McHenry County Planning, Environment & Development Committee met Jan. 10.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
1. CALL TO ORDER
Meeting called to order at: 8:32 AM by Larry W Smith.
PRESENT: Smith, Aavang, Gottemoller, Meshes, Schofield, Schwartz, Yensen
ABSENT:
Also present: Peter Austin (remote), County Administrator; Scott Hartman, Deputy County Administrator; Adam Wallen (remote), Director of Planning & Development; Patricia Nomm, Director of Environmental Health; Renee Hanlon, Planning Manager/Zoning Enforcement Officer.
2. MINUTES APPROVAL
1. Planning, Environment & Development - Public Meeting - Dec 7, 2021 8:30 AM
| RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Joseph Gottemoller SECONDER: Carolyn Schofield AYES: Smith, Aavang, Gottemoller, Schofield, Schwartz, Yensen ABSENT: Meshes |
None.
4. MEMBERS' COMMENTS
Chair Smith stated Mr. Wallen will be virtual during the meeting, he stated his comment pertains to the fact that covid cases are rising in County building. He stated there are certain oppositions to the remote meetings, mentioning that he likes attending in person, and he wanted to get the input from the committee on going virtual for a while. Dr. Yensen stated she is in agreement with Mr. Smith, stating for a selfish reason that she will be going in for surgery in March and the recovery time is about three weeks but prior to that time she would like to remain healthy until then. However she stated several of her colleagues are serving in appointed positions who are coming down with covid although they are fully vaccinated and boosted. Chair Smith stated he has had all of his shots but it does not keep someone from getting covid, but rather lessen the impact of the illness if testing positive. Mr. Gottemoller stated he raised the same issue with Mr. Austin last week because he knows of a number of people who are currently positive with covid and he is surprised and please that he does not, so he has no issue going remote for the meantime. Ms. Schofield inquired if he is talking about going remote for a few meetings or having the option, Chair Smith stated he would discuss it with the Chairman Buehler, he just wanted to have something from the PED committee to take back to him when he does.
Mr. Hartman stated he and Mr. Austin had a discussion with Chairman Buehler last week about the possibility especially since covid is on the rise, mentioning the hiccup with LGL having to cancel the meeting because there was not enough in person attendees. He stated on the bottom of the committee agendas there is language that references 7e of the Open Meetings Act , which enables committees to meet remotely they will not have the in person attendance, 7e is the exception of the OMA which does not require a quorum to be present because of the Governors proclamation of the public health disaster, and Chairman Buehler determined an in person meeting may not be practical and for those reasons members have that ability. He stated that decision is completely up to the committee because of that being in place.
Ms. Schofield stated she would personally like to be in person especially when there is an issue that needs discussing, because it is more valuable but she leaves it up to the agenda to determine the attendance of the meetings. Dr. Yensen stated that McHenry County College is shut down, and the People in Need Forum is going completely virtual for the time being, as well the Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast will be held virtually along with other activities due to the increase in covid. Chair Smith confirmed if the committee has the option currently they do not have to do anything immediate, and everyone is aware this is an option.
5. PRESENTATION
None.
6. NEW BUSINESS
1. 8:40 - Timothy Watkins - Greenwood Drainage District
Committee members introduced themselves and interviewed Timothy Watkins for consideration for appointment to the Greenwood Drainage District. It was noted that Mr. Watkins meets the requirements as a members of the Greenwood Drainage District.
2. Motion: Deliberation and Selection of up to One Candidate for Recommendation to the County Board Chairman to the Greenwood Drainage District with a Term to Begin on September 1, 2021, and to Expire August 31, 2024, for a 3-year Term.
A motion was made by Mr. Gottemoller, seconded by Ms. Meshes, to recommend the appointment of Timothy Watkins for consideration as a member of the Greenwood Drainage District for a 3-year term to expire on August 31, 2024.
| RESULT: RECOMMENDED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Joseph Gottemoller SECONDER: Theresa Meshes AYES: Smith, Aavang, Gottemoller, Meshes, Schofield, Schwartz, Yensen |
Patti Nomm, Director of Environmental Health, joined the committee to discuss the Ordinance.
Ms. Nomm stated this is the renewal for the Manor subdivision in Crystal Lake and also Fox Lake and it is about 75 homes with four bidders. She stated it is very competitive and the pricing is going back to where is started a couple years prior and moving forward, they have had zero complaints on the vendor in that area over the previous four years. They have sent out the notifications and she is aware that it will go on thirty day review, so it will be voted on in February.
Dr. Yensen stated it is nice to know there are no complaints because that is one service people complain about if there are any problems. Chair Smith stated price wise they look like the best and there are not complaints which is good. Ms. Nomm did state that the one thing they eliminated, Ms. Schofield requested that they modify as they moved forward, was the buy the bag option due to less than twenty people utilizing it and it was not cost effective.
| RESULT: RECOMMENDED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Joseph Gottemoller SECONDER: Michele Aavang AYES: Smith, Aavang, Gottemoller, Meshes, Schofield, Schwartz, Yensen |
Chair Smith stated this is the same item they heard previously but now that it is getting formalized he thought the committee would want to hear it again before it goes to the Board for a vote. Mr. Hartman stated this is the recommended language that was discussed and recommended by the committee in November, in the packet there is a clean copy of the policy statement, in addition he included the red lined version so they can see the changes. As the committee just heard there are refuse franchise agreements that come through the County and the language intended to capture that if a township has a refuse franchise agreement, the County will continue to provide for that franchise agreement they have occurred by way of referendum by the township residents. He stated there are two franchise agreements out there, one is in McHenry township which the County administers and the second is in Nunda township which the township administers, in the event that Nunda township would dissolve that franchise agreement would then fall back to the County and the language would state that they would continue to administer the franchise agreement as they do others. He stated that is the most significant change out of the discussion from November, and that language is presented before the committee and if accepted he would appreciate the resolution being moved forward by the committee.
Ms. Schofield inquired if Mr. Hartman envisions the Board members having a discussion at the Committee of the Whole on where each committees settled. Mr. Hartman confirmed he would anticipate that occurring. Chair Smith inquired on how many other committees the resolution has gone through, Mr. Hartman stated all of them with the exception of the new Valley Hi Operating Committee.
| RESULT: RECOMMENDED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Theresa Meshes SECONDER: Paula Yensen AYES: Smith, Aavang, Gottemoller, Meshes, Schofield, Schwartz, Yensen |
None.
8. REPORTS
1. ZBA and Hearing Officer Reports
a. Zoning Petitions going before County Board on January 18, 2022
Renee Hanlon, Planning Manager/Zoning Enforce Officer, joined the committee to discuss the report.
| RESULT: PRESENTED |
Renee Hanlon, Planning Manager/Zoning Enforce Officer, joined the committee to discuss the report.
| RESULT: DISCUSSION |
Renee Hanlon, Planning Manager/Zoning Enforce Officer, joined the committee to discuss the report.
| RESULT: PRESENTED |
None.
10. EXECUTIVE SESSION (AS NECESSARY)
None.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Gottemoller made a motion, seconded by Mr. Schwartz, to adjourn the meeting at 9:26 a.m. The motion passed on a voice vote of all members present voting aye. -TCMcKinnon
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