McLean County Justice Committee met April 2.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
Members Present: Chairman George Gordon Members Susan Schafer, Carlo Robustelli and Randall Martin
Members Absent: Member George Wendt, Jim Soeldner, Josh Barnett
Other County Board Members Present
Staff Present: Mr. Bill Wasson, County Administrator, Mr. Trevor Sierra, Assistant State’s Attorney - Civil Division and Ms. Julie Morlock, Recording Secretary
Department Heads/Elected Officials Present: Kathy Yoder, Coroner; Cassy Taylor, Court Services; Greg Allen, Chief Deputy Sheriff; Mr. Jason Tabb, Juvenile Detention Center, Ms. Carla Barnes, Public Defender, Mr. Don Knapp, State’s Attorney, Ms. Molly Evans, Children’s Advocacy Center; Mr. Will Scanlan, Circuit Court
Others Present:
Chairman Gordon called the meeting to order and declared a quorum.
Chairman Gordon presented the minutes of the March 5, 2019 regular meeting for approval.
Motion by Martin/Robustelli to approve the minutes from the March 5, 2019 regular meeting.
Motion Carried.
Chairman Gordon confirmed there were no appearances by members of the public.
Ms. Kathy Yoder, McLean County Coroner presented her monthly report. Chairman Gordon asked if the Committee had any questions for Ms. Yoder, hearing none, he thanked her.
Mr. Don Knapp, State’s Attorney presented his monthly report. Chairman Gordon asked the Committee if there were any further questions or comments; hearing none, he thanked Mr. Knapp
Ms. Cassy Taylor, Director, Court Services presented for action a request to approve a contract with Dr. Phil Mulvey to provide performance assessment and outcome evaluation services for Veterans Court. Ms. Taylor indicated they are contracting with him because of his experience working with Veterans and other projects he has completed through ISU for Veterans. Ms. Schafer asked her to confirm he is doing the evaluation of the program. Ms. Taylor confirmed they have to create performance measurers, explain what they will do in the program and the outcomes they are looking for and he will be working to help them establish those so they can include them as part of their SAMSHA grant documentation.
Motion by Robustelli/Schafer to recommend approval of a contract with Dr. Phil Mulvey to provide performance assessment and outcome evaluation services through Veterans Court
Motion Carried.
Ms. Taylor 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 Charge Code Upload Enhancement Statement of Work. Mr. Everhart indicated this was related to the next item on the Agenda where the Criminal Traffic and Traffic Assessment Act revamped the fees for the Court. He stated this would allow the Company to update the tables in our system to provide the automatic disposition reporting the office does daily that is reported to the State Police and Secretary of State. Ms. Schafer asked for clarification on the name of the Company. Mr. Everhart indicated that Caliber is a subsidiary of InterAct and they have been working with Caliber on all updates to EJS system.
Motion by Martin/Schafer to recommend approval of Charge Code Upload Enhancement Statement of Work
Motion Carried. Chair voted
Mr. Don Everhart, McLean County Circuit Clerk presented for action a request to approve an Ordinance of the McLean County Board Establishing Civil Fees and Criminal and Traffic Assessments to be Charged by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Mr. Everhart indicated that the Act amended fee schedules that will go into effect on July 1st, so this ordinance will allow them to assess those new fees. Mr. Robustelli asked if the new fees would add to or reduce the revenue we receive. Mr. Everhart indicated that the Act also adjusted poverty levels for fee waivers, so they will not know how those will affect fees until we start the new process. Mr. Wasson stated that the intent was to provide the same amount of revenue, but there is concern whether that will be the case but we will not know until we are into the process. He stated that the Act does provide some flexibility to the Board to determine where revenues can go as some fees that were specifically obligated to special revenue funds are now provided to the County general fund for court purposes. Mr. Everhart also indicated that this Act will be repealed 18 months from July 1st. Ms. Schafer asked them to confirm that we will not have historical data to help us determine the 2020 budget. Mr. Wasson confirmed we will need to modify the budget during the process, and will only have a few months data when we finalize the budget in November.
Mr. Gordon asked for clarification on the sunset provision of the Act. Mr. Scanlan explained that a sunset provision was included in the Act so the fees schedule that goes into effect on July 1, 2019 will automatically expire on December 31, 2020 unless the Legislature acts to extend this Act or create a new Act setting fees for January 1, 2021. Mr. Scanlan indicated that when the legislature has to act they will only have limited data to determine if this fee schedule is working or not. Mr. Wasson confirmed the legislature will have very little information when they make the decision to continue or have a new fee structure. Mr. Wasson also went over how those revenue streams would work through the general fund. Ms. Schafer asked if they are increasing fees the state or other entities receive. Mr. Everhart explained that they requested the maximum amount allowable. Mr. Scanlan explained there are three categories of fees including the State, three specialized local fees (the Court Automation Fee Fund, the Court Document Storage Fund and the Clerk Operation Fund) and the County and that if we set fees below maximum, the State or other special funds still receive their set amount. He stated that the only amount that would be impacted would be the share going to the County. Mr. Scanlan indicated that the Law Library Fee and the residential mortgage mediation fee and a few others that are still under review and may be zeroed out. He noted what those fees cover and explained that if they are zeroed out the Board would have to determine coverage of those fees/services. Mr. Everhart thanked Mr. Scanlan, Mr. Wasson and Mr. Sierra for their help with this change.
Motion by Robustelli/Martin to recommend approval of an Ordinance of the McLean County Board Establishing Civil Fees and Criminal and Traffic Assessments to be Charged by the Clerk of the Circuit Court
Motion Carried. Chair voted
Mr. Everhart presented his monthly reports. Chairman Gordon asked if there were any questions, hearing none he thanked Mr. Everhart.
Ms. Carla Barnes, Public Defender presented her monthly reports. Ms. Barnes indicated they will have the first Veteran Court graduation on May 14th and would receive a formal invitation. Chairman Gordon asked if there were any questions; hearing none, he thanked Ms. Barnes.
Ms. Molly Evans, Director, Children’s Advocacy Center introduced Ms. Mary Pat Frugo- Anderson, the CASA program director who will be filling in for her during possibly May and definitely June. Ms. Evans presented her monthly statistical reports to the Committee. Chairman Gordon asked if there were any questions, hearing none, he thanked her.
Mr. Greg Allen, Chief Deputy Sheriff presented the Sheriff’s monthly reports. Chairman Gordon asked if there were any further comments or questions; hearing none, he thanked Mr. Allen.
Mr. Bill Wasson, County Administrator presented recent employment activities under the purview of the Justice Committee.
Chairman Gordon asked if there was other business to come before the Committee; hearing nothing, he moved to the payment of the bills.
Chairman Gordon presented the Justice Committee with bills for review and approval as transmitted by the County Auditor with a prepaid total of $555.446.34.
Motion Robustelli/Martin to approve the Justice Committee bills as transmitted by the County Auditor with a prepaid total of $555,446.34. Motion Carried.
Chairman Gordon asked if there was any other business or communication for the Justice Committee; hearing none, he adjourned at 5:01 p.m.
https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6657
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