McLean County Finance Committee met May 6.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
The Finance Committee of the McLean County Board met at 4:30 p.m. in Room 404 of the Government Center, 115 East Washington Street, Bloomington, IL.
Members Present: Chairman Jim Soeldner (present), Members Catherine Metsker, Chuck Erickson, Laurie Wollrab, Carlo Robustelli, Jacob Beard and Josh Barnett (others by remote attendance)
Members Absent: None
Other Members Present:
Staff Present: Ms. Camille Rodriguez, County Administrator; Ms. Cassy Taylor, Assistant County Administrator, Ms. Cathy Dreyer, Assistant County Administrator; Ms. Julie A. Morlock, Recording Secretary; Ms. Jessica Woods First Assistant Civil State’s Attorney (remote attendance)
Department Heads/Elected Officials Present: Ms. Becky McNeil, Treasurer
Others Present:
Chairman Soeldner called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and declared a quorum
Chairman Soeldner presented the Minutes of the April 1, 2020 regular meeting and April 8, 2020 special meeting of the Finance Committee for approval.
Motion by Metsker/Beard to approve the Minutes of the April 1, 2020 regular meeting and April 8, 2020 special meeting of the Finance Committee.
Motion carried.
Chairman Soeldner confirmed there was one member of the public or employee who had provided a statement for the Committee and Ms. Morlock will read it into the record.
Below is my public comment to be read into the public record. Thank you. Dear Finance Committee,
It has come to my attention that comments were made last month about my job duties and I wanted to respond with corrections to those comments.
The speaker wrote about how my job responsibilities were reduced and thus, my salary should be as well. Let me assure you, after 12 1/2 years at the County, my job responsibilities have not decreased during this term. The number of direct reports remains unchanged. The only portion of accounts payable that left was check cutting, and that was not a duty that I did personally.
Further, I lost my Internal Auditor/Grants Manager in the staff move, meaning not only did I not loose any job responsibilities, I gained a second position. A position that paid the previous holder $45,000 annually.
Being Auditor of McLean County is a full time job and then some.
I would like to point out that the speaker gave no rationale for his salary recommendation.
He also referenced ‘serious financial challenges’. if part of his rational to reduce the Auditor salary was economically driven, why not make similar recommendations of the Coroner and Circuit Clerk’s salary? We’ve always been treated the same as far as increases or salary freezes, the exact way Administration has recommended for the upcoming terms for those offices.
Here are the job duties I’ve had for the last decade:
Preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), saving the County approximately $25,000 annually
Prepare the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR)
Prepare SEFA & CYEFR (federal and state grant reporting)
GATA Reporting
Prepare quarterly financial statements
Coordinate annual audit
Manage, track and depreciate fixed assets
FOIA Officer for my office
Audit all claims against the County
Maintain and create vendors; prepare 1099’s
Maintain general ledger and chart of accounts
Review monthly credit card statement and handle maintenance on the account Oversee lease reporting and payments
Post journal entries and budget amendments
Prepare Board Reports
Additions with the internal auditor/grants manager moving:
Internal audits
Subrecipient Monitoring
Monthly and Quarterly grant reporting
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Michelle L Anderson
micglf@yahoo.com
Chairman Soeldner asked that Ms. Rodriguez present her report on County Financials before they started departmental matters. Ms. Rodriguez provided high level observations and considerations regarding the County financials and budget due to the shelter in place over the last couple of months. Ms. Rodriguez indicated they feel we should be prepared for a 50% reduction in our sales taxes and a 25% reduction in the PPRT from the 2019 numbers for the two months of shelter in place. She stated we have lost 100% of video gaming revenue and about a 35-50% loss in court fees. She reminded them the Board voted to delay the payment of penalties on late tax payments which would result in about a $50,000 loss in revenue. Ms. Rodriguez indicated there was a concern about a decrease in interest rates and decrease in revenue of about $150,000 to $200,000. She stated should be thinking about unencumbered fund balance and the budget policy for last year set minimum fund balance between 12-15% of total combined annual budget and appropriation balance, but we have less than 12% today. She indicated we need to meet operating expenses, so we are going to analyze decisions going forward as we create 2021 budget. Ms. Rodriguez indicated we will probably feel the effects of this loss of revenue several months down the road so need to plan for the long term. Ms. Rodriguez indicated they are taking proactive approach including having departments heads track expenses related to COVID and analyzing larger projects and expenses that may need to be put on hold.
