Will County Legislative & Judicial Committee met April 13.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
Ms. Winfrey led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
III. ROLL CALL
Chair Denise E. Winfrey called the meeting to order at 9:04 AM
| Attendee Name | Title | Status | Arrived |
| Denise E. Winfrey | Chair | Present | |
| Natalie Coleman | Vice Chair | Present | |
| Julie Berkowicz | Member | Present | |
| Amanda Koch | Member | Present | |
| Debbie Kraulidis | Member | Present | |
| Sherry Newquist | Member | Absent | |
| Judy Ogalla | Member | Present | |
| Tom Weigel | Member | Present | |
| Tyler Marcum | Member | Present |
Present from the State's Attorney's Office: M. Tatroe
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. WC Legislative & Judicial Committee - Regular Meeting - Mar 9, 2021 9:00 AM
| RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Judy Ogalla, Tyler Marcum SECONDER: Debbie Kraulidis, Member AYES: Winfrey, Coleman, Berkowicz, Koch, Kraulidis, Ogalla, Weigel, Marcum ABSENT: Newquist |
1. State Legislative Update (Information)
Ms. Winfrey stated we will start with our legislative updates this morning. We have Smith Dawson on the line this morning. Jim Smith and Catherine Beal are on; they will do a brief overview of the American Recue Plan and the Jobs Act.
Ms. Beal stated thank you for having us. The American Rescue Plan; as you all know was signed into law on March 11, 2021. That bill provides $1.9 trillion for COVID-19 related relief recovery and rebuilding. Will County is expected to receive about $134 million through the state and local government direct allocation portion. There is also funding for rental assistance, broadband, health department, community centers, mental health, substance abuse, FEMA, food and shelter; it is a huge bill and a lot is covered. Education, public transportation; it covers almost every facet of local government. Most departments and agencies that were allocated funding at the federal level have to issue guidance on how local governments and local entities can access these dollars. They have about 60 days from the date of enactment. We should expect to see guidance published by the beginning of May. The reason why it might be closer to the end of April or beginning of May is because federal departments and agencies really want to insure there is only one round of guidance issued. They don’t want there to be multiple launches to guidance which could confuse or complicate the release of those funds. I can go into more detail about the American Rescue Plan but there are no major updates from when the bill was signed into law just over a month ago.
Mr. Smith stated I would just add to that the Treasury Department has overall responsibility for issuing the guidance for the direct state and local assistance. As Ms. Beal just mentioned, there are many other areas covered within the American Rescue Act that fall under the purview of various federal agencies. Each of those agencies will be issuing guidance on their related portions of the rescue plan. The guidance of everyone will be coming from Treasury to give you more direction on how you can use that $134 million; that is still in the process. Very briefly an update on Washington in general; as you may know Congress has been in recess for the last two weeks. They are back in session this week; this is going to be a very busy period from now until Memorial Day. They are in session throughout April and May; now is when Congress will start taking up the appropriations bills and appropriations process as well as authorizing legislation that will include infrastructure as well as transportation authorization. As you probably know we and I should say Ms. Beal especially; has been extremely busy working with Mr. Palmer and the Executive’s Office in putting together our project request for earmarks. Both for the Transportation Infrastructure Committee as well as the Appropriations Committees in working with our six member delegation to get those projects submitted in time. The Appropriations Committee is holding a members day hearing tomorrow; where members can submit testimony in support of the projects that they are requesting. That process will be playing out over the next several weeks; a lot going on with relations to that. There is also a lot going on behind the scenes with regard to the Economic Recovery Infrastructure package. Negotiations began yesterday at the White House; the President invited a number of Senior Republicans; making a concerted effort to try and get Republicans on board to support this so they can push a bipartisan bill. We will see where that goes. If they are unable to get bipartisan Republican support for the bill then reconciliation could be an option; just like as it was for the Rescue Plan. That is a high level overview of what is going on; Ms. Beal do you have anything else you wanted to add?
