WEBVTT 00:03:48.020 --> 00:04:07.070 Good evening, everyone. We'll go ahead and call this meeting to order. We're going to do roll call. If you would please acknowledge your presence on the voting device. 00:04:07.070 --> 00:04:18.070 All right. I believe we have a full house tonight. All 15 are currently present. Mr. Jogerst, would you please lead us in prayer and Mrs. Williams, the Pledge of Allegiance. 00:04:18.070 --> 00:04:56.220 and the United States of America for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 00:04:56.500 --> 00:05:11.230 Before I ask for an approval of the agenda, if you would please turn off the Wi-Fi setting on any of your non-county-issued devices, I would appreciate that. 00:05:11.310 --> 00:05:15.290 That seems to help with the connectivity on the voting machine. 00:05:16.570 --> 00:05:18.970 Can I please give an approval of the agenda tonight? 00:05:19.250 --> 00:05:20.750 By Mr. Bush, is there a second? 00:05:21.490 --> 00:05:21.830 I second. 00:05:21.830 --> 00:06:06.750 By Mrs. Hayes, is there any discussion on the agenda? Seeing none, you may vote for approval. I believe that passes 15-0. Thank you very much. Is there any item A or B on the consent agenda that any board member would like to have removed for discussion? Seeing none, is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? By Mr. Busker, is there a second? By Mr. Jogerst, is there any discussion on the consent agenda? Seeing none, you may go ahead and vote for that approval, please. 00:06:06.750 --> 00:06:24.650 and that passes 15 to 0. Thank you very much. Public comment. Is there anyone that would like to speak? 00:06:26.270 --> 00:06:38.280 If so, you do have three minutes. I just would ask that you would state your name before you begin. Mr. Diddens. 00:06:38.820 --> 00:06:46.620 Good evening. My name is Dale Diddens. I'm on the county board. I just wanted to take a few minutes to talk about the Freeport School District. 00:06:46.620 --> 00:06:54.080 You all know that it's the largest percentage of tax money goes to the Freeport School District if you live in the district 00:06:54.080 --> 00:06:59.820 and recently the last six months I've been kind of going to some meetings 00:06:59.820 --> 00:07:04.180 I've heard rumors for years and years about how bad the school district is 00:07:04.180 --> 00:07:07.760 and it is way worse than I could ever imagine 00:07:07.760 --> 00:07:10.160 the schools are failing 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:15.320 actually I think society is failing the children are coming to kindergarten 00:07:15.320 --> 00:07:42.200 A lot of them aren't prepared, you know, they don't know how to write their name or tie their shoe, been some complaints about not being potty trained. That's the problem, of course. The students are no longer held accountable. If they're failing, they pass anyway. If they're disrespectful, there's little to no recourse. It's sad. 00:07:42.200 --> 00:07:46.660 said, the State Board of Education, in my opinion, is probably the biggest problem. 00:07:46.780 --> 00:07:50.320 They're the ones that are making all the rules that these people have to follow. 00:07:52.280 --> 00:07:57.900 And just as a side note, you know, they, at the end of the last school year, the last I heard, 00:07:58.060 --> 00:08:02.780 the school district is $9 million in the hole, even after all the money we give them. 00:08:03.780 --> 00:08:06.860 The teachers are stuck between a rock and hard place. 00:08:07.140 --> 00:08:09.020 You know, they're doing their best to teach. 00:08:09.020 --> 00:08:20.660 They get disrespected from the students and the teachers, and the administrators are tying their hands with the DEI and no accountability, so it's difficult for the teachers. 00:08:24.660 --> 00:08:39.000 There's a large population of non-English speaking students that start every year, which is a problem because then you're hiring special teachers that can speak dual language. 00:08:39.020 --> 00:09:03.220 and it takes a few years for the kids if they learn at all. My guess is that the many of the parents at home probably do not speak English, so the little bit of English learning they're getting in school is erased when they go home and everybody speaks, you know, whatever it is. So that's a problem. I mean, either I could give you a list as long a problem, but 00:09:03.220 --> 00:09:15.800 A large percentage of students, if you look at the LMA report card, are not reading at grade level or can do math at grade level, and yet they're passing. 00:09:17.180 --> 00:09:26.100 If they decide to go on to Highland or some other college, they have to take a remedial reading or math just to be able to get into the college. 00:09:26.100 --> 00:09:58.420 So they spent a lot of time worrying about DEI instead of learning to read and write and do math. I think that all needs to change. Get involved if you can and go to meetings. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Diddens. Is there anyone else that would like to speak in public comment? Seeing none, we'll move on to new business with the presentation by Blackhawk Hills Regional Council, Dan Payette. Dan, thanks for being here tonight. 