Quincy Reporter

Adams County Board met April 14.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The County Clerk called the role and the following members were present: Mark Peter, Matt Obert, Robert Reich, John Brady, Les Post, Theresa Bockhold, David Hoskins, Todd Duesterhaus, Bret Austin, Steven Demoss, Rebecca Weed, Barbara Fletcher, Ryan Hinkamper, Dave Bellis, Marvin Kerkhoff, Raquel Piazza, Taylor Rakers, Barney Bier and Kent Snider.

Total Present: 19 Absent: 2

Absent were: Joseph Zanger and Seldon Totsch.

Chairman Snider declared a quorum present.

Officeholders, department heads, and/or their representatives also present were: Lori Geschwandner-Circuit Clerk, Anthony Foster- Director of Court Services, John Myers Adams County Coroner, John Simon-EMA & Ambulance Director, Georgene Zimmerman Supervisor of Assessments, Jill Reis- Regional Superintendent of Schools, Sheriff Rich Wagner, Bryden Cory- County Treasurer and Jim Frankenhoff- County Engineer.

Mr. Austin moved to approve the minutes of the March 9, 2021 county board meeting as printed and distributed.

Mr. Bellis seconded the motion.

Motion to approve the minutes of the March 9, 2021 meeting as printed was adopted.

Transportation, Building & Technology

Committee Report (Mr. Bellis)

Bills – The committee met on Tuesday, April 14th to review the bills for the Highway Department, the Maintenance Department, and the Technology Department. All of the bills were in order.

Reports

The IT department has reported that they need an infrastructure upgrade due to everything being old and outdated. The new piece of equipment to keep the technology functioning in the meantime is $20,000. They will bring this issue to the full board at next month’s meeting.

Legislative & Judicial

Committee Report (Mr. Bier)

Bills – The committee met on April 6th to review the bills from the circuit Clerk, Juvenile Detention Center, Probation Department, Public Defender, State’s Attorney, and the Supervisor of Assessments. All of the bills were in order.

Reports

There is new legislation regarding the siting of windfarms that would take away control rom the counties. The committee has tabled this topic until next month.

Appointments

a. Reappointment of Craig Camm of the Ursa Street Light District of Adams County, Illinois for a term expiring the first Monday of May, 2024. (Attachment A-1). b. Reappointment of James Gieker to the Clayton Fire Protection District to expire on April 2024. (Attachment A-2).

c. Reappointment of Jerry E. Nail to the Clayton Fire Protection District to expire on April 2024. (Attachment A-3).

d. Reappointment of Ted Parker to the Clayton Fire Protection District to expire on April 2024. (Attachment A-4).

Mr. Bier made a motion to approve the reappointments.

Mrs. Bockhold seconded the motion.

The reappointments were approved.

Event Liquor License

a. Special One-Day Liquor License for St. Dominic’s Junefest at 4100 Columbus Road, Quincy, IL. 62305 on Sunday, June 6th, 2021 (Attachment A-5) b. Special One-Day Liquor License for St. Anthony Church’s Picnic at 2223 St.

Anthony Road, Quincy, IL. 62305 on July 17, 2021 or rain date of July 18, 2021 from 5pm until 12am. (Attachment A-6)

Mr. Obert made a motion to approve the one day liquor licenses.

Mr. Kerkhoff seconded the motion.

The liquor licenses were approved.

Mr. Bier reported that the committee has been working on revising the Liquor Control Ordinances for the county.

The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for April 6th, 2021 at 6:00 PM. Public Health & Safety

Committee Report (Mrs. Weed)

Bills – The committee met on March 16th and reviewed the bills for the Sheriff’s Office, Coroner’s Office, Emergency Management Agency and Animal Control. All of the bills were in order.

Reports

Mrs. Weed read the following report from Sheriff Wagner: The jail population was at 121. There are 12 inmates ready to transfer to the Illinois Department of Corrections. There are no known employees or inmates with COVID. The Sheriff billed the IDOC $387,413.07 for housing and medical costs of inmates sentenced to IDOC. The jail salary overtime budget line is already over by $7,400. This is due to COVID staffing issues. They have hired new corrections officers since to help.

Mrs. Weed read the following report from the Coroner, Scott Graham: In December 2020, there were 149 reported deaths, 9 autopsies, 2 unclaimed/indigent cremations and 76 cremation permits issued. In January 2021, there were 134 reported deaths, 6 autopsies, no unclaimed/indigent cremations and 65 cremation permits issued.

Mrs. Weed read the following report from John Simon, Director of Emergency Management and Ambulance: A video tour was given of the new expansion to the facilities. He stated the expansion project was expected to be complete by the middle of April. COVID vaccination efforts continue and are going well. There were additional employees to be hired as needed to continue the efforts.

The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 20 at 6:30 PM. Finance

Committee Report (Mr. Austin)

Bills – The committee met on April 12th to review the bills. All of the bills were in order.

