McLean County Finance Committee met April 7.
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)
Department Heads/Elected
Officials Present: Becky McNeil, Treasurer (in-person), Michelle Anderson, Auditor; 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 March 3, 2021 regular meeting of the Finance Committee for approval.
Motion by Friedrich/Thompson to approve the March 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.
Ms. Rebecca McNeil presented for action a request to approve a Resolutions Authorizing the County Board Chairman to Surrender/Cancel Tax Sale Certificates of Purchase for Mobile Home ID# GE-00-0011 and Mobile Home ID# MB-00-0192. She went over process and reason for surrender/cancellation of Tax Sale Certificates.
Motion by Erickson/Thompson to recommend approval of Resolutions Authorizing the County Board Chairman to Surrender/Cancel Tax Sale Certificates of Purchase for Mobile Home ID# GE-00-0011 and Mobile Home ID# MB-00-0192.
Motion Carried. Roll call vote –all members present voted yes including the Chairman.
Ms. Rebecca McNeil presented for action a request to approve a Mail Services: Master Services Agreement with Mail Communications Groups. She stated this was a change to an existing agreement with a company they have utilized for several years that reflects the change in postage rate. She stated that this is the final year for the agreement, and she would be working with the States attorney as they might need to bid out for this job next year for the printing and mailing of our tax bills.
Motion by Barnett/Friedrich to recommend approval of a Mail Services: Master Services Agreement with Mail Communications Groups
Motion Carried. Roll call vote –all members present voted yes including the Chairman.
Ms. Rebecca McNeil, McLean County Treasurer presented her monthly reports. Ms. McNeil went over the tax revenue report noting that shared sales tax is down in correlation with the economy and noted the additional revenue from the Motor Fuel Tax. She then went over the Investment report indicating there had not been a change on the still low rates. She then went over the Blue Cross Blue Shield report indicating that they were in good standing compared to last year. Ms. McNeil presented the final report, the Nursing Home report and went over revenue and expense numbers through the month of February.
Motion by Wollrab/Laymon 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 presented her report. Ms. Michael went over election on April 6th and indicated there was a higher than usual turn out but still only about 70% voted. She noted that totals are still unofficial as they still have some vote by mail ballots out, but they would need to be post marked April 6th to be counted. Ms. Michael mentioned that the touch screens are worn out and would need to bid out and bring that to the Committee for approval. She also indicated that her staff had been asking for an armed security guard. Ms. Metsker asked when she wanted to have armed guard there. Ms. Michael clarified they would want the officer there every day and not just on election day. Mr. Barnett thanked her and her staff for their work on the election. Chairman Metsker asked if there were any questions; hearing none, she thanked her.
Ms. Marshell Thomson of Animal Control presented her monthly report. She indicated all was going well at Animal Control and that she would be putting out information on interacting with wildlife. Chairman Metsker asked if there were any questions or comments, hearing none she thanked her.
Ms. Michelle Anderson, County Auditor indicated outside audit was in full swing and she was working on CAFR and GASB. Ms. Metsker asked if there were questions; hearing none, she thanked her.
Ms. Camille Rodriguez County Administrator presented for action a request to approve two Class C Raffle License Applications, one for Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police/Special
Olympics and the other for the American Legion. Ms. Laymon requested that language be changed to gender neutral. Ms. Morlock confirmed this was an old form, but they were in the process of moving requests for raffle licenses to online, so they had not updated the form.
Motion by Barnett/Thompson to approve Raffle License Applications for Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police/Special Olympics and American Legion.
Motion carried. Roll call vote – all members present voted yes including the Chairman.
Ms. Rodriguez provided update on the forgivable loan program noting 17 had been awarded and they were still receiving applications. She reminded the Committee that those who receive loan funds need to submit receipts that meet criteria established for the program and if they do not submit receipts or the receipts do not meet criteria then they have two years to pay the loan back. Ms. Rodriguez noted that they would need to have discussion about how long the Board wanted to continue that program. She stated that they continue to see community spread but with vaccinations being administered they would need to put it on the agenda in the future to consider.
Chairman Metsker presented the transfer for approval.
Motion by Barnett/Thompson to approve the transfer.
Motion Carried. Roll call vote – all members present voted yes including the Chairman.
Chairman Metsker presented the Finance Committee with bills in the amount of $2,154,633.27 for review and approval as transmitted by the County Auditor.
Motion by Erickson/Thompson to approve the presented bills with prepaid total and fund total amount of $2,154,633.27.
Motion carried. Roll call vote – all present voted yes including the Chairman.
Under other business Ms. Wollrab indicated she had spoken with Mr. Erickson as she was concerned about the Justice Committee agenda item on tort immunity. She stated the Assistant State’s Attorney presented information about qualified immunity, but she wanted to bring it up in Finance because she felt impact of any legislation would be on our risk management insurance that fell under the Finance Committee oversight. She asked about inviting our insurance agent to come and address potential increases with the Committee. Ms. Metsker stated she understood the connection and if members believe we should address that potential by having the agent come in and provide information then they would request Staff to reach out to the Agent. Ms. Wollrab stated she felt that if it might affect our insurance it needed to be considered in the next budget cycle.
Mr. Erickson asked if she wanted his response. Ms. Wollrab stated he was the one that asked Mr. Spanos to talk during the Justice Committee meeting and Mr. Spanos did not cover any possible insurance issues. Mr. Erickson provided a history of the request including Sheriff bringing forward an ordinance that had been passed in Jefferson County that stated if State ended qualified immunity then the County would pick up the cost should an officer be sued. He stated that the Assistant State’s Attorney had issues with the language and drafted a generic resolution regarding whether the Illinois State legislature should drop or not drop qualified immunity and he felt that was an appropriate resolution to come before the Justice Committee. Mr. Erickson noted that Mr. Spanos addressed definition of qualified immunity and the bill that did pass out of the Illinois General Assembly did set up a task force to discuss whether to keep or not keep qualified immunity. Mr. Erickson also noted that the Illinois House had passed a bill to drop qualified immunity. He stated that the resolution was not before the Finance Committee because resolution did not speak to spending. Ms. Wollrab stated she felt this should be considered by the Legislative Committee and not the Justice Committee if any other Committee should be considering it would be the Finance Committee because of potential cost to the County. Mr. Erickson again stated he felt the Justice committee had oversight to bring a generic resolution.
Ms. Metsker stated that if bill to drop qualified immunity did move forward and it would cause additional cost to the County then she would ask Mr. Spanos about bringing information to the Finance Committee. Ms. Wollrab stated she felt that information should come from Risk Management people not Mr. Spanos. Ms. Metsker stated that Mr. Spanos is the liaison with our Risk Management Company and would reach out to Mr. Spanos only about having a representative from our Risk Management Company to come to the meeting.
Chairman Metsker asked if there was anything else, hearing nothing she adjourned the meeting at 5:19p.m.
https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/8105?__cf_chl_captcha_tk__=pmd_9dd9c18618d19aa1d4a57aa2986d55e286f2c1da-1627540996-0-gqNtZGzNAs2jcnBszQkO
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