Will County Executive Committee met April 14.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
Ms. Ventura led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
III. ROLL CALL
Chair Mimi Cowan called the meeting to order at 10:28 AM
| Attendee Name | Title | Status | Arrived |
| Mimi Cowan | Chair | Present | |
| Meta Mueller | Vice Chair | Present | |
| Herbert Brooks Jr. | Member | Present | |
| Mike Fricilone | Member | Present | |
| Tyler Marcum | Member | Absent | |
| Jim Moustis | Member | Present | |
| Judy Ogalla | Member | Present | |
| Annette Parker | Member | Present | |
| Jacqueline Traynere | Member | Present | |
| Margaret Tyson | Member | Present | |
| Joe VanDuyne | Member | Present | |
| Rachel Ventura | Member | Present | |
| Denise E. Winfrey | Member | Absent |
V. OLD BUSINESS
1. American Rescue Plan - Attachment Updated
(Mimi Cowan)
Mr. Atkinson, Mr. Burbach, Mr. Jahoski with Anser Advisory presented the attached PowerPoint presentation on the ARPA funds.
Mr. Moustis noted with the first line round of funding the really large municipalities did not receive direct funding. The second round they are receiving direct funding. How are you going to do the coordination between the municipality’s funds?
Mr. Atkinson answered we need to make sure it is coordinated and we’re not getting in trouble with multiple sources; we want to make sure that conversation is had with each of the organizations that are involved.
Mr. Jahoski indicated it is about communication. It is about sharing what the nature of the program is, sharing what the eligibility criteria is, to make sure that we are not setting up either the city or the county to be in a position where they had a duplication of benefits.
Speaker Cowan thanked them for going through the presentation. It is a lot of information; it was intense for those two days. I think it was really good conversation and I sort of had fun talking through all this stuff with and the Executive’s team and our County Board Leadership. I also appreciate that it was a fast turnaround for you to then present this, so I appreciate the work you put in.
2. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute an Agreement with Constellation Energy to Provide Electricity to the Will County Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Plant - Attachment Updated
(Mike English)
Speaker Cowan stated we began this conversation last week and we asked for some additional information; we sent it out last night to board members when we received it. We’re here to hear possible options and hopefully our goal would to be to make a decision today and move forward.
Ms. Snitko advised the committee Mr. English could not make it today so I’m going to do my best to take over for him today. She reviewed the attached PowerPoint presentation. Mr. English’s recommendation is essentially stating that it is recommended to go with the Block & Index option. It is your choice whether you want to do 50%, 75%, or 100% renewable energy and it is your choice of the term for that agreement. I do want to specify if we go with the Block & Index option, we can always at any point within the term of agreement switch to a fixed priced if you so choose too but if we choose the fixed option agreement, we cannot do that we have to do a termination of the agreement.
Mr. Moustis asked if nuclear energy is part of clean power. Is there such a thing of a certain level of nuclear power into the mix because we have a nuclear plant here. I personally believe in nuclear power because it’s clean energy. Can you tell us if there is such a thing identifying nuclear power on the grid?
Ms. Snitko answered the way I understand it is 50% of the energy, the block is hedged in. So, they will purchase energy the amount that we need and then 50% of the other energies going to go from other sources, similarly to ComEd. If we never went with this option, it’s just going to be from the market whatever energy is available. That could be nuclear, that could be electricity in this area but I’m not 100% sure on that.
Mrs. Traynere commented nuclear energy is not renewable in my view and I’m no expert but if it’s not renewable I don’t know if it’s considered clean. Ms. Snitko clarified that 50% of the renewable energy is going to come from wind farms and the other 50% would be from the market itself. The market could be any type of energy.
Speaker Cowan questioned if we did 100% green it would be all renewables. Ms. Snitko replied yes.
Speaker Cowan noted if we did 75% green it would be 75% renewables and 25% from the market which would include nuclear.
Mrs. Traynere stated I noticed that the cost for the one-year contract is pretty high and I’m just wondering how that is going to affect our profitability. Ms. Snitko indicated that is why Mr. English recommended the four (4) year option of the Block and Index. At any point within the term, once we get a better understanding of the plant we can go into a fixed. We cannot do the same thing the other way.
Speaker Cowan advised the committee there are 2 decision that need to be made. We need to make the decision on whether we’re going with the Fixed Price or if we’re going with the Block and Index. That is the first decision. Then we also have to decide what percentage of green 50, 75, or 100. We can end the conversation when we make the decisions, we’ll separate those two (2) decisions.
Ms. Snitko stated for the Block and Index; Mr. English went back and talked to Constellation since we already have electric rates with them, and they actually came in lower. If, we do go with the Block & Index, Constellation is the lowest one right now.
