McHenry Times

McHenry County Board Met Dec. 10.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3. INTRODUCTORY ROLL CALL

Meeting called to order at: 9:00 AM by Chairman Michael Buehler.

PRESENT: Aavang (Remote), Acosta (Remote), Althoff (Remote), Bates (Remote), Doherty (Remote), Gottemoller (Remote), Jindrich (Remote), Jung Jr. (Remote), Kearns (Remote), Meshes (Remote), Nowak (Remote), Parrish (Remote), Phillips (Remote), Schofield (Remote), Skala (Remote), Smith (Remote), Thorsen (Remote), Vijuk (Remote), Von Bergen (Remote), Wegener (Remote), Wilbeck (Remote), Yensen (Remote), Buehler (Remote)

ABSENT: Ness

Also present were: Peter Austin, County Administrator; Scott Hartman, Deputy County Administrator; Kevin Bueso, Chief Financial Officer and other interested staff members.

4. PUBLIC COMMENT

Full comments can be heard on the McHenry County website audio starting at 0:42:01

Mike Farmer - regarding the ICE contract.

Eva Baker, Adriana Carbajal, Cindy Cesar, Amanda Hall, Dean Meyers, Jill Pixley, Traci Soto-Garcia and Tomas Soto-Garcia - regarding the ICE contract.

Mauricio from Mexico City and an anonymous person - regarding the ICE contract.

Alyssa Cuellar - regarding the ICE contract.

John Kokoris - regarding the ICE contract.

Keil Mitchell - regarding the ICE contract.

David Bradburn - regarding the ICE contract.

Dulce Carina Lopez - regarding the ICE contract.

Eva Baker - regarding the ICE contract.

Cliff and Karen Cragg - regarding the ICE contract.

Megan Hansen - regarding the ICE contract.

Amanda Hall - regarding the ICE contract.

Sherry Liske - regarding the ICE contract.

Federación de Migrantes Unidos por Veracruz, Solidaridad de Dupage/Centro de Trabajadores Casa DuPage, Coalición de Migrantes Mexicanos, Federación Hidalguense en Illinois y Medio Oriente, Immigrant Solidarity Dupage, Standing Up Against Racism- Woodstock, Elgin in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter, Activists for Racial Equity (Crystal Lake), Elgin Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Tree of Life UU Congregation Social Justice Team, Occupy Elgin, Fox Valley Citizens for Peace and Justice - regarding ICE

Tiffany Kriner - regarding ICE

1. Public comments can be submitted by emailing PublicComment@mchenrycountyil.gov, no later than 5:00 p.m. the night before the meeting.

5. REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS

1. Rommel Noguera, ComEd Director of External Affairs

Full comments can be heard on the McHenry County website audio starting at 00:33:41

Rommel Noguera, ComEd Director of External Affairs, introduced himself and explained the Empowering Safe Communities Program which provides a grant up to $10,000 to eligible communities so that they can invest in elements that make their communities safer.

6. NEW BUSINESS

1. Review of the December 15, 2020, County Board Agenda Items

Full comments can be heard on the McHenry County website audio starting at 00:05:28

Chairman Buehler asks for any items that will be removed for discussion in order to allow all staff that is not necessary for questions to return to their departments.

Items removed for discussion:

NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS

12.1 - Resolution Granting a Waiver of the Stormwater Permit, Inspection and Penalty Fees for Permit SW20-0135 - Removed by Mr. Smith, Ms. Schofield, and Ms. Bates

12.2 - Resolution Authorizing the County Board Chairman to Enter Into a Contractual Agreement with Prairieland Disposal for the clean up of debris and rubbish at a property in McHenry County and Authorizing an Emergency Appropriation into the Planning and Development FY2021 Budget - Removed by Mr. Doherty and Mr. Kearns

12.3 - Resolution Authorizing the County Board Chairman to Enter Into a Contractual Agreement with Fowler Enterprises, LLC for the removal of debris at a property in McHenry County and Authorizing an Emergency Appropriation into the Planning and Development FY2021 Budget - Removed by Mr. Doherty and Mr. Kearns

12.4 - Resolution Authorizing the County Board Chairman to Enter Into a Contractual Agreement with Fowler Enterprises, LLC for the removal of debris at a property in McHenry County and Authorizing an Emergency Appropriation into the Planning and Development FY2021 Budget - Removed by Ms. Von Bergen

