STATE OF ILLINOIS ) COUNTY OF LASALLE ) The LaSalle County Board met pursuant to recess at the Governmental Complex, Ottawa, Illinois, on the second Thursday of January, A.D., 2005 it being the 13th day thereof. This meeting is the third meeting of our December 2004 Session. Chairman Dougherty called the meeting to order at 1:00 P.M. At this time Chairman Dougherty called for a moment of silence for the victims of the Tsunami. Chairman Dougherty stated, “It would be wonderful if we all could remember to send our contributions in to these different funds that are worthwhile for these victims. We can’t do it as a County Board, but we can do it as individuals. So I encourage all of our members to send in your donations. There are a lot of organizations out there that will accept them.” Chairman Dougherty asked the Clerk to call the roll for mileage & per diem. PRESENT: 28 Members ABSENT: Mr. Boe There were 26 ayes claiming mileage. Motion by Mr. Foltynewicz to approve the roll call for mileage and per diem, second by Mr. Landers. Voice vote, all ayes. Motion carried. SEE RECORD BOOK 150, PAGE 56 th Chairman Dougherty called for any additions or corrections to the December 6 , 2004 minutes. Motion by Mr. Jakupcak to approve the December 6th, 2004 minutes as presented, second by Mr. Flanagan. Voice vote, all ayes. Motion carried. Chairman Dougherty called for any additions or corrections to the December 16th, 2004 minutes. The Clerk stated that there was a typo on Page 4, under Resolution (#04-164). The word “resolution” was omitted. It should read, “A resolution was submitted” and not “A was submitte”. Motion by Mr. McConville to approve the December 16th, 2004 minutes as corrected, second by Mr. Myers. Voice vote, all ayes. Motion carried. LaSalle County Board Minutes – January 13, 2005 STUDENT EXCELLENCE AWARD Mr. Joe Marini, representing the Regional Office of Education, introduced the two students who were awarded the Student Excellence Awards; from St. Patrick School in LaSalle, Sarah Ebener; and from St. Stephen School in Streator, Alissa Kirchner. Both students were presented with an award plaque from Chairman Dougherty and were applauded by the Board. CITIZEN COMMENTS Stephen Carlson, resident of Mendota, addressed the Board stating, “The topic I submitted was truth and politics. We don’t get anywhere if we don’t deal with the truth. We don’t know what we are talking about otherwise. We’re not able to communicate. The one thing that we should be able to agree on is the truth.” Mr. Carlson further stated, “There was a lot of misinformation on the direct election of the chairman of the county board. Information was spread by individuals, and also spread by the press and the media. Some people are not happy with the results of that election, or that referenda. It does not matter how that item got on the ballot. That is irrelevant. The one thing it took was a lot of hard work and eight thousand plus signatures to put it on there. It’s an opportunity for us to go ahead. That was brought forward to the November meeting. At the December meeting, because there seems to be some confusion, as to whether this is binding or not, and whether anything will be done or not, I brought forward a resolution and asked that some member introduce this under new business at the end of the meeting. No one did so. It was argued that it was not on the agenda and no action could be taken even referring it to committee. So I spoke to the committee chairman and asked that it be put on the agenda for that meeting so that it might be considered and brought back forth to this meeting for consideration. I want to see this confusion ended. I want to see the matter resolved. I think the people have spoken clearly. And the board is obligated to take some action. The committee chairman failed to put the resolution on the agenda. I was on the agenda. The resolution was not. Technically I agreed that no action could by taken on this. I was cross examined by members of that committee for forty-five minutes.” Mr. Carlson briefly played a recording of the public forum that was held by the League of Women Voters in Edwardsville, IL on October 28th, 2004 between the two Madison County Board Chairman candidates who answered submitted questions by the audience including Mr. Carlson. LaSalle County Board Minutes – January 13, 2005 Mr. Carlson shared one of his questions which he thought was relevant to what was going on in LaSalle County, and with answers that would be of interest to people here, “Is a directly elected chairman likely to be controlled by special interests?” Mr. Carlson stated, “You all seem to be afraid that the Landowner’s are going to control your chairman. That was why I put this question there.” At this time Mr. Carlson reported further