McLean County Times

McLean County Executive Committee met Oct. 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Executive Committee of the McLean County Board met on Monday, October 14, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. in Room 400, Government Center, 115 E. Washington Street, Bloomington, Illinois.

Members Present: Chairman Catherine Metsker, Members Elizabeth Johnston, Susan Schafer, Lea Cline, Val Laymon, Jim Rogal, and Chuck Erickson

Members Absent: Member William Friedrich

Other Board Members

Present: None

Staff Present: Cassy Taylor, County Administrator; Cathy Dreyer, Assistant County Administrator; Anthony Grant, Assistant County Administrator; Trevor Sierra, First Assistant State’s Attorney – Civil Division; Julie Morlock, Recording Secretary

Department Heads/Elected Officials Present: Ray Lai, Regional Planning; Craig Nelson, Information Technologies,

Others Present: Joe Weter, Information Technologies; Crystal Williams, GIS; Jennifer Sicks, Regional Planning

Chairman Metsker called to order a meeting of the Executive Committee at 4:00 p.m. and declared a quorum.

Chairman Metsker confirmed with Administrator Taylor there were no requests from the public or county employees to speak.

Chairman Metsker presented the Consent Agenda which consisted of the minutes from the September 9, 2024 regular meeting and invoices in the amount of $782,605.63 for the General Fund, Shared Sales Tax, Veterans Assistance and American Rescue Plan Act as well as invoices in the amount of $3,359.18 for Regional Planning for approval.

Motion by Laymon/Johnston to approve the Consent Agenda which consisted of the minutes from the September 9, 2024 regular meeting and invoices in the amount of $782,605.63 for the General Fund, Shared Sales Tax, Veterans Assistance and American Rescue Plan Act as well as invoices in the amount of $3,359.18 for Regional Planning.

Motion Carried.

Chairman Metsker presented the appointments and reappointments for approval noting there were no reappointments this month.

Motion by Cline/Rogal to recommend approval of the appointment and reappointments.

Motion Carried.

Val Laymon, Vice Chair of the Finance Committee indicated they had no items for action but would have items to be presented to the Board later in the week. Chairman Metsker asked if there were any additional questions or comments; hearing none, she thanked her.

Susan Schafer, Chairman of the Health Committee indicated they had no items for the Committee but would have an item for the Board this Thursday. Chairman Metsker asked if there were any questions; hearing none, she thanked her.

Chuck Erickson, Chairman of the Justice Committee presented for action a request to approve a Resolution for services provided by the Office of the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor.

Motion by Erickson/Cline to recommend approval of a Resolution for services provided by the Office of the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor.

Motion Carried.

Mr. Erickson presented for action on behalf of the Justice Committee a request to approve a Grant Agreement between the State of Illinois, Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security and County of McLean (Agreement No. 25REPMCLEA)

Motion by Erickson/Johnston to recommend approval of a Grant Agreement between the State of Illinois, Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security and County of McLean (Agreement No. 25REPMCLEA) Motion Carried.

Mr. Erickson presented for action on behalf of the Justice Committee a request to approve an Illinois Medication Assisted Recovery Learning Collaborative Memorandum of Understanding – Implementation Grant.

Motion by Erickson/Schafer to recommend approval of an Illinois Medication Assisted Recovery Learning Collaborative Memorandum of Understanding – Implementation Grant.

Motion Carried.

Mr. Erickson indicated he had nothing further for the Committee but would have additional items for the Board. Chairman Metsker asked if there were any comments or questions; hearing none, she thanked him.

Val Laymon, Chair of the Property Committee had nothing for the Executive Committee today but would have items for the Board on Thursday. Chairman Metsker asked if there were any questions or comments; hearing none, she thanked him.

Lea Cline, Chair of the Land Use and Development Committee indicated she had no items for presentation to the Committee or the Board this month. Chairman Metsker asked if anyone had any questions; hearing none, she thanked her.

