County Board - Regular Meeting

Evening everyone. It is 5:30. So I'm going to call the uh county board meeting to order. And we will move on to item number two, invocation or moment of silence from Vice Chair Jim Rogal.

Uh thank you. I'll be reading a short excerpt of a poem from uh former po poet laurate Amanda Gorman. We can ask you to do good when you've barely withstood. Our greatest threats yet the depths of death, despair, and disparity. Atrocities across cities, towns, and countries. Lives lost. Climatic cost. Exhausted. Angered. We are endangered. Not because of our numbers, but because of our numbness. We're strangers to one another's perils and pain, unaware that the welfare of the public and the planet share a name, equality. Thank you. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you all. Madam clerk, if you would call the role. Brian Leler. Mike O'Neal. Mike O'Neal absent. Adam Reeves here. Jim Rogal here. Natalie Roseman Mendoza here. Jeff Tommpkins here. Andy Zebar here. Brian Banger here. Cory Burn present. Beverly Bell present. Mark Claus here. Leah Klene here. Alex Duffy here. Sean Fagan here. Buck Farley here. William John Frederick absent. Eric Hansen here. William Beasler here. Val Layman present. Elizabeth Johnson I am here.

I guess one absent, two absent. So 18 present. That is a quorum. Uh so we move on to item number five. Appearance by member of the public or county employees. Chair Johnson. We've had no requests this evening. Thank you so much. Moving on to item number six. This is a consent agenda. Uh may I have a motion? Motion by Hansen and a second. Sansent by Fagan. Comments or questions? Madam Chair, member Bessler, sorry. I will need to abstain from item 6B6, request approval of agreement for storm water education program services with the ecology action center due to a conflict of interest with my employer.

Thank you so much. Any other comments or questions? Member Klein. Um, chair, I need to pull item 6 C1A.

Okay. The other comment or question I have is there are none other from the from the board. Um, regional superintendent of schools number 17, Mr. Mark Jantry has given written notice of his retirement on February 17, 2026 effective May 1st, 2026, creating a vacancy in the office of the regional superintendent for the term expiring on June 30th, 2027. Pursuant to Illinois statute, a vacancy in said office shall be filled within 60 days of the vacancy with the appointee being a member of the same political party that the current regional superintendent of schools was a member at the time such regional superintendent of schools was elected. Also, pursuant to Illinois statute as the vacancy is in a multi-county educational service region, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by a committee composed of the chairman of the county boards of these counties. Each committeeman will be entitled to one vote for each vote that was received in the county represented by such committeemen and the person receiving the highest number of affirmative votes from the committeemen for such vacant office shall be deemed the person appointed by such committee to fill the vacancy. A resolution was presented and approved by the county board will be appointed approved by a county board this evening. Um, and this is to uh add me to the as a member representative of this county for the committee. Um, and to the date I will tell you that we have had one application that's been invited to appear before that committee on April 13th. So, any other comments or questions regarding the consent agenda? Uh, all in favor of it as amended say I.

Any opposed? Motion passes. All right. So, now we have our resolutions uh for accommodations and congratulations. And so, I'd like to ask Mr. John Tree to join me up at the podium. Can everyone hear me? Okay. Um, we are honored to be presenting three tonight. So, I I appreciate you being here tonight and being first. Um, first I would like to just say a few words about Mr. John Tree and then turn it over to him for a moment uh to share some of his thoughts. The Honorable Mark John Tree was elected into office in November 2008 after serving as assistant regional superintendent for four years. He oversees the operations of an office that serves over 40,000 K through 12 students in 30 public school districts and 15 recognized private schools. In his role as regional superintendent, his office is responsible for overseeing the safe operation of all school buildings in the 4count region, administering uh alternative school program for secondary students who are expelled, suspended or otherwise truent from their home school. The office provides school improvement and professional development services for the schools and licensed teachers uh and administrators as well as a wide range of shared services for the schools they serve. The office is also responsible for tutoring adults looking to obtain their high school equivalency um certificate. Most recently, his office partnered with Lifelong Access to stand up a new alternative school, the Central Illinois Bridge Academy for students with behavioral health issues. The seed money for this initiative included the public health and safety

