McLean County Times

McLean County Justice Committee met Oct. 3.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

Members Present: Chairman George Gordon Members Carlo Robustelli, Randall Murphy, Scott Murphy, Dave Selzer, and Susan Schafer

Members Absent: Member George Wendt

Other County Board

Members Present

Staff Present: Mr. Bill Wasson, County Administrator, Ms. Jessica Woods, First Assistant State’s Attorney - Civil Division; Mr. Eric Schmitt, Administrative Services Director and Ms. Julie Morlock, Recording Secretary

Department Heads/

Elected Officials Present: Ms. Carla Barnes, Public Defender Office; Kathy Davis, Coroner; Cassy Taylor, Court Services; Donald Knapp, State’s Attorney; Jon Sandage, Sheriff; Mr. Don Everhart, Circuit Clerk

Others Present: Greg Allen Deputy-Sheriff; Mr. Jason Tabb, Juvenile Detention Center; Becky Gaither, Chief Deputy Circuit Clerk

Chairman Gordon called the meeting to order and declared a quorum.

Chairman Gordon presented the minutes of the September 4, 2018 regular meeting for approval.

Motion by Murphy/Selzer to approve the minutes from the September 4, 2018 regular meeting minutes.

Motion Carried.

Chairman Gordon confirmed there were no appearances by members of the public.

Ms. Kathy Davis, McLean County Coroner presented her monthly report. Chairman Gordon asked if the Committee had any questions for Ms. Davis, hearing none, he thanked her.

Mr. Donald Knapp, McLean County State’s Attorney presented his monthly reports. Chairman Gordon asked the Committee if there were any questions or comments; hearing none, he thanked him.

Ms. Cassy Taylor, Director, Court Services presented her monthly reports. Chairman Gordon asked if the Committee had any questions for Ms. Taylor; hearing none, he thanked her.

Mr. Don Everhart, McLean County Circuit Clerk presented for action a request to approve an agreement amendment with Loomis Armored US, LLC and McLean County. He stated it was an annual renewal.

Motion by Selzer/Martin to recommend approval of an agreement amendment with Loomis Armored US, LLC and McLean County.

Motion Carried.

Mr. Everhart presented his monthly reports. Chairman Gordon asked if there were any questions for Mr. Everhart, hearing none; he thanked him.

Ms. Carla Barnes, Public Defender presented her monthly reports. Chairman Gordon asked if there were any questions for Ms. Barnes; hearing none, he thanked her.

Mr. Jon Sandage, Sheriff presented for action a request to approve renewal of contract with Johnson Controls for monitoring of fire alarm system at the EMA garage. Mr. Selzer asked if Administration could recall an instance where a contract had been challenged or if deficiencies noted how they affect our other contracts. Mr. Wasson and Ms. Woods stated they did not recall a contract being challenged. Ms. Woods stated that contracts are renewed on a regular basis and updated, but if one was questioned they would definitely look at all other contracts with the County to correct any deficiencies found.

Motion by Martin/Selzer to recommend approval of renewal of contract with Johnson Controls for monitoring of fire alarm system at the EMA garage.

Motion Carried.

Mr. Sandage presented his monthly report for the Sheriff’s Department. Chairman Gordon asked if there were comments or questions; hearing none, he thanked Mr. Sandage.

Ms. Molly Evans, Director, Children’s Advocacy Center presented for action a request to approve an Emergency Appropriation Ordinance Amending the McLean County Fiscal Year 2018 Combined Annual Appropriation and Budget Ordinance for CAC/CASA. Ms. Evans explained the change in VOCA grant funding that affected the budget.

Motion by Robustelli/Martin to recommend approval of an Emergency Appropriation Ordinance Amending the McLean County Fiscal Year 2018 Combined Annual Appropriation and Budget Ordinance for CAC/CASA. Motion Carried. Chair Voted.