Mr. Soeldner asked if this included LGDF (Local Government Distribution Fund). Ms. Rodriguez indicated she did not believe that was included. Mr. Soeldner asked if it includes any state or federal bailouts that might go to local governments. Ms. Rodriguez confirmed it does not as Staff did not feel we should count on that. Ms. Rodriguez indicated that some departments have received some benefits but cautioned it could take years to receive reimbursements. Ms. Wollrab asked her to go over chart numbers. Ms. Rodriguez went over projected numbers for a 20% loss of revenue that would result in a 26% decrease of fund balance or a loss of 2 million on total budget numbers. Ms. Wollrab asked if this was for 2020 or 2021. Ms. Rodriguez confirmed 2020 as we are already seeing losses because people are not out spending and we do not know how long this will continue. She stated hope is we are in a region that will start to be able to open.
Mr. Robustelli asked her to confirm that as of December 31, 2019 we did not have the 12-15% balance in the unencumbered fund that the policy stated as he was not aware of that when he voted for the budget last year. Ms. Rodriguez confirmed. He stated that concerned him as we go into this crisis with less than planned and would like to address that when they discussed the budget policy for next year. Mr. Erickson asked if 12-15% number referred to was that the same as percentage on page 36 of the packet for the Budget Resolution. Ms. Rodriquez confirmed. Mr. Erickson asked if we are at 35% loss of revenue which would be 68% loss of fund balance what pressure that put on us if we leave this at less than 15%. Ms. Rodriguez indicated if less than 15% would need to determine how many months of expenses we can cover and then we would probably have some hard discussions about services because we would not be able to continue to provide services at the rate we do now and take that type of a loss. Mr. Erickson stated that he would wait until we get to the policy for further discussion. Chairman Soeldner asked if other questions, seeing none he moved on.
Chairman Soeldner indicated that Ms. Marshell Thomson of Animal Control was present and had her month reports in the packet. He indicated he had received calls about loose dogs in Heyworth and asked her to speak to our policy regarding response in other towns. Ms. Thomson went over our policy and procedure and indicated the Village of Heyworth provides most of their animal control services through their village employees and if someone has a complaint about a dog at large the first call should be to Metcom and they would get in touch with Chief Garrett. She indicated if they cannot handle the situation then animal control is called. Ms. Thomson said that any citizen can bring stray animal as well and we will provide rabies testing and there is no charge for testing and holding of the animal. Ms. Thomson indicated contract services for other areas in the county ad not all the same as each village, town or municipality decides on the services they want to contract with us for. Mr. Soeldner asked her to confirm process of calling Metcom and then Metcom would contact local municipality. Ms. Thomson also confirmed that unincorporated areas are handled through Animal Control, but municipalities handle matters in their areas.
Ms. Thomson presented her reports and updated members on status at Animal Control during shelter in place. Ms. Metsker thanked her and her staff for their hard work and asked if we are seeing changes in bite numbers because of shelter in place. Ms. Thomson indicated she had not done a comparison and would do that for next time. Ms. Thomson indicated they had some donated dog and cat food and if people need assistance to please contact them and they would assist as long as supplies last. Chairman Soeldner asked if there were any questions, hearing none he moved to the next item on the Agenda.