revenues administered by the county as well as contributions from United Way of MLAN County and a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education. In 2027, their existing alternative school will be expanding into the renovated Panagramraph building. Mr. Johnree has been actively involved at the state and local levels both with school policy and numerous community partnerships and initiatives. He is the past president of the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendent of Schools and is currently the co-chair of their legislative committee. He has testified on legislation legislative initiatives and worked with advocates to promote sound education policy. His office has partnered with higher education institutions to deploy grant opportunities for teachers and administrators as well as facilitate education and business partnerships to promote enhanced curricular opportunities for students. Mark is a member of the Normal Rotary Club, the Mlean County Chamber of Commerce CEO Council, and currently serves on the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation board. He has pres previously served as a treasurer and president of the Children's Discovery Museum board. In your many years of service, uh you have really impacted the landscape um for our students and for the future. And I am so grateful for you being here tonight and for all the work that you have done. You have left very big shoes to fill, but you've also trained someone who's very well equipped to take over. So, I'd like to thank you for your service.

Thank you. I'd also like to give you the mic for a few minutes to to share some thoughts on

take a few seconds, not a few minutes, but thank you, Madam Chair, honorable members of the board. I just uh want to take this opportunity to thank you for your support of the office and the work of the staff uh that I oversee. Um our office enjoys a really good reputation among our districts, not only here but across the state. And it's a credit to uh the collaborative nature of not only our school districts but the governing bodies that we work with such as this one. And uh I've really really enjoyed what I've gotten to do in this role. It's a wonderful job. Uh I will miss some parts of it. I will not miss some other parts of it, but uh just know that uh I think feel like I'm hopefully leaving it in good hands uh for the next person uh who can do even better things. But uh I really have enjoyed it and I've really enjoyed working uh with individuals like yourself. So uh again, thank you for your public service and uh best wishes and thank you, Madam Chair. Next up, we have the honor of having a few of the Kingsley basketball junior high basketball ladies team here. If you'd like to come up to the podium, uh while member Layman reads the proclamation on your behalf. Welcome up members of uh of the the Kingsley Junior High girls basketball team. If you

why we won,

if you all are looking for some some great news, if you need something to put a smile on your face, I don't know that I can tell you anything more exciting uh than what we're about ready to to share and to celebrate uh in this moment. So, uh, incredibly excited to be able to to read the resolution, uh, of congratulations, uh, for your team. So, uh, this is the resolution of the MLAN County Board honoring the Kingsley Junior High girls basketball team. Whereas the Kingsley Junior High girls basketball team have demonstrated extraordinary dedication, discipline, and teamwork throughout their junior high careers. And whereas the team achieved a remarkable historic accomplishment by capturing the 2023 IESA 7th grade girls basketball 4A state championship with a perfect 27 and0 record. And whereas the team continued their dominance by securing the 2024 IESA 7th grade girls basketball 4A state championship with another undefeated 30 and0 season. And whereas the team completed an unprecedented three repeat by winning the 2025 IESA 8th grade girls basketball 4A state championship with a flawless 29 and0 record. Whereas this exceptional group of eighth graders continues their junior high careers with a historic and unmatched record of 86 and0 in three straight state championships. Now therefore, let it be proclaimed that we proudly recognize and celebrate the following outstanding student athletes. Maisie Olsen, Levvesia Washington, Isabelle Forsber, Mckenley Ross, Nyla Robinson,

Vivian Reeves, Alex West, Easton Carter, Vivian Wood, Olivia Carolan, Amelia Nalwika, Jasmine Spiller, Eliia Coker, and be it further resolved that the Mlan County Board hereby congratulates the coaching staff including head coach Roger Nalwika, assistant coaches Steve Wood, Megan Williams, McKenzie Coats, and team manager Carella Timbe on their guidance, commitment, and dedication and help to not only building a championship team, but a legacy of excellence that can serve as a source of pride for Kingsley Junior High and the entire community. adopted by the MLAN County Board this 12th day of February, 2026. Uh, please join me in giving them a round of applause on this accomplishment. And I would welcome uh anyone to come up and and share. It looks like there are some pointing anyone and everybody. Thank you so much. No, thank you. Please.