Resolution –

a. Tax Sale Resolution for Parcel Number 23-0236 located in the Quincy Township. Mr. Austin made a motion to approve the tax sale resolution. (Attachment B-1) Mr. Rakers seconded the motion.

A roll call vote was taken to approve the tax sale resolution. Those in favor were: Mark Peter, Matt Obert, Robert Reich, John Brady, Les Post, Theresa Bockhold, David Hoskins, Todd Duesterhaus, Bret Austin, Steven Demoss, Rebecca Weed, Barbara Fletcher, Ryan Hinkamper, Dave Bellis, Marvin Kerkhoff, Raquel Piazza, Taylor Rakers, Barney Bier and Kent Snider.

Total in favor was 19. Total opposed was 0. There were 2 absent.

The Tax Sale resolution was approved.

Budget/Levy

Mr. Austin gave the following report about the budget and levy: The committee has been talking about the budget. Things from 2020 were not as severe as they thought they would be. Things moving forward that will be significant is the no cash bail. That is a service collection in the county that may affect the budget. They went through the audit with the auditing committee. They found miscellaneous sales tax that was unaccounted for. It was from the cannabis tax. This projects to be about $650,000 this year. The county is projected to get $12.5 million within the next 3 weeks. 50% of it will come next year. The money must be spent by 2024. Chairman Snider has been talking with the Governor and Senator’s offices about this funding. The committee is asking committee chairmen and department heads to put in writing what they think the money needs to go to. There have been many ideas already surface.

Insurance

Mr. Hoskins reported that they have been tight with the health insurance. They have had a higher rate of instance in the first quarter but is hopeful we will get back to the positive side.

He also reported that the jail lightning strike is all taken care of and paid for. Also, they have submitted a work comp audit. Mr. Hoskins reported that things are steady, otherwise.

Mr. Peter asked if that $12 million was COVID money and if it was separate from the first batch of money from last year.

Mr. Austin stated that it is separate and it will be from the 2nd Federal CARES Act. The county has spent almost all of the original money from the first batch on the testing site. Mr. Peter asked if 6 million has to be spent this year and the other half next year. Mr. Austin stated they are still looking into it for more clarification.

Mr. Kerkhoff asked if it had to be in capital expenditures.

Mr. Austin said no. That that was a gray area. Approved ones are mainly towards public health and safety, testing sites, charitable organizations. The “no” issues is that you cannot pay pension obligations, absolve debt that we had prior to COVID or use it to pay something to lower the tax rate. The goal is to get it back out into the economy.

Mr. Bellis asked if our infrastructure equipment needed in IT will be qualified.

Mr. Austin stated that it was.

Mr. Hoskins informed the board that there is a SERMA meeting next Thursday. There will be a company there that we have access to that provides training to law enforcement. Especially pertaining to the new law passed. The Sheriff has been invited to come to that meeting and interact with that company.

The Chairman reminded the department heads to get together what they think the money should go towards.

Mr. Hinkamper asked if we can buy an ambulance with the money.

The Chairman stated that he will get a detailed list, but that he thinks they can.

Executive Committee

Committee Report (Mr. Austin)

The committee met on April 5th. Mr. Austin stated that they have talked about how the CARES Act money coming in to the county can be spent in a responsible way.

Resolution

a. Resolution number 2021-04-001-009- Resolution approving and authorizing the execution and delivery of an intergovernmental agreement for Quincy Bay Area Restoration Enhancement Association. (Attachment C-1)

Mr. Austin made a motion to approve the resolution.

Mr. Hinkamper seconded the motion.

Discussion: Mr. Austin explained that this is an intergovernmental agreement. The group itself cannot take and possess the federal money that’s coming to them without the backing of us and the City. We will be acting as an orchestrating agent. This project is the bay dredging and some areas around it that is mostly county and state land.

Mr. Peter asked if this will be federal money or if there will be local money. Mr. Austin stated there won’t be any local money. If there was, they could seek restitution for it. He stated this project is specifically as federally-led project that will be at least $20 million.

The resolution was approved.

b. Riverfront Master Plan

Mr. Obert made a motion to approve the plan.

Mr. Rakers seconded the motion.

Discussion: Mr. Austin stated that the board was given a link to this plan. There were consultants hired for this and there were a lot of meetings and time put into it. He stated there was a lot of community involvement on the plan as well. The plan requires a lot of money over time, but it will be used for a lot of different purposes. Mr. Austin said that tonight, our task is to state that we accept this as the strategic plan that we paid for.

Mr. Brady asked what percent of money the county would profit from this. Mr. Austin stated it wouldn’t be a direct profit so there really isn’t an answer for that. Mr. Post asked if this is the end of their commitment.

Mr. Austin stated that as of now, this resolution does not say we have to spend even $1. If things come up, the board would have to approve the spending. Mr. Post asked if this is the end of our commitment.