00:09:58.420 --> 00:10:34.540 here tonight. Good evening, everybody. I am Dan Payette. I am the Executive Director of Black Hawk Hills Regional Council. And for background for them, those of you less familiar with the organization, we are the Economic Development District, which is a federal designation and regional planning organization for Northwest Illinois that includes Stevenson County, but it also includes five other counties in the region as well. So we cover that entire swath. And so tonight I want to talk about a little bit 00:10:34.540 --> 00:11:04.540 of the work we've done in the past year or so and then what we're looking at and it's coming down the pike hopefully with some relation to Stevenson County but one of the big initiatives I want to mention just because I probably have mentioned it before we have received some funding from IDOT to work on our region's trail systems and all kinds of so-called active transportation so that's the idea of just moving your own body walking and bicycling and 00:11:04.540 --> 00:11:34.460 and the like. And some of the projects related to that are pertinent to Stevenson County but other regional trail systems in Northwest Illinois. In particular on the Jane Addams Trail we deployed a number of new counters ultimately to replace some of the counters we've had in the past. The nice thing about these counters is that there is now a digital portal where anybody that has the link to the website is able to go check out and see what the use of those trail counters is so you get a sense of who's coming in, who's coming out, what 00:11:34.460 --> 00:12:03.460 mode of transportation and so on. And thinking about over the long term potentially deploying more, but we've at least got two on the Jane Addams and then one on the developing Pecatinic Prairie Trail. And beyond that we also get automated presentation of information. We don't have to go out to the counters and download that data. So that's been a really nice way to both save staff time but also again invite other people to look at that information. 00:12:03.460 --> 00:12:15.180 So a link to that is at NorthwestIllinoisTrails.org, NWILtrails.org, specifically if you're interested in the counts, there's also information about the rest of the trail systems in the region. 00:12:16.560 --> 00:12:19.820 Also as part of that project, we're imaging the trail system. 00:12:20.040 --> 00:12:29.040 If you've ever used Google Street View, you know you can take a look at the roadways, trails, walking paths, and other things that you use for transport. 00:12:29.040 --> 00:12:59.020 and that's helpful especially for those coming into the region or wanting to come into the region and getting kind of a heads up as to what does it look like if I'm going to be a tourist is a trail worth looking at and seeing that it's one of the ways that you can explore that so beyond that and also just having that information what roadway conditions or in this case trail conditions look like that all is able to be uploaded so we're doing that the nice thing about having the equipment to do that a 360 camera is that in the future we can also look at imaging some of the roadway systems 00:12:59.040 --> 00:13:29.020 and other paths at say parks and state sites and then get that uploaded commercially available like Google Street View and provide that option for local jurisdictions. I also want to point out that we're working on updating the regional sign plan which is a way to create wayfinding for the trail systems within the region. Originally when we did it we wanted to create some sense of uniformity between the various systems in the region. 00:13:29.020 --> 00:13:59.020 Now we're specifically looking at providing branding updates for all the individual trails and still feeding that into a kind of regional identity while still emphasizing local identity like again the well-marked Jane Addams Trail. So those are some of the related projects that we've been doing from that IDOT funded initiative. A few other transportation related matters. We were able to help Stevens County Highway to obtain a railroad crossing elimination 00:13:59.020 --> 00:14:28.900 Grant. So they were able to do a study which hopefully leads to infrastructure funding to help improve safety at railroad crossings within the county. We also worked with the highway department to obtain a rural tribal assistance pilot program grant, and that is going to be used to improve an intersection near Lena, I believe with roundabout installation and other safety improvements to that existing intersection there. 00:14:29.020 --> 00:14:59.000 so we're hoping to do more because we've enjoyed working with County Highway we like when people continue to come back to us and ask for assistance and so we intend to do that as much as we get asked also there's a funding program for my dad called safe routes to school and that helps to improve kids experience when they're going from home to school and from school to home so we help the village of Dakota obtain a planning grant which was possible in part because of one of the 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:29.000 the other initiatives we've been working on which is our walkability assessments which is us going out with a level with a measuring tape and looking at the sidewalk infrastructure so we did that then we secured the grant with Dakota and now Dakota hopefully be able to put together plan together for better routes at school and then apply in the next round for infrastructure funding so concrete poured in the ground to improve the sidewalks again that are accessing the school one other source of funding that