County Board - Regular Meeting

Where's our test? Very. Good morning everyone. Welcome to the Will County Board meeting for November 20th, 2025. I will call this meeting to order. Member Brooks will lead us in the pledge of allegiance and prayer. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisice of all.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Would you be so kind to join me in a moment of silence for our will County Clerk, Annette Parker, and the homegoing of her mother, Margaret M. Laos as well as one of our will County Lieutenant Auxiliary Police PIO public information officer Kevin better known as Collins. So would you join me a moment of silence and then I'll close out. Thank you very much. Father God, we thank you Lord for another day that you allow us here at the Will County Board to conduct your business as we enter this season of thanksgiving. The word of our Lord reminds us of First Thessalonian 5 and22 and everything give thanks to the Lord concerning you. We thank you Lord for another opportunity. Now Lord, we ask you bless the families of Will County, all of our bishops, our county board members, and this meeting in our Lord's name we pray. Amen. Thank you so much. Madame clerk, will you please call the role?

Richmond, Williams, Dean Schlottman, Ogala, Pretzel, Butler, Newquist here, Ballich. Oxley, yes. Brooks, here. Winfrey. Bullock. Logan, present. Freeman, Revvice, Mitchell, Ortiz, Burkowitz, Hickey, Costa, Trineer, Vanine, Ball.

Oh, or Ortiz. Gotcha. 21. The 20 21 members being present, we have a quorum. I need a motion to place on file the certificate of publication. Motion by Freeman. Seconded by Trunir, Madame Clerk, please call the role. Yes. Williams, Dean, Schlottman, Ogala, Pretzel, Butler, Nquist, Ballich, yes, Oxley, Brooks, yes, Winfrey, Bullock,

Logan, Freeman, Revvice, Ortiz, Burkowitz, Hickey, Costa, Trineer, Bandine. Yes.

21 in the affirmative. The motion carries. Can I get a motion to approve the minutes from the October 16th, 2025 board meeting? Motion by Traneer, seconded by Hickeyi. Previous roll call by Winfrey, seconded by Newquist. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Can I get a approval of the minutes from the October 16th executive session? Moved by Brooks, seconded by Dean Schlottman. Previous roll call by Hickeyi. Is there a second? Seconded by Bulock. All in favor? Any oppose? The motion carries. Madam clerk, will you please acknowledge elected officials and media present today? Today we have county executives

Jennifer Patino Tarant and treasurer Tim Broofphy. Thank you. And recorder of deeds Karen Stol. Thank you. Oh, Mike Kelly. And Sheriff Mike Kelly.

The press. And for media, we have from the Herald News, Bob Okcon, and the Daily Southtown, Michelle Mullins. All right. At this time, we're going to invite we will uh invite people to comment for today's agenda item only. A reminder, you'll have opportunity to speak on land use cases during the land use open hearing. So, if you're on land use, uh please please hold off until that time. Uh so, at this time, we welcome any public comment uh for today's agenda items only. A reminder that please state your name when you come up and a reminder that you have three minutes. You can just come up this way right here if you have public comment. Good morning, me. Good morning, board members. My name is Daryl Bodorf. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak. I strongly oppose the proposed property tax levy increase in Will County. I base my opposition on publicly available data, not just opinion. And I want to stress that voters are watching. In particular, board member Destiny Ortiz originally voted no on a tax hike. If she now supports an increase, many of her district will feel she has shifted away from protecting homeowners. That matters. First, the property tax burden in Will County is already very high. According to the Will County Gazette, property owners paid 2.3% of their home values in property tax in Q4 2024 with a median tax bill of $7,043. That effective rate is more than twice the national average. This isn't a

modest burden. It's steep and another increase, even 1%, would be deeply felt. Second, consider typical home values in Will County. Zillow's home value index places a typical Will County home at $363,443. Renfin reports a median recent sale price of $355,000. When a household already pays over7,000 annually to the county in property taxes on a home that on a home that value, a 1% levy hike would noticeably raise monthly escrow or out-ofpocket costs, especially for families already squeezed by inflation and rising insurance premiums. Third, there is a solid economic research showing that higher recurring property taxes are capitalized into home prices. In other words, when taxes go up, prospective buyers factor in those future tax costs, which can reduce demand and even suppress home values over time. Raising taxes now risks hurting the very equity homeowners hope to build. Fourth, raising property taxes further jeopardizes businesses business investment in Will County. Companies in logistics, manufacturing, and warehousing look at total cost of operation, and property taxes are a big piece. If commercial taxes go up, Will County becomes less competitive versus nearby lower tax counties or even neighboring states such as Indiana, which could which could slow new investment, reduce job creation, and shrink our economic base. Fifth, Illinois is already losing residents. While local data is more limited, broader state trends show out migration is a serious issue. When taxes, especially property taxes, rise, it increases the risk that more residents and their income will leave. If the tax base shrinks, it only makes future levery increases more likely, creating a vicious cycle. Sixth, the burden of a tax increase hits hardest on fixed income homeowners and seniors. These residents often cannot increase earnings to match rising costs. Even a small levy

increase can force difficult trade-offs, medical care, home maintenance, or even whether to stay in their homes. Finally, before approving any tax hike, even 1%, the board must fully demonstrate fiscal prudence. That means one, conducting independent operational audits to eliminate waste. Two, reducing or consolidating overlapping services across townships and municipalities. Three, aggressively pursuing grants and other non-tax revenue sources. Four, expanding relief programs, freezes, or deferrals for low-income and senior homeowners. A tax increase should be the last resort, not the first. In closing, I want to emphasize again the voters are watching. Board member Ortiz's previous no vote showed she understood the burden on taxpayers. If she now votes yes, despite these datadriven concerns, her constituents will remember. We expect elected officials not only to be responsive, but to champion fiscal responsibility. Please reject this tax levy and instead pursue accountability, efficiency, and real relief for homeowners. Thank you for your time.

Madame Executive, members of the board, thank you for the opportunity to speak today. My name is Kevin Brasi. I'm here to urge you in the strongest terms to adopt a 0% tax levy as you've done before. Families in Will County have been pushed to the limit. Every bill is higher. Every trip to the store costs more. People are cutting back, re-evaluating their budgets, and doing whatever they can to stay afloat. And while residents are being forced to make tough decisions, it is unacceptable for government to act as it is exempt from the same responsibility. A 0% tax levy is not only possible, it is necessary. Government must learn to operate with discipline. Government must prioritize. And government must stop treating taxpayers like an automatic funding source. Let me be direct. If households are expected to tighten their belts, then county government should be expected to tighten their belts as well. Not next year, not eventually now. Residents are demanding accountability. They want to know that every dollar taken from them is being used efficiently and responsibly. They want to know that before the county even considers asking for more, they have exhausted every opportunity to eliminate waste, streamline operations, and focus on what truly matters. A 0% levy does not mean cutting essential services. It means managing them responsibly. It means separating the wants from the needs. And it means refusing to expand government simply because it is easier than making tough, responsible decisions. For too long, government at every level has defaulted to the idea that taxes must go up. Spending must grow and taxpayers will just accept it. Those days are over. People are paying attention. They are frustrated and they are demanding leadership that respects the burden placed on every homeowner, every family, and every business in this county. By holding firm at a 0% levy, this board has the opportunity to show the people of Will County that you hear them, that you are willing to stand with

them, not with bigger budgets, not with unnecessary growth, but with the hardworking taxpayers who fund this government. I urge you to make the disciplined, responsible, and fair choice. Adopt a 0% tax levy. Do not increase it. Show the people of Will County that their government is capable with living within its means. Thank you. My name is Greg Colarts. I have a small farm operation and a uh small business in Will County. Coming from the farm end, I understand what it is to spend money and also to stop spending money. There's too many times people go ahead and spend money because they can. They need to learn when times are tough. They have to cut back on spending money first and foremost. There's too many people out here that are, excuse me, struggling to go ahead and get by. [snorts] Retirees, older people, even people that are younger. They got families. They're trying to pay bills. The board is responsible to those people first and foremost, not to the people that work for them as much as the people that are voting. They can't afford to pay their bills. You have to stop raising the increases and the sorry the levies. You're getting it out of line. The state is raising the taxes. Our electric's going to be going up this year again 20 to 30%. Our taxes are going up on everything from food to fuel and everything else. That's got nothing to do with the county, but the county is wanting to raise the taxes just to go ahead and have more money in their coffers. You need to stop spending money. I come from the farm end. When it's dry, you don't spend money. It's in a drought now. You have to stop spending money. Thank you for your time. Yes. Good morning. I'm Alan Lesbetac. I'm 11th precinct committeeman out of

Lockport Township. So, I feel I'm speaking not just on my behalf, but the behalf of uh my constituents and my precinct. This tax increase is hurts families. I mean, you've heard the previous speakers uh iterate facts behind that. But, uh, in my precinct, we have people that I I've got senior citizens that are just telling me that they're having a hard time keeping up with keeping their homes now. Uh, there's just too much spending. Of course, we've just had a lot of increases from the state of Illinois keeps taking more taxes. And I'm urging you, the county board, to please hold the line on taxes because I've always got young families that all of this stuff just hurts. And I want you to understand the pain that the people feel. You know, we're we're not made of money. Everything you're taking in taxes, you're taking away from from other things out of people's lives. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Amy Sanchez and I'm a resident of Will County and Joliet in District 6. And I'm here today because I've been following the budget and listening to the budget meeting minutes. Um, and I'm very concerned about the essential services that may be at risk of being cut. Um, I'm a program director at Warehouse Workers for Justice. We are an established worker center advocating for workers rights and helping workers and those that are impacted um by incarceration, by other uh means to relieve burdens off of them to be more gainfully employed um to drive the economy. Um, I've had a wellrespected established reputation in the community supporting not just small businesses, but workers and their rights. And a 1.7 75% increase on a levy is very minimal compared to the commitments that this board has made, not just to employees, but to the budgetary commitments that you've made um to staff, to unions, to other things. Um, you have an obligation to support um those commitments that you've previously made. So, I'm here to support the levy increase. It's minimal. I think some concessions have been made. I'm very concerned about the mental health um board. I'm very concerned about the public health department, which so many of our underserved community members support. The amount of individuals that we have coming to get record relief in rural areas has drastically increased and the amount of people that want to work and need these essential resources. We have a wellrespected established relationship with the Will County Sheriff's Office who have closed some very needed gaps where folks that were working and didn't have time to go in and get fingerprinted to get the record relief to get a job increase or a pay raise um to get their record sealed or expuned. They've the sheriff's department has been impeccable. Um we are frequently at the Will County courthouse very respected um relationships at the courthouse and I just can't see some of these essential

services that people need being cut or impacted um if a levy is not approved. So I'm here in support of it not because anyone called me because I picked up the phone and started calling people saying what are we at risk of losing if this doesn't pass and it's essential and it's dire. So, um, I would be happy to share some very informative ideas that I have for revenue streams moving forward, specifically because Will County does have the largest inland hub in North America. Folks are wanting to build here, folks are wanting to develop here, and we need to make sure that we are not just protecting the developers and the need for business, but the workers that go inside those buildings as well. So, I'd be happy to move along and talk further discussions in the future about what those revenue streams may look like, but right now today, you have a responsibility to the commitments that you've already made. So, I'm hoping that you and urging a yes vote for this increase. It is minimal compared to the impacts that it would have if you choose not to vote for it. Thank you. Hi, my name is Dan Managan. I'm a lifetime resident of Will County, Juliet. My uh my ancestors go back to the early 1900s from Italy and uh I've always loved my city, county that I live in. And all I could say is I hurt. I hurt tremendously for young people. I hurt from I hurt for for older people that just can't take it anymore. They just their pockets are only so deep. And I know we have to do something something to where we

have to make cuts or whatever, but it it can't go on and on. I know it's not only Will County, it's the state, it's the city, it's, you know, it's it's federal and uh like I said, I I was like speaking for people that uh feel the same way I do. Thank you. Hi, my name is Mary Beth Ganon. My family's been in Will County since 1848. We've been farmers. We've been in the building trades. We still have our farm in Manhattan and my husband is in the union. This price, this levy is killing us. I don't want to leave Wil County. My family's been here a long time. I have an elderly father whose taxes just keep going up even with the freeze that we get here. Everything's going up. Does he have to choose between medicine or what? When is it going to stop? I'm asking you folks to not look at this as a Republican or a Democrat issue. Look at this as your neighbors, your family, your friends. We are all hurting. And you know, when I was growing up, my parents taught me that if you didn't have the money to buy something and pay for it right away, you didn't buy it. So, please, this is killing our economy here. My property taxes, we bought our current house in 2017. My taxes have gone up $3,000 since 2017. And the bulk of that increase has been through this board. Please make it stop. I have three children I'm putting through school. I

have an elderly father I'm taking care of. And I speak for many, many people in this town. Everyone is hurting. Trim the fat. Cut the budget. If you don't have that money to spend, don't spend it. Don't make this a political issue. Make it I care about my neighbors. I care enough about my friends that I will come together and I don't care if I disagree with you at all the other meetings. I'm going to come together with my fellow board member and do the right thing and have a moral backbone. Thank you. Last call. All right. Thank you very much. We're moving on to old business. All resolutions and ordinance from the September 18th, 2025 board meeting have been returned. Uh moving on to new business, we have a presentation today. We have our our three local uh three of our local universities. Julie Junior College, Governor State University, and Lewis University who are here to talk about the ARPA teaching and nursing program. Uh for the audience and for uh folks who may not have been here when uh we received the ARPA funding, the federal government gave the county $134 million worth of of uh funding in order for us to uh work during the the time of the pandemic. I will say this, um, the county board made a commitment to give a majority of that dollar back out into the community to help the community. And I will tell you that was not done in most of the counties. That most of that investment was put out into the community to help uh what it was intended to do to to revitalize our small businesses, our social service

agencies, our our young students, keep people in here. And so $10 million was allocated by this board to our universities to help with two with in the areas of nursing and education to um fields of employment that identify were identified as um low needing more people to get in that. And so we're happy to have uh our our local leaders here from our colleges to share exactly how they have spent that those dollars and if you can introduce everyone that would be wonderful. Absolutely. Well, to the county executive, good morning. Thank you so much for having us. Um, to the county board, uh, we're here to extend a tremendous amount of gratitude to all of you. Uh, my name is Klein Namuo and I proudly serve as the 10th president of the nation's very first community college, uh, Juliet Junior College. An incredible honor. And I'm here uh joined by some of my friends uh first uh from the University of St. Francis, the vice president for advancement, Lisa S. Palace. Next up, the vice president for student affairs at Governor State University, Paul McInness. And next from Lewis University, Dr. Kip Klene, a vice president of advancement there. and from Juliet Junior College, our executive director for strategic engagement, Kelly Roer Tanelli. Now, two years ago, as the county executive mentioned, this board made a tremendous and significant investment in the ecosystem of higher education here in Will County. When the county board made the decision to invest

$10 million of ARPA funding into the education and workforce pipeline, you didn't just approve a budget line. You really made a statement. And over those past two years, we've worked very hard to honor that statement and to honor the confidence that the county board has in the higher education institutions here in Will County. You made a statement that the people of Will County, the students in Will County, the single parents, the first generation students, adults choosing teaching and nursing, specifically adults starting over. You made a statement that they are worth your investment. Yesterday, an article was published by the American Association of Community Colleges to determine why students leave a college or university. The number one reason among many others, the number one reason, financial challenges, duress, and stress. What the county board has done, what will county has done through the heroes grant has turned those challenges into opportunity. So today is it is with great pride and you'll hear the successes, the metrics, the outcomes, the number of students served and hopefully you'll be impressed by all of those incredible numbers. But today I stand beside JJC's partners at Governor State,

at Lewis University, and the University of St. Francis as proof of what collaboration can do. how your investment has strengthened the ecosystem I referenced earlier that is higher education in Will County. From community colleges to universities, from our classrooms to careers, this initiative has eliminated those barriers I referenced earlier. Today, you'll hear about the over 1500 students that have been served as a result. that will make their way into the workforce. Many of them have already to become teachers, nurses, and health care professionals. Your decision did that. It created opportunities. It created possibilities for 1500 students who may not have pursued either of those paths. You made that possible. So, it's my pleasure to introduce Lisa Salis again to share the impact that the Will County Heroes Grant had at the University of St. Francis. Lisa,

good morning. Well, as Klein usually does, he stole the show. I'm not sure what else I can add to what Klein said except for, you know, I go back to um a conversation that occurred with a prior chief of staff. Um Nick Palmer who visited St. Francis. Uh Nick spent almost the entire day at St. Francis and we talked about this concept of collaboration. We talked about the concept of creating opportunity for people. So for St. Francis, that means 240 students across our colleges had the opportunity to um experience education. Um I don't know if anyone's heard, but higher education's evolving right now at a really rapid pace. So, we're thankful for the county um that has helped create opportunity for um our students. Um it's been tremendous. So, it's St. Francis, that's 240 students whose lives you've affected. And on behalf of St. Francis, thank you. Good morning everyone. First of all, I want to uh acknowledge my peers. Uh they're outstanding individuals. We all work pretty collaboratively together. And you may not know this, but in higher ed, one of the first things that you do is you look at the student and you figure out what their needs and wants are. And if it doesn't work at your institution, the first thing you do is you point them in a direction of another institution. There's an old movie Miracle on 34th Street, right? where someone comes in and says, "I don't have uh the money for this particular train." Oh, well, you know what? You can get it over here for less money. That's the concept with the ARP ARPA and the Will County Carrolls

Grant. You know, an example of this is the relationship that we have with JJC. Uh it's one of our top transfer institutions. It's an example of how this relationship works. JJC and Governor State are ensuring that students can make their way through JJC to Governor State and then complete it at Governor State. In our pipeline right now, we have 70 or excuse me, 95 students that are going into what we call the dual degree program. The dual degree program is a program that we have with selective institutions where we put a transfer specialist at their campus. We work with them as early as the first semester, making sure that the courses that they take not only transfer but count towards graduation. Right? We don't want the loss of credits. We don't want credit hour bloat. We want to make sure our students graduate. The JJC students in this program have higher GPA than the accumulative of the program. Their students have a 3.64 GPA, which is outstanding. That is a huge predictor outside of money if someone's going to graduate. If you look at all the statistics, money makes the difference. unfortunately because it gives you resiliency. So you can fail, you can stumble and you can go forward. But with this money and with your conscientious decision, these students have been successful. Of the students who go through that

program, 88% will graduate with their bachelor's degree. 30% of them will go on for their master's degree and graduate and work and live in Will County. We do also have what's called the GPRATH program. That's a program where we guarantee acceptance into the M's program. But I do want to read off two testimonials before turning the microphone over. The first one is from a mother. She said that she has five beautiful children at the ages of 12, 10, 7, 5, and four. She was looking for a better way to support these students. And without the Will County Heroes Grant, she would not be on that path to providing a better life for those students. The second testimonial, and I'll do I'll do a literal quotes on this so you know it's not me. When when I first started my journey in the program, I didn't know how I was going to scrape together the funds to get the supplies or the tuition until the ARP or Will County's car heroes grant came along. The stress was lifted off my shoulders and I now have the GPA needed to be successful. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your commitment to improve Will County.