Mr. Austin stated that there isn’t one thing in this plan that says we have to spend money on this in the future.

Mr. Obert stated that Mr. Post’s question was a good one. He stated he reviewed the plan, the board has paid to have this created, so voting “no” tonight would throw that money away. He stated the ways the plan talks about how it can be funded down the road and that it doesn’t commit the county to it.

Mr. Austin stated that any funding moving forward would have to go through the Park District, County and City for approval. He stated this project will thrive or fail based off of the money that they seek elsewhere.

Mr. Bier asked if this is a similar situation to the budget and levy. For example, when we approve the budget, we are committing ourselves in one or another to the levy.

Mr. Austin stated he understood the analogy, but this does not apply and is not the same. There is no way for anybody to force this board to vote to spend money. Not $1 of future spending is committed.

Mr. Obert stated that the difference is that at budget time, we are committing to the citizens that we are going to provide vital services and this is not vital services.

The board approved the master plan.

Mr. Austin and the Chairman thanked everyone for their support on this. Mr. Zanger entered the meeting at 7:31 PM.

Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business to discuss.

New Business

1) Approval of Board Member Travel Vouchers

a. $33.60 to Seldon Totsch for travel to the March 9th County Board meeting for a total of 60 miles. (Attachment D-1)

Mr. Obert made a motion to approve the travel voucher.

Mr. Peter seconded the motion.

A roll call vote was taken to approve the travel voucher. Those in favor were: Mark Peter, Matt Obert, Robert Reich, John Brady, Les Post, Theresa Bockhold, Joe Zanger, Todd Duesterhaus, Steven Demoss, Rebecca Weed, Barbara Fletcher, Dave Bellis, Marvin Kerkhoff, Raquel Piazza, Barney Bier and Kent Snider.

Those opposed were: Dave Hoskins, Bret Austin, Ryan Hinkamper and Taylor Rakers.

Total in favor was 16. Total Opposed was 4. There was 1 absent.

The travel voucher was approved.

2) Monthly Reports – Supervisor of Assessments/Board of Review, the Probation Department, Juvenile Detention Center, the County Clerk & Recorder’s office, Sheriff’s Department, Information Technology, the Public Defender, and the Treasurer’s office, Monthly check register for March 2021 and Funds Summary report for March 2021 including revenue and expenses. (Attachment D-2)

Mr. Zanger made a motion to receive and file the monthly reports with the appropriate committee.

Mr. Hinkamper seconded the motion.

Motion to receive and file the monthly reports with the appropriate committee adopted.

3) Appointments

a. Jeff Mayfield- reappointment to the Adams County Ambulance Board for a three-year term.

b. Tasha Cantrell- reappointment to the Adams County Ambulance Board for a three-year term.

Mr. Obert made a motion to approve the reappointments.

Mr. Reich seconded the motion.

The reappointments were approved.

Correspondence

There were no correspondence to report for this meeting.

At this time, Mr. Austin made a motion for the board to go into executive session. Mr. Bellis seconded the motion.

The board went into executive session.

The board returned to regular session.

The Chairman stated that he would like to name a committee to search for a new HR Director/Administrative Services Director. He stated Matt Obert would be the Chairman, along with Bret Austin, Les Post, Bob Reich and Raquel Piazza as members making a committee of 5. He would like the committee to start meeting immediately.

Mr. Bellis made a motion that he would like to see Barney Bier be moved off of the Executive Committee and removed from Chairman of the Legislative and Judicial committee.

Mr. Farha stated that this would be a recommendation only.

Mr. Austin stated he is seconding the motion only to allow for discussion amongst the board.

Discussion: Mr. Brady stated he is not in favor of this.

Mr. Zanger stated that Barney is too valuable of an asset to lose.

A voice vote was taken, but could not be determined.

A roll call vote was taken. Those in favor were Mark Peter, Matt Obert, Robert Reich, Les Post, Dave Hoskins, Bret Austin, Rebecca Weed, Dave Bellis, and Raquel Piazza. Members voting against were John Brady, Theresa Bockhold, Joe Zanger, Todd Duesterhaus, Barbara Fletcher, Ryan Hinkamper, Marvin Kerkhoff, and Barney Bier. Members voting present were Steven Demoss, Taylor Rakers, and Kent Snider. Members absent was Seldon Totsch. Total vote count is: 9 in favor, 8 against, 3 present, and 1 absent.

Adams County Circuit Clerk

Monthly Report

March 2021

TOTAL MONTHLY RECEIPTS: $ 494,261.61

PASSPORTS PROCESSED: 17

PERSONNEL:

We had 1 employee leave employment on 3/12/21

Her replacement began employment with our office on 2/22/21

We still have 1 open position in our office and are waiting for court to get back in full swing and the Help Desk to reopen before we hire

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