on the county board chairman candidates forum in Madison County. SEE RECORD BOOK 150, PAGE 57 RESOLUTION: #05-01 (#05-01) COUNTY HIGHWAY A resolution was submitted for the 2005 County Highway System Bridge and Culvert Improvements. Motion by Mr. Flanagan to approve the resolution, second by Mr. Landers. Roll call vote; 24 ayes, 4 absent. Motion carried. SEE RECORD BOOK 150, PAGE 58-60 RESOLUTION: #05-02 (#05-02) COUNTY HIGHWAY A resolution was submitted for the 2005 County Highway Improvement Program. Motion by Mr. Kaminky to approve the resolution, second by Mr. Jordan. Roll call vote; 25 ayes, 3 absent. Motion carried. SEE RECORD BOOK 150, PAGE 61-65 ORDINANCE: #04-24 (#05-03) AMENDMENT TO THE LASALLE COUNTY SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS ODINANCE An ordinance was re-submitted after being postponed for voting last month, stating that the amount of the fee to the County for the submittal of a preliminary plat of a subdivision or resubmission under this ordinance shall be $50.00 for each lot within the subdivision, with a minimum fee of $500.00. $100.00 for each lot within the subdivision with a minimum fee of $1,000.00. These Ordinance amendments to the LaSalle County Subdivision Regulations Ordinance shall be in force and effect upon its passage and ten (10) days after it is published in Pamphlet form. Motion by Mr. Treschak to approve the ordinance, second by Mr. Jakupcak. Voice vote, all ayes. Motion carried. LaSalle County Board Minutes – January 13, 2005 SEE RECORD BOOK 150, PAGE 66-69 RESOLUTION: #05-01 (#05-04) VARIANCE TO THE SETBACK ORDINANCE A resolution was submitted granting a variance to the setback ordinance for Richard Gibson, Jr. to construct a garage, a minimum of 50 feet from the centerline of E. 2059th Rd., located in Rutland Township, LaSalle County. Motion by Mr. Foltynewicz to approve the resolution, second by Mr. Walsh. Voice vote, all ayes. Motion carried. SEE RECORD BOOK 150, PAGE 70-71 RESOLUTION: #05-02 (#05-05) VARIANCE TO THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE A resolution was submitted granting a variance to the subdivision ordinance to allow lot 3548 in Arrowhead Acres Subdivision to be .99 acres in size, in the SE ¼ of Section 4, Township 34 North, Range 4 East of the Third Principal Meridian, Dayton Township, LaSalle County. Motion by Mr. McConville to approve the resolution, second by Mr. Small. Voice vote, all ayes. Motion carried. SEE RECORD BOOK 150, PAGE 72-73 RESOLUTION: (#05-06) SCENIC BYWAY A resolution was submitted regarding the proposed Illinois River Road – Route of the Voyageurs Scenic Byway within LaSalle County and offers its support of the project. Motion by Mr. William Johnson to approve the resolution, second by Mr. Rigby. Voice vote, all ayes. Motion carried. SEE RECORD BOOK 150, PAGE 74-75 PRESENTATION Joanne White, Detention Home Administrator, addressed the Board requesting permission to go to a conference in Dubuque, Iowa. Ms. White stated, “I do have the money in my budget for seminars and training. We paid the registration fee out of last year’s budget. I have monies left in my Education Fund, so what I need to pay out of this year’s budget is $252.00 for room and tax for three nights and LaSalle County Board Minutes – January 13, 2005 approximately $75.00 for meals. If there is a probation car available, I will be using a county car so there wouldn’t be any mileage.” MOTION Motion by Mr. Myers to allow Ms. White to go to the conference in Dubuque, Iowa, second by Mr. Jakupcak. Voice vote, 1 abstain. Motion carried. PRESENTATION Mr. William Warnell, Court Services Director, presented the Probation and Court Services Financial & Statistical Report (December 1, 2003 thru November 30, 2004) to the board members. MOTION Motion by Mr. Hall to place on file the Probation and Court Services Financial & Statistical Report (December 1, 2003 thru November 30, 2004), second by Mr. Freeman. Voice vote, all ayes. Motion carried. SEE RECORD BOOK 150, PAGE 76 ORDINANCE: (#05-07) ENHANCED 9-1-1 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEM SURCHARGE ORDINANCE An ordinance was submitted stating that a surcharge is hereby imposed upon all telephone subscribers passed through telecommunication carriers engaged in the business of transmitting messages by means of electricity originating within the corporate limits of LaSalle County and terminating within the State of Illinois for funding of an enhanced “9-1-1” emergency telephone system, including implementing, maintaining and upgrading this system, excluding those residing within municipalities currently served by Enhanced 9-1-1. A surcharge is hereby imposed at a rate of one dollar and sixty cents ($1.60) per month per in-service network connection, as hereinafter defined.