Will County Gazette

Will County Democratic Caucus Committee met Feb. 15.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

I. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL

Minority Leader Herbert Brooks Jr. called the meeting to order at 8:47 AM

Attendee Name Title Status Arrived

Herbert Brooks Jr. Minority Leader Present

Lauren Staley-Ferry Minority Whip Present

Mark Ferry Member Present

Kenneth E. Harris Member Present

Tyler Marcum Member Present

Donald A. Moran Member Present

Beth Rice Member Late

Laurie Summers Member Present

Jacqueline Traynere Member Present

Denise E. Winfrey Member Present

Present from State's Attorney's Office: K. Meyers.

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

Mrs. Summers led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. WC Democratic Caucus - Special Meeting - Jan 16, 2018 7:00 PM

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]

MOVER: Mark Ferry, Member

SECONDER: Denise E. Winfrey, Member

AYES: Brooks Jr., Staley-Ferry, Ferry, Harris, Marcum, Moran, Summers, Traynere, Winfrey

ABSENT: Rice

2. WC Democratic Caucus - Regular Meeting - Jan 18, 2018 8:45 AM

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]

MOVER: Denise E. Winfrey, Member

SECONDER: Mark Ferry, Member

AYES: Brooks Jr., Staley-Ferry, Ferry, Harris, Marcum, Moran, Summers, Traynere, Winfrey

ABSENT: Rice

IV. OLD BUSINESS

V. NEW BUSINESS

1. Discussion of County Board Agenda

Mr. Brooks announced he and Mrs. Staley-Ferry would be leaving at 9:00 a.m. for a meeting.

Mrs. Traynere asked to have the discussion of the Federal Agenda moved to the beginning of the meeting.

Legislative & Policy Committee: Mrs. Traynere stated regarding the Federal Agenda and the control tower, I believe if we charge higher fees for users of the Courthouse and Health Department, rather than continuing to donate money to the air control tower, we should ask the people who use it to pay for it. Mr. Moustis stated in the past we have funded the airport, contributed to it and should continue to do so. I believe that is in preparation for a $1 million donation. I am in favor of a loan, even interest free; but they should pay us back with increased fees to the corporate jets landing there.

Mr. Palmer stated I don’t know how much money we have given in the past. There is no firm commitment on a tower and there may be other funding sources. The reason we are supportive is because transportation, whether roads, bridges, rail or airports are all part of the economic development equation. I hope the state will help and they have economic dollars for this type of project.

Mr. Moran asked how did this land on the Federal Agenda?

Mr. Palmer reviewed the language in the Federal Agenda supportive of a permanent tower.

Mr. Moran stated Mr. Moustis was talking about being one of many organizations and entities making a contribution for a tower.

Ms. Winfrey clarified there is no request for money in the Federal Agenda.

Mr. Palmer explained a modification to the Federal Agenda, pertaining to rewording of the section for the Sheriff's Department.

Mr. Palmer continued at the Committee there was a discussion about County Associations. I will keep the Caucus apprised. Mr. Moustis and Mrs. Hart are meeting with Mr. Jim Healy, from DuPage County. There has been a push in the past and we discussed county associations and the role of the County Executive versus County Board. The concept focus is trying to have one county association, like the IML, a stronger voice for counties in the State. Currently, we have Metro Counties, UCCI and IACBM. The one organization concept is starting to take shape. There would be a Committee of the countywide Elected Officials which has been meeting for a while. Then there would be a large urban caucus, individual Board Members could participate and a rural caucus for the down state areas. It would model itself after NACo and would be the NACo affiliate for Illinois. The County would contribute dues like we did to Metro Counties and others.

Mr. Brooks asked is Metro defunct?

Mr. Palmer replied technically it is; there are a few counties still participating, but it is fading. The UCCI has a lot of participation from down state counties, because they don't have budgets for a lobbyist and by being a part of this group they get a lobbyist and information on what is happening in Springfield. Hopefully, this organization would do a better job of providing information to both. Even if it is one organization, it will be a subset of the Chicago Metro area.