Ms. Ventura commented there is a possibility we might make more profit on selling that and we can pay it off quicker than 12 years. That being the case though the 48 months is the better option. Flexibility is also important in a market like this. I would agree that Block & Index is the way to go. I think the biggest question remains is definition of green because we’re assuming it doesn’t include nuclear but that may not be the case because in other areas when we said green, we’ve really meant clean and clean does include nuclear.
A brief discussion followed regarding the definition of nuclear.
Ms. Ventura made a motion to move forward with 48 months, Block & Index pricing, 100% green with Constellation, seconded by Mrs. Traynere. On a roll call vote, Mueller, Traynere, Ventura and Cowan voting yes and Brooks, Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Tyson, and Van Duyne voting no. Motion fails.
Mr. Moustis made a motion to move forward with 75% renewable energy, and 25% brown energy, Block & Index for 48 months with Constellation.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [9 TO 2]
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Jim Moustis, Member SECONDER: Meta Mueller, Vice Chair AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, Ventura NAYS: Ogalla, VanDuyne ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
VII. NEW BUSINESS
1. Approval of the Moving Will County Truck Routing and Communities Plan as presented by Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) - Attachment Added
(Patty Mangano, CMAP/Civiltech & CDM Smith)
Speaker Cowan stated this was a collaborate effort between Will County, CMAP and a number of local partners. There are two main pieces to this study - the truck routing study and land use study. Today’s focus is on the truck routing study. Obviously, the ultimate goal is to improve the road system and better move trucks to the appropriate roads. This is trying to contain the chaos. We have some friends from CMAP. from Civiltech & CDM Smith here today.
Ms. Mangano, senior planner at CMAP presented the attached PowerPoint presentation on the Moving Will County Truck Routing and Communities Plan. Partners for this undertaking were Will County and CMAP, Civiltech, and CDM Smith. This project was setup to give Will County and the County of Will the material the consulting expertise resources to get the data and information to make the best decision that they felt were appropriate for going forward and finding the solution that favor Will County. Now, that the truck routing study is completed CMAP staff and another staff member will be working with individuals’ communities to implement recommendation of the study such as the incorporating truck networks into roadway plans, implement near truck routes and restrictions, seek funding for priority improvement. At this time, we would like to have Will County start discussion on accepting the plan to make it an official plan of Will County.
Speaker Cowan stated I know you have been working on this for a very long time, so we appreciate it. Just to be clear acceptance of this plan doesn’t change our land use ordinance or our designation. This is just accepting that this is a study that’s been done that we are taking on board and using it as guidance going forward. It doesn’t mean we have to do everything in it.
Moustis indicated I would have preferred for this to go perhaps over to the Public Works and get some comment and input from our county engineer and our staff. I know they’ve been involved in this; I’m sure they are supportive, but I would be
interested to hear that input and maybe some input from Land Use also. Then perhaps adopting it but that’s my preference and I think it would be a better process.
Speaker Cowan noted your comments point exactly why we brought it to Executive Committee because it was both Land Use and Public Works, and the chairs sit on this committee.
Mr. Ronaldson said as far as the plan itself I would say accepting from our standpoint is fine. The components within that applied to Will County DOT or the highway dept or roadways. Most of our roads we have already designated as pass through truck routes. There are a few options they recommended or de recommended I will bring that to the committee for their consideration for us to act on. There are a lot of points in the plan for the municipality and all our other local partners to utilize to get truck routes out there. Overall, the plan is good. Now, whether it’s all the things we want to do; that again is a separate discussion. In the next month or two with the chairman’s permission I’ll probably bring those individual truck routing forward.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/16/2022 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Rachel Ventura, Member SECONDER: Meta Mueller, Vice Chair AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
(Martha Sojka)
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/16/2022 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Jim Moustis, Member SECONDER: Meta Mueller, Vice Chair AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
(Josh Emmett)
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/16/2022 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Meta Mueller, Vice Chair SECONDER: Herbert Brooks Jr., Member AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
(Eric Fasbender)
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/16/2022 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Jim Moustis, Member SECONDER: Meta Mueller, Vice Chair AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
(Mike Kluga)
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/16/2022 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Margaret Tyson, Member SECONDER: Meta Mueller, Vice Chair AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
(Thomas Murray)
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/16/2022 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Meta Mueller, Vice Chair SECONDER: Margaret Tyson, Member AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
(Regina Malone)
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/16/2022 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Margaret Tyson, Member SECONDER: Jacqueline Traynere, Member AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
(Dave Hartke/Christina Snitko)
Mr. Hartke stated at this time, it does not look like we will have anything to vote for next Thursday, so, most likely it will be placed on the May meeting. Speaker Cowan indicated we will bring this back in May.
