Union County met Oct. 25.
Here is the minutes provided by the Board:
State of Illinois
SS October 25th, 2019
County of Union
1. Roll Call
Commissioners in attendance are Kent Pitts, Bobby Toler Jr., Max Miller and David Gould. Dale Foster is absent
II. Call Meeting to Order
The Union County Board of Commissioners met for a regular meeting in the Union County Courthouse Community Room at 08:30am. County Chairman Max Miller called the meeting to order.
III. Approval of Minutes
Regular Meeting Minutes - 10/11/19
Mr. Gould made the motion to approve the regular meeting minutes from 10/11/19 and Mr. Pitts seconded the motion.
Kent Pitts Yes
Bobby Toler Jr. Yes
Dale Foster Absent
Max Miller Yes
David Gould Yes
Motion Passed
IV. Public Comments
Leigh Burns, Union County Treasurer, stated that her office has collected $2,650,212.15 which is 94 percent of the property taxes for the year and is what was budgeted for this year. Mr. Miller then thanked everyone that worked on the property taxes this year and for getting them out on schedule and hopefully be another month ahead for next year.
V. Committee Reports
Mr. Toler attended the annual Shawnee Development meeting where they give out awards. Mr. Toler had an informational pamphlet with more information.
VI. Building Permits
1. 05-07-03-046-C John & Carrie Barnett at 2640 Old Hwy 51 N. Cobden
2. 14-00-11-551 Ware United Pentecostal Church 8840 St. Rt. 146 W Jonesboro
Mr. Toler made the motion to approve the building permits and Mr. Pitts seconded the motion.
Kent Pitts Yes
Bobby Toler Jr. Yes
Dale Foster Absent
Max Miller Yes
David Gould Yes
Motion Passed
VII. Old Business
A. Image Trend Software Contract - Ambulance Service
Mr. Miller tabled the contract because it was still under review and Mr. Capel was not at the meeting from the Ambulance Service.
B. Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Discussions
Angie Johnson, County Administrator, stated that she has made it through the general fund and has started on the other funds that are levied by the county. She also stated that she will start working on the tax levies for next year's taxes next week. She has also started getting information on call volume and other items for dispatch cost for 911 and the City of Anna so meetings can be scheduled for to work new terms out. Mrs. Johnson believes that the county should have the budget ready before December 1st.
VII. New Business
A. Approve Payment of Bills
Mr. Pitts made the motion to approve the payment of the bills and Mr. Gould seconded the motion.
Kent Pitts Yes
Bobby Toler Jr. Yes
Dale Foster Absent
Max Miller Yes
David Gould Yes
Motion Passed
B. Regional Office of Education Quarterly Report of Activities – Cheryl Graff
Ms. Graff reported that with the pass of the new 1% sales tax for schools facilities that at the first of November the Union County schools will receive their first disbursement. The total amount was $84,348.99 with Anna-Jonesboro High School receiving $16,819.19, Anna Elementary, $22,706.75, Cobden K-12 $15,469,60, Dongola K-12 $9,320.56, Jonesboro Elementary $11,690.77, Lick Creek Elementary $4,816.33 and Shawnee K-12 $3,525.79. She also advised that they had great turnout for the teacher's institute. A grant has been started to help with teacher shortage. A homeless grant is in the works for kids that are homeless in the county. Mr. Miller asked about the enrollment numbers for the county but Ms. Graff didn't have the numbers as of yet but will bring that back for the next meeting she attends.
C. Bond Refinance Briefing - John Vezzetti
Mr. Vezzetti stated that the county was able to save two million dollars to the tax payers of Union County by refinancing the bonds that were issues back in 2010 for the new courthouse. The life of the bonds were also shortened by seven years which allows the 1% sales tax increase voted on to end quicker by that time as well for tax payers. With the savings, the county established a credit rating for the first time and received an A+ rating and is one of 14 counties in Illinois that are even rated by S & P. By establishing the credit rating, the county saved an additional $300,000.00 to $400,000.00. The interest rates went from 5.69 to 3.28 percent and will save about $90,000-$95,000.00 per year. Mr. Vezzetti thank the board and all departments that helped make this happen. Mr. Miller added thanks to everyone that helped make this happen and noted that he was the only one that was on the board when they original bonds were issued and the board has done some things over the last seven to eight years that were not easy or popular decisions but the A+ rating speaks highly of the board and previous boards for doing a great job managing the budgets set. Mr. Gould added that this is a savings for the people of this county by eliminating the 1% sales tax earlier than expected when it was voted on years ago. Mrs. Johnson also added thanks to Mr. Vezzetti for all his hard work and help with her and the county on refinancing.