Thank you, Paul. I feel compelled to come up with a reference to a movie from this century, but uh I'll I'll resist that. To the county executive and to the board, a heartfelt thanks from Lewis University. Again, I'm Kip Klein, vice president for university advancement at Lewis. I just want to thank the board and the county executive for your wisdom and understanding uh that the primary vehicle for addressing professional pipelines and workforce pipelines is tuition relief for students going into post-secary education. It works and you have an example of that across the county with all of my colleagues here. As my colleague Klein mentioned, uh the research abounds that the barrier toward a post-secondary degree is always about money and access. And we have dozens of testimonials at Lewis University like the ones Paul just read where every student who received these ARPA funds talks about the financial barriers that they had and that those barriers were relieved by the funding. So we can't thank you enough for that for your wisdom and your generosity and your forethought. at Lewis. Uh we have of course partnered with Juliet Junior College in yet another way and we have ARPA sub awards that just rolled out this fall and already well over half a million dollars has been expended serving nearly 400 Lewis students in nursing in teacher preparation and counseling and in allied health and

behavioral health fields. I cannot underscore enough that your wisdom paired with our solidarity has created an enormously successful program. Thank you to my colleagues. Thank you again to the board and the county executive.

Good morning. Kelly Roer Tanelli, executive director of strategic engagement at JJC. Um, what can I say that hasn't already been said? What I do want to summarize and really if you guys remember anything from what we've said today, it's it's the collaboration and unity that we've been able to come together with your wisdom to change the lives of thousands of residents of Will County. So, here's what I want you to remember. Your investment didn't just put students in classrooms. It helped them cross the finish line. Okay? It reduced financial barrier barriers. in increased enrollment and it kept talent in Will County. So this investment at JJC supported a total of 928 students which resulted in 178 associate degrees and 342 certificates. Think about that in just two years. It's incredible. But you know what? This isn't just about data. We want you to know the data and we want you to know how successful it is. But I want to end our report to you today by sharing a few testimonials, some of the faces behind the data from students at JJC. This is from Nicole. Because of this financial support, I've been able to reduce my work hours and dedicate more time to studying. It brought me one step closer to becoming a nurse and serving my community. The next one, I'm a single mom of a special needs child. This scholarship was a lifesaver. I am proud to be part of Will County and hope to serve the community one day as a nurse. Another, this grant made pursuing nursing in my 40s a reality. And then lastly, I am the first in my

family to become a nurse. This grant changed my life and my children's life. So with that, on behalf of my colleagues, thank you so much for giving us some time today and thank you for your investment and trust in us. Thank you everyone for joining us today. We will now move on to land use and development committee. Chair Pretzel. Thank you, Madam Executive. I'd like to make a motion to open public hearing. Second, Dean Schlottman.

Motion by Pretzel, seconded by Dean Schlotman. Madame clerk, please call the role. Richmond Williams. Dean Schlottman. Yes. Ogalla. Pretzel. Butler. Newquist. Yes. Ballage. Yes. Axley Brooks. Yes. Winfrey. Bulock. Logan. Raymond. Revis Mitchell. Yes. Ortiz Burkowitz. Hickeyi Costa. Trineer Vanine. Yes.

21.

21. In the affirmative. Motion carries. Uh we are now in public hearing of absolutely no new evidence or information will be allowed once this land use public hearing is closed. Do we have anyone here to speak on a land use case? Please come forward. And a a reminder if you can please state your name and it's helpful to if you identify the the the case. My name is Ken Carlson. I'm an attorney with Tracy Law Firm in Joliet. I represent the applicant um in your [clears throat] case, which is number four on your agenda uh 25-2839Z 25-81. the applicants for OLE Avenue. Um we're here to answer any questions you might have. I think there has been uh after the I guess the planning and zoning committee hearing. Um Gary Schumal, who's the principal of Row Avenue, um he's been he took into consideration some of the public comments. Um, and many of those focused on the potential impact on RA Avenue down by the school, which is fairly remote from uh the subject property across from Shelino Crane, their facility. Um, since that time he's and Gary is here. Um, since that time, he's come to an agreement with the owner to the property to the north, which is the Harris family. They historically used to be the owners of the Beach Club property, which is your subject property. Um, when Prairie Materials was on that site, the city required them to put in a concrete private road that runs along the west side of the rail that

goes all the way up to Washington Street. Um Gary's discussion with the Harrises has been that he would be allowed uh to use that facility, which would allow Austin Tyler to divert uh truck traffic, not eliminate it, but divert and mitigate some of the truck traffic on Row Avenue, move it to the north on a private concrete road up to Washington. um thereby mitigating some of the traffic that would be going south on Raul. Um you know on average that's about over a one-year period from April to April was about 5.2 trucks per day. Um there was a you know a day with 22 trucks over a 12-h hour period. Um, but I think to the extent that that's something I think that would help mitigate concerns with respect to truck traffic south on row. Any other questions? We'd be happy to answer.

We do have some questions from board member. We have member Triner and then Revvis and the Nquis.

Thank you for being here today. I do have questions. Um, in particular what you just described. I'm not as familiar with this area as maybe some of my fellow colleagues. I'm from Bowling Brook. Um, and so I'm trying to figure out exactly what you're talking about in terms of this other alternate way to get there. Um, that's my first concern that I don't really understand what where where you're talking. I don't know if you have a picture or anything. Um, I could support this project if we could put a limit on the number of trucks per day. And from what I understand from our land use uh well actually from our state's attorney um we can put a limit per day of the number of trucks that can travel down this road. Um and we can actually enforce it and re revoke your special use permit if you don't uh comply. So that that is something that I am interested in talking about. But I would really like a better picture of where this road is you're talking about. That would be the alternate entrance.

Right. So, I don't know if staff staff I I have my map up now. So, if you want to try to describe it again. So, if you look north of the subject property Uhhuh. in the northeast corner. Mhm. And you see the railroad tracks. Yes. So, if you go north of there and zoom in, you'll see a concrete road. Yes. That goes north all the way to Washington. Yes. That's the road. Oh, it would be wonderful. It's not a public road. It's a private drive, but there would be an easement granted that would allow this access. Oh, that Yeah, that would be far better because that's all going around already existing trucking and rail operations. So, I I like that idea. I had heard something else that maybe you guys were going to like repave Row Avenue.

Well, well, I think uh Mr. Schuml has an agreement with the township highway commissioner, road district commissioner uh to maintain Raul Avenue adjacent to the property. Gotcha. But I think this further, you know, allows him to mitigate uh traffic on Raul. And I think the important thing with this that we mentioned at the plan commission is that th this facility takes materials from Austin Tyler. He can control that and their trucks are dispatched so he can control how many where they go and where. Right.

Yeah. No, I love this new route. I love the fact that they're still willing to rehabilitate Raleigh Avenue even if it is only right next to the subject property. Um what do you ask I mean I heard you talk about 22 trucks. I mean what are you really thinking that you're going to be bringing into this facility per day? Well, I I I don't know that we think there's going to be a significantly higher amount. Um I mean, I do think you have to take into consideration when construction's going. That's what this material is. It's it's spoils effectively from road projects, sewer projects, things like that. So, you would say more in the summertime when kids are not in school than in the middle of winter.

Well, I would I would clearly say more in warmer months. So, if kids are in school in May, I mean, yeah, they are. Yeah. But but the bulk of it would be in the warmer months. The bulk of it would be in the warmer months. Yeah, I would say so. I mean, we dumped there for 12 months already and 6 months of that 12, we didn't even open the gates. Can you come to the mic? Sorry, and introduce yourself, please. Yeah, I'm Gary Schumal. I'm the land owner. We've dumped previously at this site from 23 to 24 for 12 months. 6 months of that the gate wasn't even open. What does that mean? I'm sorry. It depends where the work is at. You know, if there's work in Joliet around town, then we'll use that dump. If not, if we're out of town, oh, then you don't use it. Correct. You only use this for local dumping. In other words, you're putting the stuff back in the community where it came from.

Correct. Thank you, Mr. Revis.

Uh, thank you, Madam Executive. Uh, I was told that this property was in some violation. Can you clear the air whether there was a violation found on this property or not? Well, I as mentioned at the plan planning and zoning hearing. I mean, we are here to correct Austin uh RA Avenue got their IEPA permit um for the CCDD site significantly long ago and then there was a period until they got their uh NPDS permit before they started the fill activities. what you know they and they had been in contact with land use and and did not have an understanding that that required a development permit. So they started filling. They then got the notice of violation which ultimately when you look at the violation notice that was issued I mean it's for lack of having a development permit and addressing potential flood plane and addressing potential wetlands. Although those issues were addressed, the the wetland issue was addressed at the federal level um but under the county ordinance and they simply weren't aware of it. So we we filed this application to get in conformance.

Great. Thank you. Appreciate it. I have all the answers I need. Member Nquist and then Burkowit. Thank you. I I was just a little confused because I sit on land use and I know I believe it was stated at land use that you're the truck traffic would be between 40 and 50 a day, but it sounds like that's not correct and I just want to confirm that. No, I I I think the truck traffic could well be between 40 and 50 a day depending on what happens with the economy and construction. Okay. So, I mean, but that's not necessarily the average. You're talking there could be days when there could be that many trucks.

There could be, but the average is far far the average historically has been far far lower than that.

Okay. Thank you, member Burke. Thank you, Madame Executive. Um, so thank you for bringing this information forward. Um, I it's a it's very much a positive to be able to have access to that that road. um bringing traffic off of uh Row. Also, um I'm I I like to hear the financial benefit to the township by um your company maintaining um or in improving that township road that provides a relief to the township budget, the township taxpayers. Uh so that's always um appreciated when uh business steps forward to uh to do that. Also um an impact that I have heard from your information you're sharing today is that um your this property could in does impact the ability for local projects specifically in Joliet. I do know often uh companies will come and they they've shared with us the cost. For example, when we were having the courthouse demolished, uh the price to take the debris farther impacted the cost to the work. So this is significant that this property will provide that relief to projects in Joliet to be able to have the clean fill come from these projects holds the costs down and it also provides great jobs in the economy. So again, we've had this

conversation on the floor that if there is not a local source where you can deposit this clean fill, that drives up the cost of the project, that drives up fuel cost. And this um this is a great attribute to this this case. I support this um special use permit and I encourage all of my um board members to consider this supporting uh a good employer, good jobs and also the future development and growth in Joliet and this surrounding area. Thank you.

Thank you, member Balich. Yeah, you addressed the uh fact that there all the permits are okay, but uh and there's no violations left other than that you're trying to fix the zoning and the special use thing, but uh could you tell us about uh aquifer? I I been told that uh you you're in violation with the EPA and I don't I I think you guys have that covered too, but I don't know. So, I'd like you to comment on that.

Um, so a couple of things. So, we're we're going through this process to fix the zoning violations. As you probably are all aware from looking at your packet, I mean, one of the conditions of the special use permit is that we comply with the site development permit requirements of the county and and and we're all understanding that and realize that that's a condition to moving forward. With respect to the aquafer, I'm not aware of any violations on the aquafer issue. I think the the discussion that occurred with respect to the groundwater and aquafer is this that that pond that we some of us probably swam in when we were kids. Um is is actually springfed out of the aquifer. Um, so that thing right now there's a anywhere from half a million to a million gallons of water a day that leaves that pond by virtue of being coming up from the ground and leaves through the city storm sewer. Um, I mean that's a significant amount of wasted water. So when that's filled, I mean the intent is it will be it will cap the water coming out of the ground because the pressure on top will be greater. that will go away and keep the aquafer replenished and not losing water, you know, indiscriminately coming out of storm sore because there's no other way to stop that.

Okay, that you answered my question. So, actually there's no more problems. No, I mean other than we've got we've got to get through your process and get I mean I just wanted to clear up in my mind before I vote on it that there's no more problems. No. So, it's just okay. I don't have a problem with it. If there's no problems, I don't have a problem. Member Bulock. Hi, I just want to clarify um two pieces. You we've we've used the word pave. You've used the word um maintain. What What exactly is going to happen to Row Road?

G, you want to talk about your agreement? Yeah, I've got to I've talked to Vince Allesio and I did the same thing on Schwitzer Road. Vince maintains a half mile stretch on Schwitzer Road between Cherry Hill and Ridge, which is out of our main shop and where our plants at. He came to me and said he didn't have enough money to do the job right, put binder in surface, which is overlaying the road. So, I told him I'd pay for the binder, which I did. So my agreement with him is to uh sometime over the course of next year is to overlay that road with surface is what what does that mean a black top situation or Yes.

Okay. And then um is there the possibility if if you were asked to in order as part of the special permit to only use the south entrance to avoid going past the schools. Is that the south entrance? Yeah. South access. Oh, if you do that other road, the north entrance is okay. Well, I you know, I think part Go ahead.

I think part of the problem is that that that maybe doesn't make a lot of sense from the community standpoint because to the extent material comes from the south, we'd be going north and coming back south. what I think we can do and I think Gary is I mean Gary Austin Tyler is a established community this corporation this community and he wants to work with the community they can control that access onto Raul going south I just think maybe it doesn't make a lot of practical sense to say you can't do anything there I think we'll use our best efforts to minimize impacts on Row and and divert as much of that traffic up that north private drive to Washington as we can.

Member Williams. Yeah, I I just had a question about it was mentioned that there will be some good jobs that would come from this. Um what kind of jobs and how many? I'll answer it. Well, I can tell you in 2006 Austin Tyler started at six employees. This year we had 200 employees at while at our main shop which is south of town on Ridge and Schwitzer Road, but I could tell you at any one time I'm short 20 to 25 employees. So if anybody knows anybody, send them our way. Well,

well so so I think to your question pointedly is you know what's going to happen at this site is material is going to be brought into this site by trucks. So whether there's one or two guys there on site for the period of filling, that's different than potentially what happens when the site is filled and it's it's developed into some commercial industrial use. And that I mean, you know, we've we've told everybody that horizon could be 8 to 10 years from now. So none of us are smart enough to figure out how many employees that could be.

Well, it was mentioned that there would be some good jobs. That's why I'm asking about it. and 8 to 10 years, we still have to look down the road as a county board. The future is what we look at as well as the as the present. Yeah. But that but that site will be used by Austin Tyler ultimately, right? For what purpose? Well, I think what we submitted with the package was that there would be an equipment um maintenance facility. There were there would be a building built with all equipment for storage and maintenance done inside the building. And I think we said back then if you know projections with the glass globe five to six employees at that location five to six. All right. All right. Thank you.

Member Brooks.

Thank you madam executive. Good morning. Um, Ken, I don't know if you or Gary want to answer this, but your permit application is for clean construction debris, but I listen to your comments of what's being carried in and out. What is the definition of clean? When I tell my grandkids to clean the room, their definition different from mine. They sweep it under the rug. What is your definition of clean? So, so that this is a clean construction demolition debris site which has a statutory definition and includes rock, uh, broken concrete without rebar, uh, reclaimed asphalt, stone, and uncontaminated soil.

Okay. So, so it's it's not totally a clean construct. It's not clean soil. So, you just can't put dirt in there. I mean, the whole purpose of this was to take these kind of sites, fill them with some type of structural material. So ultimately there'd be some economic benefit down the road. Okay. Nothing hazardous. No. Okay. No. And and and I think we went through at the plan commission. I mean there very specific reporting rules. Yep. Every load gets wanded for uh odor. Every load gets inspected. Rejected road loads get removed. And and importantly, it's coming from Austin Tyler. So it's controlled.

Okay. Thank you, Ken. Thank you, Madam Executive. I don't see any further questions at this time. So, thank you. You Oh, I'm sorry. Late late hit. Sorry. That's right. Uh, just a just a quick question. Is there there's already a truck route on um is is there already a truck route on Raul or like over there? Is there already a truck route in that area? Yeah, I believe Joliet's just enacted their truck route uh uh rules within the last year or two. I believe R Avenue is a truck route and I believe you can go north to Second Street as a truck route. Thank you. All right. Thank you. They may have you come back so I just would stick around. Yeah. All right.

Thank you. Thank you.

Start working for Anyone else here to speak? Sorry. Oh, can't come on down. Yep. Sorry. Good morning. My name is Lydia Simray and I work as a construction analyst with the Indiana Illinois Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting. I'm here on behalf of my organization as well as local 150 operating engineers um to encourage you guys to vote yes for the special use permit for the CC for the CCD site. Sorry. Um Austin Tyler is a local responsible contractor that has been performing work, creating jobs, and contributing to the local economy for the past two decades. So, like I said, we encourage you guys to vote yes. Thank you. My name is Dave Stove. I work for Local 150 as a business rep. I've been an agent for the last three years. I've gotten to know Gary on a personal level. Uh just some talking points that maybe he wouldn't brag about himself, but uh I just want, you know, county board members and the community and the taxpayers to know. Gary Shiml has been a signatory contractor with Austin employees uh hundreds of operator or hundreds of employees operators labors along with other crafts. Gary has went above and beyond contractual obligations with wages and benefits. Gary has donated to scholarship funds every year since its inception in ' 07. The local 150 scholarship fund offers 16 four-year scholarships, eight two-year scholarships, and four four-year trade school mechanic scholarships. These individuals that he earlier are the benefactor. I think there's a total of 27 scholarships.

Uh I know Gary Gary gives back through the Will County Gring uh contractor association. They support causes like uh Big Brothers Big Sisters. um NAMI National um Alliance for Mental Health, um Habitat for Humanity. I just he's a good neighbor and I think he'll do anything that he says he's going to do. So, I just want to let you guys know. Thanks. Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Willie Sers and uh I stay at 7074th Avenue and I stay right very close to the project and uh I am also the owner of sellers of sellers enterprises. I'm the president of the black contractors of Will County. I'm a member of the Southland black chamber. I'm also a member of the US Chamber and also I have protested many projects uh centerpoint waters edge the building of the new courthouse and I've always advocated for our community and one of the reason is because the lack of of black opportunities economics so I've worked for Austin Tyler for many years and I'm always in his face for helping the community. I go to him for some of everything. And since the uh the government shut down and the community's been hurting for a donation in the in the area, I went to him and he's donated [clears throat] money and I went around to all the churches about $15,000. cuz I went around to all the churches and say if you know of anyone that's hurting financially,

give them a vouchure. So, I'm here to say that that hole to me is a dangerous area. Kids have been in there, they've been uh fishing, swimming, kaying, cars have ran through the fence and almost went in the water. And I've been wanting someone to do something with that water area. I've met with Gary several times and we talked about different thing and my community was worried about Ry Avenue, the truck traffic. We already got truck traffic there. They didn't want anymore. So, I met with Gary a few days ago and he said that he had an alternate route coming in from a different area to fill that hole in. And I'm here to ask you guys to vote yes on this project. And believe me, I don't always agree with him, you know, but if there's something going on that shouldn't be happening, I will be out there protesting. If I protest the courthouse, I'll protest him. So, so, so, so I'm always advocating for our community. So, I'm asking you to vote yes on this project. Hello, my name's Edward Shy. I'm I'm here on behalf of a petitioner in another zoning matter. So, I didn't know if you want to hear that now.

To hear them all now. So, yes.