was actually an award 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:59.000 forward to us but is relevant for the entire region is that we received AARP funding to do a housing design competition and the purpose with that was to encourage architects both from the region and outside of the region to submit ideas for single family residences and address a number of the known housing issues in the region. Some of it's just the fact that we may lack housing in certain areas or that new housing isn't being built but whatever the characteristic of the house one of the things we wanted to emphasize that when you build a house there are things you want to 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:29.000 do like think about can you can an average person buy a house can they afford it can they grow and age into it so is it accessible is it universally designed and other topics that are now being highlighted in our housing design exhibition and that's actually available at the Freeport Public Library so if you want to check that out just a number of posters that are put up that kind of take you through that and there's examples from each of the submissions from that competition and 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:59.000 and we'll be touring that throughout the region but with that we are now transitioning into kind of what we're calling a housing design initiative because Blackhawk Hills wants to again emphasis from leaders throughout the region and our board's interested in it but actually investing in housing. So working potentially with private developers but also doing some of that work ourselves. So we're trying to identify areas that are consistent with the design principles we laid out in the housing competition 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:02.000 that we could potentially do, literally build a house. 00:17:02.440 --> 00:17:07.600 So we'll be working on that over the course of the next year and hopefully working through each of the counties. 00:17:07.780 --> 00:17:12.800 We at least want to work with one of the architects that submitted for that design competition to bring that to life, 00:17:12.800 --> 00:17:14.380 and then we'll see where that goes there. 00:17:14.540 --> 00:17:16.140 We're not talking about 100,000 houses. 00:17:16.380 --> 00:17:22.200 We're talking about a few over a couple years, but the idea is to spur development from other locals 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:27.540 and hopefully give them a roadmap and things to avoid, things that make that experience better. 00:17:27.540 --> 00:17:57.540 regular developers can usually figure that out but if you're talking about somebody that's sitting on a retirement SAG they might have a abandoned lot next to them they might have been thinking for a while that we can invest in some kind of infrastructure like a house that's the kind of person that we want to work with going forward especially if we can provide an example of how to effectively do that so that's still August 31st at least in Stevenson County some things on the horizon we've got one I want to encourage you to sign up for our new 00:17:57.540 --> 00:18:27.520 newsletter. That's a good resource. We don't send out a whole lot of newsletters, but a couple over the course of the year with relevant grants and other information that is pertinent to the six counties. So just go to our website. There's a signup link right on the front page. Some of you are already subscribed to that, but again, I would encourage you to check it out. And if you're not getting them, please let us know if you think you are subscribed. Also working with some communities to do capital improvement planning. We have been talking a little bit with 00:18:27.520 --> 00:18:55.840 the Stevenson County about potentially going through that process and if you're not familiar with what a capital improvement plan is, it's the idea of looking at all your capital assets, your equipment, your infrastructures, thinking about the things that you have to pay for over the next five years and then kind of settling that out based on more fundings coming through them, whether general revenues, whether from grants, whether from specialty funds, and then also providing a platform to easily share that with members of the public. 00:18:55.840 --> 00:19:25.780 so if you want to know when a piece of roadway is going to be done in the next five years you can look at an interactive map and actually click on it and say hey this is what's getting done next to my road and generally that looks at five years out so we're hoping to refine that process and also work with other communities throughout the region and when I say refine the project we're working with somebody to do some improved coding to the interface that people use to input information but think 00:19:25.780 --> 00:19:55.760 I think it's a good initiative and want to encourage more especially in limited resource conditions like this is a good way to think about your next five years not just your next year and then finally just working with some communities to make sure they if they've got hazard mitigation plans that need to be updated and need some assistance we can step in there and hopefully provide that help also with comprehensive plans especially if a community hasn't updated their comprehensive plan in a while we're looking to do that for county but we can 00:19:55.760 --> 00:19:58.000 can also do that for any of the communities. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:01.500 to do that for any of the communities and the county as well in Stevenson. 00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:06.060 So that's, again, some of the things that we've been working on, some of the things that I hope 00:20:06.060 --> 00:20:12.420 to be working on in the next year, and I otherwise appreciate the opportunity to speak tonight 00:20:12.420 --> 00:20:16.840 and certainly would answer any questions if there are any. 00:20:16.840 --> 00:20:21.440 Any questions from anyone? 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:24.980 Mr. Diddens, let me get your microphone turned on here real quick if you can bear with me for 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:25.980 a second. 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:27.980 Could you press your button for me, please? 00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:54.600 Thank you. Go ahead. Thanks for coming, Dan. We appreciate it. We had a Jane Addams Trail meeting this afternoon, and one of the gentlemen from the ATV organization brought up that there's legislation in Illinois that they're talking about opening up county roads, township roads to ATV use like they do in Wisconsin. Have you heard anything about that at all? 00:20:54.600 --> 00:21:24.580 Well, I mean, there's been initiatives in the region locally. Lee County, Carroll County, Joe Davis have all had movements to get that passed in there. I think you're able to do that in lieu of even not having statewide legislation passed, but it obviously is a complicated and highly localized process then. But I don't know too much about the latest efforts. I know that there's obviously a pretty hefty discussion about perceived safety or actual safety issues versus also wanting to 00:21:24.580 --> 00:21:30.440 encouraged tourism and just recreational opportunities, but I don't know anything about this particular initiative. 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:31.640 Thank you. 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:33.420 Anything else, Mr. Diddens? 00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:33.940 Nope. 00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:34.460 Thanks. 00:21:35.580 --> 00:21:36.460 Anyone else? 00:21:39.540 --> 00:21:39.960 All right. 00:21:40.020 --> 00:21:41.180 Thank you for coming tonight, Dan. 00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:42.000 I appreciate your time. 00:21:42.120 --> 00:21:42.240 Yeah. 00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:42.720 Thank you. 00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:44.920 Move on to the zoning report. 00:21:45.140 --> 00:21:47.800 Director Williams, looks like you have an action item. 00:21:48.360 --> 00:21:57.320 Thank you for coming. 00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.140 Of course. 00:21:58.720 --> 00:22:00.060 Good evening, everyone. 00:22:00.060 --> 00:22:08.200 The Zoning Board of Appeals held its monthly meeting on Thursday, August 13, 2026 with the quorum present. 00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:25.260 The only hearing for the evening was for an ordinance of the Stevenson County Board adopting a text amendment to the Stevenson County zoning ordinance to define data center and establish a temporary moratorium on data center applications and approvals in unincorporated Stevenson County. 00:22:25.260 --> 00:22:31.200 The Board unanimously approved the text amendment after removing the 20 megawatt requirement. 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:35.200 As a result, the approved text amendment is more restrictive than the originally proposed 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:38.160 version. 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:41.850 What's the pleasure of the Board? 00:22:41.850 --> 00:22:43.850 By Mr. Bush, is there a second? 00:22:43.850 --> 00:22:44.850 By Mr. Brandt. 00:22:44.850 --> 00:22:48.710 Any discussion? 00:22:48.710 --> 00:22:49.710 Mr. Maduro, go ahead. 00:22:49.710 --> 00:22:56.050 Yeah, I see that under the new definition of data center, it talks about what's exempt from 00:22:56.050 --> 00:22:58.390 that definition, the equipment yard utility substations. 00:22:58.390 --> 00:23:28.370 can you go into the logic behind that at all? This way it, let me look at it real quick, we took out the 20, is that what you're asking why we took out the 20? No, as it reads, so for the purpose of this definition, the term should not include any external equipment yards, utility substations, switchgear yards, cooling towers, yeah, yeah. That's just a definition of the data center, so this is what our attorney had reviewed and put into it. This can be changed, it more than likely will be changed, 00:23:28.370 --> 00:23:30.790 changed going forward when we have a full ordinance. 00:23:30.790 --> 00:23:33.100 Okay. 00:23:33.100 --> 00:23:34.100 That's it. 00:23:34.100 --> 00:23:35.100 Anything else, Mr. Moderow? 00:23:35.100 --> 00:23:36.100 No, I'm good. 00:23:36.100 --> 00:23:37.100 All right. 00:23:37.100 --> 00:23:38.100 Very good. 00:23:38.100 --> 00:23:40.100 Mrs. Williams, go ahead. 00:23:40.100 --> 00:23:41.100 Yes. 00:23:41.100 --> 00:23:48.220 What I was wondering about was, is six, we've got a moratorium on this for six months. 