Ms. Evans presented her monthly statistical reports to the Committee. Chairman Gordon asked if there were any questions, hearing none, he thanked her and welcomed her to the County.

Mr. Wasson presented the Sheriff’s Department – 0001-0029, the Sheriff’s Department Court Security Fund 0141-0029 and the Merit Board – 0001-0008 budgets for review and approval. Mr. Wasson went over changes in salary expenses and increases in FTE’s for the Sheriff’s department for Jail expansion and security. He discussed modifications to jail operations. Mr. Robustelli asked about the telephone commission revenue. Mr. Wasson stated they are contractually obligated to pay that amount with current census. Mr. Robustelli asked about increase in the Court Supervision fee. Mr. Wasson stated there would be a Court Security fee study done to look at increasing that fee, as those costs have not been covered for several years as the current rate. Mr. Robustelli asked about the EMA roof and if it was going to be replaced. Mr. Schmitt indicated it was included in quotes for a roof at Parks & Recreation Department and Highway Department so that the cost for all three could be reduced. He indicated the EMA roof is scheduled to be started in the next week or two.

Motion by Robustelli/Martin to recommend approval of the Sheriff’s Department Court Security Fund 0141-0029, the Sheriff’s Department Court Security Fund 0141-0029 and the Merit Board – 0001-0008 budgets.

Motion Carried. Chair Voted

Mr. Wasson presented the Metro McLean County Centralized Communications Center – 0452-0030 budget for review and approval. Mr. Wasson indicated there was a small decrease in the seasonal/occasional line and indicated the $13,500 in educational was for materials to begin to educate the community on utilization of the Nexgen telephone services as well as for consoles for training and live use if necessary. Ms. Schafer asked about the overtime amount. Mr. Cannon indicated they are required to operate with a certain number of staff so even when fully operational there is some overtime, but still saves money when consider benefit and training costs. Mr. Selzer asked about training and if it could be done online. Mr. Cannon indicated initial training is done in person and that they try to get people into classes as close to Bloomington/Normal as possible. He stated that re-certification could take place on line.

Motion by Selzer/Murphy to recommend approval of the Metro McLean County Centralized Communications Center – 0452-0030 budget.

Motion Carried. (Chair Voted)

Mr. Wasson presented the budgets for the Circuit Clerk’s Office – 0001-0015, the Circuit Clerk Operation & Administration – 0138-0015, the Circuit Clerk Court Automation –0140- 0015, the Circuit Clerk Court Document Storage – 0142-0015, the Circuit Clerk Child Support Collection – 0143-0015, and the Circuit Clerk IDPA IV-D Child Support Enforcement Prog – 0156-0015 for review and approval. Mr. Wasson stated that there was a change in FTE’s in the civil division to assist with the electronic filing that was mandated by the Court. Mr. Wasson stated that while we have a good case management system, our system is challenged with the need to communicate with the electronic filing system. He stated that discussions would need to begin regarding a new case management system that can also include medical records information so we can share information between agencies. Ms. Schafer asked about the FTE count on page 81. It was clarified that a position from the 2018 count had been left off the sheet. Mr. Everhart indicated that while he supported E-filing he felt that the way it had been implemented was not ideal and had caused much more work for his office. He went over the overtime hours included in his office and indicated that even with those hours they are still behind.

Motion by Selzer/Murphy to recommend approval budgets for the Circuit Clerk’s Office – 0001-0015, the Circuit Clerk Operation & Administration – 0138-0015, the Circuit Clerk Court Automation –0140-0015, the Circuit Clerk Court Document Storage – 0142-0015, the Circuit Clerk Child Support Collection – 0143-0015, and the Circuit Clerk IDPA IV-D Child Support Enforcement Prog– 0156-0015

Motion Carried (Chair voted).