Okay. Uh it's it's number seven. Uh it's uh ZC2106. My name again is Edward Shark on behalf of the petitioner which is the Doris J. Robins Revocable Trust. And what this case is about, it's a it's a 30 acre um map amendment request change from A1 to R1. The owner of the property had passed away. She lived in the farmhouse. Uh the family owns a joining property uh farmland which they farm. So they wanted to sell off the farmhouse. And in order to do so, we need the zoning change from A1 to R1. That's kind of the gist of it. But if I have any questions, anybody have any questions? I'm happy to answer.

I don't see any questions, sir, but thank you. Okay. Thank you. We have last call for public uh land use. Last call for public hearing for land use. All right. [clears throat] Madame executive like to make a motion to close public hearing for land use cases. Motion by Pretzel, seconded by uh Revis. Madam clerk, please call the role. Richmond, yes. Williams, Dean Schlottman, Ogala, Pretzel, yes. Butler, Newquist, yes. Oxley, yes.

Brooks, yes. Winfrey. Bulock, yes. Logan, Freeman, Revvice, Mitchell, Ortiz, Burkowitz, Hickey, Costa, Trineer, Vandine, yes. Public hearing is now closed. Cheer.

Thank you. First up on today's agenda, ORD25-297 for zoning case 25-077 requesting a special use permit for a bar in Frankfurt Township at 7663 West Street, I'm sorry, West St. Francis Road, Frankfurt, Illinois County Board District number three. PCC approved 6 to 0 with three conditions and land use approved 3 to2 with three conditions and I so move. Motion by Pretzel, seconded by Revvis. Any discussion? Okay. Is there a um is there a second? Seconded by I'm sorry. Is there a question? I'm sorry. Member Richmond.

Just to let you know, I'll be a no on this. Um I've spoken to a number of the people in the area and uh just want to let you know where I'm at. Thanks. See no more discussion. Madam clerk, please call the role. Richmond, Williams, Dean, Schlottman, Ogala. Pretzel, no. Butler, Newquist, Ballich, no. Oxley, no. Brooks, yes. Winfrey. Bulock. Logan, no.

Freeman. Revis. Mitchell, Ortiz, Perkowitz, Hickeyi, Costa, Traineer, Vanine, yes. County executive votes yes.

Motion carries. Number two on the agenda, ORD25-298 for zoning case 25-080. This is for a map amendment from R3 to C4 in Joliet Township at 501 Manhattan Road, Joliet, Illinois County Board, District number six. I did receive a phone call from the attorney representing the applicant, uh, Mr. Gary Davidson of Castle Law, asking me to postpone this to the January meeting. So, I'd like to make that motion now to postpone this case to the January meeting.

There's a post a motion to postpone to January. Motion by Pretzel, seconded by Revis. Any discussion on that? Would you like to Oh, we have to Madam Clerk, please. Oh, do you want previous? Are we going? Okay. Madam clerk, please call the role. Just to postpone postpone. Richmond Williams. Dean Schlottman. Yes. Ogala Pretzel yes butler Nquis yes Oxley yes Brooks yes Winfrey Bulock Logan Freeman Revis Mitchell yes

Ortiz Burkowitz Hickey Costa Traineer Vanine yes to confirm of Motion carries. Okay, that won't be postponed. Number three on the agenda, OD25-299, zoning case 25-075, requesting a special use permit for a similar or compatible to a permitted use in Creek Township at 2460 South Kings Road, Creek, Illinois County, Bo District number three. PCC approved 6 to 0 with five conditions and land use approved five to zero with five conditions. And I so move. Motion by Pretzel, seconded by Triner. Previous ro second by

previous roll call by Nquis, seconded by Belge. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries.

Number four or OD25-3000 for zoning case 25-081. We're going to have two votes on this. The first one is a map amendment from C6R4 to I2. And the second vote will be for a special use permit for clean construction or demolition debris fill operations CCD. Joliet Township at 420 Rowell Avenue, Juliet, Illinois County Board District. Um number six, PZC approved the map amendment 4 to2 with five conditions and land use was 3 to2 and one abstension uh with those same five conditions and I so move and again this is on the map amendment. Motion by Pretzel, seconded uh by Vanine, and previous roll call by previous roll call by Trir, seconded by Burkitch. All in favor?

I oppose. Motion carries. Next is the special use permit for uh clean construction or demolition debris fill operations. Uh land use or PCC approved 4 to two and land use denied 2 to three with one abstension. And I so move. Motion by Pretzel, seconded by Revis. Madam clerk, please call the role. I'll be a no. Yeah. Madam clerk, please call the role. I'll be a no. Yep. We're going to call the role. Richmond, yes. Williams, Dean Schlottman, Ogala. Pretzel, yes. Butler, yes. Nquist, yes. Ballage, yes. Oxley,

no. Brooks FA Winfrey Bulock Logan Freeman Revis Mitchell. Yes. Ortiz Burkowitz. Hickeyi Costa. Trineer. Vanine.

Yes. 18 in the affirmative. The motion carries. Okay. Next on the agenda, OD25-301, zoning case 25-085, requesting a special use permit for a commercial solar energy facility uh new uh in New Lennox Township, vacant property on South Spencer Road, New Lennox, Illinois County, Board District number two. PCC approved six to zero with three conditions and land use and development approved as well with five conditions and I so move.

Motion by Pretzel, seconded by Winfrey. Any discussion? Madame clerk, please call the role. Richmond, yes. Williams. Dean Schlottman. Yes. O' Galla. Pretzel. Yes. Butler. Yes. Nquist. Yes. Ball. Yes. Oxley, yes. Brooks, yes. Winfrey, Bullock, Logan, Freeman, Brevis, Mitchell, yes. Ortiz, yes. Burkowitz. Hickeyi Costa. Traineer, yes. Van Dine, yes.

22 and the affirmative. The motion carries. Next on the agenda, OARDD25-302 for zoning case 25-074 requesting a map amendment to reszone the property from A1 to C6. This one's in Creek Township at 27115 South Dixie Highway, Beecher, Illinois County Board District number three. That might be county board district number two. Uh PCC recommended approval with a vote of 6 to zero and land use approved. Uh five to zero and IO move. Motion by pretzel, seconded by Traneer. Any discussion? Second Mitchell. We were clean, right? Yeah. Previous uh by Nquist, second by Mitchell. All in favor?

Any opposed? Motion carries. Number 7 OD25-303. Zoning case 25-106 requesting a map amendment from A1 to R1 in Wilton Township. Um part of 12504 West Wilmington Pietone Road in Pieton Illinois County Board District number two. PCC approved 50. Land use approved 60 and I so move. Motion by Pretzel, seconded by Revis. Previous roll call by Ogala, seconded by Ballage. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries.

On to resolutions. First on the agenda, resolution 25-304 APCD-25-00007 appealing the planning and zoning commission decision. PCC was in error of rejecting a temporary use permit application to allow a recreational vehicle on the property in Creek Township at vacant property at vacant Greenwood Avenue Creek, Illinois. um land use and development voted zero to six and PZC um staff and PZC not in error rejecting a temporary use permit application. So um we're voting to stand by the decision that staff and PZC made if you vote yes.

Okay. So, and just so you know, we will need three4 votes or 17 votes to overturn the PZC decision. Correct. So, I need a motion. I make them. Motion by Pretzel. Second. Second by Winfrey. Discussion. Member Oxley. [clears throat] Yes. Um, how is this a error in rejecting temporary use permit? I'm going to ask staff to come down because it is a little bit

Thank you. Uh, unclear. Thanks, Brian.

Hello, Brian Redner from the land use department. Um, to answer your question about the error, the zoning ordinance states that staff can reject a temporary use permit application if the property has an open violation. In this case, the property owner had placed an accessory structure on the property without a permit. So that's the violation. That's why it was rejected. We rejected the application. They appealed to the plan commission. The plan commission determined that the staff made the correct decision uh by rejecting the application, but the owner had the ability to appeal that decision to the board and that's what they did. So that's where we're at today.

Brian, have they taken any steps forward to correct the violation? Well, this is a difficult one because the owner has a recreational vehicle on the property that was permitted by temporary use. They were trying to convince the board to change the regulations as it pertains to tiny homes/recreational vehicles. The board uh well, I say the board, the land use and development committee decided that there they were not going to make any changes to code to allow this. So essentially the accessory structure needs to go if they're not going to have a permanent primary uh structure on the property which would be a residence with a foundation. So

this is kind of like the final determination and after this point they're going to have to go through some action either to build a home or remove uh the tiny home and the accessory building from the property. Totally understood. Thank you. Right. We have uh member Traneer. Sorry. Thank you. I'm looking for some advice from the state's attorney. These cases always get tricky because normally we try to vote in the affirmative and it looks like they took a vote in the negative and so I'm really confused on what a yes vote was mean would mean and what a no vote would mean.

You must be reading my mind. That's what we were just talking about. So if you want to uphold the denial and in staff's action, you will vote no. The question is for uh was PCC an error? Um so if you want to allow this use, vote yes. If you want to uphold staff's decision, vote no. I said I said error. Member Burkwit.

Uh thank you. Um so the tiny home or the accessible swelling um dwelling structure is this freestanding or is it attached to the wheels. It's uh just like kind of like a trailer, like a mobile home, but it's not HUD approved, so it doesn't meet the building code.

The applicant has the ability to convert this structure to a permanent uh residential structure if they make it comply with code and put it on a permanent foundation. And that means a permanent foundation with a structure is attached to the foundation, not a concrete pad where it sits on top and is held down by some straps. So they certainly could do that. That would probably be a costly thing to do. So I I I don't really know what their next move is going to be to achieve compliance either by putting forward plans for a permanent home or just removing this structure from the property. So I we have the this board has approved ADUs accessible dwelling units with the special use permit going through the the process and being compliant. And just to be clear, this property is not in compliance and um but yet wants this permit for this recreational vehicle. Um so for that I I think we have a we we have an expectation here that people need to be compliant and follow the follow the the rules to go through um the process. So that concerns me this lack of compliance. Um so I don't I I don't support this. So, I guess Kevin, you said you vote if you don't

hold it in a vote no. Vote no. Okay. And then, uh, just one question. Is there a concern, a public safety concern for a structure like this that is on wheels? Is is this securely anchored down? So, let's say we have a big windstorm or even a a tornado. Is there an issue with this?

I mean, I can't guarantee that right now. the way the structure is on the property, it's just sitting on gravel or dirt, so it's not anchored down. Um, it really it's not permitted by code. It was allowed on a temporary basis to see if this board had an interest in changing the code to allow such uh structures to be on the property and the determination was made that there was no interest in that. So, it really needs to be removed from the property and with today's decision, that's most likely what's going to have to happen. Thank you, Gentleman. Okay. Um, member Revis,

so I'm just looking for a little bit more clarity. So, um, we are now revoking their ability to use the recreational vehicle.

So, really what you're doing is uh this what this vote is today is an um to overturn the PCC decision to not accept the application. So, if you if this board decides that uh they want to side with um the applicant or PZC, if you side with the applicant, then they could apply for a temporary use permit, which would go to the plan commission, and they they again could deliberate on whether or not they want to allow the use. You're not necessarily allowing the use. This vote is determining whether or not they can even apply for the use. Yeah. So, um and what was like the impetus for this? Like what caused this? I don't even know if I used impetus right. What what caused this? What brought us to this point?

Uh what brought us to this point was the planning and zoning commission decided to allow the homeowner or the property owner to have this recreational vehicle on their property for 6 months while they tried to work for a code change that would allow it to be there permanently. But there was no interest in doing that. So essentially they were left with a structure on the property that didn't comply with the code. And then on top of that, they put an accessory building on the property without a permit. So, who had no interest in changing the code? Was that this board or was that land use and development committee?

Land use development committee. Okay. Um, I don't know. For me, it seems like this board has a a strong uh, you know, property taxpayer rights, strong property owner right uh, angle that we like to take, you know, especially like looking back on the 143rd Street project. You know, we basically moved mountains for those individuals because, you know, we were defending their property. But then we have an instance here where an individual is just looking to apply to use their property in a certain way and we're going to tell them no that we're not even going to take their application. So I don't know the government's wrong in this case. Let the resident do what they want. Thanks. Member Nquest.

Thank you. This situation's in my district and I just want to point out that this situation has been going on for well over a year I believe and the owner of the um recreational vehicle has you know um spoken about her wish to comply but to date she has not made any efforts to do so and um there's also um no water or sewer on the site at the moment and I am strongly uh siding with PZC on this. Thank you very much. Thank you, Member Butler.

Um if I recall correctly, there was a lot of complaints from the township. We did receive a lot of complaints from the township about PCC's decision to allow this use the first time for the temporary use permit for the first six-month period. So, Creek Township definitely was against the use. Uh we received letters from the board supervisor uh the highway commissioner and there was a path forward for this uh resident but they had not taken any steps in that path.

Correct. I mean there is a path forward to making it a compliant structure and I I mean if I had to characterize or summarize what happened is they waited till the last minute to see if the tempor or the tiny home could remain in its current configuration before they've made any effort to comply with putting a permanent home on the property. So they're they have indicated that they're taking steps to doing that but it hasn't happened yet. And and would you say that for land use to try to prevent, you know, having properties with these violations that this is the only tool we have uh to to try to prevent that? Because if we can't get them to rectify uh past violations, can we have any hope really of uh

future violations being, you know, um not committed? I I mean I don't know that this is the only path. Uh this is the path that the owner is afforded under the zoning code and to exa exhaust all options of trying to go through this procedure. If one after today's vote most likely what's going to happen is either they're just going to choose to remove it, they're going to submit plans to make it a permanent structure or the county is going to be forced to move forward with some sort of enforcement procedure to make them move remove it.

Yeah, I'm sorry. I I think I was a little unclear. I was just stating that it's hard enough to get people to comply. If you can't like set, you know, a standard and they don't meet it, it makes it very difficult for you guys in the future to to get anything uh to get any of these people to comply. So, I I would have to say that uh I would uphold the decision. Member Axley, Brian, so we're clear. I I think and the ordinance may have changed. They can't have an accessory structure on a vacant parcel until there's a house on it. Correct.

Correct. That the ordinance is clear in residential zoning you cannot have accessory use if you do not have a primary use. So a primary use would be a home. An accessory use would be the accessory building of some type. In this case, it's I think it's like a three or 400 square foot accessory building. Right. So, they violated our zoning code originally by putting an accessory structure up. Well, they violated initially by putting the tiny home there or recreational vehicle, whatever you want to call it, and then on top of that, then they put an accessory structure on the property. So, without a building permit, the violation starts at the beginning of everything. Thank you.

Thank you. Seeing no further discussion, we have a motion, a second, a reminder that this needs se um 17, but to uphold the denial, you vote no. Madam clerk, please call the role. Richmond Williams, no. Dean Schlottman, Ogala, pretzel, no. Butlerquist, no. Ballich, no. Axley. No. Brooks, no. Winfrey. Bullock. Logan, no. Freeman. Revvice. Mitchell.

No. Ortiz. Burkowitz. No. Hickeyi Costa. Trineer. Yes. Van. Was it three? I only heard two. You pay attention. 19 in the negative. The motion fails.

Thank you. Next on the agenda, resolution 25-30305, SCXT-25-019, first extension to zoning case 23-108 for a special use permit for a commercial solar energy facility in Creek Township, vacant property, southeast corner of South Naki Road and West Loves Lane, Creek, Illinois County Board District number three. Land use approved 6 to zero and I so move. Motion by Pretzel, seconded by Winfrey. Any discussion? Madame clerk, please call the role. Richmond Williams. Dean Schlottman. Yeah. Ogala.

No. No. It's a It's an extension. Ogala. Pretzel. Yes. Butler. No newquist. Yes no no Brooks. Yes Winfrey. Yes Bulock. Yes Logan. No Freeman. Revis. Mitchell. No.

Ortiz Burkowitz Nikki. Costa R. Yes.

41 in the affirmative. The motion carries. Next on the agenda is another request for a first extension to zoning case ZC24-020 for a special use permit for a commercial solar energy facility in Washington Township, vacant property at the southeast corner of West Indiana Avenue and Southwestern Avenue, Illinois County Board District number two, land use and development approved 6 to zero and I so move. Motion by Pretzel, seconded by Winfrey. Any discussion? Madame clerk, please call the role. Richmond, yes. Williams, yes. Dean Schlottman, no. Ogalla.

Pretzel, yes. Butler, Nquist, yes. Ball, no. Oxley, no. Brooks, yes. Winfrey, yes. Logan, no. Freeman, yes. Revis Ortiz, yes. Burkowitz, yes. Hickeyi, yes. Costa R. Yes.

Ogala. Sorry.

All right. 16 in the affirmative. The motion carries. Okay. Number four, resolution 25-307. This one's for a second extension to zoning case 23-012 for a special use permit for a commercial solar energy facility in Shanahan Township vacant property on utility AMO road Shanahan Illinois County Board District number one land use and development approved 6 to zero and I so move motion by Pretzel seconded by Treer any discussion madam clerk please call the role sorry Richmond yes Williams Dean Schlapman No O' Gallup. Yes. Pretzel. Yes. Butler.

Newquist. Yes. No. Oxley. No. Brooks. Yes. Winfrey. Yes. Bulock. Logan. Yes. Freeman. Yes. Revas. Yes. Mitchell. Yes. Ortiz. Yes. Burkowitz Hickey Costa Traineer. Yes. Vanine. Yes. 18 in the affirmative. The motion carries. Last on the agenda. Resolution 25-308. This is for the Will County Comprehensive Noxious Weed Work Plan. And I so move.

Motion by Pretzel. Seconded by Ogal. Any discussion? Madam Clerk, please take the role. Richmond, yes. Williams, yes. Dean Schlottman, yes. Ogala, yes. Pretzel, yes. Butler, yes. Nquist, yes. Ballich, yes. Oxley, yes. Brooks, yes. [clears throat] Winfrey, Bulock. Logan, yes. Reman, Revis, Mitchell, yes. Ortiz, yes. Burkowitz,

yes. Vicki, Costa, Traineer, Vanine, yes. 22 in the affirmative. The motion carries. Next land use and development committee meeting is scheduled for December 4th, 2025. Thank you. Thank you. Moving on to finance committee. Chair Nquist. Good morning everybody. Can I ask a question? Are we all okay? Do we need to take a break or are we ready to go?

Okay, we're going to Okay, I just I don't know how long this is going to take. Okay, so we have a mo we're we're going to motion by Revvis, seconded by Butler. Take a we'll be back in 10 minutes. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. 10 minutes.

settled in. We all I'm going to wait till everyone gets back. All right, we're ready to rock and roll. Can we get to our seats?