Jim Rogal, Chair of the Transportation Committee presented for action a request to approve a Resolution of the McLean County Board Assigning and Transferring Section 5311 & DOAP Funding to Connect Transit. Ms. Schafer noted the listed transition date and asked if there was a back-up plan if all parties did not approve it. Ms. Taylor noted that several conversations had already occurred with Connect Transit, the City and the Town so she felt it was reasonable to believe this would go through. She indicated that if it did not she would bring another option to the Board for approval. Ms. Schafer asked when the funding would get transferred. Ms. Taylor noted it would start in July of 2025 for the fiscal year 2026. Ms. Metsker noted there had been conversations with the State Department of Transportation and they were supportive of this transition.

Motion by Rogal/Johnston to recommend approval of a Resolution of the McLean County Board Assigning and Transferring Section 5311 & DOAP Funding to Connect Transit.

Motion carried.

Mr. Rogal indicated he had no further items for the Committee but would have two items for the Board on Thursday. Chairman Metsker asked if there were any questions; hearing none, she thanked him.

Ms. Cassy Taylor, County Administrator presented for action a request to approve a Resolution Establishing a Holiday Schedule for County Employees for the year 2025.

Motion by Schafer/Johnston to recommend approval of a Resolution Establishing a Holiday Schedule for County Employees for the year 2025. Motion Carried.

Ms. Taylor presented for action a request to approve the Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Budget for Regional Planning Commission 0001.0010.0010. She noted Regional Planning is part of the McLean County budget because of GATA and auditing purposes. She indicated the Regional Planning Commission met and approved this budget. Ms. Taylor went over services and provided a budget overview. She indicated Regional Planning’s revenue is from grants as well as funding from the Town of Normal, City of Bloomington and the County. Ms. Taylor noted that the County’s funding is 3% of the total revenue for Regional Planning.

Motion by Johnston/Rogal to recommend approval of the Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Budget for Regional Planning Commission 0001.0010.0010. Motion Carried.

Ms. Taylor presented for action a request to approve Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Budget for Information Technologies Department 0001-0043, sub departments 0047 (data processing) and 0107 (County GIS). Ms. Taylor went over services the department provides and the budget overview. She noted there was a 30% increase overall from last year’s budget. She went over the expenses that increased and decreased for this budget. She also noted that the expenses for laptops were moved from the line for equipment below $1,000 to the line for equipment above $1,000.

Motion by Schafer/Cline to recommend approval of a Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Budget for Information Technologies Department 0001-0043, sub departments 0047 (data processing) and 0107 (County GIS).

Motion Carried.

Ms. Taylor presented for action a request to approve the Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Budget for Shared Sale Tax/Municipalities Budget Fund 0007 including: County Board Department 0001, Mental Health Program 0060, Non-Departmental 0099 Department and Non-Departmental Program 0099. Ms. Taylor provided a budget overview. She reminded the committee of the four components that are part of the shared sales tax agreement including the Jail debt service, EJIS, Mental Health in criminal justice, and community mental health initiatives. Ms. Taylor went over the budgets for each of these four components, noting increases or decreases from the 2024 budget. Ms. Johnston noted an increase for contract mental health services and asked if this was new programing or expanding programing. Ms. Taylor confirmed it could be both based on the needs identified in the Mental Health Action Plan. Ms. Johnston noted there had been some discussions about expanding the FUSE program and asked about the progress for this possible change. Ms. Taylor indicated staff were still working on that, so it was not included in this budget. Ms. Johnston asked if it could be funded before the next budget cycle if a plan was finalized. Ms. Taylor confirmed. Ms. Johnston asked about the amount from this fund that could go back into community services. Ms. Dreyer noted that the amount in the fund was $19,650,000. Ms. Johnston asked about obligations. Ms. Taylor noted that $12,000,000 was obligated from this amount for existing EJIS contracts.

Motion by Laymon/Cline to recommend approval of the Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Budget for Shared Sale Tax/Municipalities Budget Fund 0007 including: County Board Department 0001, Mental Health Program 0060, Non Departmental 0099 Department and Non-Departmental Program 0099.

