Will County Gazette

Will County Democratic Caucus Committee met Jan. 13.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

I. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL

Majority Leader Mark Ferry called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM

Attendee Name	Title	Status	Arrived
Sherry Newquist	Member	Present
Mark Ferry	Majority Leader	Present
Tyler Marcum	Majority Whip	Present
Herbert Brooks Jr.	Member	Present
Mimi Cowan	Member	Present
Kenneth E. Harris	Member	Absent
Amanda Koch	Member	Present
Meta Mueller	Member	Present
Beth Rice	Member	Present
Jacqueline Traynere	Member	Absent
Joe VanDuyne	Member	Present
Rachel Ventura	Member	Absent
Denise E. Winfrey	Speaker	Absent

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

Ms. Mueller led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

III. OLD BUSINESS

IV. NEW BUSINESS

1. Discussion of County Board Agenda

V. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Land Use & Development

Mr. Marcum stated we will have 3 zoning cases and 2 appeals. For the zoning cases we have ZC-19-059 which is a map amendment from R-1 to I-1; it is a split parcel currently in Homer Township. The neighbors are completely against it; it has been an ongoing issue. Item two ZC-19-067 which is a zoning map amendment from A1 to I1 in Green Garden Township. We were asked to table this item; due to Frankfort was going to meet and discuss it this evening. I will let Ms. Koch explain her point of view.

Ms. Koch said I spoke to some of my colleagues who sit on Land Use; the Village of Frankfort wants to leave this as agricultural according to their plan for the Village. I am not in favor of turning agricultural zoning into industrial zoning. They already have a Special Use Permit for the business that is going on there; it is out of place as it is. I am comfortable voting no with the Village of Frankfort; and keeping their letter on record should they want to appeal.

Mr. Marcum added there is a commercial district nearby; which is C1 so it is like commercial. It is relatively close to a residential district as well.

Ms. Newquist asked can they continue to do what they are doing noe under their Special Use.

Mr. Marcum replied yes. They could have expanded their business to other things that are permissible under I1 that are noy permissible under A1. The next case is ZC-19-077 which is a Special Use Permit for an Ancillary Liquor service in conjunction with allowed Agritourism uses. This is also a Special Use permit for rural events and a Special Use Permit for a landscaping/lawn maintenance business in Joliet Township around Maple Road. This is a complicated case; nearby there is a rodeo that was grandfathered in. There have been complaints about the noise; we have had Land Use out there to take measurements due to the “legal definition” of noise. This is a completely different issue than the rodeo. The Special Use permit for the landscaping and lawn maintenance business is in the north side of the property; which is on the backside of the property. The Special Use for rural events would be on the south side of the property.

Ms. Dunn stated I know that both Ms. Winfrey and Mr. Brooks went to the PZC Meeting and commented there. I was able to see some pictures at the pre app liquor meeting; the property is gorgeous and they plan on using it for quinceaneras and weddings. That being said I not sure if Mr. Marcum is aware they did send in their liquor application; they do have many conditions that they must meet before the Board would consider their license. I also believe the PZC did approve all three Special Use Permits with conditions.

Mr. Marcum stated once you review the packet you will be able to see the conditions they must meet.

Ms. Rice said I would support this; I want to see some flexibility as people try to grow a new business.

Mr. Marcum said we also have two appeals of Zoning Commission decisions; one was denied a variance yard setback to build a barn. This location has plenty of land so it is an unnecessary variance; they just have to move the locations on the property for the barn.

At this juncture Mr. Books joined the meeting.

Mr. Brooks stated on ZC-19-077 Mr. Guzman is opening up a banquet hall; he is being penalized because of the rodeo being his neighbor. At the meeting there were constituents there to criticize the rodeo that had nothing to do with Mr. Guzman’s case. He wants to open the banquet hall and has also applied for a liquor license. The Zoning Commission has passed it unanimously. Ms. Winfrey and I are both supporting it.

Mr. Marcum said we also have a Special Use Permit extension for Woodlawn Solar. We don’t have any issue giving the extension; as our Special Use Permits lapse prior to the time frame of the State Permit.

Finance

Public Works & Transportation Judicial

Public Health & Safety Legislative & Policy

Capital Improvements Executive

VI. OTHER NEW BUSINESS

Mr. Brooks stated that some meetings in March will have to be rescheduled due to many of the members will be in Washington for the NACo Meeting.

VII. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT/ANNOUNCEMENTS

VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT

Sherry Williams stated I would like to make a comment about the Rodeo and the business that is applying behind it. I am a little bit concerned; I’m not a neighbor but if I was and you were my representatives and you said we don’t get what we want I would be upset with that. If it was in your backyard what would you want. I think that should be taken into consideration.

Mr. Brooks said I do live in the area and it is in my backyard. We did hear the comments from the neighbors; but their concerns and complaints were about the rodeo.

Ms. Cowan said a couple months ago I brought up a question about a Presidential Executive Order that has been passed in September. Which changes the method of how refugees and asylum seekers are settled. The purpose of the Executive Order is to give local area’s more control on whether or not they can settle in their area. There are 9 orginizations throughout the Nation who are responsible for reaching out to Governor’s and County Executive’s to get written approval to settle in their area. All but 9 Governors have signed to say yes; but now it is down to the County level. If one of the settlement orginizations wants to settle in Will County they will be reaching out to the Executive’s Office to get expressed written authority for the settlement program. The short of it is we don’t have to do anything to assure that we are a welcoming community for asylum seekers and refugees. I feel fairly confident that our Executive’s Office would sign off on that.

Mr. Brooks asked out of the 37 cities and villages within Will County have there been any request.

Ms. Cowan said I am not sure; my understanding is that it is the Counties and not the Municipalities decision. The Municipalities would have to make a request to the County.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

ADJOURNMENT

1. Motion to Adjourn @ 7:06 PM

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]

MOVER: Meta Mueller, Member

SECONDER: Mimi Cowan, Member

AYES: Newquist, Ferry, Marcum, Brooks Jr., Cowan, Koch, Mueller, Rice, VanDuyne

ABSENT: Harris, Ventura, Winfrey

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