[laughter] Yeah. Right. Right. All right. Nquest. Back to finance. Um, first up, we have two items on a consent agenda. Resolution 25-309. authorizing the county executive to execute necessary documents for delinquent tax program and resolution 25-310 appropriation of funds for Illinois Department of Public Health student loan repayment program and I so move motion by Nquist seconded by Van Dy all in favor I any opposed motion carries

number two is to open a public hearing uh to discuss the 2026 annual budget and appropriation ordinance And I so move motion by Nquist, seconded by Reverends. Madame clerk, please call the role. Richmond, yes. Williams, yes. Dean Schlottman, yes. Ogalla, yes. Pretzel, yes. Butler, Nquist, yes. Oxley, yes. Brooks, yes. Winfrey, yes. Bulock, yes. Logan, yes. Freeman, yes. Revis, yes. Mitchell, yes. Ortiz, yes. Burkowitz, yes. Hickeyi,

yes. Costa R, yes. Triner. Vandine. Yes. We are now in public hearing. Is there any additional comments regarding the B budget from our public? Is there any additional comments that anyone would like to make? Going once, going twice. All right. All right. I will make a motion to close the public hearing. There's a motion by Nucris to close the public hearing, seconded by Dean Schlottman. Madam clerk, please call the role. Richmond. Williams. Yes. Dean Schlottman, yes. O Gallup, yes.

Pretzel, yes. Butler, yes. Nquist, yes. Ball, yes. Oxley, yes. Brooks, yes. Winfrey, yes. Bulock, yes. Logan, yes. Freeman, yes. Revis Mitchell, yes. Ortiz, yes. Burkowitz, Hickeyi, yes. Costa R, yes. Vanine, yes. Public hearing is now closed. Member or Chair Nquist.

All right. Number three, ordinance 25-311, annual budget and appropriation ordinance of the county of will, state of Illinois for the fiscal period beginning December 1st, 2025 and ending November 30th, 2026. And I so move motion by uh motion by Nquist, seconded by Freeman. Discussion member Richmond. So, I'd like to make a motion to amend uh to a 0% levy with new construction followed by the following changes to the cannabis. So, we're not in the levy. It's um this is the budget. This is the budget then. Yeah, this is the budget portion.

So, spec specific then to the budget is I'd like to look at the I I want to make an amendment to the cannabis portion of it. uh the CAC uh for a total of $335,000, housing stabilization, $440,000, workforce services for $170,000. Ballot inserter for the clerk's office, $260,000, the ROE, excuse me, $200,000. Food stability, $50,000, scholarship fund, $350,000. And the IWA, the legal defense for immigrants with the legal status. Nice. So move. Okay. I'm not okay. What are you doing with that? I'm not clear what you listed a bunch of amounts there.

That you you are going to change that is what you want to add to the budget that I want to amend. Amend. Okay. Yes. All right. Okay. So, take Okay. Take take off what's on that one page and amend it to the these items. Yes. Hey. And the Okay. to there's amendment to add 350,000 for this. Would you like to read it again for everyone? Sure. Discussion on the I will I will Okay. But I want everyone to know what I'll be happy to read it again.

Yeah. I I think everyone wants to know what he is proposing. So please read. We have a motion to to change the cannabis dollars to the following items is what I'm understanding. Okay.

Amend the allocation of the cannabis dollars as follows. The CAC, $335,000. Housing stabilization, $440,000. Workforce services, $170,000. The ballot inserter for the clerk's office, $260,000. The regional office of education, $200,000. Food stability, $50,000. The scholarship fund, $350,000. and the IWA legal defense fund for immigrants with legal status $200,000. Okay.

Motion by Richmond to amend, seconded by Butler. Discussion on the amendment. Uh member newest. Do we need to get this in writing? Probably. I'm sure they have it though. I think that is a request on your that is ability to request. No, I mean we probably could have done this before once again, but that's all right.

I would been more than happy, but I've been always open to a compromise and discussion. I showed up to the leadership meeting on Monday of which I found out it was cancelled via email. Usually, if you have a standing meeting, if you don't hear from somebody via email, you would communicate with them verbally or at least through a text. I was here. I had all that information and I was prepared to have a discussion. Yeah. I wasn't aware of any meeting either. You could have I wish you would have walked it down to us as well. I'm I I was here. I also called I I was here and I was told it was canceled. Yeah. I don't I was I was standing by your office front desk. So, yeah. No, I don't make those meetings. That's those are set by the county board. Yeah,

because they work on your schedule. But yeah, too, I also did give you a call. Also, could I clarify that the amendment was for zero? Oh, no, it wasn't for 0%. It was just the change in the just the change for the cannabis fund. Right now, I was told. So, this is just all we can discuss right now. You're correct. Um, while we are waiting for Well, no, we're going to wait for the changes before we comment on it. We're going to wait on the changes. Oh, okay. Member Van Dy.

Yeah, I'm I'm not prepared to comment. Um, just a simple ask, is there any way that we can put the original document that uh Mr. Richmond is referring to up on the big screen so when we do have our new numbers, we can compare. Budget folks. Yeah. Why shouldn't the budget? Yeah. Yeah. The budget was wrong. It's gonna all be avoided. Hold on. That should be in my email. Changes they have in there. Wait, it's been changed since the budget book. Correct.

Um, the line items have I don't know if any line items have been Oh, you Well, we have a list of changes that are proposed in your document already. So it wouldn't be the budget book. You would be looking at the document that was attached to your agenda because that is what is going to be proposed. So just so everyone knows there was a there was there's a proposed changes that are always attached to your agenda item during this time. So that is what you would be comparing to. Although yeah.

Oh yeah. Let's see what we should do.

Yeah, but I mean this has changed from the What was the cannabis? there. Okay, everyone has been received a copy, I believe. I don't see the cannabis on the air.

The original is in the budget book, but I believe it's changed from what's in the drive. No, it's not anywhere special. Where when we supposed to special talks?

All right, we all set here. So, we have the uh the motion to change just the cannabis dollars to these. So, we're going to we'll move on to discussions. Everyone has a copy. Did you have something for uh Leader Van? You ready? Are I I would prefer to wait. I believe uh Mr. Hendris is going to pull up the original document so we can all look at it. Great. All right. Thank you. Member Traneer, do you want to wait the same? Anyone who's has any other additional comment on that while we're waiting for the member Butler, do you have anything while we're wait do you want to speak now while they're waiting to look at a screen? Do you have any comment before

before 68? If you do have your budget booklet, okay, Chuck, that helps anyone up there. Do they see it? But even like they propose cannabis changes. It doesn't I mean the budget would be bound. I don't know what the cannabis changes versus what the This is their cannabis changes. It's not nearly enough. If they're proposing a zero bend, what's in the cop yet, right? You know, so we'll have to find where they go, right? Okay. My phone in the car.

Here it is. So good. Do you see the glasses? What?

Member Trir, would you like to start? Are you okay? B468 like bingo. B468. It's up on the screen now as well, folks. I think it is one that is the last that is the that is the presentation that was re that was given to me in a given by me in August nothing has changed since now this is the first amendment that we are hearing regarding that change so that is the last one that is the numbers we would be comparing them to and again and again nothing's voted on with that that is just a presentation so and they are

So, are we ready for discussion? Member Tuner.

Yeah. Um, so I've I've talked about this at least in my caucus uh and and with some folks on the other side of the aisle. The CAC used to fund themselves. Uh, this this donation to them, this just started in 2019 or 2020. Um, I I don't support the continued um contributions to them and I've been pretty clear about that. Um, I don't understand why the ROE needs an additional $200,000. Um, that's not explained here. I can't support that. Um, you know, when we're talking about a 0% tax levy for us seems like, uh, that same should apply to the ROE. Um, and then, um, the the comments here about a legal defense fund, um, to this organization, Illinois Workers for Action. Um, they are new in our community. I don't know that they're legitimately making any difference in our community. Uh I have a longstanding relationship over 15 years with South Suburban Immigrant Project. They do excellent work in our community. They help people become citizens. They help them get food resources. Uh they they're basically at the beck and call of the immigrant community in Will and Dwage County. Um and they have a good track record. They have a rapid response network and I could go on. Um, actually I have a two-pager here that I'm going to ask somebody print and pass out. I can't imagine why I would want to support a brand new organization that just popped up in our community with this kind of funding when we have an existing organization that is doing credible, fantastic work and is also accredited by the Department of Justice, which this organization that's mentioned here is not. Um, so I'm going to ask that this uh report about SSIB P be printed and shared with board members.

Um, IWA is brand new in the community. Uh, I I'm a 53-year resident and I listen to the director of their program talk at several events this week about how she's been reaching out to local elected officials. I'm not hard to find, folks. They have not reached out at all. and I've been on this board a considerable amount of time and uh I had to to learn about them by going to other functions. So yeah, I I can't support these changes as they're written. I'm not opposed to changes at all, but not these particular ones. Thank you. Thank you, Member Butler. Uh I'd like to call a question.

You must I mean, this is a pretty serious conversation. I'm sorry. But isn't it up to the board to make that decision, not you? I think I would think that you question the board makes the decision, not you. The the mot. So, I'm going to find out what you need. You guys would be very angry if one of us did that, sir. [laughter] You want to find out if you member well member butler made a motion to call the question. We are seconded by member rev. Um what do we have? And then the board will decide. I say

he kicked me. I did not. Shut up. [clears throat] Did Judy just refer to that? We need 15. We need We need 15 in the firm. have to call the question. Madam, uh, Madame Clerk, this is to call the question. You're just voting on to call the question. Richmond, Williams, Dean Schlottman, Ogala, yes. Pretzel, yes. Butler, yes. Nquis, yes. Ball, yes. Oxley, yes.

Brooks, no. Winfrey Bulock. Yes. Logan, yes. Freeman, Revis, yes. Mitchell, Ortiz, yes. Burkowitz, yes. Hickeyi, yes. Costa R, no. with 14 and with 14 yeses the motion fails. Moving on to member Richmond. Wasn't there 15? You have to have 15 to pass.

You had 14. Well, hold on. Let's see. M 14. Yeah, we had Would you like to read those who voted uh will you please read out loud who voted yes? We're going to read We're going to read out loud who voted yes to call the question. Richmond, Dean, Schlottman, Ogala, Pretzel, Butler, Newquist, Ballich, Oxley, Bullock, Logan, Revvice, Mitchell, Ortiz, Burkwitz. Thank you. All right. Member Richmond, you have Oh, are you done? Okay. Sorry. All right. Any other member Butler, do you have additional comments? You're on still.

I mean, you called the question, so I guess not, right? Um me anyone else who has any comments on this? Member uh Bullock. Um to the maker of the motion, I guess. What is food stability versus the senior produce produce program?

It I think what it does is Hold on. I don't know if you're on them, Jim. Sorry. Yes. Yeah. Sorry. All right. So, it it does encompass it. It specifically says that it's for senior citizens. That's what we're focused on here. So, but isn't the senior produce program uh a like legit program that we do? like it's a it's a it is a regular thing whereas the senior pro was it a proposal by uh the MAP organization to provide produce for senior citizens in the area and so food stability that same money can go to the MAP program

I I don't know that I don't know what their focus is though yeah is that how that money is going to be used then yeah I would say yes so why are we changing the name. You know what? I didn't have it in front of me and I just wanted to make sure that it went directed to seniors. So, all right. Member or member Freeman.

So, I guess this is also to the um Republican lead that proposed this. Um so, yours does not include money to United Way. um housing stability CASA or the health department. It does say housing. It does have housing stability. I'm trying to look at this and look at that and I'm just trying to make sure I have everything

figured out in my head. Okay. So, housing is on yours. Sorry, I missed that one. No, it's up there. It's not on this one. Nope. Yes, it is. Okay. Sorry, missed that one. So it does not include those three things. Correct. But you are adding a ballot inserter and roe. Correct.

The ROE was originally on the initial proposal that was put together bipartisanly. Um the ROE came out here and talked about that uh clear view protection stuff that they're putting on in the schools. It's meant to say for the safety of children and that um and I what was the last one that you had mentioned? I think that was the the ballot stuffer for the clerk's office. The clerk's office has had a issue and the most important thing in this country is elections and getting results in a timely manner. I understood in the past election that they had challenges with a faulty equipment or equipment that was having issues. It was end of life. they were working overtime. O working overtime is great for the employee from a financial perspective, but from a family uh lifestyle perspective, having to work a lot of extra hours in a very short period of time under intense pressure to get something done. By putting in a piece of equipment that can actually automate this, it is going to actually help us with probably the most important thing in our country, and that's accurate elections. timely, accurate elections.

So, I I do believe that elections are are like top priority, but at no time do I remember the clerk's office coming forward and asking for this, so this is new to me. Um, I need to digest a bit. Thank you. We're going to let everyone speak first and then we come around for second times. U member or leader Speaker Vendine. Thank you.

Thank you, Madame Executive. Um I don't I didn't see the ROE fund up here on the original um proposal. My question is I I want to say that um and I could be wrong so I'd like some clarification. There was a comment about some tinted windows to for um you know for protection. Did we did we already do that program? And how many windows were were uh taken care of? And I believe it was around $70,000. So if the RO was here to explain the cost because I'd like to know how many windows that would be taken care of with this amount of money. that Mr. Richmond. Okay. Thank you.

I probably won't answer to somebody's liking, but what I'll do is I'll try and give you an answer. From what I understand is it's not tinting. It's to help ensure the schools have additional time for safety in the event of some kind of attack, whether it's gunshot, baseball bat, I don't know, whatever. blunt object that they're going to try and break into the school. It's put in on the schools. Don't I can't give you the exact answer of the exact number, but it was done on a certain number of schools and I believe it was the Katie is possibly raising her hand. She might have some details. I'll defer to her to help me out on this.

You going to answer on behalf of the RO a little bit? Yes. So, um Mr. speaker. Um, these were used. It's a clear coating covering that helps sort of give the windows more of a support against giving extra time as member Richmond said for gunshots, um, blunt objects, things of that nature. And it has been done on the elementary schools. The ROE would like to expand the program to the middle schools and to the high schools as well. And it is a very effective um safety measure for the schools and in the climate that has you know been around for the last 20 years within schools. She thought it would be prudent to help keep the safety of the children in the schools.

I uh I completely agree but I I guess I'm unclear of we say all the schools. How many schools are we talking about and how many total windows and how many how much did it cost? I guess I would have to see how exactly how many elementary schools are in Will County. Yeah, those are the schools that she has done and then they would be moving on to middle schools and then the high schools. So, it has been done at the elementary level schools. So, I guess we just need to do some basic math here if we if I if I had the numbers I could do the math. That's what I'm saying. Um, so however many Okay. Well, I don't think I'm sorry to interrupt. I I until I'm clear on that answer, I I cannot I cannot vote for this amendment.

Me. Thank you, me. Me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me member H h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h. Thank you, madam executive. I Okay, so it says motion to amend and then it had I I mean if we're voting on this piece of paper, I don't know if we can show this on the screen, but what we have here I'm having a hard time following. I'm really sorry. I don't mean to be a stickler about this, but I'm adding up the amounts here and it says like 1.5 or 1.6 is left and then it says leaves one mil in account. I don't know what what this means. I'm really sorry, but I need some clarity here. I'd be more than happy. Go ahead. You can explain it and put it all out there for you.

Well, you can just explain. Go ahead. Well, I mean, I'll be more than happy to print it out for you, but it's printed. I just want

these are these are my handwritten notes. just a scrap piece of paper that I kind of jotted some things down on. I I'm I'm happy that we're taking a microscope to everything because I think we've probably got about 400 and some pages that I'd love to take a microscope to and ask a lot of questions about. We're talking about a $160 million property tax budget bill. When you look at the revenue that comes in through this uh county in all different ways, special funds and that, we're close to $750 million. I mean, I would love to go through all $750 million. Right now, what we're doing is we're talking about a uh something that the ROE came here and presented on. It seemed as though a lot of people were in favor of what the ROE is doing. It seemed as though a lot of people are interested in, you know, protecting children and giving giving the schools that extra few minutes

that they may need in the event of a catastrophic situation. So, I'm more than happy to address anything you've got on here that you don't understand and I apologize that it was my hand scribbled notes because this has been a very fluid 0% levy with new construction. Don't even look at that right now. That's that's not even parting on that. Okay. So, motion to amend it. We should strike that out. Um, and then we're talking specifically about the cannabis. Okay. Yes. So, when we're talking specifically about the cannabis funds, what is the total that we're spending? $2,5,000. 2,5,000.

Yes. And the the fund has approximately $2.6 million in it. So, it's not like we're spending everything. So, but there it says down here it leaves 1 million in the account. That that's because based on my other numbers that I was working on think as you can see there were some scribbled notes and things got changed. So, discount the very fact handwritten portion at the very top. Discount the 1.595 million um leaving 1 million in the account. Focus on numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 and eight which I actually put an arrow down so that at the bottom I'd be more than happy to actually print this out for you. without all the notes on it. So maybe we could have staff type it up. They'll do it.

Clear. You will I mean as clear as I can be with this member. Um I'm trying to circle back to people who have not spoken yet. I can't remember. Mr. Butler, have you spoken on this yet? Just on amendment, right? Yeah. as far as the the uh safety glass.

So, I believe what they said was that if they put one coat on that it would slow down entry from uh any possible uh intruders and with multiple layers it be could become bulletproof. So, that cost could be different for different schools and different purposes. So the money's just set the money is being set aside for the safety of the children at these schools. Thank you. Member Mitchell.

Just a couple just a couple things. One is um like in previous times when we've given to given cannabis dollars, we do ask that we at least get some kind of report of what they did with the funds. I think that's uh that's reasonable to request. What did you do with the money? What did you do with the cannabis dollars? Give us a report, a status report on what you've done. That's one thing. And to answer your question, there are 53 middle schools in Will County, 27 high schools in Will County, and 123 elementary schools in Mo County. Now, that is that is what uh chat GPT said. [laughter] That Oh, do you know the answer? Well, you could give the answer then, but according to according to according to uh chat GPT, that is uh that is approximately how many middle schools and high schools that are in Will County. And if it's wrong, at least we have a you know a close number and that's it. Cute. Uh we have um member Dean Schlot. Oh, you answered a question. We'll let you go again.

Question. So, I misspoke. Um, Chair Van Dy, it was 34 junior highs, nine K through 8 schools. The exits and the entrances of each of those schools, it was $3,500 each school. All right, member Kosa.

Thank you. We're talking about the cannabis tax fund and I want to remind the county board that the cannabis dollars, R3 dollars are for community reinvestment and social equity work. Um, these dollars are are to support and directly fund communities disproportionately affected by past drug criminalization laws and the war on drugs. And I've got some curiosities here as to why an organization, for example, like the United Way that provides shelter, food, etc. has been removed from the budget and then the a ballot inserter for the clerk's office has been added. I've got questions about what what is behind the scholarship fund. What does that mean exactly? There are no details. um immigration support and defense. There are so many organizations who are seeking funding to be supported in these ways. Education, um public health, um law, support and enforcement, community reinvestment. I don't like that there are specific organizations listed and and believe that if we're going to create line items, they are general line items where a no is required like any other ARPA mental health board funding where there's a vetting a transparency in that vetting.

Thank you member Ogala.