00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:55.440 There was discussion on whether or not we were going to, I guess, we're going to gather 00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:56.440 information. 00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:57.440 Correct. 00:23:57.440 --> 00:24:25.760 Okay, are we gathering information on just the idea of a data center, or are we gathering information, because wouldn't the information gathered depend on the location, if we would even decide to do that? I mean, are we, we're gathering all different types of information, and it's going to be presented, not, we're not going to bring it to planning and development to begin with, we will out present it to the entire board, it'll go out and form like we normally do, 00:24:25.760 --> 00:24:48.540 to get your opinions on how you feel with the ordinance as it's proposed, then once we have it narrowed down how we want it, it will go to P&D, then it will go to zoning or Board of Appeals, and then to here. There's so many unknowns, like if we're going to limit it to one place, if we're going to allow it to only be X amount of square feet or X amount of megawatts, things like that. 00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:53.640 That was what I was wondering. Part of my concern is that is six months enough. 00:24:53.640 --> 00:25:13.320 Correct. That is one good question. I know Chairman Helms and I had spoke about two years. We whittled it down to a year. Attorney Bornemann that helps write our codes suggested the six months and then we have an extension on this. So in six months, if we're not where we want to be, which I don't know if we will be or not, we can extend it for more time. 00:25:13.320 --> 00:25:27.120 Do you want it to be fair to anybody that would come in with an application because they can fight the thing, the one year, they can say that's too long and we can maybe somehow not get around that. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:34.520 But if we have the extension, we can extend it for another six months and then we can also add another extension in there if needed. 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:38.500 So there's been no inquiries about doing that within our county yet? 00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:44.080 We've had one, and it was probably the beginning of last year that they came to speak with us. 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:50.280 It would be, they were talking about self-supporting with electric, but that was just talk. 00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:52.940 We haven't heard anything back from them or. 00:25:53.280 --> 00:25:57.040 It was just like putting their foot in the water to see what kind of a reaction we would get. 00:25:57.060 --> 00:25:57.340 Correct. 00:25:57.880 --> 00:26:00.600 And we don't have a reaction because we don't have a code. 00:26:00.600 --> 00:26:05.320 Well, if we do not have a code, they can still come in for a special use application. 00:26:05.320 --> 00:26:39.990 If they follow all seven standards of the LaSalle factors and they're approved, then if they're 100% following those seven standards, we have to approve them then. So if we don't have a code, they can come in and do whatever they say please. That's why we're doing the moratorium to get our ducks in a row before we have anything out there. Thank you. Mr. Frick, go ahead. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just one comment to make from my side of the fence. 00:26:39.990 --> 00:27:09.470 and I know Mrs. Williams hasn't seen it but we've been approached on our property because we have power lines running a couple of different properties about data center just there just putting their foot in the water too but one of the things I think that it's good that we're doing this is if we do nothing we can end up with the issues that we have with wind and solar at this point where we will never have any control 00:27:09.990 --> 00:27:16.990 where it's all done at the state and we want to make sure that we're ahead of that game if possible. That still doesn't mean 00:27:17.490 --> 00:27:22.370 that they can't change it in the future. It can happen, but I'd rather see us be ready 00:27:22.770 --> 00:27:32.000 than just say, well, we're going to let the state take care of it. Anything else, Mr. Frick? That's all. Thank you. Anyone else? 00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:39.300 I will mention that I've reached out to George Gullwrap with ComEd. He is the government liaison. 00:27:39.300 --> 00:27:45.380 John, he's put me in touch with Karen Halstead, who's their Economic Development Division leader. 00:27:45.380 --> 00:27:49.560 I am going to be having a meeting with both of them relatively soon, but they did send some 00:27:49.560 --> 00:27:55.540 information to me pertaining to the engineering application process with ComEd. 00:27:55.540 --> 00:27:57.380 It's quite extensive. 00:27:57.380 --> 00:28:00.860 I'll just outline a couple of items. 00:28:00.860 --> 00:28:06.000 An engineering deposit after the engagement letter is signed is required. 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:12.280 it's $1 million for up to 200 megawatts, which I don't know that we'd see anyone much larger 00:28:12.280 --> 00:28:20.900 than that, but if they were, anything above that is $5 million. 