Thank you. Uh I'm Roger Nalawa, so I'm the head coach of the team, but and this is Mr. Davis and Coach Wood, Coach Mack, and Coach Megan. So, we are honored and humbled to be recognized by this group. Thank you so much. Uh we're just here representing our team. It's a great group of girls. But the one thing that I kind of want to make sure to mention is I like to think of like our team as more like an iceberg. So what what we talked about and all those accomplishments was kind of like what you see at the top, but like underneath the surface is really what no one really sees, but we all see, which is like how many weekends that the group gave up, how many vacations with family that they gave up, how much individual skill development that they did on their own. So all of those things have to have to happen on the outside so that when they could get together on the court and play, that's how they got to excel. And it was really great to watch them like grow as young women into u you know getting ready to get into high school and be uh hopefully good humans uh as they continue to grow up and and you know engage in society. So we thank you for honoring us and uh appreciate it. Thank you.

Congratulations.

Thank you so much. it it was not lost on me um that these proclamations happen to fall in March when it is International Women's Day. And so, if you will please pass on our congratulations and our respect to these girls who are going to be entering high school and have done such a phenomenal job. Um we know the work that goes into it. Every one of us here is is very aware of the work that goes into uh achieving such accomplishments. Um, and I'm glad that we have the next proclamation is actually following you. Um, but we we are also honoring the uh women's volleyball out at H Heartland Community College if you're aware that they also won the national championship. They had didn't do a repeat, but they still play. So, I'm going to go ahead and read. So, thank you if you want to you may have a seat or you may you may go. Thank you so much. So, the final resolution that we have for tonight is honoring the H Heartland Community College volleyball program. They were unable to join us tonight. However, they will have their proclamation, the pretty one, uh mailed to them so that they can uh frame it uh and hopefully um take some pleasure in our recognition. Um whereas the H Heartland Community College women's volleyball team achieved its most successful season in program history during the 2025 season as they claimed their first NG NJCAA Division 2 national championship title. Whereas the team entered the national championship tournament as the number two seed and defeated Sock Valley, St. John's River State, and Cowi to get to the championship round. And whereas the team won three straight against number four seed Kansas City, Kansas Community College to claim the title. Whereas a team effort in the championship game with the sophomores Libby Dweiler, Gracie Junis, and freshman Addison Patcha each contributing nine kills and

Haley Mumau with five blocks. Whereas the school record was achieved by Sam Mullenhouse as her 23 digs secured her the title of all-time dig leader for Hartland Community College. And whereas Brooklyn Brennan's performance during the tournament included 28 assists in the semi-final earned her the honor of player of the tournament. And whereas the team ended their season with a 40 and4 record, going undefeated at home at 15-0, undefeated at the conference at 6-0, and achieving 145 set wins as they swept their opponents in 34 matches. Now, therefore, be it resolved that this achievement reflects excellence in athletics, leadership, and sportsmanship, bringing great pride to the Hartland Community College and the broader community. And be it further resolved that the Mlean County Board hereby congratulates the H Heartland Community College women's volleyball team, head coach Marty F, the coaching staff and support personnel on an extraordinary and historic 2025 season adopted by the Mlean County Board this 12th day of March 2026. So I would like to give them all a round of applause as well for their excellence. I know there's been some gentle ribbing between H Heartland and ISU about who's bringing home trophies and who didn't quite, but we're very proud of our H Heartland Hawks and the work that they've been doing over the last few years. They have demonstrated excellence in across many sports. Um, all right. With that, we will move on to the standing committees, item seven, and I will turn uh executive committee over to Vice Chair Rogal.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The executive committee has a few items for action tonight. The first one up is 7A1A, which is request approval of a resolution of MLAN County Board to the amend to amend the intergovernmental revenue sharing agreement and I so move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Leler. Comments or questions? Just note that this is the abstension from uh Mr. Wrestler. Separate. So this is a different abstension. Correct. Yeah. So, I will need to abstain for a conflict of interest with my employer. Thank you. Any other comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7 A1A, say I.

Any opposed? Motion passes. Next up, we have 7A1B, which is request approval of an emergency appropriation ordinance amending the MLAN County fiscal year 2026 combined annual appropriation and budgeted budget ordinance for the general fund and nursing home fund, which requires a twothirds majority to pass. And I so move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Bell. Comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7 A1B say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes.

Next is 7 A1C. Request approval of an emergency appropriation ordinance amending the MLAN County fiscal year 2026 combined annual appropriation and budget ordinance for the fund 0007. This also requires a twothirds vote uh by the board and I so move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Bessler. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7 A1C say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes.