Ms. McNeil presented her monthly reports. She went over April finance reports and the tax revenue report and felt this is an example of how COVID is affecting community now but it has not affected the sales tax numbers yet because of delay in distribution from the State of Illinois we do not received until 3 months later so would start to see COVID affect in June and July numbers. She went over Property tax and indicated bills would go out on Monday May 11th and would be encouraging the public to pay online, utilize the drop box and pay at local banks. She also stated they were working to try to serve some taxpayers on the lower floor. She went over the investment report and indicated rates are down and earnings are lower, but some CDs are still a little higher, but will change over the next few months as those become due. She went over the Blue Cross Blue Shield plan and stated expenses were lower in April and figure that may be a result of shelter at home. Ms. McNeil then went over the Nursing Home Fund report numbers and indicated they were able to get some of the past payments into the Fund to help the cash on hand number.
Mr. Beard asked if she had any cash flow concerns. Ms. McNeil indicated as of right now she did not have any concern about cash flow. She also wanted them to also understand that information provided earlier did not include all funds that McLean County operates out of. She indicated we have gone through other difficult financial situations and we do not see the affects until 3, 6 months or even a year later. Ms. Wollrab asked if they had received calls about individuals not being able to pay their tax bills. Ms. McNeil indicated they have received a few phone calls and some positive feedback on the 30-day waiver. She stated she asked Escrow services to have in by June 10th. Ms. Wollrab asked if there are more calls than usual. Ms. McNeil indicated there has not been a large number of calls but the ones that have several of them are individuals who have not been in this situation before and are not sure of options so they have explained no legal action would be taken and would there would not be a negative credit report to try to reassure them. Mr. Erickson agreed we may not see affects especially with taxes until 6 months or next year. He stated those he has talked to will try to get payments in, but he still felt the extension was an appropriate measure and that we might need to consider down the road something for the September payment.
Mr. Barnett stated at the April Justice Stand-up meeting there was an item about an unpaid bill and the Justice Committee was asked to authorize payment. He asked if things are flowing and bills are being paid on time or if still having some issues like we did last Fall. Ms. McNeil indicated bills are coming from the Auditor’s office and majority of them are in a timely manner, but there have been a few in the last week that involved contracts and there was some delay.
Motion by Barnett/Wollrab to accept and place on file the County Treasurer’s Monthly Financial Reports.
Motion Carried.
Chairman Soeldner indicated Ms. Kathy Michael, County Clerk was not present in the room, but her reports were in the packet. He asked if there were any questions, hearing none, he moved to the next item on the Agenda.
Ms. Camille Rodriguez, County Administrator indicated that Board Rules had changed last month, and now critical hire requests need to go to each oversight committee and then to Executive Committee, so she asked that item be pulled from the Agenda. The Committee concurred.
Ms. Camille Rodriguez, County Administrator presented for action a request to approve a Position Reclassification (Health Department). Ms. Rodriguez indicated this is a reorganization at the Health Department as a result of the Finance Director moving to Administration. She stated they would like to have two of the current staff and the Health Department Director take over Finance Director responsibilities and the saved money would be used for a new behavioral health position to support the behavioral health manager. She stated there would still be an overall a savings realized in the budget. Mr. Robustelli asked her to go over behavioral health manager, behavioral health specialist and the behavioral coordinating council supervisor as they were paid under different departments and if there could be a possible realignment. Ms. Rodriguez indicated the Board of Health has been a long-term funder of behavioral health services as required by the State. She indicated Administration position was in response to trying to accomplish the mental health plan. She stated that two departments do collaborate and while they are providing different services and it could be one day that these separate initiatives might be combined. Mr. Robustelli indicated he would like to see them work together and encouraged rethinking this whole thing instead of filling roles in silos.
Motion by Metsker/Beard to approve a Position Reclassification (Health Department).
Motion Carried.
Ms. Rodriguez presented for action a request to approve a Resolution Amending the Funded Full- Time Equivalent Position Resolution for FY 2020 (Health Department). Ms. Rodriguez indicated we need to update this based on passing the reclassification requested in the previous action item.
Motion by Metsker/Barnett to recommend approval a Resolution Amending the Funded Full-Time Equivalent Position Resolution for FY 2020 (Health Department)
Motion Carried.