9. Authorizing Change Order for Midwestern Contractors for the Additional Work Required for the RNG Pipeline
(Dave Hartke/Christina Snitko)
Ms. Snitko stated if you recall this is our 4th pipeline route. Originally in July when we bought an additional mile of pipe that was just the materials needed for the pipeline itself. It did not include all of the survey work that we had to do which is environmental survey work, cultural survey work, legal survey work, which if you remember in the fall, we had to redo all those legal descriptions due to all the route changes that we had. It also includes the necessary construction work.
Mr. Hartke noted there was a rear alignment also on the ComEd property for ComEd line. Originally, we had it set up to be on the south side of their easement; it was then requested in November to change it to the north side. Either do this or were not going to agree to anything with you. That affected 2.6 miles of the line so, that was all additional survey work we all had to redo. So, that’s all part of the cost as well.
Speaker Cowan questioned that items 9, 10, & 11 are not anticipated costs; they are coming from contingencies.
A brief discussion followed regarding the budget for the RNG plant.
M. Schaben stated this is a little bit different of a project than what the county generally does; this is a revenue generator. The county is going to receive funds for this project. This is a new adventure for the county. We have a consultant that re attached that is advising us. We have a lot of staff that is involved in project. We are having to rerun pipeline that we never anticipated from a budgetary standpoint. A lot of this was out of our control. e are certainly well aware of the overall cost this project operating cost, but we can’t stop this. And so, we need to address situations as they come up and make the best decision financial point that we can and do our best to get this project finished and on time or a close to on time as we can so, we can start generating.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/16/2022 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Jacqueline Traynere, Member SECONDER: Rachel Ventura, Member AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
(Dave Hartke/Christina Snitko)
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/16/2022 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Rachel Ventura, Member SECONDER: Herbert Brooks Jr., Member AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/16/2022 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Joe VanDuyne, Member SECONDER: Jacqueline Traynere, Member AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
(Mimi Cowan)
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/16/2022 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Meta Mueller, Vice Chair SECONDER: Margaret Tyson, Member AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
(Regina Malone)
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/16/2022 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Herbert Brooks Jr., Member SECONDER: Meta Mueller, Vice Chair AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
(Regina Malone)
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/16/2022 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Meta Mueller, Vice Chair SECONDER: Rachel Ventura, Member AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
(Regina Malone)
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/16/2022 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Herbert Brooks Jr., Member SECONDER: Rachel Ventura, Member AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/16/2022 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Rachel Ventura, Member SECONDER: Jacqueline Traynere, Member AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
(Regina Malone)
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/16/2022 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Rachel Ventura, Member SECONDER: Jacqueline Traynere, Member AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
Speaker Cowan stated the next 3 items are back to license waiver discussion. Mr. Schaben advised the committee what we are doing today is actually following the County Board’s current codes. If this is not how the body would like to proceed forward with these, we would need to change the County’s current codes. When we went back and looked at the timeline of when the current code was changed and when the current state statute was changed in Illinois; there may have been a misinterpretation of what the current state statute says because the way that it reads is that the entity making the request to be exempt from the bond has to be the one to have an unanimous consent from them. We have it written in our code it the approving body. Working with the State’s Attorney’s Office; when we made changes to the current code, we just updated language to reflect that the County doesn’t have a Licensing Committee, so we changed it to the Will County Executive Board.
Mr. Moustis commented we had talked about this last week about changing the policy and we’re going to work on that, I believe Mary said she would start taking a look at it. I personally don’t have a problem with the waiver, but we hopefully can get our policy in place.
Ms. Ventura noted one suggestion we made was to include the minutes of the body asking for that, so we can see that there is a unanimous vote there and we ask for the bond price. If they go out and do a little investigative work they may realize it only cost them only $20.00 bucks. So, it’s not worth coming here asking for a waiver; pay the $20.00 bucks and get your license.
| RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Rachel Ventura, Member SECONDER: Meta Mueller, Vice Chair AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
| RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Jacqueline Traynere, Member SECONDER: Rachel Ventura, Member AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
| RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Rachel Ventura, Member SECONDER: Jim Moustis, Member AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
(Mike Shay)
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/16/2022 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Jim Moustis, Member SECONDER: Margaret Tyson, Member AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
Mrs. Adams stated we have a check presentation to Bad News Baseball Academy that’s for the District 8 contribution. We have recognizing Conservation Foundations on their 50th Anniversary. They will be here to accept that. Two of them to be read into the record; April as National Fair Housing month and recognizing April as National County Government month.
23. Appointment(s) by the County Executive
1. Executive Appointments
| RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
TO: Will County Board MOVER: Meta Mueller, Vice Chair SECONDER: Mike Fricilone, Member AYES: Cowan, Mueller, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Moustis, Ogalla, Parker, Traynere, Tyson, VanDuyne, Ventura ABSENT: Marcum, Winfrey |
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