13.1 - Recommendation for Appointment to the McHenry County Mental Health Board and the Community Development and Housing Grant Commission as of December 15, 2020 - Removed by Mr. Smith

Discussion:

12.1 - Mr. Smith informed the board this was not recommended by staff and encouraged them to read through it closely and reminded them there is the option to only waive a portion of the fees. Ms. Schofield asked for staff to update the board on their position on the resolution and why they do not support the fee waiver. Mr. Sandquist, Director of Planning and Development, stated that staff did not support the fee waiver for a couple of reasons; one being the applicant indicated the reason the work was performed was in response to the impact of the township roadway work, however, the scope of the project was well beyond anything that could have possibly redressed the work of the township and it was done without a permit. Beyond that, he has asked to waive the base permit fee of $400, the inspection fee of $200, and the penalty fee of $400. It was the consensus of the board members to send the resolution back to committee for review and the January County Board.

12.2 & 12.3 - Mr. Doherty had concerns that there was no mention of the lien in the language of the resolution even though it was in the supporting documentation. It was the consensus of the board to have this added to the language of both resolutions.

12.4 - Ms. Von Bergen asked for additional clarification on the original Resolution regarding the Temporary Moratorium on the Enforcement of the McHenry County Unified Development Ordinance and Liquor Control Ordinance as they Relate to Outdoor Seating, Service, and Sale of Food and Alcohol.

13.1 - Mr. Smith reminded the board a few years ago as Chairman of the CDHG commission a recommendation was made by the commission for a second board member to be placed on the commission. The resolution went to the Public Health and Community Services (PHCS) committee but was never placed on the agenda for the full County Board for approval. The CDHG reports to the PHCS committee but is under the direction of the Planning & Development Department that reports to the Planning Environment and Development (PED) committee. It is, therefore, his recommendation that the Chairperson of the CDHG is the Chairperson of the PHCS committee and the Vice-Chair be the Chairperson of PED. He would like this to move forward at this time so that they have a full commission for the next meeting in January 2021.

Ms. Bates stated due to a professional conflict she would be abstaining from:

∙ 12.2 - Resolution Authorizing the County Board Chairman to Enter Into a Contractual Agreement with Prairieland Disposal for the clean up of debris and rubbish at a property in McHenry County and Authorizing an Emergency Appropriation into the Planning and Development FY2021 Budget.

∙ 12.7 - Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of seven (7) Dodge Charger Pursuit Vehicles, three (3) Dodge Rams, and one (1) Dodge Durango from Sunnyside Company of McHenry, IL, per Bid 20-50 for the McHenry County Sheriff's Office.

Proclamation - Ms. Wegener read a comment from Suzanne Ness proposing a proclamation be place on the County Board agenda honoring the employees of the Health Department to show the County Boards appreciation for their dedication in keeping everyone safe. It was the consensus of the board for staff to prepare the proclamation.

7. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT

Full comments can be heard on the McHenry County website audio starting at 00:36:00

Peter Austin, County Administrator, provided the board with the Administrators Report. Including: 

∙ When the agenda is reposted on Friday there will be several changes.

o Committee on Committee structure will be attached

o Modifications to the CDHG by-laws

o Resolution excepting up to $665,000 in additional CURES money

o Fee waiver SW20-0135 will be pulled and moved to next month

o Staff will work to develop a proclamation acknowledging the good work of the Health Department.

∙ The quarterly County Administrator report was sent to the board last night.

∙ The former Motorola building in Harvard is now in the procession of the US Marshals. The building will be auctioned off and all potential bidders will be made aware of the significant invest it will take to bring it back to working use after sitting dormant for 16 years.

∙ In November, former Chairman Franks appointed Erin Smith, former Lakewood Village President, to be the next PACE board representative for McHenry County.

∙ As of Monday, Chalen Daigle, the Executive Director of McHenry County Council of Governments, has now started working part-time at the County as the Shared Services Coordinator.

Chairman Buehler left the meeting at 9:55 a.m. and Vice-Chairwomen Schofield conducted the meeting in his absence.

8. OTHER

None.

9. EXECUTIVE SESSION (IF NECESSARY)

None.

10. MOTION TO ADJOURN

Mr. Nowak made a motion, seconded by Mr. Thorsen, to adjourn the meeting at 10:20 a.m. The motion passed on a voice vote of all members present voting aye.