Ms. Rodriguez presented for action a request to approve an Ordinance by the McLean County Board Amending the McLean County Code. Specifically, Chapter 108 Personnel Policies and Procedure, Article V Position Classification Plan and Pay Plan: Section 46-Overtime Payments. Ms. Rodriguez indicated this is clean up of a section that was inconsistent with another section of the Code. Ms. Wollrab asked her to confirm this is to change overtime payments based on hours worked and not on total hours paid. Ms. Rodriguez confirmed. Ms. Wollrab asked if this is done in our Union contracts and if so, could we negotiate that out of those agreement. Ms. Rodriguez indicated to her knowledge it is not in union contracts. Ms. Woods agreed only hours worked in the Union contracts. Ms. Metsker asked them to provide an example. Ms. Woods provided example of individual taking vacation time and then working on Saturday and get overtime for Saturday hours. She indicated law requires we only pay for hours worked over 40 hours which is how it is written in another section of the code. Ms. Metsker asked how this was being communicated to the Departments. Ms. Woods indicated she could send out a memo to all department heads and Ms. Rodriguez could relay the information in the department head meetings she holds.
Motion by Wollrab/Robustelli to recommend approval of an Ordinance by the McLean County Board Amending the McLean County Code. Specifically, Chapter 108 Personnel Policies and Procedure, Article V Position Classification Plan and Pay Plan: Section 46-Overtime Payments.
Motion Carried.
Ms. Rodriguez presented for action a request to approve the Resolution Establishing the Budget Policy for Fiscal Year 2021. Ms. Rodriguez noted on page 41 of packet under section 8.2 there was a section underlined for emphasis not that it is a change from last year. She also noted that the date at the end of document on page 42 of packet Section 1 should be 2020 and not 2021. She indicated the only major change is departments heads will be asked to start at a baseline of 96% instead of 98%. Mr. Soeldner asked if anyone had any questions. Mr. Beard suggested they change the unencumbered fund balance back to 12-15% indicated in the policy that last year. He stated moving it back to 15% will create a difficult situation for Administration this year. He felt this is a rainy-day fund that is to be utilized in difficult times and should be utilized so we do not need to raise taxes to help cover 15% balance in the fund. Mr. Barnett asked about recommended amount from government finance officers association. Ms. Rodriguez indicated it is 2 months of operating expenses and that is where they got the 15%. Ms. McNeil indicated that unencumbered is cash and assets minus liability. She indicated we are in good position on cash.
Mr. Robustelli stated he appreciated Mr. Beards comments but that numbers we have today have not been affected by COVID and are still 5.25% down from where the unencumbered fund balance should be according to our policy. He stated we need to look at the risk we want to take with regard to the services we provide and the people who provide them. He stated he would like to add language at the end if the unencumbered fund balance should fall below the recommended amount that it will be pointed out to the Board before they vote on the budget. He stated he felt they should not create the policy around the pandemic. He also stated that while it has not been a part of the policy in the past as they develop the capital improvement plan it usually includes all the projects even the ones that cannot be funded. Mr. Soeldner indicated he would ask Mr. Robustelli and Mr. Beard later for possible amendments.
Ms. Rodriguez indicated also must consider lower amount could have a negative effect on bond ratings. Mr. Beard asked them to clarify if they look at policy or the actual amount for the bond rating. Ms. Rodriguez indicated they would consider our policy, the actual amount as well as situational factors. Ms. Wollrab asked if she asked department heads to prepare a contingency budget. Ms. Rodriguez indicated she had not asked them to prepare a contingency budget, but asked department heads to keep in mind revenue sources they receive. Ms. Wollrab stated to know if they were going into the budget preparation with losses and specific numbers in mind as she did not want to be scrambling 18 months from now trying to figure out how we will sustain ourselves. Ms. Rodriguez indicated they are watching conditions and collaborating with Treasurer and unemployment rates and impact on revenue sources. She stated they have not set down with each department and said what would your budget look like if we lost 20, or 35% of our revenue. She stated those discussions will happen as we start budget discussions. She stated she felt have to start at a base line and then watch the situation as it continues to change.
