McLean County Finance Committee met Jan. 5.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
The Finance Committee of the McLean County Board met at 4:30 p.m. in Room 400 of the Government Center, 115 East Washington Street, Bloomington, IL.
Members Present: Chairman Catherine Metsker, Members Gerald Thompson, Chuck Erickson, Josh Barnett, William Friedrich and Val Laymon
Members Absent: None
Other Members Present: None
Staff Present: Cassy Taylor, County Administrator; Cathy Dreyer, Assistant County Administrator; Samantha Vazquez Assistant State’s
Attorney – Civil Division; Julie A. Morlock, Recording Secretary
Department Heads/Elected Officials Present: Marshell Thomson, Animal Control; Michelle Anderson, County Auditor, Rebecca McNeil, County Treasurer
Others Present: Amy Brooke, Health Department
Chairman Metsker called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and declared a quorum.
Chairman Metsker presented the Finance Committee December 1, 2021 regular meeting minutes for approval.
Motion by Erickson/Friedrich to approve the Finance Committee December 1, 2021 regular meeting minutes.
Motion carried.
Chairman Metsker confirmed there was a request to appear and invited Ms. Amy Brooke to the table. Ms. Brooke stated that she supported the action item on the agenda for incentive pay; however, she felt the vaccine pay previously tabled was a better option and that even those who had worked from home and those above pay grade 12 deserved to receive the pay as well as they worked long hours at home. Ms. Metsker thanked her.
Chairman Metsker indicated Ms. Kathy Michael, County Clerk was not present, so she presented on her behalf a request to approve a 2022 HAVA Election Security Grant Acceptance Agreement.
Motion by Laymon/Erickson to recommend approval of a 2022 HAVA Election Security Grant Acceptance Agreement.
Motion Carried.
Chairman Metsker presented for action a request to approve a 2022 Voter Registration State Grant Acceptance Agreement.
Motion by Thompson/Erickson to recommend approval of a 2022 Voter Registration State Grant Acceptance Agreement.
Motion Carried.
Chairman Metsker presented for action a request to approve an Emergency Appropriation Ordinance Amending the McLean County Fiscal Year 2022 Combined Annual Appropriation and Budget Ordinance County Clerk.
Motion by Friedrich/Laymon to recommend approval of an Emergency Appropriation Ordinance Amending the McLean County Fiscal Year 2022 Combined Annual Appropriation and Budget Ordinance County Clerk.
Motion Carried.
Chairman Metsker indicated Ms. Michael’s monthly report was in the packet and asked if there were any questions. Chairman Metsker asked if there were any questions; hearing none, she moved to the next item on the agenda.
Ms. Marshell Thompson, Animal Control Director presented her monthly reports and updates on services. She thanked Chairman McIntyre for his support as well as Michelle, Forbes, Dawn Shelton and Heather Paul from State Farm for donations during the holiday season for the animals. Mr. Erickson asked how animals are affected by COVID. Ms. Thompson stated they had not seen any COVID symptoms in animals at the center but continued to take precautions. She indicated the recommendation is to quarantine away from your pets as much as possible if you can when you have COVID. Chairman Metsker asked if there were any questions; hearing none, she thanked her.
Ms. Anderson, County Auditor presented for action a request to approve a Service Agreement with Howard E. Nyhart Company, Inc. for actuarial services. Ms. Anderson indicated the annual report is required as part of the auditing process. She noted this is not a year a full actuarial report is needed. Ms. Anderson indicated they sent this service out for bid many years ago and this vendor was the lowest cost as well as one of the few who provide this particular service. She noted that local actuaries do not provide this service. Ms. Metsker asked if there is an ordinance that says certain things have to go out to bid. Ms. Taylor stated she would confirm but noted even if this vendor provided a bid the total would be below the $30,000 threshold for RFP per our procurement policies. Mr. Barnett asked them to confirm this was for one year and they would discuss bidding out for additional years at another meeting. Ms. Metsker confirmed.
Motion by Thompson/Friedrich to recommend approval of a Service Agreement with Howard E. Nyhart Company, Inc. for actuarial services.
Motion Carried.
Ms. Anderson presented her quarterly report to the Committee. Ms. Anderson noted ARPA funds in the General Fund, CDAP and COVID expenses. She indicated the Nursing Home was still losing funds but also noted numbers did not reflect some transfers. Ms. Metsker asked her to confirm amount lost at the Nursing Home. Ms. Anderson indicated over a million lost.