Motion Carried.

Ms. Taylor presented for action a request to approve the Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Budget for County Board 0001.0001.0001. Ms. Taylor noted a scrivener’s error on page 76 in the top account line that should be lowered to $12,304,981 She indicated this was needed to balance the budget due to an error noted at the Justice Committee in the State’s Attorney’s budget. Ms. Taylor then provided an overview of the budget including revenues and expenses including intergovernmental agreements and salaries. Ms. Laymon noted that anticipated video gaming revenues increased and asked if there was a reason they anticipated this increase. Ms. Taylor indicated they were expecting the current upward trend to continue. Ms. Metsker noted it was a 130% and asked her to confirm that fit with the trend. Ms. Taylor confirmed. Ms. Laymon asked if increase in locations and number of gaming machines contributed to their projected number. Ms. Taylor confirmed. Ms. Johnston noted that for the cannabis tax the Board had passed an ordinance establishing that a percentage of the cannabis funds would go to mental health and asked for an update on that process. Ms. Taylor noted the county receives 3.75% for the unincorporated areas. She noted that in 2023 they received $28,500 of the local use amount. Ms. Taylor indicated 35% of that was designated to go to mental health needs. Ms. Taylor noted that we are going above that and provided examples of how the funds were being used including training at the JDC and in other departments, a mental health app for the Sheriff department staff, and the JDC counselor contract. Ms. Metsker asked to confirm the trends noted in the budget for retail occupation and cannabis tax. Ms. Dreyer confirmed and noted the figures they used were based on trend figures from the Illinois Municipal League.

Motion by Cline/Johnston to recommend approval of a Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Budget for County Board 0001.0001.0001 and County Board Fleet 0001.0001.0010

Motion Carried.

Ms. Taylor presented for action a request to approve Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Budget for County Administrator’s Office Fund 0001, Department 0002, Program 0002. Ms. Taylor noted a 6% increase in this budget. She presented the expenses for this department and noted the increases and decreases.

Motion by Schafer/Johnston to recommend approval of a Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Budget for County Administrator’s Office Fund 0001, Department 0002, Program 0002.

Motion Carried.

Ms. Taylor presented for action a request to approve the Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Budget for the Illinois Opioid Allocation Fund, Administrative Support Program. Ms. Taylor noted these are funds from the State Opioid Allocation Fund. She went over the total revenue and expenses for the Fund.

Motion by Johnston/Schafer to recommend approval of a Fiscal Year 2025 Recommended Budget for the Illinois Opioid Allocation Fund, Administrative Support Program.

Motion Carried.

Ms. Taylor indicated she had no further items for the Committee this month.

Under Other Business Chairman Metsker presented for action a request to approve a Resolution of the McLean County Board in Support of State Action to Protect the Mahomet Aquifer. Mr. Erickson stated the 4th whereas clause states “but lacks the authority to otherwise regulate carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects for the protection of the Mahomet Aquifer”. He indicated that he realized this was the State’s attorney position at this time, but asked if this language would continue to bind us if that opinion or the law would change. Mr. Sierra indicated that he did not feel this language would remove our legal authority to regulate. Ms. Cline noted that Administration had corrected a typo in the last section for the copy that would be included in the board packet.

Motion by Cline/Schafer to recommend approval of a Resolution of the McLean County Board in Support of State Action to Protect the Mahomet Aquifer. Motion Carried.

Mr. Erickson thanked Mr. Sierra for his appearance on behalf of the County in the appellate court. Mr. Sierra thanked him but noted he did not get to argue the County’s position in person, but it was his submitted response that prevailed. Ms. Metsker thanked the Members of the Board and Staff who helped with the proceedings.

Ms. Metsker noted the date for the next Executive Committee meeting on November 11, 2024 (Veterans Day) and asked if there was anything further for the Committee to consider; hearing nothing, she adjourned the meeting at 4:48 p.m.

https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/10550