Next up is 7 A1D, request approval of an emergency appropriation ordinance amending MLAN County fiscal year 2025 combined annual appropriation and budget ordinance uh for administration. Uh this also requires a twothirds vote and I so move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Layman. Comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7 A1D, say I. Any opposed? Motion passes.

Next up is 7 A1E, request approval of an emergency appropriation ordinance amending the MLAN County fiscal year 2025 combined annual appropriation budget ordinance for fund 0001 county board. And this also requires a two-thirds vote. And I so move. Thank you. We may have a second. Second by member Fagan. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7 A1E say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes.

We're about the halfway point here. So 7 A1F request approval of an amend emergency appropriation ordinance amending the MLAN county fiscal year 2026 combined annual appropriation and budget ordinance for fund 0163. This also requires a twothirds vote and I so move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by uh member Farley. Comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7 A1F say I. Any opposed? Motion passes.

Next up is 7A1G. Request approval of an intergovernmental agreement between MLAN County and the MLAN County area EMS system for allocation of funds via Illinois opioid allocation agreement. And I so move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Leler. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7 A1G say I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next is 7A1H request approval of an inter intergovernmental agreement with Bloomington Township Fire Protection District in Mlean County. And I so move.

Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Farley. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7 A1H say I. Any opposed? Motion passes. And the last item for action is 7 A1 I request approval of an intergovernmental agreement with Dale Township Fire Protection District in MLAN County. And I so move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Bangard. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7 A1 I say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes.

The executive committee has no other items for action. Our general report can be found on pages 31 through 41 on unapproved minutes and I can answer questions if anyone has any. Thank you. Moving on. Item 7B, finance committee, and that is member Layman. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. The finance committee has four items to be presented for action this evening. Uh action item 7B1A is the request approval of an ordinance of the MLAN County Board amending the 2025 combined annual budget and appropriation ordinance. And I so move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Bler. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7B1A say I.

Any opposed? Motion passes. Next up. Thank you again. 7B1B is the request approval of an ordinance of the MLAN County Board amending the 2026 combined annual budget and appropriation ordinance and ISO move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Hansen. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7B 1B say I. I.

Any opposed? Motion passes. 7B1C is the request approval of an emergency appropriation ordinance amending the MLAN County fiscal year 2025 combined annual appropriation and budget ordinance for animal services department. This does require a twothirds county board approval. And I so move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Bell. Comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7B1C say I. I.

Any opposed? Motion passes. And finally, 7B1D is the request approval of a resolution transferring monies from the county general fund 0001 to the nursing home fund 0401 fiscal year 2026 and ISO move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Burn. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7B1D say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes.

Thank you again, uh, Madame Chair, the finance committee has no other items to be presented for action this evening. Um, as far as information, the, uh, approved minutes uh, packet uh, for the general report for finance committee this month is found on pages 18 through 30. Um, and as far as other information, I would give a a friendly reminder that we are a mere four and a half days out from election day. You do have four more days to be able to vote early. Uh, vote early, get it done, get it taken care of and off your plate. There are many locations that you can uh have your vote cast, whether it be um on election day at your neighborhood local polling place uh or you can actually cast your ballot at the government center, central Illinois regional airport, bone student center, or for those of you who are in Bloomington um instead of the government center, your location would be the Bloomington Election Commission. Um, all information about specific times can be found either on the MLAN County government website under the county clerk's page or you can go to the Bloomington Election Commission website and find those exact locations uh as well as times. And I'm happy to answer any additional questions that might be pertinent to the finance committee.

Thank you, Member Layman. Any other questions? I'm moving on to item 7 C, health committee with member Burn. Thank you, Madam Chair. Health Committee brings four items for action tonight. Item 4 C 7 7 C. There we go. 7 C 1A request approval of an emergency appropriation ordinance amending the MLAN county fiscal year 2025 combined annual appropriation bud budget ordinance for fund 0105 the health department and this requires a twothirds county board approval and I so move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Bill. Any comments or questions? Seeing none. All in favor of item 7 C1A say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Moving on to item 7C1B, request approval of an emergency appropriation ordinance amending the MLAN County fiscal year 2025 combined annual appropriation budget ordinance for fund 0107. Also, the health department. This vote also requires a twothirds county board majority and ISO move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Klene. Any comments or questions? Seeing none. All in favor of item 7 C1B say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Item 7 C1C request approval of an emergency appropriation ordinance amending the MLAN County fiscal year 2025 combined annual appropriation and budget ordinance for fund 0401, the MLAN County Nursing Home. This vote also requires a twothirds majority and ISO move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Hansen. Any comments or questions? Seeing none. All in favor of item 7 C1C say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Item 7C1D, request approval of an emergency appropriation ordinance amending the MLAN County fiscal year 2026 combined annual appropriation and budget ordinance for fund 0401, also in the nursing home. Also requiring a twothirds county board majority and ISO move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by Rosema Mendoza. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7 C1D say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes.