00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:22.840 That's nonrefundable. 00:28:22.840 --> 00:28:26.540 That is just to get the ball rolling for ComEd to review it. 00:28:26.540 --> 00:28:32.620 They're currently, according to what I was told, about 12 months out for the review process. 00:28:32.620 --> 00:29:12.460 They would not start construction before that if they're tying into ComEd's power grid, but what they're expecting is depending on the size of the project, it could take up to five years for construction. So I will give the Board more information as I learn it. Is there any more discussion on this item? Alright, seeing none, you may go ahead and vote for the motion on the floor. And that passes 15-0. Thank you very much. 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:42.460 Very much. Any other information, Director Williams? No, sir. All right. Thank you for your time tonight. Chairman's report. I was notified by Engineer Rasmussen that the bid letting for the McConnell Road and Route 26 intersection has occurred. Martin excavating was a low bidder coming in at 9.7% less than the engineer's estimate. So that's good news. They believe that the project is on pace to be completed before the end of 2026, which is good. Even better for Mr. Rasmussen. 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:55.860 because if it gets done he doesn't have to stay another five years. Mrs. Baker and Mr. Moderow will be representing the county next month out in Washington, D.C. I've asked them both as well as Mr. Newton. 00:29:55.860 --> 00:30:05.560 and both, as well as Mr. Newton, to please use their time to solicit funding for a large upcoming bridge project that will probably be coming down the pipe relatively soon. 00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:10.220 Mr. Newton, congratulations. 00:30:10.920 --> 00:30:15.860 I understand you've had two appointments in NACO, the National Association of County Boards. 00:30:15.860 --> 00:30:45.860 You've been appointed to the Rural Action Caucus Committee, as well as the Telecommunications and Technology Policy Steering Committee, so congratulations on that. As you're already the vice chair of UCCI, the board, correct? So just a heartbeat away. Would you mind giving us an update on what's going on with both UCCI and NACO? If you could press your button, I'll turn 00:30:45.860 --> 00:31:23.040 turn your microphone on. Thank you. Thanks, Chairman. And again, this is a great opportunity that gets involved with NACO. There are a number of committees across the country that pertain to rural America. And if you've ever had a chance to go to a NACO event, you'll find that there are so many topics that touch our county. So go if you can. We've done our best to provide 00:31:23.040 --> 00:31:53.020 additional funding every year to send people to every conference that we support so if you think about it and you see that we have one coming up which we we will in the spring please take the opportunity to consider coming to DC to find out more about some of the committees that are going on around the country but as far as UCCI we've scheduled a fly-in as you probably are all aware of that'll happen in September that'll be four days and while we're there we'll have 00:31:53.020 --> 00:32:06.040 to have some personal one-on-one discussions with our Senator Tammy Duxworth and a number of other legislators who will come in and give us an update on some of the things that are going on in different departments. 00:32:06.040 --> 00:32:23.000 One of the things that we want to do, and you've mentioned it already, is to take an opportunity to meet with our senators to bring in some new funding if we can, identify some funding if it's possible for Illinois and specifically our county if we can. 00:32:23.020 --> 00:32:52.460 and so that that's going to happen we there's also a White House briefing that we're going to do there and so if you have never gone we're going to have some of those committee members come to our just just for our estate and going to explain some of the things that are going on in DC that are pertinent to what's happening or that we could get involved with here in Illinois so I'm excited about that look forward to the opportunity to meet with some of 00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:59.780 this staff that is in currently in place we haven't had that opportunity here in the last few years and so I'm looking forward to be able to 00:33:00.620 --> 00:33:06.700 shake hands and get a face with with the name so that we can have an opportunity to bring some more funds our way 00:33:07.340 --> 00:33:09.820 other than that I want to thank everybody that went to 00:33:10.580 --> 00:33:12.580 Galena Galena is always a good time 00:33:13.100 --> 00:33:15.320 We did have a really big meeting on 00:33:15.320 --> 00:33:45.320 on data centers I hope everyone took an opportunity to learn personally a little bit more about what's going on and I'm glad that we are taking a deeper look at the data centers one thing to know is is that they're not going to be everywhere but if one does locate decide to try and locate in our area you want to do you do want to have as much together before they come so it's a good idea for us to take that time to get our own 00:33:45.320 --> 00:34:15.300 rules together. I know the state is already talking about, you know, some oversight. And so if we can get ahead of that, then we can kind of influence what they're going to do in other rural communities. So kudos for us trying to get ahead of the game on data centers. So those are some of the things that I have. Again, thanks everybody again for support that you have. We've got an upcoming meeting in September. And so if you get a chance, come to the UCCI meetings. There's always a lot of information to help us 00:34:15.300 --> 00:34:20.200 locally. So thank you, Chairman, and support every way you can. Thanks. 