Ms. Metsker agreed with Mr. Robustelli that we need to know the unencumbered fund balance and she felt we needed to stay with the 15% proposed. She also stated she was not sure we are following policy on page 35 Section 2.4 the Enterprise Fund Nursing Home so we should follow or add language that shows what we have done in the past which is consider market rates. Mr. Soeldner indicated that during the budget hearings there were several occasions where he remembered Committees deciding that we would just make up difference with the unencumbered fund balance and now we know what happens when we do that so that should be considered in future budget talks.
Member Beard proposed an amendment to change wording back to between 12 to 15% instead of 15% as proposed for this year. He stated he was afraid this fall we would need to go to our taxpayers and ask for more money if we do not give ourselves flexibility now. Mr. Erickson stated he is not as concerned about number because the Treasurer does not have concerns about cash flow, and we are not considering all the funds McLean County operates from. Mr. Robustelli said he would vote against because he did not feel policy should be built around situation but should reflect positioning our organization with a good financial footing. He said he would like to have a reporting structure at the time we approve the budget. Mr. Barnett asked if after building the budget the Administration comes back and says need to put this at 12, 13 or 14% we could do that. Mr. Soeldner agreed that policy is what we work toward but if we can’t meet that would need to come back and make final recommendation to different amount. Mr. Beard stated is why he would like to provide a range. Mr. Beard also reminded members this does not include incumbered fund amounts. Mr. Erickson concurred with Mr. Beard. He said that if keeping this at 15% in the policy does not box us in at the end of the budget process then he would be ok as he did not want to raise taxes in a recession.
Motion by Beard/Erickson to restore language that is currently there 12 to 15% range. Motion Failed – yes Soeldner Beard Erickson no is Barnett, Robustelli, Metsker and Wollrab
Motion by Robustelli/Wollrab that we add a line at the end of 3 1 a that reads “the unencumbered fund balance shall be reported as part of the recommended budget presentation and when the final budget is presented for action.”
Motion Carried. Member Erickson voted No.
Motion by Metsker/Wollrab to add to the end of Section 2.4 “or determined based on local market analysis.
Motion Carried. Unanimous
Motion by Wollrab/Beard to recommend approval of the Resolution Establishing the Budget Policy for Fiscal Year 2021 as amended.
Motion Carried.
Ms. Rodriguez presented for action a request to approve Schedule A – Calendar for Preparation of the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget, Five Year Capital Improvement Budget, and Recommend Three Year Budget. Ms. Rodriguez indicated this the schedule of events during the budget process.
Motion by Wollrab/Beard to recommend approval of Schedule A – Calendar for Preparation of the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget, Five Year Capital Improvement Budget, and Recommend Three Year Budget.
Motion Carried.
Mr. Soeldner asked Mr. Barnett if he wanted to discuss question he had raised earlier. Mr. Barnett asked if payments were being delayed and if Administration was still receiving calls from Department Heads. He also asked how things were going with the outside audit. Ms. Rodriguez indicated while Treasurer is willing to do check runs twice a week that has not necessarily been happening because the invoices have not been coming as frequently. She indicated department heads are still reaching out to them stating that invoices are not being paid. She also indicated this is still very much a paper process and they are working to streamline that process. Ms. Rodriguez indicated as for the audit it is all hands on deck and we are finding that the County Administrators Office has had more responsibility than we realized including weekly calls with the Treasurer, Auditor and Clifton, completing activities for the audit including providing copies of contracts and other documents or information. Mr. Barnett asked her if there had been a change from the amount of time the Administration Office provided in previous years and has payroll been flowing as it should. Ms. Rodriguez indicated that payroll has been flowing. She stated the manner in which they were taught by outgoing leadership was there were certain items the Treasurer’s office or the Auditor would supply and more specifically from the Auditor’s office we have been getting more responses that it is County Administration’s responsibilities so we are meeting those responsibilities. Mr. Robustelli asked her where she would place the percentage of work for the audit between Admin, Treasurer and Auditor and if there was one department in the lead. Ms. Rodriguez stated at the beginning more Administration time including RFP and coordinating initial interviews, setting up a location for them to meet and providing computer access, but felt now it is more equal between the three departments with no one department in the lead.