Thank you. I could just like to clarify some things. First, cannabis funds. cannabis funds that we receive from the state are to be used for those things. And you will see that we do have some of that in here giving money to the CAC. The cannabis dollars that the county collects because we in put a tax on it. Those dollars can be used the way that we have seen fit. We have through the course of time allocated those to different organizations or to fund a certain required need of the county. Uh regardless of what department, any department, we've done various different things. We've used those dollars to fund that. So, we did not have to take that out of the budget, out of the the corporate fund. So, we use those cannabis dollars for that. That is something that we have done. We have in the past listed individual groups and given money to those groups. This is nothing unusual. The scholarship fund that you have listed here is an excellent opportunity for the county to provide scholarships to students who have been impacted by incarceration. Meaning their parents are incarcerated. This gives these kids a chance to go to college. Much like the ARPA we used for the nursing and the teaching, we were able to give those those people the money because we had a shortage of nurses and teaching. This furthers that by allowing scholarships to be given to those who probably have no chance of going to college without that opportunity. Uh the United Way, we looked at that. They they didn't need the dollars. And I want to say one thing. The county board can make an amendment to the proposed distribution of cannabis dollars that the executive puts out. We have done this every year. We have a team that worked together on it. They should have brought the proposals to your caucuses. What happened at the caucuses all the time, I'm not always aware, but that's what it was. So, we are amending this. Leader Richmond is amending this appropriation

of cannabis dollars as you see listed here. If you want it to be more clear, we can certainly ask staff to type it up. That's not a problem because Jim had his notes here and that's what you're reading. I guess you're confused by that. I think it's pretty clear because he stated it out loud. So, those are the things that we've done here. We've done it in the past. This isn't anything new. The county executive makes a proposal with a it's a draft budget. That's what she came up with. She did not talk with us about it. This is this is our amendment to her proposal to use the cannabis dollars in this fashion. Thank you.

Thank you. Member Bulock. I don't I don't have an issue with anybody amending anything. I I'm going to go back to the scholarship fund. The first time that I see it appearing, it was 150K on this bipartisan compromise proposal thing that I have in in my notes and now it's all the way up to 350K for something we're doing for the very first time. There a reason that we've gone to that level instead of just keeping it at the 150 and seeing how it even will work.

I don't know if we have I don't think there's a response to that. I'm not seeing anyone would like to respond. All right. Member Traneer. Um I just would add on the scholarship fund. I I college is not the end all and the beall and the answer. We have a lot of people in college that right now that have no jobs, people that have college degrees. Um I I think this should also be used for trade schools. Um it doesn't make sense to me to use it just for college. And I've worked very closely with an organization called Sh Come on. What's

I've worked very closely with an organization called Give Something Back. They're in multiple states. They originated here in Lockport. Um I know one of my fellow county board members is very much aware of the organization. Um they do fantastic work in supporting uh bright students that might otherwise not be able to go to college because of the financial constraints on their family or their situation which sometimes is due to um you know the war on drugs but sometimes due to other circumstances. But at any rate, college isn't the only answer. And I would just like to see that this also include trade school. And I would agree with member Costa that uh if we want to allocate $200,000 towards legal defense for immigrants and legal status, I'm 100% behind that. I don't want to name an organization. We should be issuing a no and doing this with transparency. Thank you.

Thank you, Member Hickey. Thank you, Madam Executive. Um, I just and I suppose this is for Mr. Richmond, but why is the CAC being cut by $10,000? It's an organization that provides direct services to the children of Will County. Um, and and then another question, and I don't even know who to direct this to, but I will direct it to you, Madam Executive, because that's what I'm supposed to do. Um, why are these amounts from the ROE and the clerk's office not in their operational budgets?

All right. Do you would you like to answer those, Mr. Richmond? Your Yeah.

So, first off, the ROE or I'm sorry, the clerk's office did put it in the back of their budget book. It was something that was uh denied. So, it did not it it it was on I believe it's column A or uh uh page A. It didn't make it to page B if I remember correctly. And I apologize. There's like 460ome pages that I've had to kind of go through. The second off is what I tried to do is actually leave some money in there so that this way as we go through the upcoming year, we actually have some money if we identify something that we say this needs to have an immediate attention and it needs some immediate money put towards it. That's why a balance was left. So, correct. I did I did cut a couple of them by $10,000. I've heard before member Traneer say that the CAC gets money from us and all that kind of stuff. So, I figured $10,000, you know, that's not that significant of a cut. It is a program that's run by the county. It's a great program and I didn't want to cut it drastically, but I mean $10,000 is I I thought would be nominal to do. Um, did I cover all your questions?

You did. Um, yeah, I'm just trying to follow the rationale here, but thank you for that. Member Rabbit, you know what? I do have one question. I'm sorry. Somebody mentioned, you mentioned about trade schools.

I talked to young men and women all the time, candidly, when I went to college. You know what? It it was an option because I because I was able to do that. A lot of my friends didn't. And you know what? They're doing very fine in life. I talk to a lot of young men and women today and I tell them they're they're like, you know, should I should I go to I go, don't waste your time if you know that you're, you know, and I see these young men and women, they're good with their hands. They're good with their minds. They're good they're good on a with on a job type stuff. Don't waste your time. Don't listen to your high school counselor telling you you should go to college and then go on to trade school. Go to the trade schools. The trade schools are a great place. you're going to get a great education and at the same time too you're going to be earning some money which ultimately you'll be in the workforce which is something that we need. So the scholarship fund I'm more than happy to have a portion of it large portion whatever it is I don't know go to the trades because I think we need a lot more trades men and women out there. So

member Revvis

uh thank you Madam Executive. I just wanted to echo uh uh member Hickeyy's comments about uh the concerns for uh the cuts or the cut to the CAC. Um you know, I'm a major advocate of what we have going at the CAC. I know uh the 14 individuals that work there are some of the best in the business at providing hope, healing, and justice to the sexually abused and severely neglected kids of Will County. However, uh in terms of this debate and this conversation, I am going to uh be supportive of uh Leader Richmond's amendments because I know he put a lot of work into these and uh we're trying to strike uh you know a balance of you know fully funding our programs while also you know targeting specific and healthy cuts uh for the county taxpayer. But, uh, I would just like to encourage, uh, member Hickey to, uh, join our efforts, uh, at the Forest Preserve where we're trying to, uh, get a $10,000 payment from the, uh, Forest Preserve Police Department to the CAC. So, uh, I just wanted to remind everybody of that. And, uh, that's all.

Thank you. Member Freeman. This is a little side note, but I'm I'm noticing a campaign sticker on the back of um member Logan's shirt, and I'm not sure if that's appropriate on the floor. Thank you. All right. Thank you, member uh member Bulock.

All right. So, one more piece because I'm dissecting all of this. There's 2 There's 2,00 2 million 5,000 in the canvas fund. Accurate. No, there's 2.8 million. And this is using 2,000 or 2 million 5,000 of it. So, okay. All right. Member Van Dy. Member Freeman, are you speaking again? Okay. But member Van or Speaker Vanine,

thank you. Um, since you know, amendments do happen all the time and there there has been in my mind there has been plenty of opportunity to present this information in advance of today's board meeting. So, with that being said, I understand that there may be uh some some counter offers from maybe one side or the other side of the aisle. I would like to request a 10-minute recess so the caucuses can regroup and try to uh come up with some sort of compromise on this particular amendment. It would be open to the public.

Hold on one second. Let me let me What What exactly are you asking to do? I I would like The caucuses cannot meet. Like we can't have separate caucuses meet because it's not posted. So are you Yeah. Am I correct with that?

Well, okay. I think you know this is the first item on the entire agenda and I have a feeling that this may continue throughout the course of the day and I just want to make sure that both caucuses have plenty of time to digest the information. So if I think we're the only you're just I think you're the I'm thinking they're aware. I think it's just caucus who is not aware. Sure. So we can't let you I cannot we cannot let you meet because it it would violate you have to you have to violate right then I then I would suggest if anybody wants to make an amendment to this amendment then they feel free to do so at this time. Thank you

member Nquist. Thank you. I have a question. I don't want to return to the agenda yet. Um I'm noticing there's no in the proposal they left out the million dollars for the health department. Is that getting put in from elsewhere or are we just shorting the health department the million dollars?

Do you want to answer that member Ogala? Okay. So uh the the caucus our caucus determined decided that we should not spend cannabis dollars on employees. We should spend cannabis dollars on items on supporting u groups that will provide services. If you provide something for cannabis to an hire an employee to employ somebody that's a long-term obligation. We do not know what the long-term funding level will be from cannabis from this year to next year to the next year to the next year. So, we made the decision that we would not do that. There will be there are dollars in the uh rest of the budget uh different funds that can be used for that that can be changed. Uh I know that the cash reserves are high. There's lots of different ways to pay for those employees. Again, those employees were hired under ARPA funds which were a grant and it's always known that a grant there's a timeline and during when that timeline is gone then a lot of times those employees are let go. A lot of times those employees are absorbed. So I'm assuming some of those employees were absorbed because I know that there were more than 11 employees hired during ARPA. That's all this is looking to do. again don't support funding salaries out of cannabis just like when we took can money out of cash reserves to pay for salaries. We don't do that either. It's not the right way to budget.

Member Burrit. Thank you. I'd like to call the question. Well, we've tried. Okay. Madam, um have you Yep. Uh there is a motion to call the question by member Burkowitz, seconded by Dean Schlottman. Remind 15 me. Madame clerk, please call the role. Richmond Williams. Dane Slottman. Ogalla. Yes. Pretzel. Yes. Butlerquist Ballage.

Yes. Oxley, Brooks, no Winfrey, Bulock, Logan, Freeman, Revvice, Mitchell, Ortiz, Burkowitz, yes. Hickeyi, Costa, Trineer, Vandine, the number, but I know it wasn't 15. 12 in the firm. The motion fails. Member Butler.

Member Costa. Okay, that's fine. I'm I'm having an amendment uh written and prepared by staff right now uh where I'd like to see the cannabis tax funds um allocated by percentage to different uh groups including youth services, workforce services, um housing, uh education, uh legal defense for immigrants versus a specific dollar amount to a to specific organizations. I'll have that written and distributed shortly. I'll second motion. Well, we don't have a Yeah, hold on, hold on, hold on.

Ask staff to calculate the dollar amount based on the percentage that I've recommended. Percentage of this full $2.8 million. So, a percentage I haven't I'm not I I'm not I'm Yes. I'm I'm letting this pass. I'm getting clarific. So while it's getting passed out, we do have to vote on his amendment first. You we will have to vote. So you can have it all while you're looking, but we we will have we we are still discussing the amendment that was presented by Mr. Richmond.

All right. So is there any other discussion on member Burkwit on Mr. Richmond's proposal? Don't look at the one being. Yeah. We're we're we're still talking about Mr. Richmond's proposal.

Okay. And we can't call the question that we can't we we've tried it twice. No one has voted for that. Yeah. So, all right. But we may be done anyway. Is there any other discussion on the current amended proposal? Any other discussion on the current amended pro Mr. [clears throat] uh member Richmond? So to in alignment with member Traneer mentioned is is I would be happy to take a look at reducing uh the ROD's budget by 30 or $40,000 specifically earmarking it for trades or that. Um so I I mean and we can even look at more of the scholarship fund type stuff for for that. But you know let's I I I'm open I'm open to discussion. So I think if that's something that we could, you know, come to some kind of agreement on

Well, we can't amend your amendment right now. So it has that's what I told our So we're voting on the current thing and then yeah, I I don't I we'll have to find out the process if you change it after the budget vote. All right. So we have Mr. We have member uh Richmond's proposal. This is this is what we are voting on. Is there any other thing with regarding the the budget at this time? Any other changes to the budget? All right. We have to vote on one amendment at the time, though. Yeah. So, you're voting on Mr. Richmond's right now. So, this is his This is the sheet that's in front of you. That is the CAC 335. This is amendment to the cannabis funding. The CAC 335, housing, and you can correct me if I'm reading it wrong. Housing stabilization 440,000. Workforce Services 170 ballot a ballot inserter for the clerk's office 260,000 um roe uh 200,000 sorry food stability 50,000 scholarship 350,000 is that I read that correctly okay yeah which what I don't the scholar I don't see oh number eight is 200,000 to I oh IWA legal defense for immigrants in legal status. All right. Okay. That's what we're voting on. What's your clarification?

I'd just like to ask that um my caucus be willing to take a look at uh the dollar figures broken down in my amendment before bringing this one forward and even uh my my colleagues on the other side. Um because if if this were to pass, we won't have an opportunity to see uh what the other uh amendment brought forward would even look like. So just and and if that doesn't pass, bring this one back forward. Bring bring Leader Richmond's one back forward. All right. So we all right. So we have a we have a motion. We have a second. We are looking at the eight items that Mr. Richmond has appro. This is what we are voting on currently. We are voting on this currently. Madame clerk, please call the role. Sorry.

Richmond Williams Dean Schlapman Ogala. Yes. Pretzel. Yes. Butler. Nquist. Balich. Yes. Oxley. Yes. Brooks. No. Winfrey. Bulock. Logan. Yes. Freeman. Revis. Mitchell Ortiz Burkowitz Hickey. No. OA Traineer Mandine. No.

12 in the affirmative. 12 in the affirmative. We now need a vote on the amended budget. Oh, yeah. Uh, member Costa, I I believe staff is still working on the actual dollar amounts because I broke it out by a percentage. So, I'm just asking folks to be patient. Are they looking Can Do they have something in front of them though? They do.

So, if that is there any Okay, while we're getting the actual dollar amount, is there any discussion on that amended item? Member Triner or I'm sorry, member Butler. We're talking about the percentages. She's getting and she's offered percentages for each one of these. Got dollar amounts now. Thank you. She's going to hand them dollars amount

and uh this can be distributed. Um apologies in advance for uh the scrapped handwriting uh of both mine and staffs as this comes around. Um uh my amendment is to allocate the cannabis tax fund uh for education at $470,000. Can I get a

for housing at $470,000 for youth services at $117,500 for food stability at 1175 uh500 for immigration legal services at $235,000 and workforce services at $235,000. Uh with unallocated funds at 1.610 610. Uh, which brings us to the total of 2.35 million. Yes, sir. Hold on. Let me get you on there. Thank you.

It It's my understanding that we just voted on that particular agenda item after we had made an amendment to it. It had passed and now we are going to make an amendment to the agenda item that already passed. I guess that's a question for the state's attorney. Can we amend an an amendment of the agenda item that is already passed? We have one attorney. No, you did not pass the budget. You passed an amendment to the budget. You did not take the vote vote to pass it. Hold on. Shh. Can we? Yes. So, we have to vote on it as amended still.

Correct. You've never called that yet. The the call as amended. There was another motion made to amend what was out there. You can amend this a number of times until you get to the final. So So member Costa right now is doing an amendment to the amendment that just passed. Correct. Well, well, it's it's the second it's a second amendment. Uh but it's would amend the original motion. The original uh figures. Thank you for your clarity. All right. So any discussion on we're just going to call member Costa's proposal. So, please press your button if you have questions on member Costa's proposal. Member Oxley, then Traneer.

Thank you. We're all going back and forth on tripping over little pennies. What's the easiest way to get to yes here? How are we going to get to yes? We could sit here and make motions and seconds and votes all day. You want us to order dinner or you want to talk about it and get it done? Member Traneer. Thank you, Madam Executive. Uh, I am in Yes.

Ball. No. Oxley. No. Brooks. Yes. Winfrey. Yes. Bullock. Logan. No. Freeman. Revis Ortiz. Burkowitz, no. Hickeyi Costa Trainer, yes. Vandine, yes. With 12 in the negative, the motion fails.

Right. I'm waiting for him. Correct. Thank you. Dean Schlan made a motion to approve the budget as amend amended. Yes, ma'am. Member uh Butler second it. Madame clerk, please call the role or I'm sorry, discussion.

Yes. I just want to clarify that we are voting on the budget as presented in our handout and the only changes that have been proposed is for the cannabis money. Correct? As far as I know, yes. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. All right. Thank you,

Member Trir. Now, there's a whole packet of changes in here, and those would be included when we vote on the budget as amended, unless I'm mistaken. And that those numbers that are in here reflect a 1.75 tax levy. I just want to be clear about what each side, each member is voting for. The only change at this point is the amount of money being spent in cannabis. Everything else the manager is correct. Member Ogala correct. You are correct with this. You are correct with that. But member Ogala.

So while while she's correct with that, the levy drives the budget. So what we levy is what determines the budget can be. And just like it like a levy, it happens every year. We levy for a certain dollar amount. And more often than not, we receive more funds than we levied for. and then those dollars get absorbed into the budget. So that's that's what happens. So yes, but the levy drives the budget. All right. So the the we've had a motion and a second. You have a comment there, sir. I'm sorry. All right. Madame clerk, please call the role. Richmond.

You're voting on as amended on the budget. No, on the budget. On the budget. Yes. On the budget. Yes. Yeah. Yes. Okay. Yes. On the Yep. Mhm. Okay. Thank you, Williams. Dean Schlutman. Ogala Pretzel. Yes. Butler. Yes. Newquest. Yes. Ball. Yes. Oxley. Yes. Brooks. Yes. Winfrey. Bulock. Logan. Yes.

Freeman. Revis. Mitchell. Ortiz. Burkowitz. Hickeyi Costa Traer. Vanine. Yes. Two in affirmative. The motion carries. Member Nquist. Okay. Nquis. Number four. Um resolution 25-312 the corporate fund levy as presented and I so move. Motion by Nquist, seconded by Hickeyi, member Richmond.

So, I'd like to uh make a motion to amend uh the corporate fund levy in the amount of $106,36,000. $36,044. Second. Oala, you repeat that one more time, sir. Thank you. Sure. Um, I'd like a motion I'd like to make a motion to amend the corporate fund levy fund 1010 in the amount of $16,36,44.

Oh, he stole it from you. [laughter] He took it from you on the motion. Motion by Richmond, seconded by uh Butler. Pre um any discussion? One. Go ahead. I'm just gonna keep you on. Say it one more J. There you go. 1 million 600 1 million 106 million $36,44. Yeah. Any discussion? Any discussion, Madame Clerk? Oh, member Hickey. Okay. I'm

What are we cutting to get to this number? I don't know. Do you have any Do you have any I mean do you have any response to that, sir? Or member of Gallon? Would you like to Oh,

I I I've been told I'm not in charge of day-to-day operations. So, I think our our role is to to put the levy forward. And the last thing you want me to do is be the one that tells you what to cut. I think everybody in their departments, you've told me before that the elected officials are the ones that know their budgets the best. you know, your budget's the best. So, I think and if if you look at this, it's, you know, $2 million or so. Um, if I if I was making 160 uh million and I was told I got to cut two $3 million, let's bring that down to the micro level. So, I'm making $160,000 as a as a uh employee or as a business owner, and I get told at the end of the quarter, I have to figure out how to cut $3,000 out of my budget. That's kind of easy to do. So, um I don't know. I just kind of been looking at this from a from a micro perspective is I there has to be there has to be some areas where we can actually do some trimming. if not probably Harvard Business School and Yale Business School want to race here and look at our efficiencies and our effectiveness because they could probably write some great uh business cases. So that's my answer.

We need some clear from our council here. Thank you. Oh, not on. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. There you go. I hit Sherry's dead.