Chairman Metsker asked if there were any questions; hearing none, she thanked Ms. Anderson.
Ms. McNeil went over her monthly reports starting with Sales Tax and noted overall revenue up approximately 3.1 million. She noted increase in cannabis sales and sales tax received through online purchases as well as PPRT increase all contributed to that increase. Mr. Thompson asked if she could give specific amount increased by cannabis sales. She indicated she could not as it was not broken down and if it was she would not be allowed to divulge which specific businesses contributed amounts of sales tax per confidentiality rules set by the Illinois Department of Revenue.
Ms. McNeil went over the real estate tax and Motor Fuel tax revenues. Ms. McNeil then went over the investment report and noted rates were still very low, but they had heard the Feds were thinking of increasing the rate. She then went over Blue Cross Blue Shield report including claims and stop loss. Ms. McNeil then went over the Nursing Home report. She indicated nursing home had positive revenue, but expenses still exceeded revenue. She indicated she was not sure what dates the numbers the auditor presented represented. Mr. Erickson noted the Auditor had stated amounts she presented did not include transfers. Ms. McNeil indicated she did not feel the nursing home situation was as dire as it had been in the past. Ms. McNeil noted private pay revenue and census were both up. Ms. Metsker also noted that Medicaid reimbursement went up and confirmed with Ms. Dreyer the amount of $40 per day.
Motion by Barnett/Laymon to accept and place on file the County Treasurer’s Monthly Financial Reports.
Motion Carried.
Ms. Cassy Taylor, County Administrator presented for action a request to approve a Dissemination Agent Agreement with PMA Securities, LLC. Ms. Taylor indicated PMA had assisted with the Bond Issue and staff had been pleased with the assistance and work provided. She stated this request would be for PMA to assist as the dissemination agent as well. She noted that we had recently received our Bond Rating and stood at an AA 1 which was very good.
Motion by Barnett/Laymon approval of a Dissemination Agent Agreement with PMA Securities, LLC.
Motion Carried.
Ms. Taylor presented for action a request to approve an Emergency Appropriation Ordinance Amending the McLean County Fiscal Year 2022 Combined Annual Appropriation and Budget Ordinance. Ms. Metsker stated this pay would be provided to individuals who worked through the pandemic. Ms. Taylor stated we work to be a premier employer in the county and feel our employees are our best assets. She noted this would be a different proposal than one presented at the end of 2021 as this would provide premium pay for those who worked during the height of the pandemic. Ms. Taylor noted this would be provided per the Federal Rules for ARPA funds that stated funds could only be used to provide premium pay for workers during an emergency who worked on site and was not available to those who worked from home. She stated Administration felt that workers provided essential critical work no matter the department because they kept the county running. Mr. Friedrich asked how many employees would be excluded from this. Ms. Dreyer indicated she did not have specific information but those in the higher grade were minimal as they were department heads. Ms. Metsker stated she had reviewed the spread sheet developed by Staff and thought it had been about 11. Ms. Dreyer and Ms. Taylor confirmed a low number. Mr. Barnett asked when employees would expect to receive. Ms. Taylor stated staff would confirm numbers if approved by the County Board and then pay through the next pay cycle. Ms. Metsker noted tax implications and asked if this would be a special payroll. Ms. McNeil came up and stated they would recommend doing it in February after 1099 and W-2 were issued, and they would also recommend it come as a special pay. Mr. Friedrich asked her to read paragraph about when they can pay premium pay. Ms. Taylor read guidelines into the record. “The Interim Final Rules states that “Fiscal Recovery Fund payments may be used by recipients to provide premium pay to eligible workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency. These are workers who have been and continue to be relied on to maintain continuity of operations of essential critical infrastructure sectors. The Interim Final Rule goes on to define essential work as “work involving regular in-person interactions or regular physical handling of items that were also handled by others. In order to comply with the Interim Final Rule, a worker would be engaged in essential work and accordingly may not receive premium pay, for telework performed from a residence.”
Motion by Friedrich/Laymon to recommend approval of an Emergency Appropriation Ordinance Amending the McLean County Fiscal Year 2022 Combined Annual Appropriation and Budget Ordinance.
Motion Carried.
Chairman Metsker presented the Finance Committee with bills in the amount of $1,325,741.58 for review, and approval as transmitted by the County Auditor.
Motion by Friedrich/Thompson to approve the bills as presented.
Motion carried.
Chairman Metsker asked if there was other business to come before the Committee; hearing nothing, she adjourned the meeting at 5:30 p.m.
https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/8540
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