Mrs. Traynere recapped her attendance at UCCI.

Mr. Brooks and Mrs. Staley-Ferry left at this juncture.

Land Use & Development Committee: Mrs. Summers reviewed the discussion at Committee regarding the zoning changes for home businesses and final inspection notices.

Ms. Winfrey stated Mr. Collin Duesing is going to do some rewriting and look at the Ordinance and come back to the Committee. They will continue to do the clean up on files and look at the wording on the letters to the residents notifying them of an old, outstanding permit. They have been verifying the work was done on old building permits and clearing it from the files. They are not making people restart the work and as the homeowner you are responsible to close out the permits.

Mrs. Rice arrived at this juncture.

Ms. Janine Farrell reviewed the first two zoning cases.

A brief discussion took place regarding case ZC-17-057.

Finance Committee:

Mr. Harris reviewed the Resolutions.

Public Works & Transportation Committee: Mr. Moran reviewed the Resolutions. A review of the Oxcart Permit System was given.

Judicial Committee: Mr. Marcum recapped the Judicial Committee meeting.

Public Health & Safety Committee: Mrs. Summers recapped the Public Health meeting and indicated Joliet Township will be presenting a check for $150,000 to the Safe Passage Program. The money can be used throughout the entire county.

Mrs. Traynere asked is the Safe Passage Program run by the County or an outside organization?

Mrs. Summers replied it is run by local municipalities through their police departments. People wanting treatment can go to the police departments without fear of going to jail and are put into the programs they need. We hope this grant will give us more participation.

Mrs. Traynere asked if a list of participating agencies was available.

Ms. Winfrey indicated the Sheriff's Department or Dr. Burke would have that information.

Legislative & Policy Committee: Mr. Harris reviewed the Federal Agenda and the discussion at committee on the associations.

Mrs. Rice asked for an updating of delivering the Federal Agenda to the Legislators.

Ms. Winfrey responded an April trip is planned. I believe Mr. Brooks, Mrs. Hart and Mr. Moustis will be going. Mr. Moustis suggested taking five people to DC to allow for more agency meetings. Smith Dawson sets up appointments with the agencies tied to specific items on our agenda. Depending on our priorities the group would meet with the DOT, FAA and others.

Capital Improvements Committee: Ms. Winfrey reviewed the items discussed at the Capital Improvement meeting, including the additional membrane approved to prevent water in the basement of the new courthouse.

Executive Committee: No discussion.

VI. OTHER NEW BUSINESS

Mr. Moran asked for an update on Weber Road.

Mr. Brian Gieseke reported Weber Road is on a March 9th letting at IDOT in Springfield. Utility relocation is underway. Whether construction starts in 2018 or 2019 depends on the time necessary to relocate utilities. There are still issues with ComEd because the Village of Romeoville requires all ComEd utilities to be buried underground, which is an extra expense to ComEd. That is not a County issue, it is between the two parties.

Mr. Moran asked are the issues with ComEd a problem on both the north and south half? Could these issues delay the entire project?

Mr. Gieseke responded it could have an impact, you have to get utilities out of the way before you can start road construction. There are periodic utility meetings taking place at the Village of Romeoville. The next meeting is scheduled for March.

Mr. Moran stated I spoke with IDOT and they would like to mobilize 45 days after the letting. If there are still issues with the utilities, we may see some activity, but it won't be what we want to see.

Mr. Gieseke stated there won't be anything that will impact traffic until 2019.

VII. PUBLIC COMMENT

VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION

IX. ADJOURNMENT

1. Motion to Adjourn at 9:15 AM

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]

MOVER: Donald A. Moran, Member

SECONDER: Tyler Marcum, Member

AYES: Ferry, Harris, Marcum, Moran, Rice, Summers, Traynere, Winfrey

LEFT MEETING: Brooks Jr., Staley-Ferry

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