Ms. Beal replied no you covered most of it; just the Economic Recovery Jobs Plan is the proposal that the White House is calling the American Jobs Plan; just to keep all of the terms straight.
Ms. Winfrey said I would add two things to that before we go to the questions. One is the National Associations of Counties is working with the Treasury Department to help draft the rules so that we make sure we support counties especially; in how the rules are set up. They have worked initially with drafting the plan itself and are now working on the rules. The other piece is around the earmarks; a number of letters have gone out from this county to our delegation for some of the things that we want out this way. If any of you have the chance to be on the phone or talk to any of our representatives from this area; talk to them about the different programs and push for the earmarks to go forward. Are there questions for Smith Dawson this morning?
Mrs. Ogalla asked if we could have a brief update on the earmarks that have been submitted so far.
Mr. Smith stated Mr. Palmer has that list; we have been working with him and I am sure he could share that with you.
Ms. Winfrey added we can get that for you, Mrs. Ogalla, and for all of the committee.
Mr. Weigel said it is not directly related with the county; but maybe some of our residents. I have been reading that the IRS is not opening their mail anymore; the written tax returns. They just stock pile them in storage bins somewhere; do you know anything about that and how they are going to get their act back together.
Ms. Beal answered I am not aware of the processing plans for the IRS tax returns; we can definitely look into that.
Mr. Smith added I know I filed mine electronically and they were processed within five days.
Ms. Winfrey stated probably because of the remote work the electronic ones are all going to be done first; I am guessing that paper, because it requires someone to be hands on is going to be last. I don’t know what their game plan is for getting all of those done.
Mr. Smith stated I know that there has been a lot of discussion within Congress about IRS and allocating more resources to IRS; particularly personnel; so that they can handle their responsibilities in timelier manner.
2. ISACo Updates (Information)
VI. OLD BUSINESS
Ms. Winfrey stated we will go next to the state update. Mr. Hassert is with us this morning; I am going to ask you to do anything that you have in mind; plus the Old Business pieces that are in front of you.
1. Update on HB-2461/PA 101-665 80th Avenue Quick Take Bill (Curry & Assoc)
2. Update on HB2804 County Board of Health - Members (Curry & Assoc)
3. Update on HB-653 Groundwater Monitoring (Curry & Assoc)
4. Update on HB-3289 Property Tax Homestead Exemption (Rhonda Novak)
Mr. Hassert said as you might be aware; we were fortunate to get our quick take legislation for the Highway Department done. HB-2461 was passed in the lame duck session and it went to the Governor; he signed it on the second of April. Mr. Ronaldson has the capabilities of moving along with the 80th Ave. work as he sees fit. Also on HB-653 the groundwater monitoring; we have had continuous negotiations with all stakeholders. We will continue to do so; there has been some suggestions thrown out there around groundwater monitoring that relate to additional testing; increasing the fees for the locals and state. This has been a very fluid situation and we have yet to come up with any alternatives. The groundwater monitoring seems to be the sticking point so we will continue to monitor that. I have probably been on a dozen or so phone calls and zoom meetings with the stakeholders. On the Property Tax HB-3289 the homestead exemption extension. It’s in the House right now in second reading; I talked to Representative Walsh this morning; he hopes to move it out this week. I talked to Senator Cappel; she is going to pick it up in the Senate; hopefully we will get some movement on that. Yesterday they released on the House side what is called a consent calendar; these are approximately 200 and some bills that are non-controversial in most people’s minds that have been put out for review. They will basically take this under one roll call and move it over to the Senate, which I would assume the Senate will probably be in the position of doing something very similar. We used these in previous General Assemblies; it hasn’t been done for a while. Because of COVID-19 they are looking at ways to move the process along. Springfield is back in force; there is still a question about who is allowed in the Capital. The Senate has some very stringent requirements to get into the Capital; the House has not really made it clear. The Secretary of State said we can basically come in; we are not exactly sure what that means right now; that will have to be sorted out within the next week or so. The House is back in; all committees are still being done virtually. When they start doing floor work it will still be limited to a certain amount of people on the floor. A roll call will take an extraordinarily long period of time; because they can only allow so many people to come onto the floor at once. It is my understanding that HB-3702; there is still discussion going on regarding an amendment. I don’t have the information; I have not been involved in the discussions; I am sure someone from 911 can talk to that. SB-1899 the utility projects County Highway Code change; that bill has been put in the Senate on postpone meaning that it could probably come up at a later time. There is no necessary movement on that bill right now; I am sure there is further discussions going on. HB-348 the controlled substance bill has been referred back to rules; there is no action on that. I will be happy to try and answer any questions if there are any.
Ms. Berkowicz stated you mentioned they will probably be putting in 200 or so bills together in one transaction; and you mentioned that these were non controversial bills; who determines that. It seems a little scary that there are 200 bills that are all getting pushed through and getting approved; just to move things along. Do I have a valid concern there?
Mr. Hassert replied here is how a consent calendar comes; they look at all of the bills that have been in committee and have been voted out of committee with a unanimous support. Then they go through them with a fine tooth comb to find out if there is basically anything controversial. They look at the proponents and opponents if there is any on the bill; a lot of these are technical bills dealing with the agencies and what not. Most of them are very non-controversial; they put the list out there. The members can review the list, staff reviews the list, the public reviews the list, and they can make comments to their local legislators and ask why this is going out on a consent calendar. Then they revise the list; they have already taken a few bills off and I am sure there will be a few more that might be taken off; and there might be a possibility of adding some. The process is vetted pretty well; there is usually nothing that’s snuck by that is controversial in any which way or form. Particularly if there is a voting committee that has any dissenting votes, that doesn’t get put on the agreed bill list. They look at the proponents and opponents to make sure that everything has been addressed. It is a pretty safe bet; I got the list yesterday and have kind of went through it. I made sure there is nothing dealing with county government and whatnot. To ease your concerns that it is pretty well vetted; I can’t guarantee you that there is something that might sneak through but typically not. There is one other bill that I forgot; it is HB-2804 which was dealing with the Health Department that county commissioners cannot appoint or be on the health board. That bill was also referred back to the rules committee; that was a downstate issue and it didn’t have any legs.
Ms. Winfrey stated we want to make sure that everyone is now getting the ISACo news update; both the newspaper the online update of all of the bills that are pending and the position that ISACo is taking on those. Is there anyone who is not getting the NACo newsletter; the inter-governmental affairs bulletin; which is where you would be able to see what’s happening on the Rescue Plan; the Jobs Plan and everything else that is happening through the House of Inter
Governmental affairs? Of course you are getting the fact sheet that is send over by Curry & Associates. You should be getting that so that you are able to read through; see if there is anything that applies to your area or that you have a concern about.
VII. OTHER NEW BUSINESS
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
1. HB-3702 Emergency Telephone System (Reauthorization) (Anthony Marzano)
2. SB-1899 County Highway Code - Utility Projects (Jeff Ronaldson)
3. HB-348 Controlled Substance - Prescribe (Opioid Related) (Dr. Burke)
IX. OTHER NEW BUSINESS
X. PUBLIC COMMENT
XI. ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS BY CHAIR
Ms. Winfrey stated there is a webinar today on the Emergency Rental Assistance Plan which is at 12 o’clock central time; that webinar is being put on by NACo. I will lead it off today; but you will have a chance to listen in if you got that from your email; you may send questions into the chat. Witt O’Brian will be the speaker; he initially spoke to us when the bill was first put forward. They’re now doing the update with changes and additions to that plan. That is happening today.
XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
XIII. ADJOURNMENT
1. Motion to Adjourn @ 9:27 AM
| RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Judy Ogalla, Member SECONDER: Julie Berkowicz, Member AYES: Winfrey, Coleman, Berkowicz, Koch, Kraulidis, Ogalla, Weigel, Marcum ABSENT: Newquist |
Alerts Sign-up