00:34:20.520 --> 00:34:27.400 Thank you, Sam. We appreciate your work on that. The final item I have, everyone's had an opportunity 00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:32.540 now, all departments, to present their budgets through their oversight committees. I would 00:34:32.540 --> 00:34:37.360 ask all of you to look at those budgets, even if they are not being presented to your oversight 00:34:37.360 --> 00:34:43.040 committees. Get familiar with them. Reach out to the department heads or the elected officials 00:34:43.040 --> 00:35:13.020 are presenting those. Please ask questions that you have even before the meetings if you can. They can still talk about it at the meeting, but it's always good to give them a heads up and let them know what you are thinking once you've reviewed those. I would also ask that you continue to review the budget policy as we go through this process for the next couple of months and let that help guide you. All right. Speaking of finance, we'll move on to that. Mrs. Baker, I believe you have an 00:35:13.020 --> 00:35:18.260 action item. If you can press, thank you. Go ahead. 00:35:18.260 --> 00:35:24.020 Yep. Approval of surplus properties. There's two resolutions before you tonight. Both properties 00:35:24.020 --> 00:35:28.660 are going back to their previous owner. All the back taxes have been paid, and the former 00:35:28.660 --> 00:35:32.100 owners get to keep their property. With that, I make a motion to approve. 00:35:32.100 --> 00:35:37.460 Thank you. Is there a second? Second. Second by Mr. Brandt. Is there any discussion on this item? 00:35:40.180 --> 00:35:56.860 Seeing none, you may cast your vote. That passes 15-0. Thank you very much. Any other 00:35:56.860 --> 00:36:04.860 No, committees had their first glance at budgets that they oversee, some pass through finance and more to come in September. 00:36:04.860 --> 00:36:10.860 Very good. Thank you. Do you have any update on the audit that you'd like to give? 00:36:10.860 --> 00:36:13.860 No, I don't think so. I'm pretty sure it's coming. 00:36:13.860 --> 00:36:16.860 I think we're on schedule to have the final report presented in September. 00:36:16.860 --> 00:36:17.860 Correct. 00:36:17.860 --> 00:36:24.860 Great. All right. Thank you. Public property and safety, Mr. Bush, no action items. Do you have any information on your committee? 00:36:24.860 --> 00:36:30.160 No, no one, and we did go through the budget on the action. 00:36:30.160 --> 00:36:30.760 All right. 00:36:30.840 --> 00:36:31.240 Very good. 00:36:31.580 --> 00:36:31.980 Thank you. 00:36:32.700 --> 00:36:33.540 We'll move on. 00:36:33.860 --> 00:36:34.300 I'm sorry. 00:36:35.300 --> 00:36:36.360 Oh, I thought you said something. 00:36:36.440 --> 00:36:36.900 I apologize. 00:36:37.900 --> 00:36:40.220 We'll move on to the administration committee. 00:36:40.340 --> 00:36:42.900 Mr. Jogerst, it looks like you have an action item. 00:36:43.520 --> 00:36:43.820 I do. 00:36:44.060 --> 00:36:44.720 Thank you, Chairman. 00:36:45.440 --> 00:36:50.580 We've been able to approve an intergovernmental agreement with Aaron Kent, Malte Township Assessment 00:36:50.580 --> 00:36:53.020 District for a four-year period of assessments. 00:36:53.020 --> 00:37:35.450 this is basically the county's going to perform those assessments for the townships there and the assessor has enough people to do this and it kind of works out better for them to do it anyway so with that I'll make a motion to approve. Very good is there a second. Second by Mrs. Hayes. Any discussion? Seeing none please cast your vote. That passes 15 to 0. Any information Mr. Drogers? Yeah we're working through the budgets as well so that's about it. 00:37:35.470 --> 00:38:05.450 Thank you. Thank you very much. Move on to court services. Mr. Diddens, you have an action item, I believe. I do. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We've got a amendment to an ordinance. We're amending ordinance 1904-2044 establishing civil fees and criminal and traffic assessments to be charged by the clerk of circuit court. This is state driven and you all 00:38:05.450 --> 00:38:37.970 should have the all the changes are in red on the ordinance. Chanel Bardell presented this and I would make a motion to approve. Is there a second? Second by Mrs. Lawfer. Is there any discussion? Mr. Frick, go ahead. Just one quick question. Do we ever see the total amount that is 00:38:38.810 --> 00:38:58.970 is collected in revenue for all of these funds that are listed here? It would be interesting to see how much money is collected annually that goes to the law library fund that we fund through the taxes. I was just curious if there's a place where you can find that. 00:38:58.970 --> 00:39:05.210 I believe those are on the revenue lines in the circuit clerk's office. Am I incorrect about that? 00:39:05.210 --> 00:39:08.570 Are they? I'm pretty sure they are. I know they are for the law library. 