So I just want to inform all the members what is happening here. Um, member Richmond, you you're correct that once the budget is passed, the the elected officials and departments manage their own funds, but you set what funds we can spend. So, if there is an inongruency between what the budget is and what your revenue is, you're going to have a shortfall. The by passing the budget, you've authorized all these departments to spend the funds that were in there. There's been no cuts to my knowledge to a line with a 0% levy. So, you're going to have a situation where at some point the monies are going to be different and we're looking at then we're going to have to find revenue. Whether that's tax anticipation warrants, whether that's bonding, you've already authorized under number three all of these elected officials to spend at the I believe the 1.75 levy that was came out of finance last week. So, you're going to have an inongruency. All right, we have we're clarifications here. Member Van Dy, Speaker Van Dy, we'll start then we'll go we'll start going around here.

So, with that being said from the state's attorney, I think it may be premature to vote line item by line item until we make sure that all the figures will add up to the pre to the to the total budget. I can't guarantee that passing this that it will all add up. Am I correct?

I I Yeah, I am not the finance guy, but what I can say is that you've authorized the sheriff under the budget to spend a certain amount of money. You've authorized our office, you've spent at the end of the day, the budget has to be balanced somehow. Um if for instance, the recorder has uh whatever a million dollars to spend on something and there's no money, you have a problem. Um the levy is not the le just saying we're not going to fund it enough isn't you can't have an unbalanced budget. Right. Um member Balanchin.

Yeah. Uh you know I'm listening to all this conversation and it sounds like a bunch of baloney to me because Mr. States Attorney again. Uh because in the past we would just vote on a percentage and then you guys would the staff would have to figure it all out where the money goes. How are we supposed to know every intricate detail for all the different departments? It's ridiculous. So we know that. So in order to have a big fight for another three hours, we're going to go we're going to end up with the same result or we're not going to end up with any budget. Then we won't get any money at all. So that would be worse, right? Because we'll we'll end up with a stalemate. A stalemate or a veto from and I don't think the county executive would do that. But if that happens, there's no budget. There's no levy. There's nothing. There's a budget, but no levy. No money to pay for this stuff. So let's, you know, let's really think about this. You're telling us, go find where we're going to cut. The answer to that is no. The staff finds where to cut. They know where to cut, not us. And if it's up to me, I'd be cutting the health department by a ton because a 708 board gives them all that $5 million and then they get more money everywhere else. I like the health department, but good god, how much money are we going to spend? So, I'm going to shut my mouth because if I was me, we'd be cutting 10% out of every line item. We wouldn't even have to worry about none of this stuff. Member Galla.

Thank you. So, in years past, we did exactly what we've done today. We have made a motion to amend what we're going to spend in the levy. And in doing that, the budget will be changed to reflect that the budget is a guideline. So, we're guessing we're going to get this much money in. We may not get that money in, and then it gets adjusted. We adjust the budget lines every single year and we wrap up things at the at the beginning of next year. You'll see we'll make motions to move things within everybody's budget. What happens to us is we are given a budget book without any information and we are asked to blindly vote for it. We have absolutely no idea what the details. We sat down and had an entire list of things to cut when we looked at prior years and then we looked at what it's budgeted this year. But we have no guidelines on that. We're not given those guidelines. Staff knows the guidelines. They've worked with it. I'm assuming the executive knows. Perhaps the speaker knows. I don't know that, but we don't know that. We're given this big book which is on Jim's desk there. And we're asked to vote for it. And that that is changing from what's presented here. That's changed here. So, it changes. So, the budget is a guideline. The levy is the true amount that we're going to levy for. And like I said, what do we do when we have extra money that comes in, which happens almost every year? We levy a certain amount of money and we get more money in that just gets in. Where does it go? Who spends it? I don't know. Maybe it goes into the um cash reserves. Maybe it goes there. I don't know. I do know also that our cash reserves were supposed to keep at a certain level. And at no time during any finance meeting did we have a discussion of how much money is in the cash reserves and we are over that 26% that is what we've said as a standard to have as a safety net for

in case something happens. We're over that. We never ever brought that up at one point in time ever during the discussion of any finance meeting. Yet those that's that's the fact. So we are overbalancing our cash reserves that maybe we need to refund that to our residents. So there is never there's never a full open conversation about the budget. There's never a full open compromise about the budget. It's just here it is. Vote on it. We've made the amendments to the cannabis to the way that the group approved. We kept the opioid as presented because everyone felt that was a a good good use of those dollars to those particular organizations. We have often in the past given dollars to specific groups via cannabis based upon the right way we can allocate the cannabis dollars. We have done all that. We will pass the levy that will then have the budget. We'll have to be reflective of it and that is something it's just a guideline and it can change.

Member Butler. Man, whenever we try to do this stuff, I feel like you guys are always one step ahead. It's always trying to figure this stuff out. So, uh, my question for the state's attorney, we have to be that way.

Well, it's hard because, you know, as, uh, member Ogala said, we're kind of kept in the dark about a lot. So, um I hear what you're saying that we have a uh um there's a requirement that we fulfill our obligations that we made, but there's many things in the budget that we are not obligated to pay for. So, people can use or the executive for instance could use some of that money to cover our obligations. Is that correct?

I are Are there you're saying are there things that you're not legally required to do that we could pull from other funds to address those? Yes. Well, I don't know where I don't know where that would be. Well, you don't have to know. Well, what what I'm saying is, if you'd let me finish, if the say the coroner is doing something that they're not obligated to do, but that money has been obligated um and they're within their budget and the state's attorney has a $2 million shortfall, we can't force the the coroner to give that money to the state's attorney.

That is correct. I understand that. But for instance, let's just say the executive had a couple hundred,000 that she just was going to decide to give to the townships to pay for access will county without the board, you know, saying yes or no to. Could she use that money that she had not allocated for that beforehand, but instead of using it there, couldn't she use it to pay off those other obligations? That that is a very specific question as to the like access will county there are grant obligations. There are other things we might have to have.

I just laid out all the parameters on that. They it was extra money and they were able to throw it at it without any prior approval or any direction from the county board. There's extra money and they could just decide to just say we're going to give all the Republican townships down south free busing. Okay. Could instead of doing that, could they have used that money to pay off some of our obligations? And what I'm telling you is I know what you're telling me. It's not a straight answer.

You're stipulating that we have obligations and that if we don't fulfill them that we could be in trouble, but you're not allowing us to have any access to any other funds where we could take away from copy paper or take away from me or whatever it is. I I you know I'm trying to be specific because I just trying to let everybody know that there are other ways to meet those obligations other than you know having to change and go back and allocate all that certain money to each budget.

Correct. If if within my budget at the state's attorney's office for instance we don't need new computers one year but all of a sudden printing costs went through the roof. We can reallocate that within our budget. If we don't have the budget allocated or if there's no revenue to cover those things, then we're left with an unbalanced budget. You've obligated the county or you've given the authority to the elected officials to spend a certain amount, but you've said we're not bringing that in in property taxes. So, you have an inongruency there that will have to be made up some other way because the elected officials have the authority to spend that money. So, are you telling us that the only way that we can not tax the people with an extra levy is go back and change the budget?

Yes. You obligation to change the budget. Okay. So, then then pass the budget. Whatever it takes to do that today, that's what we will do. So, I would I would recommend that we make a motion to re um re is it reconsider. I would like to make a motion to reconsider. I was on the winning side of that vote. We'll go back to that old vote and we'll just hash this out. I think we could go pretty quick. Give us about uh 10 minutes to review our documents and see if we can't come up with some cuts for you. Second.

But you can't meet more than you we Yeah, you can't meet as a group to talk about this. This is our only concern right now. And again again folks I I can appreciate everyone's frustration. We do have finance committees and we have opportunity talk. I I am with you with your frustration here, Mr. Butler. And it's unfortunate it comes to to to this. But we can't let you meet because we can't we can't it will violate open meetings act. Yeah. Take it back to the floor. Yeah. What? Take it to the floor. Two or more. Two or less.

Yeah. Take it to the floor. If you want an amendment to start talking and making cuts on the floor, that's that's you can do that. So that's what you ask. Is that your is that your is that that is what I'm hearing you? Yeah, I would like to I know that uh turn your light off. This a different now thing. Okay. So make your Oh, sorry. You're on still make your amendment. uh motion to uh reconsider for that vote for the budget so that we can make the proper cuts to keep the tax levy at zero. So being on the winning side of that, we can do that. Okay.

Okay. I am I am listening to the attorneys despite what I am listening to the attorneys on this. We're in new territory here, folks. All right. What? Yeah. Okay, that's true. Go ahead. You're on. know your datab. Sorry. So, you can go back and make the motion to reconsider. It was just brought to my attention. We have a a pending uh amendment on the floor. So, if we want to withdraw that for the time being or deal with it, um you're still on the levy with an amendment. So, you have to do that before we go back to a motion to reconsider. That's so we'll move forward. So, you you would have to at this time unless we're either going to have Mr. Richmond.

I mean, if the state's attorney is telling us that we cannot do this, then we will have to make a motion to reconsider. Right. But you what we're saying is we're in the middle of this vote right now. So you Yeah. Yeah. So just you need to can you resend what you can you resend your motion? You can bring it back or he can res or Mr. Richmond can resend. Well, we we can vote on this one and we can resend afterwards and we'll go through that. All right. Clarification, Mr. or reconsider.

I just want to clarify what I'm saying is you you certainly can do this, but we're going to have to find other revenue streams then. Um this you're you're shorting the property tax portion. There will have to be some other way to pay for these other funds, whether it be tax anticipation warrants, whether it be bonding. Um so you you're able to do this, but now you'll have to have other conversations about how to fund these things. Okay. All right. So, we're in the middle of a Are you gonna Yeah. So, let's You want to take the vote and then go back to reconsider that one and then we'll do that. So, you are you resending your motion? Yes. I will reset. Sorry.

All right. So, we are still in dis We have a lot of We have a lot of speakers for this this um for Mr. You're in order here. You're in order. And you are next. Well, actually, let's see. What do we have here? You are next. Member Traneer.

Thank you, Madame Executive. Um, I don't have any problem supporting this corporate tax levy reduction as long as we have an additional amendment to go along with it stating that the shortage will be made up by the reserves. Because I we already passed a budget at a 1.75% levy. It doesn't have a lot of fat in it. We could sit here until six or seven o'clock tonight going line item by line item, maybe longer than six or seven. Um, I I do feel we have some extra money in our reserves and I think that might be the prudent way uh to move along much quicker. Um, take the money out of the reserves and it would be 2 million, whatever the difference is between the proposed levy and the amended proposed levy. Um, and if the other side can agree to that, we can certainly save a lot of time and move along. And they still get their 0% and we still get the funds to approve the expenditures that they just approved.

Member Revvice. Okay. Thank you, Madam Executive. I got a couple things that I want to work through here. I'm just trying to make If you don't mind, stick with me because I think a lot of the confusion comes because we're having side conversations and not listening to what goes on on the floor. No, I think that's a big part of this because All right, let's just focus. Let's talk.

When member Traneer asked right after we uh did not successfully vote on member Costa's amendment, she said, "But this does not reflect 1.75% in cuts and it just addresses the can the amendments with the cannabis change." the attorney and uh the the decision makers up at the at the dis said yes that's correct full well knowing that our intent was to adjust that budget to accurately reflect it. Your answer made it seem as though no that's what's addressed in number four. So then everybody got off that topic moved on to number four thinking that's when that business got done. Now yes there's some onus on us. We should have we should know that. But we our full intent was to reduce the uh levy and have that reduction reflected in the budget. We didn't just want to get shoot along like, "Yep, oh, let's let's have intentional confusion so they don't get what they want." We saw it again when we had to make a motion to vote on the amendment. We we needed to make a motion to vote on it as amendment. dead silence from up there almost waiting for someone on the floor not to say it or not. It's what you guys were doing. It's it's weaponized. It's weaponized incompetence or intentional uh incompetence to to get what you guys want. It's like how I mentioned on my WJO interview this morning talking about the budget, how there's our own little uh language that we use to talk about these things that's intentionally confusing. It's intentionally difficult for the public to follow along with. We're being very clear on our side with what we want. We want a 0% levy increase. We want a budget that reflects it along with the changes to the cannabis. So, um I know right now we're hung up on the fact that the corp our corporate levy and then the

budget appropriate but the annual budget and the appropriation ordinance don't match. But we've decided that we're going to vote on this levy first, have our 0% reflected, and then we're going to go back and uh correct reconsider item number three because we were intentionally misled by the chair of the of the meeting. So, um,

okay, I'm going to take offense because I don't know how I intentionally misled you. I am I mean, please, and we can please, okay, I I'm going to be very clear here. All right. And again, I am trying to be stay patient and calm and let people think through these things. Okay? I don't know what people understand or don't understand regarding this process. I am not making any assumptions. I'm assuming we do. Okay? So, I don't I don't like accusations. Again, it becomes frustrating for me because this is very touchy. It's very sensitive. Everyone has ideas. there is a way to avoid all this and it it doesn't seem to been wanting to happen uh lately. I am always an open air always. I think people who work with me know that. So I I don't want accusations here. I don't know what people understand and do not. And I would hope if you don't you you you ask. Okay. That is your responsibility. The I know. Okay. And then please

Okay. And I need that ass then. Okay. And that's why they're here. I just I need people to ask you have to ask questions. This is your the uh the appropriation is your responsibility and I do I expect I agree with you. I expect there to be intense conversations over these. It just shouldn't happen here. It should happen from August when it's presented to this point. And again, if if you guys need as a body to change the way you do it and bring people in and talk to them, you should absolutely absolutely do it. I would encourage it. I would encourage that. So with that, I don't want to I am just trying to keep it at a pace that everyone is is understanding. So I slow and not getting too rattled. So I I do you have anything else to say, Mr. Ever? I'm going to move on to the next. Okay. And finish your thought there because All right. You're on. I think you're on. No, you're not on.

I I do appreciate that. But we know how it works in government. We're we're try we're all trying to get our way and sometimes we're willing to not answer someone else's question in order to get our way in the end. And I feel like that's a little bit with what what's happened because our side was very clear with what we were looking for and instead of you know giving the grace to allow us to accurately work through it, we were rushed along into the next agenda item and then we go back and say, "Oh, you've already passed it. You guys just passed it. Remember that 10 seconds ago?" And so now that's the hindrance. that we have to go back and reconsider the vote. We should have just allowed it to happen because we have the votes on our side. We've showed that a couple times instead of this weaponized confusion,

member Burkwit,

thank you. Um so in the past uh previous years and this is before uh you joined us Kevin this was quite often a contentious vote. We came here the day of the full county board meeting to approve the levy and we would one caucus would want 4% and we would have to bring it down to 2%. This has happened year after year after year. The change has been made on the floor. The vote is taken. We've been able to fight taking full CPI several years and successfully brought that levy down. After that occurred during the full county board meeting, the levy was set, the meeting ended, the county executive took that money and she opened up that budget book, I'm sure, and made it work. made it work because that levy rate has been changed on the floor in multiple years. Practically every year that I can remember. I don't remember one year that there hasn't been a fight between the caucuses where one caucus wants full CPI taxed to the max and then the Republican caucus says no. This has happened every year. So we have the ability to take this vote. We have this ability to go forward with this motion. And I would like to call the question. Well, unfortunately you

talked so you can't you can't do that. You don't get to get your So a couple things too. It is in the past as you say, you know, again, we have not taxed to the max since I have been here. Second thing is when they have changed the levy, it also comes with changes to the budget. It comes with changes to the budget to match the levy. So it yes, you are absolutely right that there's always debate on this floor, but it comes with changes to the budget so they match each other. So just for for clarifications, we are moving on. Who do we have next? We have member Nquist and Logan. Thank you. First of all, I would like to remind everyone that we held numerous special finance meetings where I invited in all of the department heads to come and speak to us about their budget needs. So, we did have the opportunity to ask questions. If you did not take advantage of them, I am sorry. Um, you know, but that's that you were given the opportunity. Second of all, um I want to comment on member Traineer's comment about the reserves. We have to be very careful about that. Using our reserves for operating expenses could cause our credit rating to drop and that could ultimately cost us more money in the long run. And third of all, I just want to clarify that the rate the the rate proposed for the levy the or the amount proposed for the levy for the corporate levy is 0% plus um new construction or without new construction. I've lost track at this point. provided a number. So I don't

a number was provided. So do you if someone could clarify that before we vote I would appreciate it. Mr. Richmond since you provides the number can you so in in working with Rashan it is zero levy with new construction. Thank you. Now can I address a revenue question? Uh or you tell me when I can. You're you're I'm trying to go down the line here. depressed. So yeah. Okay. But yeah, so if you you're on so we'll just All right. Yeah. Go ahead.

So So everybody's concerned about revenue. I've mentioned this multiple times before. We've got two areas where we can generate revenue where the RNG plant has consistently lost $2.5 million. Now I think with a hope and a prayer this year they might break even. at least. I mean, that that's that was what was indicated. I've heard people say that the re the RNG plan is making millions of dollars. There's a difference between a revenue stream of a million dollars and a loss of $2.5 million. It's called gross and net. So, at the end of the day, if we can get the RNG plant to even generate a million, which doesn't seem like a big ask that we've just found a million dollars. So, we've gone now from, let's call it, you know, 2.8 down to 1.8. If we take and look at Sunny Hill, Sunny Hill is another thing. We're we're in a in a private sector business as a government entity. Sunny Hill, we've talked about this before, is the fact that Jennifer, you and I agreed it needs to be it needs to be looked at and we need to figure out how how to uh do the best we can so it's not taxpayer subsidized to the degree it is. You know, three plus million dollars plus we're putting a new roof on their facility. These are all costs that the taxpayer is bearing the burden of. So if we can get Sunny Hill, if based on my math, if I'm even halfway correct, if we can increase the rate per bed by $1745 per day, that's another million dollar. So based on my math, if we can come up with those $2 million, we're now only short about $800,000. I'm sure in a $160 million budget, we can find $800,000. I know leader van Dyene the other day said that he could come up with $50,000 in in the county board budget. So I mean you know what right there we're 114th of the way there just in our small department. So I think in all these other

departments we can actually get close to this number without Kevin having to go to you know what you call it revenue bonds and all this other you know intricate stuff. I think if we focus on the business at hand we can get to those numbers. That's not a big deal or at least I I wouldn't consider it. So, thank you. Member Logan. I like to call the question. There's a motion to call the question. Seconded by Mitchell. Madame clerk. Please call the role. Oh, I'm Yeah, sorry. There's no discussion. Yeah, we are to calling the question. We are to call

We are just calling the question. Uh yeah, we're calling the question. Call the question. Richmond. Williams. Delet. Yes. Ogala. Pretzel. Yes. Butler. Yes. Nquist. Ballage. Yes. Oxley. Yes. Brooks. No. Winfrey. Bulock. Logan. Freeman. Revis Mitchell Ortiz Burkowitz Vicki

Costa Trineer Van Dine I lost 13.

Really? All right. 12 in the affirmative. The motion fails. We are moving on to Speaker Van Djk.