Thank you, Madam Chair. A few items of interest from the health department and from the board of health. I would like to thank Vice Chair Hansen for steering last week's health committee meeting. Uh this year, the health committee or the health department looks forward to its third year operating the mobile health unit, operating offering height, weight, and BMI checks as well as A1C screenings. Uh for those of us in the diabetes club, we know that sometime some insurance programs will only offer screenings every 90 days. So having that option through your health department is a way to more closely monitor your numbers. Uh health department is once again offering quarterly wellness challenges. And this quarter re uh features uh my favorite the rest and revive challenge. This challenge is focused on improving sleep quality, restoring energy, and supporting stress management through simple weekly habits that promote rest and recovery. You can check out the health department's website to see more details on that. The MLAN County Board of Health met last night and heard reports on the health department's Narcan distribution program. In 2025, 4,413 boxes of Narcan were distributed at no cost from locations around the county, including the health department building, Home Sweet Home, Illinois Wesian, the Salvation Army, Path, the Beastro, and Hope Church, among many others. The board also approved the health department's annual 2025 annual report. Lastly, I would like to wish uh congratulations and best wishes to the fabulous Marita Landrith, who has led the BHCC through some tumultuous times and is moving on. Thank you for your service. MLAN County is better because of your efforts.

All right. Thank you very much. Any other comments or questions for member Burn? Seeing none, move on to item seven. Back to Vice Chair Rogalo for Justice Committee. Thank you again, Madam Chair. The justice committee brings six items tonight for action. First one is 7D1A request approval of emergency appropriation ordinance amending the MLAN county fiscal year 2025 combined annual appropriation and budget ordinance for the state's attorney in the general fund. This requires a two-thirds vote by the board and I so move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Zebarth. Can comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7D1A say I.

Any opposed? Motion passes. Next up, we have 7D1B, which is request approval of an emergency appropriation ordinance amending the MLAN County fiscal year 2025 combined annual appropriation and budget ordinance for the coroner and the general fund. This requires a twothirds vote. And I so move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Duffy. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7D1B say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes.

Next up is 7D1C, request approval of an emergency appropriation ordinance amending the MLAN County fiscal year 2025 combined annual appropriation budget ordinance for the sheriff and the general fund. This requires a twothirds vote and I so move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Burn. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7D1C say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes.

Next up, we have 7D1D, which is request approval of emergency appropriation ordinance amending the MLAN County fiscal year 2026 combined annual appropriation and budget ordinance for the sheriff's department doors. This requires a twothirds vote and I so move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Bessler. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7D1D say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes.

Next up is 7D1E, request approval and emergency appropriation ordinance amending the MLAN County fiscal year 2026 combined annual appropriation and budget ordinance for the sheriff's department lighting. This requires a two-thirds vote by the board and I so move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Farley. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 71E say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes.

And our last item for action is 7D1F, request approval and emergency appropriation ordinance amending the MLAN County fiscal year 2025 combined annual appropriation and budget ordinance for the public defender in the general fund. This requires a twothirds vote and I so move. Thank you. May I have a second? Second by member Hansen. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7D uh 1F say I. Any opposed? Motion passes. The justice committee has no other items for action tonight. Our general report can be found on pages 13 through 17 of the then approved minutes and I can answer any questions if anyone has any.

Thank you so much. Uh seeing no other questions, we'll move on to item 7E and that is property committee with member Layman. Thank you again, Chair Johnston. Uh the property committee has one item to be presented for action this evening. Item 7E1A is the request approval of an emergency appropriation ordinance amending the MLAN County fiscal year 2025 combined annual appropriation and budget ordinance. This requires a 23 board vote and ISO move. Thank you so much. Uh may I have a second? Second by member Duffy. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of item 7E1A, say I. I. Any opposed?

