. Niekamp stated that there was no opposition from the Legislative & Judicial committee members.

Mr. Niekamp requested to table the code of conduct until next month. Mr. Eyler will provide draft language for a due process hearing.

There was no update on the Pace Program.

Mr. Austin and Mrs. Hester provided an update on the union negotiations. Mrs. Hester stated that scheduling for the first meetings is ongoing, and they will begin at the end of September. The County is hosting a Health Insurance Advisory committee meeting for the unions and their representatives on September 19th at 5pm and will provide the committee with feedback on the county’s health insurance plan from that meeting.

Mr. Niekmap had a new business item related to the county’s solar farm ordinance. After some research, the States Attorney’s office advised that the County does not have authority to enforce the code because the county does not have zoning. He will discuss this at the next Legislative committee meeting.

Mr. Austin made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mrs. Weed seconded the motion. Chairman Snider adjourned the meeting at 6:15 p.m.

http://www.co.adams.il.us/county_board/minutes/2019-09-09-ExecutiveCommitteeMinutes.pdf