Will County Gazette

Will County Legislative Committee met Nov. 9

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

I. CALL TO ORDER 

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG 

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

III. ROLL CALL 

Chair Natalie Coleman called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM

Attendee Name	Title	Status	Arrived
Natalie Coleman	Chair	Present
Denise E. Winfrey	Vice Chair	Absent
Julie Berkowicz	Member	Present
Debbie Kraulidis	Member	Absent
Tyler Marcum	Member	Present
Sherry Newquist	Member	Present
Judy Ogalla	Member	Absent
Tom Weigel	Member	Present
Meta Mueller	Member	Present

Present from the State's Attorney's Office: M. Tatroe

Also Present: M. Fricilone, N. Palmer, B. Adams

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 

1. WC Legislative Committee - Regular Meeting - Oct 11, 2022 9:00 AM 

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Tyler Marcum, Member SECONDER: Julie Berkowicz, Member AYES: Coleman, Berkowicz, Marcum, Newquist, Weigel ABSENT: Winfrey, Kraulidis, Ogalla

V. MISCELLANEOUS LEGISLATIVE REPORTS 

1. ISACo Updates 

(Information)

VI. OLD BUSINESS 

1. Federal Legislative Update 

(Smith, Dawson & Andrews)

This was discussed under Item #2.

2. Establishing FY2024 Federal Legislative Agenda & Priorities 

(Smith Dawson & Andrews)

Mr. Garson stated the federal agenda mirrors areas where we’ve focused on in the past. Infrastructure, public health, federally qualified community health center, Workforce Development, as well as other areas. County Board has always done an incredible job going after federal resources whether it’s for infrastructure or community health care, etc., and it will continue to be well positioned.

Mrs. Berkowicz asked in regard to the Asian carp what should we pursue in terms of resources that is available from the federal government?

Mr. Garson replied Illinois and Michigan federal delegations typically funding for Asian carp mitigation for the Great Lakes States. We can add language; did you just want to have something developed, or did you just want to recognize that’s an area where resources may need to be gone after. We could add some language in there. This hasn’t come up at Public Works, or Land Use specifically. I don’t recall any feedback on actual language from the Board, but we can put something together. It sounds like you just want it recognized as potentially a future problem.

Mrs. Berkowicz replied that’s correct.

Mr. Garson stated we can include a couple sentences on Asian carp. An acknowledgement that the federal government has funded programs to mitigate impact from that. If you think of anything specific on the local level such as the problems they had. We like to know more details on the local side of things to give you an answer or point you in the direction.

Mrs. Berkowicz asked Mr. Palmer is it possible to get feedback from staff and what their thoughts are and then take it from there.

Mr. Palmer replied the Executive’s Office and I can work with SDA and see if we can put something together for next week. We have spoken about this before and I know the Will County Governmental League has done some work on the locks and dams, and we have tried to get them to come but everybody’s busy this time of year. We can have a presentation of what they’re doing because that is somewhat connected. They might be able to help us with some language too from what’s happening locally. Congresswoman Underwood would probably have to engaged because she hasn’t represented that area before in Lockport. We need a motion to move this to the full board but also, if it’s the will of the committee, we should formally do a motion to add the Asian carp language.

RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS]  TO: Will County Board MOVER: Julie Berkowicz, Member SECONDER: Meta Mueller, Member AYES: Coleman, Berkowicz, Marcum, Newquist, Weigel, Mueller  ABSENT: Winfrey, Kraulidis, Ogalla

Motion to include Asian Carp language. 

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Tyler Marcum, Member SECONDER: Julie Berkowicz, Member AYES: Coleman, Berkowicz, Marcum, Newquist, Weigel, Mueller  ABSENT: Winfrey, Kraulidis, Ogalla

3. Update on State Legislative Issues 

(Curry & Associates)

This was discussed under Item #4.

4. Establishing FY2023 State Legislative Agenda & Priorities 

(Curry & Associates)

Mr. Schaben stated last month we talked about the different issues that we compiled from agency directors and the state legislation agenda, so we compiled it into 1 document. We also received some additional information from Curry & Associates which is reflected here. The only item that we are seeking to sponsor legislation from the County is the quick take legislation. Those projects are itemized out here along with a general statement that the County supports the DOT efforts to pursue legislation. Everything else is general support language and guidance to our delegation in Springfield as well as our state lobbying team. These are the issues we generally support and there is legislation that is brought up elsewhere or moving through the general assembly and we have it on record that these are issues that we generally support. The first one is the support of the Will County DOT that pursue legislative action to authorize using quick take. We’ve highlighted 5 projects for this request. The next one is more of a general statement that streamlines the review process for local transportation projects by the Illinois Department of Transportation. Water Infrastructure; DuPage River Study Project has been an ongoing project. The state never provides any funding for this, and this has been on the agenda in the past. We continue to seek state funds to support this project. The Local Health Protection Grant from the Department of Public Health was discussed last month; this is a main support for the Health Department generally the County will support an increase in fines for that grant. Housing Stability; the Court Based Rental Assistance Program (CBRAP). This is a new program that I highlighted last month that the state created post COVID and it just recently moved over to ICJA. The request here for the County is to generally support an increased continuation of funding for the Court Based Rental Assistance Program (CBRAP). The next one was sealing of eviction records for tenants. This was a COVID response that had a sunset date of 2022, and this would seek to support any legislation that would continue the sealing of evictions records under certain conditions to make that permanent as opposed to a sunset. General Government and Capital Improvement; this was something the Clerk’s Office wanted us to highlight that the mandated fees associated with persons filing a petition does not cover the total cost of conducting it. They want us to support legislation that would seek to increase the fee amount. And support any additional funding for capital in the Clerk’s Office to replace and upgrade their election equipment. Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC). I just wanted to include it and the Board already voted on it last month. The next one is establishing a statewide paint stewardship program that would allow for recycling and collection of paint. Establish a statewide carpet stewardship program; it’s the same concept recycling program. Establish a statewide packaging stewardship program; it’s the same concept recycling program. The reason these 3 were brought up is because the County owns its own landfill. The last 3 are in the Public Safety realm. This has been a continued request from our Regional Office of Education department for the state to increase the amount of funds for this. Provides state funding to enhance the safety and security measure for K-12 grade. The last one; there wasn’t a desire to move on the Safe-T Act as of last month. It’s a neutral statement on the Safe-T Act but if this does move forward, we would ask for additional states support.

RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS]  TO: Will County Board MOVER: Meta Mueller, Member SECONDER: Tyler Marcum, Member AYES: Coleman, Berkowicz, Marcum, Newquist, Weigel, Mueller  ABSENT: Winfrey, Kraulidis, Ogalla

VII. OTHER OLD BUSINESS 

VIII. NEW BUSINESS 

IX. PUBLIC COMMENT 

X. ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS BY CHAIR 

XI. EXECUTIVE SESSION 

XII. ADJOURNMENT 

1. Motion to adjourn the meeting @ 9:30 a.m.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Meta Mueller, Member SECONDER: Tyler Marcum, Member AYES: Coleman, Berkowicz, Marcum, Newquist, Weigel, Mueller  ABSENT: Winfrey, Kraulidis, Ogalla

NEXT MEETING TO BE ANNOUNCED

https://willcountyil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=12&ID=4432&Inline=True