Motion passes. Chair Johnston, the property committee has no other items to be presented for action this evening. As far as items for information, uh pages 10 through 12, you will find our general report in the unapproved minutes packet. And I want to say uh a thank you to Vice Chair Fagan uh who took over leading the property meeting in my absence last week. All right. Thank you. Moving on. Item 7F, land use and transportation committee with um member Klein.

Thank you so much, Chairperson Johnston. Um item 7 F1A um will now be approve the application of the MLAN County Land Use and Transportation Committee in case ZA2601. This is a text amendment to the zoning ordinance of the code of MLAN county chapter 350 section 350-42 use table and section 350-43 use standards for a data center and I so move. Thank you. May I have a second by Roal? All right. Comments or questions? Okay.

Yes. Chairperson Johnson. The reason that I pulled this item um this evening is not to make any additions or changes to the actual zoning ordinance change, but I had some notification from members of the board that they wanted to make a slight adjustment to the um resolution that prefaces those changes. And so I'd like to make a motion to delete the third whereas which reads whereas the county recognizes a need for data centers and and that would be the only change. So that would be stricken stricken.

All right. So that is an amendment to it. May I have a second? Second by Rogal. Any comments or questions about the amendment? So we'll first vote on the amendment and then we will vote on the item as amended. All in favor of the amendments on item 7F1A say I. I. Any opposed? Okay, there one. No. All right, that passes. And so now we will consider the item as amended. Um, and we already have Klein and Rogal on the floor for that motion. So all in favor of item 7F1A say I. I.

Any opposed? Motion passes. Okay. Thank Thank you, Chairperson Johnston. Um, the minutes for the land use and transportation committee are on pages 3 through six of the unapproved minutes packet and I'm happy to answer any questions that anybody might have. Thank you so much. We're moving on item 7G with county administrator Miss Taylor. Thank you, Chair Johnston. I have no items to present for the board tonight.

Thank you so much. All right. Well, moving on to item number eight. This is other business and communication. Um, we have had quite a busy couple of weeks. We mentioned a couple of us were out of town last week and I believe that Mr. Liry has some photos. Um we had a very successful I feel trip out to DC um where we met with our legislators as part of the collective one voice trip. Um we presented our project um to uh Senator uh um I'm sorry, Senator Durban, uh Representative Le Hood, Representative Sorenson, and to Senator Duckworth's staff. we knew in advance she would not be able to be there. Um I was very grateful for them taking time in such a busy week to hear our proposals um to talk to us about suggestions of other avenues that we could pursue as part of additional funding sources um for the project. And then I wanted to turn over to member Burn um because this is his district and talk a little bit about um what the project was and and what we felt was most impactful on our trip.

Thank you, Chair Johnson. Uh yes uh echoing all those statements it was a very positive trip. We had a lot of positive dialogue. Uh we were very pleased to have the support from all of our community partners in uh business, government, education, um labor, community leaders. Uh the project that the county brought forward was uh we called it the waterlift project and it was to help remedy a uh aging and decrepit water system in a neighborhood uh just south of the airport in county board district 10. Uh this is kind of a municipal island um kind of an orphan in uh uh in local government without any real um uh oversight and they've been living with a uh uh collapsing water system for a neighborhood of 84 homes. Uh and it is uh as we showed with Representative Le Hood here um some of the water that comes out of the taps and some of the uh uh short-lived water filter systems that are only be able to be used for about a third of their lifespan. It's a It's a bad scene. It is a bad scene. So, as we explained to our congressional representatives, the water that comes out of the tap smells bad and tastes even worse. And so, we had a lot of positive dialogue with them. And as Chair Johnson said, we got a lot of good ideas from all members of the delegation uh for possible paths forward. So, we we left feeling very very encouraged with that. Uh again, we are very very grateful for the partnership and the support of all the agencies that went with us. We went forward with four projects but there was a good 20 or so folks represented from the area. So um yes all in all a very very good trip. We remain very optimistic and look forward to closing the book on that issue.

