Kane County Reporter

Kane County Forest Preserve, Finance and Administration Committee met Sept. 28.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

I. Call to Order

The Forest Preserve District Finance and Administration Committee meeting was held at 2:00 PM at the Administration Offices located at 1996 S. Kirk Road, Suite 320, Geneva, IL 60134. The meeting was opened by Chair Dale Berman at 2:08 PM. Remote=*

Members Present:

Attendee Name: Status:

President Chris Kious Present

Chair Dale Berman Present

Commissioner Mark Davoust Present*

Commissioner Ron Ford Present

Commissioner Drew Frasz Absent

Commissioner Mo Iqbal Present

Commissioner Bill Lenert Absent

Commissioner Cherryl Strathmann Present

Commissioner Vern Tepe Present

Others Present:

Also Present: Commissioner Kenyon; Exec. Dir. Meyers; CFO Stanish; Purchasing Officer Marano*; Chief of Planning Anderson; Dir. of Ops. Goreth; Dir. of NRM Haberthur & staff Rodeghero*; Dir of Comm. Affairs Metanchuk & staff Kovach; Chief of Police Burger; Attorney Hodge; KC IT Peters and members of the public.

II. Approval of Minutes from August 24, 2021

RESULT: APPROVED WITH VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Mo Iqbal, Commissioner SECONDER: Chris Kious, President AYES: Dale Berman, Chris Kious, Ron Ford, Mo Iqbal, Cherryl Strathmann, Vern Tepe ABSENT: Drew Frasz, Bill Lenert REMOTE: Mark Davoust

III. Public Comment (Each speaker is limited to three minutes)

None.

IV. Bids and Proposals

A. Presentation and Approval of a Second, One-Year Fuel Extension

CFO Stanish presented the second, one year fuel extension. The District partnered with Kane County in October 2019 to be included on the joint fuel bid that included the City of Aurora, Kane County Division of Transportation (KDOT) and various other County departments. The original contract was for a one-year period, ending Dec. 1, 2020, with an option to extend for two additional one-year periods. The bid was structured so that the base cost of the fuel is determined from the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) rack pricing on the date of the delivery, and the quoted per-gallon mark up contained within the bid. Due to the District having smaller tanks (500 – 1,500 gallons), the mark up quoted by the vendors was higher as compared to the County, which takes full semi-loads per delivery. The vendor is holding its mark-up fee rates constant for the second extension year for unleaded gasoline at $.13 per gallon and B5 biodiesel at $.15 per gallon.

DISCUSSION: None.

RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 10/7/2021 8:30 AM TO: Forest Preserve District Executive Committee MOVER: Vern Tepe, Commissioner SECONDER: Ron Ford, Commissioner AYES: Dale Berman, Ron Ford, Mo Iqbal, Vern Tepe, Cherryl Strathmann ABSENT: Drew Frasz, Bill Lenert REMOTE: Mark Davoust

V. New or Unfinished Business

A. Presentation and Approval of the Tax Levy for Fiscal Year 2022-2023

CFO Stanish presented the Committee with information regarding various options for the upcoming 2021 property tax levy. Each year, the Finance & Administration Committee determines the direction for the upcoming property tax levy, which is then forwarded to the Executive Committee, and approved at the Full Commission meeting. Staff requested the most-current information from the clerk’s office and received the following:

∙ Rate Setting EAV is estimated at $15,868,716,983 (final percentage is not determined)

∙ Preliminary new construction figures for the county are $153,437,119 (partial year)

The Committee has 3 options available regarding the levy.

1. Increase the levy by both CPI and new construction – The levy would increase for CPI by $103,032, which for the upcoming levy year will be 1.4%. The increase in the levy due to new construction is estimated between $70,000 and $95,000.

2. Freeze the levy but allow for new construction – New construction has been relatively steady over the past few years (2018 - $150.6 million and 2019 - $144 million 2020 – $145 million). The increase in the levy due to new construction is estimated between $70,000 and $95,000.

3. Complete levy freeze – Last year’s total capped levy figure was $7,359,395 and maintaining the levy at that same level is an option.

Based on estimates and the new construction figures shown above, the three options presented would generate the following capped tax levy:

∙ Option #1 – Taking both CPI and new construction, the District would receive $103,032 from CPI and an estimated $70,000 - $95,000 from new construction, for increased funding between $173,032 and $198,032.

∙ Option #2 – Taking solely new construction, the District would receive increased funding between $70,000 and $95,000.

∙ Option #3 – Taking neither CPI nor new construction, the levy would remain constant, the District would receive no increased funding.

DISCUSSION: CFO Stanish provided a brief overview of the budget performance for FY2020-2021. The Auditors completed their field work and will be presenting sometime in November 2021. A snapshot of variances in revenues and expenditures was presented, Stanish explained the variance in the General Fund revenues may be due to the Cares Act grant funding and time of the report. Commissioner Davoust reminded the Committee in regards to the levy options presented, that you can always reduce the increase later during the budget process, however you can’t ask for more at a later time. Commissioner Tepe was in favor for Option # 1, taking both CPI and new construction. Chair Berman noted that the District should take advantage of small increment every year, this is a small fraction per year that can help make an impact. Commissioner Tepe stated that the District needs to stay competitive with the economic demands.

RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 10/7/2021 8:30 AM TO: Forest Preserve District Executive Committee MOVER: Vern Tepe, Commissioner SECONDER: Mo Iqbal, Commissioner AYES: Dale Berman, Ron Ford, Mo Iqbal, Vern Tepe, Cherryl Strathmann ABSENT: Drew Frasz, Bill Lenert REMOTE: Mark Davoust

VI. Closed Session to Discuss Land Acquisition, Contracts, Litigation, or Personnel The Committee moved into Executive Closed Session at 2:19 p.m. on a motion by Ford, second by Iqbal.

RESULT: APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Ron Ford, Commissioner SECONDER: Mo Iqbal, Commissioner AYES: Dale Berman, Ron Ford, Mo Iqbal, Vern Tepe, Cherryl Strathmann ABSENT: Drew Frasz, Bill Lenert REMOTE: Mark Davoust

The Committee returned to Open Session at 3:19 p.m. on a motion by Tepe, second by Iqbal. Roll Call Vote was taken, unanimous.

VII. Communications

Exec. Dir. Meyers reported the ribbon cutting of the grand re-opening of The Oakhurst Forest Preserve was a success. There was an estimated 500 attendees over the course of the day that included the Harvest of the Acorn Moon Festival. The District presented the naming of the shelter in honor of the late Officer Harold H. Carter, Jr. whom retired from the Forest Preserve District Police Department in 2018 and passed away in 2020 from cancer.

VIII. Chairman's Comments

None.

IX. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 3:22 p.m.

RESULT: ADJOURNED BY VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Ron Ford, Commissioner SECONDER: Mo Iqbal, Commissioner AYES: Dale Berman, Ron Ford, Mo Iqbal, Vern Tepe, Cherryl Strathmann ABSENT: Drew Frasz, Bill Lenert REMOTE: Mark Davoust

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