Mr. Wasson presented budgets for the Court Services Department Fund 0001 Juvenile Detention Program (0022), the Court Services Department Fund 0001 Court Services (0024), the Court Services Department Fund 0001 Pretrial (0068), the Court Services Department Fund 0001 Adult treatment SAMHSA Grant (0093), the Court Services Department Fund 0001 Juvenile Redeploy Grant (0095), and the Court Services Probation Services Fund – 0146-0022 for review and approval. Mr. Wasson pointed out a change that needed to be made under the seasonal/occasional line for this budget. He also mentioned that probation and juvenile reimbursements from the State have been decreased and so they would have to depend on fees that had been accrued to cover current staffing levels. He stated that he hoped this was a temporary decrease, as the County could not sustain the program long term in this manner. He indicated there are other counties in the State that have not accrued fees so they are reducing staff as a result. He stated that statute requires the State to reimburse us at 100% but have not done that. He stated that because the County pays approximately 30% in benefits and retirement we are now paying more for the employees than the State. Ms. Taylor discussed the four levels that the state reimburses at for the different positions indicating that some are supposed to be at 100% and others are not. Mr. Robustelli asked how long we would be able to sustain at current levels with the probation reserves. Mr. Wasson stated it might be possible to get through one more fiscal cycle. Mr. Selzer asked him to confirm that if it continues we would need to depend on the general fund. Mr. Wasson confirmed. Mr. Selzer stated that this is one of the reasons we keep the general fund at the levels we do. Mr. Wasson stated that even if we cover with the general fund that is unsustainable as well. Ms. Taylor pointed out that the probation services fund was not created to pay for salaries but for services; however, the State changed criteria so that we can use these funds for salaries. Mr. Gordon pointed out that if we do not have funds for employees and services then number in the detention facilities increase. Mr. Robustelli asked that the Executive Committee add this to their legislative agenda as he felt it was a major concern that funding was not appropriated to sustain these much-needed services.

Motion by Robustelli/Schafer to recommend approval of the Court Services Department Fund 0001 Juvenile Detention Program (0022) budget, the Court Services Department Fund 0001 Court Services (0024) budget, the Court Services Department Fund 0001 Pretrial (0068) budget, the Court Services Department Fund 0001 Adult treatment SAMHSA Grant (0093) budget, the Court Services Department Fund 0001 Juvenile Redeploy Grant (0095) budget, and the Court Services Probation Services Fund – 0146-0022 budget AS AMENDED

Motion Carried. (Chair Voted)

Mr. Wasson presented the State Attorney’s Office 0001-0020 budget State’s Attorneys IV- D Child Support Enforcement –0156-0020 budget for review and approval. Mr. Knapp went through FTE changes and mentioned that a DCFS Child Abuse Grant was no longer provided by the State but because this position works to ensure the safety of abused children, they worked to keep it in the budget this year. Mr. Knapp went over some programs in the budget and continuing to work on deferred programs. Mr. Wasson stated that shortly after the budget was presented to the County Board, the State indicated that the State’s Attorney’s and Public Defender’s salaries would no longer be frozen. Mr. Wasson went over the increased salary number for the State’s Attorney and indicated that it had been changed with payroll but would also have to be changed in the budget.

Motion by Murphy/Martin to recommend approval of the State Attorney’s Office 0001-0020 budget and State’s Attorneys IV-D Child Support Enforcement –0156-0020 budget as amended.

Motion Carried. (Chair Voted)

Mr. Bill Wasson, County Administrator presented his monthly report on recent employment activities. Chairman Gordon asked if there were any questions for Mr. Wasson; hearing none, he thanked him.

Chairman Gordon asked if there was any other business to come before the Committee. He reminded the Committee that they would meet again to hear the consider budgets from the remaining departments on October 29th at 4:30 p.m.

Chairman Gordon presented the Justice Committee with bills for review and approval as transmitted by the County Auditor with a prepaid total of $434,579.07.

Motion by Martin/Murphy to approve the Justice Committee bills as transmitted by the County Auditor with a prepaid total of $434,579.07 Motion Carried.

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