Thank you once again. Um I I just want to have a a clarification and and then an offer. Um it has been stated before, but and from myself and other members, I definitely want to remind everybody that this process did not start today. There was an open door policy from the county executive and also the speaker of the board, myself for any ideas coming forward on any type of cuts, any type any type of levy adjustments and there were crickets. The finance committee decided that a 0% was uh viable. um continually asked where are the cuts going to be made. Never heard anything. Now we're be being provided some numbers. It's very confusing for everybody, but I just want I just want everybody to know that the offer has always been on the table. The budget book was passed out months ago. The information was there. So to say that people were kept in the dark is an absolutely false statement. My offer here is I believe that both sides of the aisle already know exactly where they're going to vote. I think we should just try to save our comments, save time and energy and go ahead and make your amendment. V either vote it yes or no and then let's go through the levy and without comments and and vote how you how your conscience will guide you. Um I I think there's a lot of grandstanding and and we already know where we're going to vote, so let's just do it. Thank you.

Um we are now on member Butler. We're going through second times now.

So I'm just I'm reflecting back on uh what Jackie said. Um which you know I don't always agree with her, but I like the suggestion. Uh so there is one fund that could help meet our obligations and that's cash reserves. Is that correct? that that is one way to pay for. So that is one big fund huge. In fact, it has been drawn upon before. That's sometimes these comments come at just the time that it's almost seem disingenuous. So I'm I'm sorry if I get angry, but that is a huge fun. That solves everything right there. I don't think there's any need to to reconsider after that. They can dip into that. Again, saying things are disingenuous is disturbing because the county board's most important job is the budget. You have that book. And again, I know it's not everyone's forte, but those numbers are all in the budget book that you've had since July. So again, let's stop with the I mean, what you're basically saying to us is I didn't look at it. I don't know. And so I'm trying to Yeah. Okay.

Yeah. Sorry. What I'm saying is that was an obvious place where money could come from when he said that we're we're going to be in jeopardy like we have legal obligations to meet this. So you guys already passed it. You know, you don't have to say any of that because we know that there is cash reserves and it could be taken there. It was offered and it was meant in my opinion it was deflecting the conversation. So, I just want to move on with this vote and I want to rest assure uh everyone to rest assure that this these extra costs can be covered and we will not be in jeopardy because I think there what is there 30 million or how many how many millions of reserves and we're only talking about a few. So, um I I am very comfortable with this decision and absolutely no reason to move on and reconsider that previous vote.

Thank you. Member Oxley. Oh, sorry. Green. There we go. There. Sorry. Thank you. Uh, first to make an educated decision, how much money is in the reserves right now? Rashan, do I Ran or Marcy? Do you have that number? You want to She's going to get you a lot. Okay. And along that line while we're waiting for that. And also so and then what percentage do we I don't I don't want to say required or have to what percentage do we normally keep in reserves? I I I believe it's right around 25 what I'm

okay that way we can make a rational decision on are we going to make a motion to take money from reserves where our cuts secondly [clears throat] a place to cut budget. How much do we fund the RTA with? We fund the RTA. Do we fund the RTA or how does that work? We do not fund the RTA. Okay. What? Okay. Yeah. We get funding from the RTA. Okay. Anything else, sir? Okay. We're going to move on. Do you have anything else, sir? I'm just waiting for the response.

Do you want us to wait? Do you want us We go back. Okay. Do you want us to wait or you want us to move on? We okay moving on? All right, we'll come back to you when Rashan is back. Member Ballage. Yeah, I just want to clarify something. Everybody's saying that there's been crickets and nobody talking about the budget. Since day one, go back into like August, I've been saying I want a 10% cut in every line item. You are.

I've been saying it at every finance meeting at the public works and transportation. I say it. I've said it. I can't tell you how many times I've said, "I want to see a 10% cut in every line item." So then on my caucus are telling me, "Well, you got to say a dollar amount." We never had to say a dollar amount in the past. Never. We just cut it by a percent. That was it. And then we never had this situation where we have to go back to the budget and reconsider. We just said we voted for this levy and then the staff found the money. That's how it's spent. All you can shake your head. You're wrong again. And I don't want to get mad and yell at stuff, but but I'm just trying to I'm trying to point this out. It's been the same way all the time. Jennifer's been executive last year, right? And it was changed and we didn't go back to reconsider. The year before that went was changed and then we didn't go back to reconsider. This is the first time we had to go back and reconsider the budget based off the levy.

Yeah. It never happened. Never. You've never had to reconsider because you had made as was pointed out by multiple members in the county executive. You had made those changes on both sides, both revenue and expenditure. This is the first time this has happened where you're out of line. You make changes. You make changes every year. If you go back and look at your own, if you look at your own uh levy ordinance every year, they're dollar amounts. The budget is a dollar amount. They're not percentages.

Um I can tell you a real good example because it it bothered me for a number of years. Uh we were voting in uh this is probably about five years ago uh or six years ago. Uh there was uh two people from the Democrat side that uh voted with the Republicans, so lower the taxes, but it would only go down a little. We we started off with one number percentage and then we would go down to a different percentage and it ended up that we voted for it because our our leader said that this is the best we're going to get. So, we all agreed to vote for a lower levy, but it wasn't as low as I wanted, but we all agreed to it because it was the best we could get. So, there was no calling back and saying, "Well, we have to change the budget." They just did it. And that was that was and no one screamed about it. And the state's attorneys were all here. We had Mary U. And now you're coming in and you're changing the rules. And then I don't and I agree with Revis. I don't like how when you guys we talked about the budget and then we basically asked the question whether or not the budget's going to have an impact on the uh levy and the impression I'm not saying you're when I'm interpreting your words it sounds like it's no problem you vote for the levy that's a different thing well if you would have said if you vote for the budget it's got to match the levy 100% you can't go backwards we would that's more understandable. But what you said was that we can't do it after we already we everybody thought on our side everybody had the impression that the levy was completely separate and then you'd move back if we voted for the levy like we're probably going to do now. I

don't see the vote changing. Joe's 100% right. We can sit here till midnight and the vote's not going to change. So, you know, I don't understand why. You know, you you you're you're you're saying things that was never said before. And I've been on the board 14 years. I will say you can go back and look at every levy. It's a dollar amount. It is not a percentage amount. The the law requires you to set a dollar amount. The truth and taxation, the pel and all those things we dealt with last year are estimates. Those are percentages. If you're using if you're using the percentage as a shorthand to understand what those dollars are, I I can't help that. The only reason I spoke up is as your legal counsel to let you know what you might be walking into. I'm not pushing for anything. I'm here to advise you. Um so to accuse me of having any motive or anything, I'm here to try to help you.

Member Gala. Thank you. So if we begin and go back I'm I'm sorry. Miss Sean didn't get up there. She's I'm sorry. I did. I know. I Mr. Oxley reminded me that we have a unanswered question here. Yes. Uh to answer your question, member um Oxley, so we at this point in time we have 94.8 million which is uh currently above the 25% uh targeted threshold uh for cash uh reserves. Joe just asked us just to go ahead. Oh, you're not on. Sorry. again. So basically we So we have 94 million. So we should have 25 million in reserves.

No, no, I'm sorry. At this point in time, we have 94.8 million, which is um above the 25% targeted. What is the 24% target? So the um it's currently at um 33%. That's where we are now. What's the number? I don't want to do percentages. Just give you So, I would have to do the numbers on that. Okay. Round if you would please. You're better at it than I am. I don't want to throw out any numbers, so I would prefer to

I'm trying to get to a point here of let's make a deal and let's get this done. now in other and well Frankie's figuring it. Joe, you and I talked on the phone.

I believe it was uh last Tuesday, the day before the finance committee meeting at 1 1:30 in the afternoon and we talked about things and we did have a conversation about where we going and what can we do and the conversation was about the budget and where we could go and was new construction on the table. I I think we had that conversation, right? And don't worry about throwing me under the bus because I just want to be transparent here. You and I had that conversation last week. Yes or no is the answer. [clears throat]

Exactly. Repeat your question, Dave, because I It's not a question, it's a comment. There was a question involved. But I'm I'm tired of playing on words here today. We could talk for hours, but my point is to say that there was has been no conversation. We had this conversation on Tuesday and I don't have the date before the last finance committee meeting. You called me at 1:25 in the afternoon. We talked for 20 minutes about this. Yes. So there has been conversation about the budget from side to side. Thank you. Yeah. Very minimal. Yes. Yes. Okay. [clears throat] Sean, I'm sorry. Did somebody come to a point a number? No. No, we're asking

what number what are you exactly asking? And well, we'll go down and have her see if she can figure out quickly. All right, the question. So, let let me just clarify that we take our cash reserves balance at a snapshot at a point in time and at the year at at this point in time, that's what our cash reserve balance is, which is a little over the 25% targeted balance. Keep in mind that we have six months to get through till the new fiscal year until we receive our uh tax um levies. Yeah. Levy distribution. So that has to carry uh the corporate fund for all of our financial obligations until then.

So 10 is 98 27. So we should have about approximately 30 million in reserves. I don't want to throw out a number. I would uh prefer to calculate that more than what we quote unquote require and the and the percentage is calculated based on our upcoming uh budgeted number.

I don't have a calculator with me. I'm I'm in a loss. I'm just trying to figure out do we have $3 million in extra in reserves or don't we is the answered question. Let's make a deal and move on. I say we make a deal here, take some money out of reserves, cut some budgets here and there, and move on. Or we're going to sit here all night. I'll order dinner for everybody. I don't know. All right, going back to member Ogala.

I was on and now now I'm back. I'm on now.

So the clear message of what we were looking for was given last month when we passed the estimated levy. We passed the estimated levy at zero. Okay, that was zero. Between that time and this time, there's been no compromise on making any changes to the budget. But I am sitting on the board. This is my 13th year. And we have always at this point in time made a motion when we come to the budget make a motion to to take in the budget at 1% and uh CPI, whatever the numbers have been over the course of time. Today you stopped Leader Richmond from making that motion and said, "No, we're not voting on that now." He was going to make a motion for that. When we've done that motion, you can turn your light on all you want. I've been here. I've sat here. We've made the motion. We've passed that. We had the votes to make that change. Staff then made the cuts appropriately because we cannot make cuts to the great detail of everything. We do not know all the details bes be behind the I want to look here at um office supplies for the circuit court clerk uh of $12,000. I don't know what she needs. I was never provided with that detailed information. So I can't do that. Back in 25 she she was given $7,000. So there's like about a five not quite $5,000 increase. Why? I don't know why. I could go through the budget line item by line item and cut and make it match to do that, but that's not my job. My job is to pass a levy. We've done this every year. You stopped Mr. Richmond from making the motion. Yes, you did. You said it's not time. We can rewind in WebEx and we will find that you stopped him from making the motion to mend the budget to zero and new construction

and made us and made you know what I get it. Let's But let's

But he did that. He did that. Rich May um leader Richmond made the motion to do that. You told him this wasn't the time to do that. That he could only amend the budget and he amended then cannabis. So when would be the time to amend it then? So then he's doing it corporate levy. We've we doesn't matter if we do it after cannabis, before cannabis, it doesn't matter. Can it doesn't matter. We've done that and staff has been the one to do the cuts. We just did this at Forest Preserve. Yet our our attorney there said, "You guys don't have to worry about the cuts. Staff will find that." We've never come forward ever look through the notes that we have in minutes. We have never ever ever ever come up with what the cuts would be ever since I've been here. Prior to my time, I don't know. That's the problem that's here today. That is the problem. And we did give the indication what we were looking for because we did a zero levy increase for estimated levy that got passed last month.

All right. Member Bwitz. Thank you. I have a question for Rashawn. Um for the cash reserves, uh she said that 94.8 million is in our cash reserves. I'd like to know uh how much interest we make on those funds and where it goes. I'm asking a question. I expect an answer. Somebody needs to give us the information. That's a great question. And if uh the treasur's here, he can tell us where they're kept. The treasure doesn't do the budget. Well, no, she's coming. She's coming.

But he would know where they're kept, right? What fund? Oh, you guys. Member Burkowitz, to answer your question, we're talking about the corporate fund. So, which is our general fund. Um, it does earn interest. However, where it how it gets uh dispersed and the portfolio makeup, the treasurer would be able to answer that question. about cash reserves that he would be cash reserves is the general fund. Okay. So it's not you, it's the treasurer who would be able to tell you how those funds are.

So then okay, he's in the same building. Um I would expect him to be able to come forward to the podium and ask give us this information. Is he I don't know if he's here anymore. And again, it it well then somebody maybe can go get him or should I call him and ask him to come up? Um, how much interest does that get and where does it go? Where does the interest go? I can tell you the interest goes into our general fund which is the corporate fund. Okay. And then who spends it or does it just sit there?

It goes into the fund and then what happens? the treasurer would be able to tell you how those funds are moved. So, we need the treasurer. I think you have and he's been in all our meetings lately. I've noticed him at committee sitting in the audience. Yeah, you good to ask him. He was in the committee. Yeah. Um, member Butler has a question for you. But I'm not finished. Oh, okay. Sorry. I'm sorry. Okay. Well, but if somebody else he has a question for Rashan. I don't get to order the treasurer to be here. So, I don't know if we're gonna I So, Sue, you're saying he Well, he was here and I don't know. And again, he shows up for committee as you mentioned. I I expect him to come to the meeting and answer. Okay. Well, I can't make him come. I'm just so you know, I can't

He doesn't answer to me. The treasurer does answer to the Will County Board. The treasurer answers to the people of Will. Let me finish. He directed a comment to my back. Now, we were told we're not supposed to address each other. The comment was made that the treasurer does not answer to me. No, the treasurer answers to the people of Will County. Yes. The people of Will County elect us to represent them.

Yes. So I can't I can't direct as the question and I insist that the treasurer come to the meeting and answer the this these two questions. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. And I have recommendations but I'll leave it to Rashan so other people can ask questions if you would please come back to me. Thank you. Well, okay. What you have questions of Rashan? No, but I have um questions regarding the budget. Um well, you're you're on right now, so go ahead and ask your questions regarding the budget and then Rashan just stay closed. Okay.

So um if if if people are insistent we have to find cuts. Uh again I have recommended this in many many meetings several meetings finance I have said we can take the from this point on take the funds that come into the opiid uh fund and the cannabis fund and we can make sure that those funds offset offset our mental health and our drug needs within the county. We have we have we have specific things in our budget that those funds can offset. We can take those two funds. We can also um $1 million for Will County needs assessment. I think that is an incredible amount of money. $1 million. I don't I that to me is astronomical. that is under your capital improvement fund. I think that's excessive. So there's a million dollars right there. The recorders property. Okay. Back when we talked about the capital plan many years back consolidation, we spoke about consolidating properties. that office could be consolidated to the VAC building. We've got an empty floor. I was told the files are too heavy. You have to be on the first floor of the basement because the files will fall through the floor. Well, I think that's that doesn't make much sense to me. So, again, I want to go back to facts. that property. We don't have to own that little parcel

of land. That department can be consolidated to another property that we own that has empty space. The other thing is if we look at our budget, so our Will County Health Department when you look at the audit and if you go to the Will County audit, that giant budget, I don't have my audit book with me, but I have my budget book. But if you go to table 22 in that book, which is page 338, you will see that the audit of the health department, the community health center, um um the numbers have actually gone down. So in 2015, they had 23,021 visits. 2024, they only had 12,600 visits. That was a decrease of 10,410 visits. A decrease. There was also a decrease in um uh let's see here. Oh um excuse me there was an increase in clinical labs and that I would attribute to the message that we got that HIV is rising in this um in this health department. But the fact is is that the number of physician v visits according to our audit decreased. Now when you go to our will county health um our mental health fund, okay, we gave the health department $3,750,000. We also gave the health department $1 million from cannabis funds.

In our budget book, we gave out of capital the health department another $187,500. Then in facilities, we gave them $45,000 for countertops. And then we also gave them substance abuse $700,000. So that was an additional $887,545. Now we can offset this by also taking a look at our cash reserves and reducing it appropriately because it's at 33,000. We can look at those opiate and this cannabis funds, keep it where it's going to benefit the will county taxpayer directly because those are the people who spent the money and that's where we got the tax dollars from. So those are my suggestions. We have plenty of money. Um, and that's I'll make a motion that we

what go ahead with those uh those new balances. You just gave balances though. I don't know if you provided any Yeah, I'm not sure you can pull up on that. All right. So, those are my suggestions and I still like the uh answer to my questions. All right. Okay. Hold on a second. Yeah. I don't what is your question?

Um my question is for the treasur and the question is that we have 33% held in cash reserves. The recommendated recommendation uh recommended amount is 25%. Um so we have currently $94.8 million in cash reserves. My two questions is how much interest does it earn and where does it go? All right. Your questions have been asked. The answer unfortunately the treasur is not here. I don't know if he's and I and a member of his staff. I I can't no one in his staff.

I don't know. I don't know if you would while we're continuing if you'd like to go down and ask him to come up. I think that would be appropriate. I don't think I have to. I need him. Jennifer. Okay. Well, that's fine. and we wait for you. I can't either. I cannot force the a staff member. Can a staff member Yeah. No, we're going to skip back and forth. So, yeah, that's Yeah, I know Mr. Butler would like a question. I'm going to go to Mr. Butler here, please. Okay, hold on. Hold on. He He's been Go ahead. Yes, thank you. So, what is historically the lowest amount of money that's been in the cash reserves like at any given time? Has it ever fallen to zero dollars? We can't take up. Absolutely not.

We wouldn't be able to operate if it if it dropped to zero dollars. Would it be fair to say like 25 million is the lowest we've ever dropped to? I can't give you a specific dollar amount. Okay. Um, our cash reserve policy says that if our uh cash reserve balance drops below 22% then the county board can set action um to come up with a corrective action plan to bring us back in line. And did what our surplus right now over the 25% is about 23 million. Is that correct? Again, I don't want to throw out the dollar amount without having the accurate uh number.

Okay. And then a question for Thank you. Uh, a question for the state's attorney. So, I don't want to I I'm sorry if I was aggressive before just, you know, I got excited. So, I I heard what you had to say and I and I appreciate your uh your uh suggestion or your thoughtful suggestion so that we didn't get ourselves in trouble. So, is there a legal I just want to clarify. Is there a legal problem with having a conflicting budget with the levy approval because of reporting?

In terms of reporting for for what we have a lot of reporting on you said in uh uh tax reporting to the people you know like Yeah. Well, I was just talking to T about that like one of the I think you brought up the mobility thing is I I did I wanted to answer that specific question. I don't know about something like that because we might have obligations to the Fed to have matching funds and then there might be penalties with regards to the overall levy, you know, the the total dollars and cents. There isn't. There's there's a payment problem

there. There's no need to to specify for those two statements to balance out. It's just that if the levy does not produce the amount of money that the approved budget was, that we would have to make amendments to our budget to meet our our obligations such as dipping into the cash reserves um if we needed to. So So there will be no penalty or no liability to us for that. Is that correct? Correct. You would either have to make corresponding cuts or find other, as you indicated, cash reserves, whatever.

Okay. So, I just want to make sure I didn't miss anything. You know, you brought that up. So, you know, maybe, you know, I got a little defensive. Uh, but I I think um I'm still comfortable in on our motion, our amended motion for the levy. Thank you. All right. Member Pretzel, are all the lights off? Well, I know I'm just because you're a new speaker. Well, I I I I go to I try to get everyone at least one time to be able I feel like we're just on a hamster wheel here. I I think what the Republican caucus is saying right now is we want a 0% levy. We're willing to take the remaining balance out of the reserves, which it seems like there is a surplus.