D. Resolution to Transfer 2019 Budget Appropriations
Mr. Miller explained that this is to offset some of the budget items that have come in over budget and some that have come in under budget so this allows money to be transferred around to cover some of the overarches. Mrs. Johnson added that she appreciated the office and department heads stayin budget but some unexpected events with the jail bills and amount of autopsies for example have caused some budget issues. The commissioners commended Mrs. Johnson on the work she has put into this budget and being able to make the appropriate moves and keep it within the lines of what the auditors look for Mr. Miller made the motion to approve the resolution and Mr. Toler seconded the motion.
Kent Pitts Yes
Bobby Toler Jr. Yes
Dale Foster Absent
Max Miller Yes
David Gould Yes
Motion Passed
E. County Road Name Change Process
Mr. Miller stated that this became an issue with some people asking about changing their road name so it was felt that the county needs to come up with a policy for this instance. A policy was sent out to all the offices that would be effected with road name changes for a review. Discussion was held by the Board, The Sheriff and 911 Director. Some concern was advised by 911 and the Sheriff over changing road names for emergency response and other reasons. Mrs. Johnson advised that the cost is just not the road signs but all the other cost that go in with changing the road name. Mrs. Johnson then went through the proposed policy and on the process it would take. The board decided that it needs more review before it should be voted on so Mr. Miller tabled this issue. F. Resolution Supporting Continued Operation of the State's Attorney Appellate Prosecutor For Fiscal Year 2020 Mr. Miller made the motion to approve the resolution and Mr. Pitts seconded the motion.
Kent Pitts Yes
Bobby Toler Jr. Yes
Dale Foster Absent
Max Miller Yes
David Gould Yes
Motion Passed
G. Approval of Collective Bargaining Agreement Between Union County/Union
County Sheriff's Office and FOP Mr. Miller stated that there are some of the tables for the pay are off and need corrected. Mr. Pitts made the motion to approve the contract with correcting the tables and Mr. Gould seconded the motion.
Kent Pitts Yes
Bobby Toler Jr. Yes
Dale Foster Absent
Max Miller Yes
David Gould Yes
Motion Passed
H. Raffle License Application - Tiffany Busby
Mr. Gould made the motion to approve the raffle license application and Mr. Pitts seconded the motion.
Kent Pitts Yes
Bobby Toler Jr. Yes
Dale Foster Absent
Max Miller Yes
David Gould Yes
Motion Passed
IX. Executive Session
None
X. Other Business
County Clerk & Recorder advised that on November 4th, the office will not be accepting recordings due to switching over to the new recording software that will be installed and should be back up and running on November 5th. The office will now be able to accept eRecordings now and records will be able to be accessed online now through the Laredo and Tapestry programs. Also an educational class for any business or persons interested in the new software will be held on the Monday the 5th from 2pm-4pm. Also included with this software upgrade the vital records software will be upgraded too. APEX will now allow people to start and upload their information for a marriage license online now as well. It will help save time for the staff and individuals applying for the license. Union County will be the seconded county in the state to have this feature up and running by possibly December or January,
XI. Adjournment
Mr. Gould made the motion to adjourn the meeting and Mr. Toler seconded the motion.
Kent Pitts Yes
Bobby Toler Jr. Yes
Dale Foster Absent
Max Miller Yes
David Gould Yes
Motion Passed 9:23am
https://www.unioncountyil.gov/wp-content/uploads/minutes-agendas/Minutes_2019-10-25.pdf
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