00:39:08.570 --> 00:39:51.350 There's funding revenue sources for that. Thank you. You're welcome. Any other discussion? Seeing none, you may cast your vote. That passes 15 to 0. Any other information out of your committee, Mr. Diddens? Nope. Still working on the budgets like everybody else. Thank you. All right. Thank you very much. Move on to the nursing committee. No action items. Mrs. Lawfer, any information? Yes. I have to turn this on, right? It's on. It was. Let me get it for you again. 00:39:51.370 --> 00:39:52.070 Yeah, there you go. 00:39:52.210 --> 00:39:52.390 Okay. 00:39:53.390 --> 00:39:53.830 Currently, 00:39:53.830 --> 00:40:21.240 Okay. Currently the facility census is 85 residents. In June it was 75, July is 80, so it's going up. The facility continues to monitor staffing levels to ensure adequate coverage across all departments. The decreased in hours of 38.83. So that's a good thing because in June it was 45.48 hours. Cody from the union visits, the building for intermittent union visits. 00:40:21.240 --> 00:40:35.380 and the bus has been repaired and they're looking forward to two new washing machines and they did get the dishwasher. So that's all I've got. 00:40:35.640 --> 00:40:37.980 Great. And I would add it, no expense to the county. 00:40:38.580 --> 00:40:39.260 What's that? 00:40:39.800 --> 00:40:45.000 The dishwasher and the washing machines. No expense to the county on those. That's always a good thing. 00:40:45.000 --> 00:40:52.100 All right. Thank you very much. We'll move on to planning and development. Mr. Frick, you have four action items. 00:40:52.100 --> 00:41:14.900 Yes. The first action item this evening is a resolution for an amendment to authorize an amendment for the Enterprise Zone, and this one is in Lena. If you had questions about that, they're adding 112 acres to the Illinois Enterprise Zone, and we need to have the authorization for the amendment before we can 00:41:14.900 --> 00:41:17.720 to actually expand that zone. 00:41:17.720 --> 00:41:21.020 So with that, I would move to authorize an amendment. 00:41:21.020 --> 00:41:23.840 Second by Mr. Busker, made motion by Mr. Frick. 00:41:23.840 --> 00:41:28.200 Any discussion? 00:41:28.200 --> 00:41:41.020 Seeing none, you may cast your vote. 00:41:41.020 --> 00:41:43.060 And that passes 15 to zero, thank you. 00:41:43.060 --> 00:41:44.480 Your next item, please. 00:41:44.480 --> 00:41:46.700 Yes, and this is the, excuse me, 00:41:46.700 --> 00:41:49.680 approval of the ordinance amending the boundaries 00:41:49.680 --> 00:41:53.040 of the certified E-zone in Lena. 00:41:53.040 --> 00:41:54.940 So I would move to approve that. 00:41:54.940 --> 00:41:57.020 Thank you, is there a second by Mr. Busker? 00:41:57.020 --> 00:42:16.900 Any discussion? Seeing none, please cast your vote. That also passes 15 to 0. Thank you. Your next item. 00:42:16.900 --> 00:42:45.370 I just need a number just a second. This one is also the amendment, approval of an amendment to adjust the Enterprise Zone. This is for the business of Smart Auto, sorry, Auto Smart out east of Freeport. When they bought their property, part of their property had not been included in the E-Zone. 00:42:45.370 --> 00:42:54.090 and they're asking to add that in, it amounts to 0.42 acres, I would move to amend the ordinance. 00:42:55.090 --> 00:42:58.430 Thank you. Is there a second by Mr. Jogerst? Any discussion? 00:43:00.270 --> 00:43:18.260 Seeing none, please cast your vote. That also passes 15-0. Your final item, please. 00:43:18.260 --> 00:43:24.300 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Final item is just the approval of amending the boundaries for the 00:43:24.300 --> 00:44:09.120 Enterprise Zone to deal with the auto smart property. I would move to approve. Thank you. Is there a second by Mr. Busker? Discussion? Seeing none, please cast your vote. Passes 15 to 0 as well. Any other information out of your committee, sir? Nothing at this time, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Thank you. We'll move on to public works. Mr. Brandt, you have an action item. If you would press your microphone button for me, please. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Tonight it's HD 26. 00:44:09.140 --> 00:44:14.960 6-17, which is a sampling report agreement with Heritage Research Group. 00:44:14.960 --> 00:44:21.780 They would be doing some core sampling on Rock City Road so we can know what the road composition 00:44:21.780 --> 00:44:27.840 is like, what kind of materials we have, and what we are lacking. 00:44:27.840 --> 00:44:34.540 This is an agreement that will cost them more than $5,000, I see no reason to not approve 00:44:34.540 --> 00:44:35.540 it. 00:44:35.540 --> 00:44:37.740 With that, I make a motion to approve. 00:44:37.740 --> 00:44:38.740 Thank you. 00:44:38.740 --> 00:45:17.860 Second. Second by Mr. Moderow. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, please cast your vote. That passes 15 to zero. Any information out of your committee, Mr. Brandt? We are also working on the budget like everyone else. Other than that, no. Thank you, sir. All right. Very good. Is there a motion to adjourn by Mr. Bush? Second by Mrs. Hayes. Any discussion? Seeing none, please cast your vote to adjourn. 00:45:17.860 --> 00:45:32.700 That passes 15-0, thank you everyone, I will see you again next month in September.