What? Can we vote on that? I'm not calling vote because I just spoke, but like Yeah. And I don't even want new construction. Well, I think Mr. Richmond proposal from what I'm gathering in that number you had is 0% levy but includes new construction. Is that correct? Your proposal. So make the motion. Okay. So I mean the motion's already there discussion. Then let's I'm not calling on the vote. I'm asking my caucus to stop asking questions and let's move on. All right. There you go. All right. So that you did get rid of a lot of them, but Mr. Revis still has one. Are you gonna Okay,

I am. Thank you. Um, so, uh, um, I was just going to say that I wasn't necessarily in favor of using the cash reserves. Uh, I know a couple months ago, not couple months ago, maybe last year, I was talking about the need to spend down cash reserves a little bit because how come we get to keep a healthy cash reserve, but the residents at home do not get to keep that same healthy cash reserve? If you look at the numbers, credit card bills are through the roof. Personal savings rates is is down. And uh that's not unique to uh Will County. I know it's happening in my district. Um so that's kind of my thought on it. I know we need to spend down cash reserves. I don't know if that this is the most appropriate way to do it. Um uh for the sake of it, I will resend my comments just so we can move on to the vote.

Right. So everyone's lights are off. We are voting on we are voting we are currently on Mr. Richmond's proposal. He has provided a levy number. It does include it's a zero I'm just for sake of clarification instead of 0% 0% which does include new construction and that is what you are voting on right now. Madame clerk please call the role. Richmond. Williams. Dean Schlottman. Ogala. Yes. Pretzel. Yes. Butler. Yes. Nquis. Ballot. Yes. Oxley. Yes.

Brooks. No. Winfrey. Bulock. Logan. Breeman. Revous. Yes. Mitchell. Yes. Ortiz, Burkowitz, Hickeyi, Costa, Trineer, Bendine,

12 in the affirmative. The motion carries. Speaker Van Dy, [clears throat] I'd like to honor uh Mr. Richmond's request and please ask for a 10-minute recess. All right, there's a motion and a second to take a 10-minute recess. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries.

All right. All right. So, Mr. Richmond, I think you have a another motion real quick because we we took a break before we finalized the last So I I I believe it's going to be uh a motion to amend. Approve. Approve as amended. I'm sorry. Motion by Richmond. Is there a previous roll call? Previous by Triner, seconded by uh Logan. All in favor?

Any opposed? Motion carries. All right. I think Mr. Richmond, do you want to give your request? Is that going to or what we're going to go? for the for the next the the rest of the levies and the uh now my uh where's my thing at? You need that? So go moving on to uh the FICA levy and everything going on after that. I asked for Sean to come up and just address those based on the the decisions that we've made today that they do not impact these next ones that we go through. But this way coming from staff everybody can get the so information. Rashan is going to read off what they are and Rashan's just going to reiterate.

Okay. The fact that none of these change so you are okay. So so but we're going to vote on each of them individually. Absolutely. But this Sean can just be for informative purposes. Okay. Ran go ahead. So just for clarification the levy amount that you see in your packet. So for instance uh the uh FICA levy the amount that's shown there is not changed and that will uh flow for all of the levies before. Right. Okay. Thank you.

All right. We're go ahead. So you're going through them each of them though. They just wanted everyone to know that we are keeping them all the same that the proposal is they're not making any amendments to those num those numbers. Okay. So it's only the corporate fund that was amended. The rest of these are the same standing. Mhm. Okay. So now you just go through them. They're going to go through them each individually. I don't think we should have much discussion, but who knows? Got it. Okay. Number five, resolution 25-313, the FICO levy and ISO move. Motion by Newquest,

seconded by Ogala. Um we're going to do Wait, no. We're going to do a roll call vote. These are the

Richmond. Williams. Dean Schlottman. Yes. Ogala. The guy hasn't changed. Pretzel. Yes. Butler. Yes. Nquis. Yes. Ballage. Yes. Oxley. Brooks. Yes. Winfrey. No. Yes. Yeah. Logan, yes. Raymond Revis, yes. Mitchell, yes. Ortiz. Burkowitz. Hickeyi.

No. Costa. Traineer. Yeah. Van. No. Wait, why? Explain to me why. 19 affirmative. The motion carries. Okay. Sorry. Number six, resolution 25-314 the IMRF levy and that is at the $14,200,000 and I so move. Motion by Newquist, seconded by Agala. M discussion. Um,

I have a point of clarification. I believe it was already answered for me, but I want to make sure everybody understands me. Each of these following levies is the amount we agreed to last week in the special finance committee meeting, and it does include the appropriate increase. That is my understanding. This will meet our obligations. We are not going to be short in each of these levies. That is my understanding. That is proposed. Yes. All right. So, we have a motion and a second. Um, is there previous or madam clerk, please call the role. Richmond,

Dean Schlottman, yes. Ogalla, yes. Pretzel, yes. Butler, yes. Nquis, yes. Ballich, yes. Oxley, yes. Brooks, yes. Winfrey, yes. Bulock, yes. Logan, yes. Freeman, Revvis, yes. Mitchell, yes. Ortiz, yes. Burkowitz. Hickeyi, yes. Costa. Trineer, yes. Vandine, yes. 22. 22 affirm. The motion carries. Number seven, resolution 25-315 toward immunity fund levy and I so move.

Motion by Newquist, seconded by Ogala, previous roll call by Ogala, seconded or Oxley, seconded by Mitchell. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Number eight, resolution 25-316 workers comp levy and I so move. Motion by Nquist, sec seconded by Burkowitz, previous roll call by Oxley, second by Mitchell. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Number nine, resolution 25-317, the TV sanitarium levy, and I so move. Motion by Nquist, seconded by Burkowitz. Previous roll call by Mitchell, second by Oxley. All in favor? I. Any oppose? Motion carries.

Number 10, resolution 25-318, the health department levy and I. So move. Motion by Nquist. Seconded by Ogala, previous roll call by Mitchell, seconded by Oxley. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Number 11, resolution 25-319, the county highway levy. And I so move. Motion by Newquist, seconded by Ogala, previous roll call by Mitchell, seconded by Brooks. All in favor? Any oppose? Motion carries. Number 12, resolution 25-320, the county bridge levy, and I so move. Motion by Nquist, seconded by Revvis, previous roll call by Mitchell, seconded by Costa. All in favor?

Any opposed? Mo motion carries. Number 13, resolution 25-321 federal aid matching levy and I so move motion by nuced by Costa previous roll call by Mitchell second by Ogal all in favor I any opposed motion carries number 14 resolution 25-322 community mental health board levy and I so move motion by nucleus seconded by Ogala madame clerk please call the role or any discussion madam clerk please call the role General Richmond Williams. Dean Schlapman. Yes. Ogalla. Yes. Pretzel.

Yes. Butler. Nquis. Yes. Ballich. Yes. Oxley. Yes. Brooks. Yes. Winfrey. Yes. Bulock. Yes. Logan. Freeman. Yes. Revis. Yes. Mitchell. Yes. Ortiz. Yes. Burkowitz, Hickeyi, yes. Traineer, yes. Vanine, yes. 21 in the affirmative. The motion carries. Number 15, monthly finance reports. We have a couple of them attached to be placed on file. Um, and I so move.

Motion by Nquis, seconded by Freeman. previous um previous by Triner, seconded by Ogala, but um member Burke Witz, would you like to be a yes or no on that one? Okay. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. That'll do it. Our next finance committee meeting is scheduled for December 2nd, 2025, and hopefully it'll be a short one. [laughter] See you before public works and transportation committee, please. That is Oh, what?

So, my understanding, and again, I was not in any of the meetings that happened afterwards, was that there was some desire to talk about cash reserves. Um, and you're going to want to allocate that as part of your budget. Um, you're not going to Okay. All right. Never mind. Moving on. I'm drawing a blank here because I usually say who the chair is of public chair trir. Thank you. They usually have it written here. Sorry. I forget.

That's okay. Thank you, madame executive. Um, we have several items for consent agenda today. Letter A, authorizing approval of supplemental professional services agreement for design engineering phase 2 with a Epstein and Suns International on the proposed Gala Road Bridge over the CNN Railroad in county board district 2. Letter B, authorizing an agreement between the County of Will and Northern Illinois Gas Company doing business as Nyore Gas Company for the reimbursement for relocating facilities for the improvement of Galer Road over the CNN Railroad County Board District 2. Letter C, uh, an ordinance authorizing approval of the establishment of an altered speed zone number 705 along Stunkle Road, Green Garden Township, County Board District 3. Letter D, ordinance authorizing approval of the establishment of an altered speed zone 706 through 711 in the Lincoln Estate Subdivision, Frankfurt Township County Board District 3. And I so move.

Second, Freeman. Motion by Triner, seconded by Freeman. Previous roll call by Ogala, seconded by Winfrey. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Item number two, resolution 25-327, intergovernmental agreement between central will dialeride and the county of will and I so move second motion by trir seconded by Freeman previous roll. Okay. Madame clerk and madame clerk please call the role. Richmond. No. Williams. Yes. Dean Schlapman. Ogala. Pretzel.

No. Butler. Nquist. Yes. Ballage. No. Oxley. No. Brooks. Yes. Winfrey. Yes. Bolic. Logan. No. Freeman. Yes. Revis? Yes. Mitchell? Yes. Ortiz? I'm sorry. Yes. Burkowitz Hickey Costa Traineer. Yes. Vanine. Yes.

Wonderful. 13 in the affirmative. Motion carries. Our next public works and transportation meeting is scheduled for December the 2nd at 9:00 a.m. Thank you very much. Thank you. Moving on to public health and safety.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We have uh an ordinance 25-328 um for approval of the Will County on-site wastewater treatment ordinance revision. Uh I so move motion by motion by Butler, seconded by Revvice. Um, any discussion? Madame clerk, please call the role. Richmond, yes. Williams, yes. Dean Schlottman, yes. Ogala, yes. Pretzel, yes. Butler, yes. Nquist, yes. Ballich, yes. Hexley, yes. Brooks, yes. Winfrey, Bulock, yes. Logan, yes.

Freeman, yes. Revis, yes. Mitchell, yes. Ortiz Burkowitz. Yes. Yes. Hickeyi, yes. Posta Trineer, yes. Vanine, yes. 22. Affirmative. The motion carries. Thank you. Okay. Our next meeting is December 2nd. Thank you. Member Ortiz, Legislative Committee. Thank you, Madame Executive. We have nothing to bring forward at this time. Our next meeting is scheduled for December 2nd, 2025. Thank you. Moving on to capital improvement. Uh member Freeman.

Thank you, Madam Executive. I have we have nothing to bring forward and our next capital improvement and IT committee meeting is scheduled for December 2nd. Thank you. Member Dean Schlottman, Landfill Committee. Thank you, Madam Executive. There is nothing to bring forward at this time. The next meeting is scheduled January 13, 2026.

Thank you, Speaker Vanine. Executive. Thank you, Madam Executive. We do have an uh quite a few items listed on our consent agenda. Um several uh intergovernmental agreements for the fire departments to use our countywide radio system. Um also an extension of the term board of review authorizing the county executive for an IGA between the county of will animal protection services. uh the county setting the uh payment of the county engineering engineer salary, designating the American commercial bank and trust as our county depository. Uh trying to authorize a contract for our federal lobbyist and then several um code of ordinances amending amendments

uh term of board of review. I did I believe I believe I did say that. So and also the extension of term of board of review and that contains everything on the consent agenda. So I will make a motion to motion by Vanine seconded by Traneer. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries.

Appointments by the county executive resolution 25-3204 approving the county executive appointments to Washington Township drainage district 3 of county. I'll make the motion. Motion by Van Dyene, seconded by Ogala. Any discussion? Oh, I said that. Is there a previous role? Previous roll call by Mitchell, second by all in favor. Any opposed? Motion carries. Sorry.

Resolution 25-3205 approving county executive appointments to the emergency telephone system board of Will County. I so move. Motion by Van Dy, seconded by Winfrey. Previous roll call by Mitch Mitchell, seconded by Traneer. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. And last on our agenda, resolution 25-3045, approving county executive appointments to the Merit Commission of Will County. I so move.

Motion by Van Dy, seconded by Revis, previous by Mitchell, seconded by Winfrey. All in favor? Any oppose? Motion carries. All right, we're moving on to public comments relevant to matters under the jurisdiction of the county. Is there anyone here who'd like to make comments relevant to matters under the jurisdiction of the county? Going once, going twice, three times. All right, moving on. Is there comments by board members? Is the time for the board members to make any comments? Three minutes. You just press and you're on.

I just want to say happy Thanksgiving to everybody. Thank you, member Traneer. Yes, thank you. I want to read something from the voice of the people. What is a criminal? Are you a criminal? Do you ever speed more than 25 miles an hour over the limit? That's a misdemeanor. Have you ever earned money and not reported it on your taxes? That's tax fraud. You could go to jail. Text and drive? Class A misdemeanor. Ever drink and drive? a misdemeanor and scandalous. Ever walk on someone's private property? That's illegal trespassing with penalties. No lights on your bike at night. Hey folks, yeah, like I I know we're at the end and I I guess if you want to go outside and talk, you can, but this is the time that you guys have won on your agenda. So, literally a crime. Have you ever tweaked the truth on an insurance claim to get a bigger check? That's insurance fraud. Ever drive with an expired license or plate? Criminal action, my friend. Ever share prescription medication? Illegal distribution. I could go on and on. Point is, we have all violated the letter of the law. And by that standard, technically, we are all criminals. But so many people are quick to judge immigrants as criminals who came into this US unlawfully. And people say they deserve what's coming to them. Did you know their horrible crime is only a misdemeanor? Just like jaywalking or going 26 miles an hour over the speed limit, immigrants came here to have freedom and a better life, to work, and to leave a depressed area just like most of our grandparents. Do they deserve to be racially profiled, detained, arrested, treated like animals, and then sent to another country unable to be found? That's just insane. all for a misdemeanor. If federal law enforcement

arrested you for the very same level of crime, how fair do you think that would be? Just let it soak in. Let's secure the border. It's been a mess for years. And we all agree that we should send real criminals away. But it's not the mom with the three kids at a birthday party or the grandpa buying groceries or the lawn guy at work. These are people who have made the tough decision years ago in many cases and have lived a good life and are law-abiding, pay taxes, and help the economy tremendously. Do you think maybe we can have a little bit more compassion and less judgment? Remember, it was the Pharisees who were judgmental and hypocritical about the letter of the law. And it was Christ who lovingly and understandingly forgiving and showed mercy and grace. Which one are you? It's never too late to do the right thing. I'm not a believer of Christ, but I am a believer in this letter that was written by Rocky Roiio of Lyall, Illinois, and I thank him for his words.

Thank you, member Mitchell.

Uh my uh comments uh are a little less lofty. Uh I want to say happy Thanksgiving everybody. Um, my job often takes me to Washington DC and when I walk the wall when I walk the halls of Capitol Hill, I look at every door and every door in Washington DC has an expression of the member who holds an office there. If I go past Ilan Omar's office, she has lots and lots of sticky notes all around her door that's that's from people that says, you know, keep going. We appreciate you and so on and so forth. Same thing with uh Congresswoman or um Cortez as well as other Congress people. You go by Marjorie Taylor Green or Yeah. Marjorie Taylor Green's door, she has a little sign posted out that might be offensive to some and so on and so forth. Flags, all kinds of things outside their door. Well, one might say, "Wow, you have all those things outside your door. you know, this is, you know, it's unsightly because it's a beautiful historic building and uh well, this is their expression while they're there. That is not does not belong to the congressperson that is in that office. It belongs to the people just as our desks belong to the people. And I'm just asking for our uh ability to express ourselves in our desk space be restored because just like them, this is not our permanent desk. This is our desk while we're here, but it belongs to the people. And I I think it doesn't matter what anybody has on their desk. I appreciate whatever expression that they have to offer to anyone about who they are and what they stand for. So I'm just I you know it's not the most pressing issue but uh it means it means a lot because while we're here and while people come and visit at least they know

you know oh look there's ballot he stands for negative 10 taxes [laughter] [gasps] and there's and there's member Dean Schlotman and she has her you know Christian flag out whatever it is and there's um member Triner she has her um LGBTQ flag out and that's it's it's called respect. And I just think I just think that it's childish and petty for us not to have um be able to leave our things on our desk. And I'm a person who had a broken item. It's okay. It got replaced. None of we're not leaving gold out. So, it's all right. So, that's my statement about the things that are on our desk. For those who don't know, we uh the county board has been asked to remove our personal items um that express our express ourselves from our desk and um I think it's Yeah. So I just that was my statement. Have a happy Thanksgiving.

Yep. Anyone else? Chuck away. All right. I don't see anyone else. So we're moving on to leadership. Do you want to start? Uh member will leader Williams. I don't remember who goes first. Go.

Well, I would just like to say and and as I have been bringing up for a long time now, um our strategic plan is moving forward. Uh we had a little glitch there, but hopefully after um after Thanksgiving, actually, um Dr. Hearn is going to be contacting everybody to fill out the survey and we can get started. Hopefully, we will have full participation considering that everybody voted for unanimously. I do think that it can help us because heaven knows we need some help. Um, so we hopefully this strategic plan will make us a little bit a lot more cohesive than we have been, but just letting you know it is moving forward. Thank you. Thank you. Member Richmond, anything?

Just wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving and let's go home. We have executive session. Me Speaker Van Dine, I [clears throat] I of course I also want to wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving. It's a a beautiful time to hopefully get the family members together and and reconnect at at some point. Um and I look forward to seeing everybody next week. Thank you.

Thank you. Um, I want to just make a quick announce before we make go into executive session. I appreciate everyone's um temperament today. I know a little bit it got excited, but for the most part we stayed cool, collected, and and avoided um getting angry at each other, at least outwardly. Um, I promise I will review what has been done today and you will hear from me whether or not moving forward this will be appropriate or or not. Um, again I think uh it's a lot that went on today. So I will u make sure that uh we are moving forward in a responsible way and to ensure that at least the services that we have to do are uh will be maintained. So with that, I need a motion to go into executive session. Motion by Revvis, second by Mitchell. Madame clerk, please call the role.

Richmond, for purposes, we're going into executive session for the purposes of litigation. Williams, Dean Schlapman, Ogalib Pretzel, Butler, Butler, yes. Nquist, Balich, Oxley, Brooks, Yes. Winfrey, Bulock, Logan, Freeman, Revvice, Mitchell, Ortiz, Burkowitz, Burkowitz,

Hickey, Costa, Trineer, Vandine. Yes.

Madam clerk, please call the role. Richmond to get out of you. Williams, Dean, Schlottman, Ogala, Pretzel, Butler, Nquist, Ballich, Oxley, Brooks, Winfrey, Bulock, Logan, Freeman, Revis, Mitchell, Ortiz, Burkowitz, Hickey, Costa, Trineer, Vanine. Yes, we are now out of executive session. Speaker Vanine, County Executive, I'd like to make a motion to um agree with both recommendations from the state's attorney's office.

Motion by Van Dy, seconded by Revis. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. With that, uh I need a motion to recess. Motion by Trinire, seconded by Mitchell. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries.