McLean County Finance Committee Met March 3.
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 Catherine Metsker (in-person) Members Gerald Thompson, Chuck Erickson, Laurie Wollrab, Josh Barnett, William Friedrich and Val Laymon (via remote attendance)
Members Absent: None
Other Members Present: None
Staff Present: Ms. Camille Rodriguez, County Administrator; Ms. Cassy Taylor, Assistant County Administrator, Ms. Cathy Dreyer, Assistant
County Administrator; Samantha Vazquez, Assistant State’s Attorney – Civil Division; Ms. Julie A. Morlock, Recording Secretary (In-Person); Chris Spanos First Assistant State’s Attorney – Civil Division, (via remote attendance)
Department Heads/Elected
Officials Present: Ms. Becky McNeil, Treasurer (in person), Marshell Thomson, Animal control, Kathy Michael, County Clerk, (via remote attendance)
Others Present: None
Chairman Metsker called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and declared a quorum.
Chairman Metsker presented the Minutes of February 3, 2021 regular meeting of the Finance Committee for approval.
Motion by Erickson/Wollrab to approve the February 3, 2021 regular meeting minutes of the Finance Committee.
Motion carried. Roll call vote – all members present voted yes including the Chairman.
Chairman Metsker confirmed there were no members of the public to appear before the Committee.
Chairman Metsker indicated that Ms. Michelle Anderson, County Auditor was present and asked if she had anything for the Committee. Ms. Anderson stated that in follow up to the discussion from last month she wanted to note for the Committee that if they went out for bid and changed actuaries next year the new actuarial firm would not be able to roll over information and that additional work by a new firm would cost the County an additional seven to eight thousand dollars.
Ms. Rebecca McNeil presented for action Request approval of a Resolution postponing Delinquency date Interest for the First Installment 2020 (payable 21021) Property Tax payments Purchase to 35 ILCS 200/21-40(C)(1)(B). She stated this is the same thing as last year and wanted this considered in March so her office could make adjustments in their system if they decided to not extend the delinquency date. She indicated this would give individuals several more weeks to make their initial payment without a penalty. Mr. Friedrich stated he did not have a problem with the delay for first and second installments and asked her to confirm this would be a delay in first installment but not in the second installment. Ms. McNeil confirmed they would only be doing postponement for first installment. Ms. Wollrab asked if they could delay second installment later. Ms. McNeil indicated bills would have already gone out with the second installment due date and penalties ladder. Ms. McNeil stated most payments come in through escrow, so we did not have as much trouble last year. She said the few that did need to pay later expressed their appreciation for the extra time. Ms. McNeil indicated revenue last year on penalties was not high. Ms. McNeil stated the tax sale will also be pushed back about 2 weeks as this would push the entire cycle back two weeks. Ms. Wollrab asked what this vote does to the September due date and could we make a change in the summer. Ms. McNeil indicated this resolution would push due date back, but penalties would start after that due date. She stated to make a change in the summer they would have to send notice and refund any penalties that came in, so it could be done but would take extra work. She stated they would look at delinquency ratios after first installment. She said the governor could also step in to delay this process. Mr. Friedrich asked her to confirm she sent out 68,000 tax notices he was interested in the ratio of about 600,000 acres in county and 68,000 notices. She confirmed approximate numbers and provided example of several farmland parcels going to one owner.
Motion by Thompson/Wollrab to recommend approval of a Resolution Postponing Delinquency Date Interest for the First Installment 2020 (Payable 2021) Property Tax payments Pursuant to 35 ILCS 200/21- 40(C)(1)(B).
Motion Carried. Roll call vote –all members present voted yes including the Chairman.
Ms. Rebecca McNeil, McLean County Treasurer presented her monthly reports. She went over the Summary of Tax Revenue report including Occupation tax revenue, budget numbers, Shared Sales Tax, Property Tax Revenue and Motor Fuel Tax. She went over the investment report and indicated rates are still not very good, but indicated she is not concerned about cash flow as payments from the State of Illinois have been coming in on time. She went over the Blue Cross Blue Shield report indicating as of now expenses are coming in below last year, however she reminded the Committee that the County received a credit in the month of January. Ms. McNeil then went over the report on the nursing home and indicated that they are still posting billings from 2020, but they have already posted interfund transfers and most major expense for 2020 at this time. She stated that revenue was up by about 1.1 million and even without the CURES revenue their revenue came in higher than last year. Ms. McNeil also pointed out that expenses decreased so while 2019 loss was just over 1 million and 2020 loss was over just over 100,000. She said she was still concerned about cash on hand and felt 2021 might be a challenge to that fund.
Motion by Thompson/Friedrich to accept and place on file the County Treasurer’s Monthly Financial Reports.
Motion Carried. Roll call vote –all members present voted yes including the Chairman.
Ms. Kathy Michael, County Clerk went over her report. She indicated early voting has been slow but expect it to pick up as we get closer to election day. Chairman Metsker asked if there were any questions; hearing none, she thanked her.
Ms. Marshell Thomson of Animal Control presented for action a request to approve a Memorandum of Agreement for Veterinarian Services with Dr. Eric Nord. Ms. Thomson stated he does a very good job with our animals.
Ms. Wollrab indicated she wanted to make a motion to reduce the contract to a two-year contact. Ms. Wollrab asked what line item this was paid from and annual amount. Ms. Thomson indicated it was about $30,000. Ms. Thompson stated some of the services paid to him are reimbursed through the Mensen Fund. Ms. Thompson went over the charges paid out of this contract. Ms. Wollrab asked if it had gone out for bid. Ms. Thompson stated went out for bid before the last contract and Dr. Nord was the only one to respond. There was discussion of line items and amount paid out in the last month. Mr. Erickson asked if Dr. Nord bid on the three-year contract as his bid might change if Dr. Nord was aware the contract duration was reduced. Ms. Vasquez stated they do not need to bid out for professional services. Mr. Erickson stated he wanted to make sure Dr. Nord would be ok with a 2-year contract. Ms. Thompson stated she would have to talk to Dr. Nord. Ms. Wollrab stated her concern was Dr. Nord had already provided services for several years and this would extend it another several years. She stated she felt it was a long time to go without putting it out for bid. Mr. Friedrich stated his concern was Dr. Nord was the only bidder during the last round and might get frustrated and decide he did not want to provide his services to the County.
Motion by Wollrab/Laymon Motion to Amend the contract to reduce it to a two-year contract instead of a four-year contract.
Motion Failed. Roll call vote with Members Friedrich, Thompson, Erickson and Metsker voting no and Members Wollrab, Barnett and Laymon voting yes.
Chairman Metsker asked if there were further questions or comments on the original motion; hearing none she called the question.
Motion by Friedrich/Erickson to recommend approval of a Memorandum of Agreement for Veterinarian Services with Dr. Eric Nord.
Motion carried. Roll call vote – all members present voted yes including the Chairman.
Ms. Thompson presented her monthly report and shared that she and Animal Control had been part of a video on the Victoria Stilwell site https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaStilwell/. Mr. Friedrich stated veterinarians do not have an easy job as it is not just domestic animals they take care of and thanked Dr. Nord for his services. Ms. Wollrab stated she did not doubt it was a difficult job and did not question his skills but was questioning renewal without a new bid from a fiduciary standpoint. She stated she did not feel comfortable automatically continuing agreements and wanted to give others in the community a chance to bid. Ms. Rodriguez indicated policy utilized in these instances is one that considers professional services and Administration sometimes supports department heads determination not to go out for bid for those professional services. Ms. Rodriguez stated staff would look at policy to see if it needed to be changed. Ms. Wollrab stated she appreciated that and asked if auditor services were professional. Ms. Rodriguez stated they are but that there are accounting standards that must be met so those services are bid out on a regular basis. Ms. Metsker stated she felt it was the wish of the Committee to look at policy to make sure it is in line with the Board’s expectations. Chairman Metsker asked if there were any further questions or comments, hearing none she thanked her.
Ms. Camille Rodriguez County Administrator presented for action a request to approve a Resolution Amending the Fiscal Year 2021 Full-Time Equivalent Position Resolution for the Health Department. Ms. Wollrab asked of this was presented to the Board of Health. Ms. Rodriguez indicated they were made aware of it, but they do not vote on these resolutions. Ms. Wollrab asked why they would not have voted on it since it was a staffing change. Ms. Metsker indicated she spoke with Member Schafer who was present at the Board of Health meeting and the Board was made aware of it. Ms. Wollrab said the Board of Health being aware of it and voting to approve is not the same. She stated she was concerned the Board of Health was not approving staffing changes. Ms. Metsker stated it was not put as an action item on the agenda. Ms. Wollrab stated if they did not vote on it she felt the Committee and County Board should not either. Ms. Metsker stated they could send it back to the Board of Health to approve it and delay approving it here. Ms. Taylor stated it was for a contractual person and delay would also be delay that individual getting any fringe benefits including health insurance.
Mr. Barnett stated the process of approving positions was confusing and that it needed reviewed and updated by the Rules Committee. Mr. Erickson asked about process at the Board of Health. Ms. Metsker stated she could not tell him what they typically did, just what she had been told happened at the last meeting where they were made aware of the change, but it was not listed as an action item. Mr. Erickson asked if the Health Department had followed up to say we should not pass it. Ms. Metsker stated that was not the case and she was comfortable passing this because the Board of Health was aware of and supported it. Ms. Wollrab stated if we continue to pass positions requests without the Board of Health doing it the proper way then it will continue to happen. Mr. Thompson agreed he would be ok moving this forward but would want to make sure this did not happen again. Mr. Erickson stated he agreed with Mr. Thompson. Ms. Laymon stated she was concerned about a delay in benefits this person might be expecting to receive. She asked about a process to make sure this did not happen in the future. Ms. Metsker asked Administrator to have a discussion with Ms. McKnight about process in the future as the committee would want approval by the Board of Health before we review and approve anything. Mr. Friedrich stated he would abstain.
Motion by Barnett/Thompson to recommend approval of a Resolution Amending the Fiscal Year 2021 Full-Time Equivalent Position Resolution – Health Department
Motion carried. Roll call vote – Member Wollrab voted no. Member Friedrich abstained and members Barnett, Laymon, Thompson and Erickson and Metsker present voted yes, including the chairman.
Ms. Camille Rodriguez, County Administrator presented for action a request to approve a Resolution Amending the Fiscal Year 2021 Full-Time Equivalent Position Resolution – Circuit Clerk. Ms. Rodriguez indicated this was presented by Circuit Clerk Everhart last night at Justice where he showed the need for change in staffing due to increased expungements.
Motion by Thompson/Barnett to recommend approval of a Resolution Amending the Fiscal Year 2021 Full-Time Equivalent Position Resolution – Circuit Clerk Motion carried. Roll call vote – all members present voted yes, including the chairman.
Ms. Rodriguez presented her report on recent employment activities. Chairman Metsker asked if there were any questions, hearing none, he thanked her.
Chairman Metsker presented the Finance Committee with bills in the amount of $558,308.20 for review and approval as transmitted by the County Auditor.
Motion by Wollrab/Laymon to approve the presented transfer and bills with prepaid total and fund total amount of $558,308.20.
Motion carried. Roll call vote – all present voted yes including the Chairman.
Chairman Metsker asked if there was anything else, hearing nothing she adjourned the meeting at 5:49 p.m.
https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/8041
Alerts Sign-up