Ms. Rodriguez presented for action a request to approve an Ordinance of the McLean County Board Establishing the Annual Salary of the Circuit Clerk, Auditor and Coroner. Ms. Rodriguez stated that we need to set these at least 180 days prior to first day of term and do so without considering current holders of offices and so our recommendations utilize principals of equity, she noted that in the recommendations they took into consideration the comments and concerns about the future budgets based on COVID crisis. She stated they were proposing increases in first two years to be congruent with what the other three elected officials experienced two years ago. Ms. Metsker stated she felt we need to adjust the Auditor as the responsibilities in that position had diminished and believed other positions should be held flat as she did not feel comfortable paying the salaries, we are paying elected officials. She felt difficult to go to her constituents and say that is an appropriate salary as she felt it is extremely high. She said this is not based on individuals as she knows they have extensive experience and doing a great job but feels first two should remain flat and should pay the Auditor $80,600 a year. Ms. Wollrab thanked Ms. Metsker for making motion because she felt impossible for her to recommend salary increases to these positions and agreed 80,000 good starting point for discussion on the Auditor. Mr. Robustelli agreed he was also not comfortable to increase salaries for any positions. He also stated that when Auditor’s salary was considered two years ago he was not comfortable setting salary out of the normal cycle and this is the normal cycle when it is supposed to be set and felt it would have set a bad precedent to set before. Mr. Robustelli agreed this is not about the people in the positions but to look at budget conditions, fairness and management and that is how he is approaching so will support.
Mr. Erickson stated he agreed with keeping the salaries flat. He stated he could not help but think the Auditor’s salary is about circumstances that happened last Fall. He stated the Auditor has presented a statement that she does have significant job duties so he would support keeping all flat but not reducing auditor’s salary. Mr. Beard supported both components of Ms. Metsker’s proposal but stated it is hard to take these together as they are each unique positions. He also agreed this is a more appropriate time to make this adjustment. Mr. Barnett stated he would support proposal. He stated it is hard to put aside the things that have been done by the Auditor as it does tend to cloud the issue but putting those aside it is clear that the scope of the auditor’s office has changed over the last few years, so feel appropriate to downsize the salary. Mr. Erickson stated he wanted to make it clear that he is in support of keeping salaries flat but not reducing auditor’s salary so will be voting against. He said he felt still same facts as two years ago when discussed.
Motion by Metsker/Wollrab to keep the Circuit Clerk and Coroner salaries the same as current salary with no raises and decrease the Auditor salary to $80,600.
Motion Carried. Member Erickson voted No.
Mr. Beard asked them to state the numbers they voted on. Discussion on numbers and decided current salaries as provided by Administration for Circuit Clerk of 105,265 and Coroner of 100,302 and then they would decrease Auditor salary to $80,600.
Motion by Erickson/Beard to recommend approval of an Ordinance of the McLean County Board Establishing the Annual Salary of the Circuit Clerk, Auditor and Coroner as amended.
Motion Carried.