Correct. I mean the whole trip itself was um we were there as representatives of the community. There wasn't uh it was just collaboration as far as the support. Um it was a very bipartisan effort. It was a collaborative effort. Um and so we were very grateful. This is not Representative Sorenson's district, but he was very optimistic about the fact that water projects have been um very welcomed and supported as a bipartisan issue uh in this, you know, in this Congress and in the previous Congress. he's had a lot of success um and it not being his district, he was very supportive of wanting to sign on um to this project with Representative Le Hood um to give it as much weight as possible to see it through. So, I was very grateful for that. Um but we had we had an excellent time out there working uh with our community partners. Uh networking is also very important. It's an opportunity for us to not just bring forth the issues that are facing our community, but to really um collaborate outside of all of the noise of our daily lives. Um and so it's always a powerful trip to come back even though it is very short. Um and so I'm grateful for member burn joining us uh for the EDC putting this together. Um historically this has been a very successful uh program over the 19 years that they have done it. Um and so I look forward to hearing back. Um, but again, a big shout out to our our representatives, um, both the Senate and the House, um, whose staff have been very supportive and helping us shepherd us through the revised community funding project process. It's not an earmark anymore. Um, and so there's different levels and each representative had a different process. So the staff has been great in helping us navigate that to collect as much information as they need to give it the full consideration. So

that was our that was our one voice trip. Um and so I look forward to hearing back. They did tell us it is a shorter time period than it usually is. So I am hoping that we'll hear back sooner rather than later on whether that gets um approved in some funding to help the community. Um, other than that, uh, any other communication from the board for the good of the community? Yes, member Klein. Um, it's not really for the good of the community. I just wanted to say a big thank you to the sheriff's department and to the emergency management on Tuesday night. I don't think a whole lot of sleep was had. Um, but those of us who have the app from the sheriff's department got lots of notifications, lots of notifications from EMA. when we woke up the next morning, I saw there were notifications really until about 6 o'clock in the morning or 6:30 in the morning when the all clear was was finally um sounded. Just want to thank them for keeping an eye on things for us. And I know I slept slept better knowing that an alert was going to come to my phone to wake me up if I needed to get into the basement in the middle of the night. So, thank you for being the watchman. Thank you so much. Any other comments or questions from the board? We do have animals queued up as well. Uh we we have been uh actually I think Marshall is here. Um did I hear correctly that one of our cat rooms is empty?

We have two big cat bays that are empty. Um the staff has been working uh diligently. The facility has kept the animals healthier so that they are uh much more adoptable and they are finding homes much faster. Um, they're also finding uh avenues with our partners um to help get them out into the community and find their forever homes. Um, I'm just loving all of the social media. Uh, volunteers are just killing it. They're doing a great job um promoting the animals, eye-catching social media um to to garner uh more volunteers um and more homes uh for these loving animals. So, uh, if nobody else has anything good, I think Oh, we have a couple more down here. Yes, Member Layman. Thank you very much. Uh, apologies for not bringing this up during the other business of the finance committee. Uh, but we do have another celebration, right? I feel like we, uh, shouldn't short out, uh, other exciting celebrations. So, uh, coming out of the supervisor of assessments office, there is another retirement celebration. Uh, so I wanted to give a little bit of voice to Mary Hall, who has, uh, been the longest tenur staff member in that office. uh and celebrating a retirement after 30 years. So, here's to Mary Hall and all of the efforts that she's given to the county. Thank you.

Thank you. And member Burn. Thank you, Chair. I would like to extend warm wishes as well to all those in our community celebrating Eid al Fat, marking marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. We do recognize this important occasion as a time of reflection, generosity, and community. Uh may this celebration bring peace, joy, and renewed connection with family, friends, and neighbors. On behalf of myself and those who wish to extend that, we wish everyone observing a blessed and joyful Eid. Thank you so much. Any other comments or questions? I Yes, member Bill. You want to put your mic on? Let's get it on the record.

Okay. Buck Farley had a birthday last week while you guys were gone and I forgot to mention it and I just want to say to you happy birthday. Happy belated birthday. All right. I think the only other announcement I'd make is that the Sharon of the Green Parade will be in Uptown Normal this Saturday. Um, always a lot of fun. Hopefully it won't be 11° like it was a couple of years ago. Hopefully not. Um, but yeah, if you guys want to all come out and celebrate that with the in Uptown in the circle, um, it's always a lot of fun. It is a short parade. Um, and then we all disperse and and enjoy our St. Patrick's Day celebration. So all right with that thank you for your service to the board and we are.