Kane County Public Service Committee met Feb. 22.
Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:
1. Call to Order
Chairman Scheflow called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Don Ishmael Board Member Present
Michael Kenyon Board Member Present
Philip Lewis Board Member Present
Myrna Molina Board Member Present
Penny Wegman Board Member Present
Barbara Wojnicki Vice Chair Present
Douglas Scheflow Chairman Present
Also present: Co. Bd. members Auger, Barreiro, Sanchez, Thomas & staff Nagel; Recorder staff Scholes; Supv. of Assessments Armstrong & staff Winter, Doran; County Clk. Cunningham; ROE Supt. DalSanto & staff Morris; Treasurer staff Herrera, Hopp; Finance staff Waggoner; ITD staff Peters; members of the press and public including Aurora Mayor Irvin and staff.
2. Approval of Minutes: January 18, 2018
Result: Approved With Voice Vote [Unanimous]
Mover: Michael Kenyon, Board Member
Seconder: Don Ishmael, Board Member
Ayes: Don Ishmael, Michael Kenyon, Philip Lewis, Myrna Molina, Penny Wegman, Barbara Wojnicki,
Douglas Scheflow
3. Finance
The monthly financial reports were included in the agenda packet. Finance staff Waggoner reported there were no FY18 areas of concern at this time.
4. Recorder
Referencing the monthly reports included in the agenda packet, staff Scholes reported Recorder Wegman is attending a meeting today to discuss the new predictable pricing statute. Numbers for their office are down this month in comparison to previous years. Brief discussion followed.
5. Treasurer / Collector
The monthly reports included in the agenda packet. Staff Herrera discussed the mobile home tax bill mailing noting there are 976 bills that total $71,000. Brief discussion followed on mobile home tax.
6. Supervisor of Assessments
Monthly reports were included in the agenda packet. Supv. of Assessments Armstrong discussed the county's equalization factor from the State of Illinois. For the 30th consecutive year the county has been assessed factor of one, meaning no adjustment by the State. It does not mean that all 194,000 assessments are perfect, some variances may occur. The county offers an appeals process for those cases. Brief discussion followed.
7. Regional Office of Education
Supt. DalSanto reminded the committee of Teacher's Institute Day on March 2. Registration information and a list of the sessions are available on their website.
8. County Clerk
Referencing monthly reports included in the agenda packet, County Clk. Cunningham reported their numbers are down but he still anticipates his office generating about $1.3M this year. His office has been working with Supv. of Assessments Armstrong on the tax extensions. Cunningham reported over 70 people came to Saturday's Passport Day. In the future, his office will hold a Passport Day on the second Saturday of each month. A mobile unit will also be sent out to township offices for people to get their passports. Cunningham announced they are up to 50 partners for early voting. More than 50% of the people voted early last election. He discussed proposed changes in voting. Brief discussion occurred.
9. Other Business
A. Kane County Precincts
County Clk. Cunningham shared an update on legislation noting that when you get your driver's license you will automatically be registered to vote. He pointed out the benefits of getting a passport for travel. Cunningham discussed the current statute regulating precincts. He would like to see the nine precincts split. His office has been monitoring two pieces of legislation that pertains to precinct judges, SB2831 and SB2832. Considerable discussion followed.
B. Aurora Election Commission Impact
Aurora Mayor, Richard Irvin, stated the City of Aurora has placed a motion on the ballot to abolish the Election Commission. By statute, the county has to cover all elections within the county. Kane County gives $400,000 to the City of Aurora for the Election Commission and the City of Aurora provides $700,000. If constituents vote to abolish the commission, the City of Aurora will pay the county $400,000 towards elections. Irvin stated the county runs a more efficient election than Aurora. For the 2016 elections, Aurora paid $1.4M for 61,000 voters, that same year, the county paid $1.9M for 267,000 voters. That means Aurora spent $23.86 per vote and the county only spent $7.26 per vote. Irvin stated Aurora has offered the County Clerk free office space for their services. Currently, Aurora has three early voting locations. If the commission is abolished, Irvin expects to have three or more early voting locations. They also plan to purchase a voter mobile to provide services for seniors and disabled that aren't able to get out to voting locations. Irvin stated that the City of Aurora would like to work out an IGA with the county to help bare the financial responsibility prior to the initiative going through. If it goes through without an agreement, the county will have to take on the full responsibility by statute. Alex Voigt, Asst. Chief of Staff for the City of Aurora, stated that the information the Mayor has shared this morning is also on the City of Aurora website.
County Clk. Cunningham stated Aurora's election will be run as it is now. The county will initially run a parallel system. Kane County currently pays for staffing the Aurora Election Commission but has no authority over them. Chuck Nelson, Deputy Mayor for the City of Aurora, felt abolishing the commission would bring true accountability into the system. Considerable discussion occurred.
10. Executive Session
None
11. Reports Placed On File
Result: Place Written Reports On File [Unanimous]
Mover: Myrna Molina, Board Member
Seconder: Don Ishmael, Board Member
Ayes: Don Ishmael, Michael Kenyon, Philip Lewis, Myrna Molina, Penny Wegman, Barbara Wojnicki,
Douglas Scheflow
12. Public Comments
None
13. Adjournment
Result: Adjourned By Voice Vote [Unanimous]
Mover: Michael Kenyon, Board Member
Seconder: Barbara Wojnicki, Vice Chair
Ayes: Don Ishmael, Michael Kenyon, Philip Lewis, Myrna Molina, Penny Wegman, Barbara Wojnicki,
Douglas Scheflow
This Meeting Was Adjourned At 10:02 a.m.
Christie Duffy
Recording Secretary
http://kanecountyil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=15&ID=2044&Inline=True
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