Mr. Patrick Hoban, CEO of the Bloomington Normal Economic Development Council provided an update on the McLean County Targeted Development Loan Program. He stated they completed loan packet applications and went live on April 27th and since then have had over 300 visits to the page, 22 businesses sign up for information and partnered with Chamber of Commerce about marketing. He stated they also have done case management outreach and have reached out to over 600 businesses. He stated they do not have any completed applications yet and felt it may be because second round of the paycheck protection program released same day. Ms. Metsker thanked him for the turn around and all his effort. She also thanked financial institutions, administration and state’s attorney office. Mr. Beard agreed and asked if he had any feedback on the second round of PPP. Mr. Hoban indicated they had a meeting with CDC and financial institutions and felt there were so many applicants the first round and many did not receive so funds will continue to go to those. He stated that there are also more programs coming out and a possibility of phase four, so trying to monitor all these programs to help get word out. Mr. Erickson stated the funds did not go out as fast on the second round of PPP funds and they are trying to focus on the smaller customers. Mr. Robustelli thanked him for quick turnaround. He stated that one piece of feedback he had received is that a lot of small business owners have not had to think about putting these kinds of materials together so he asked if there is a person that could be paired with small businesses to help them with applications. Mr. Hoban indicated they have retired business owners and officers that have volunteered to assist. Mr. Erickson asked if links can be sent to members so they can put it out on their social pages. Mr. Hoban asked them to share BN.org.
Mr. Soeldner indicated the next item was discussion regarding the Downstate Business Stabilization Program. Ms. Rodriguez indicated she and Mr. Hoban had been discussing this program offered through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity of the State as another opportunity for our business owners to apply for funding. She stated some of the components require a great amount of responsibility on the part of the County and at the end of the day should an individual involved in this program default the County would be financially responsible so Staff wanted to discuss the program with them before moving forward. Mr. Barnett asked our administration if this program would only be for businesses in unincorporated areas of McLean County. Mr. Hoban confirmed that businesses in Bloomington and Normal cannot apply. He also stated that businesses in small municipalities could ask the municipality to support them but if that small municipality does not then the County could.
Mr. Beard said he felt there are pros and cons to this program and stated he was not in support of taking risk where there was a potential liability to the County taxpayers. Mr. Barnett asked if there is a deadline for when we have to opt in or out for this program. Mr. Hoban indicated that deadline is December or when state funding runs out. Mr. Hoban indicated they have had two interested parties. Mr. Soeldner reminded them that this information would be subject to FOIA and only certain businesses are eligible. Mr. Hoban went over those criteria and eligible businesses. Ms. Wollrab stated that they needed to weigh being able to help keep a business open or not and then asked about the timeline the County would have to pay back the funds if a business would fail. Mr. Hoban stated that timeline is not provided. Mr. Erickson asked if there was a credit check for business. Mr. Hoban indicated they would assist business trying to apply and vet those businesses. Mr. Erickson asked if they must have a minimum credit rating. Ms. Rodriguez stated the business has to show stability for a certain amount of time prior to the COVID crisis and while the County would have to hold the public hearing, the Department of Commerce would approve. Mr. Hoban confirmed that the Department of Commerce would run the credit check and not us. Mr. Erickson stated that he felt this merited further discussion.
Mr. Barnett asked him if interested businesses were aware of information they would have to provide. Mr. Hoban confirmed. Mr. Barnett agreed merit to look at program. Mr. Robustelli stated that he did not feel this was a well-designed program for a crisis as it is not quickly responsive. Mr. Beard stated need to consider how much we may have to pay out and time that staff will need to put into this program. He suggested reaching out to legislature to get program streamlined and stated he felt there might be better options right now. Mr. Erickson stated we do not know when other programs are going to run out of funds and while this is not the most well-constructed program it is the business owners decision if they want to go through this process so he would not shut down discussion on this. Ms. Wollrab agreed with Mr. Erickson about continued discussion as she wanted more information on payback timeline. She also reminded members this is a grant that looks good to business because they put out this information, get funds and not have to pay back.
Ms. Rodriguez presented her report on recent employment activities. Chairman Soeldner asked if there were any questions, hearing none, he thanked her.
Chairman Soeldner presented the Finance Committee with bills for review and approval as transmitted by the County Auditor.
Motion by Metsker/Robustelli to approve the presented transfer and bills with prepaid total and fund total amount of $1,176,054.54.
Motion carried.
Chairman Soeldner asked if there was anything else, hearing nothing he adjourned the meeting at 7:21 p.m.
https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7336
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