LaSalle County public meetings in 2023

Circuit Wide Probation Committee

The Circuit Wide Probation Committee will meet to discuss department reports, including statistics and monthly/quarterly/annual reports, and address business items such as county issues, legislation, and budget. The agenda is largely procedural with recurring items.

• Review of monthly statistics and reports
• Discussion of county issues
• Legislation updates
• Budget review

The Circuit Wide Probation Committee met multiple times between December 2022 and August 2023. The committee primarily approved routine bills and various periodic reports, including the FY 2022 annual report and a semi-annual report.

• Approved FY 2022 annual report (All-None)
• Approved quarterly report (All-None)
• Approved monthly report in March 2023 (All-None)
• Approved semi-annual report (All-None)
• Approved payment of bills at all meetings (All-None)
• Approved monthly reports and statistics in August 2023 (All-None)

County Board

The LaSalle County Board held its first two meetings of the December 2022-2023 session, swearing in new members and electing a Committee on Appointments chair. The board approved four land-use ordinances: a special use for a salvage yard, a variance for a building setback, a special use for accessory housing, and a special use for a solar farm. It also approved appointments to several county boards and an amendment to the American Rescue Plan ordinance for school resource officers.

• Approved special use permit for Wess Whittaker to convert a non-conforming scrap yard to legal special use at 1365 N 45th Rd, Earl Township
• Approved variance for Wess Whittaker to reduce south front yard setback from 100 ft to 0 ft at 1365 N 45th Rd, Earl Township
• Approved special use permit for Linda Sanches to place accessory housing in A-1 district at 2955 N 3109th Rd, Miller Township
• Approved special use permit for New Leaf Energy Inc. to place a solar farm in A-1 district at 1887 N 20th Rd, Grand Rapids Township (19-7 roll call vote)
• Approved ordinance amending ARP Ordinance #22-136 for School Resource Officers

Finance & Fee Committee

The LaSalle County Finance Committee will meet to discuss and potentially act on several financial items, including a presentation on bond repayment options, updates on a consultant for the nursing home, and the Health Department lease. The committee will also consider budget amendments, fee changes, and American Rescue Plan (ARP) contracts, including a coordinator contract increase. Previous meeting minutes and bills will be approved.

• Vezzetti Capital Management presentation on bond repayment options
• Consultant for Nursing Home RFP update
• Health Department lease discussion and potential forwarding to full board
• ARP Coordinator contract increase from $30.00 to $35.00 per hour
• Assessment fees and software discussion due to PTAX ruling

The committee approved transferring $350,000 from the public safety tax to the general fund for a new Coroner office in Oglesby. Other key actions included approving an ARP coordinator pay raise and authorizing a $260,000 allocation for Catlin Park improvements. The committee also approved several budget amendments and quarterly reports.

• Approved $350,000 transfer from public safety tax to general fund for Coroner office (5-1)
• Approved increase in ARP coordinator pay from $30 to $35 per hour (All-None)
• Approved $260,000 ARP allocation for Catlin Park playground and ADA bathrooms (All-None)
• Approved hiring one maintenance employee for use in the Jail (All-None)
• Approved part-time temporary help for Public Defender's office (All-None)
• Approved $29,438.40 transfer for Court Security tasers and vests (All-None)
• Approved $18,000 transfer from ARP to Finance Emergency fund (All-None)
• Approved $166,602.60 transfer from ARP to Capital Improvements (All-None)

Health & Safety Committee

The committee established a weekly departmental safety inspection program starting August 18, 2023. Other actions included scheduling a blood drive for July 27, 2023, and conducting a tornado drill on March 22, 2023. The committee also coordinated defensive driving and active shooter training for employees.

• Launched 'Find It, Fix It Friday' departmental safety inspections (8/18/23)
• Scheduled 2023 Blood Drive for July 27, 2023
• Approved $25 gift card incentives for quarterly safety training participants
• Conducted tornado drill on March 22, 2023
• Held defensive driving classes for 111 employees
• Placed 'No Smoking' signs at Governmental Complex entrances
• Approved use of digital 'Maintenance Work Order Request' shortcuts for reporting hazards
• Scheduled Employee Appreciation Luncheon for September 14, 2023

Highway Committee

The committee approved the purchase of two F150 pickup trucks and authorized several utility permits. Two resolutions for bridge repair agreements with Grundy and Bureau Counties were forwarded to the full County Board. The committee also reviewed and released specific executive session minutes.

• Approved purchase of 2 F150 Pickup Trucks from Morrow Brothers for $67,536.00
• Approved bills totaling $288,319.81 across five funds
• Approved Utility Permits #22-58, #23-01, #23-02, #23-03, and #23-04
• Forwarded Resolution #23-08 (Grundy County bridge repair agreement) to County Board
• Forwarded Resolution #23-09 (Bureau County bridge repair agreement) to County Board
• Approved release of June 15, 2022 executive session minutes
• Maintained confidentiality of executive session minutes from April 24, 2000 and September 26, 2012

County Property Committee

The County Property Committee approved several infrastructure contracts, including window glazing, fire escape painting, and boiler replacement. The committee also authorized a mowing contract for Shabbona Park and approved the 2024 budget for forwarding to Finance. Additionally, the committee reappointed Maintenance Director Bob Kaminski to a three-year term.

• Approved Koolmaster bid for Window Glazing Project Phase 1 ($105,160.00)
• Approved Bowne Painting for Downtown Courthouse Fire Escape painting
• Approved Commercial Mechanical bid for Boiler Replacement Phase II
• Approved Gavin's Lawn Care mowing contract for Shabbona Park
• Approved Illinois Valley Excavating bid for building demolition
• Approved Corn Belt bid for park electricity
• Approved 2024 budget for forwarding to Finance
• Reappointed Bob Kaminski as Maintenance Director with a $100,000.00 salary

Oversite-Landfill Committee Agendas and Minutes (PDF)

Across three meetings in 2023, the committee approved the landfill quarterly/annual reports and tonnage reports. Members discussed landfill inspections, wind-blown debris, and a potential landfill tour for the county board.

• Approved Jan 23 quarterly report (All-None)
• Approved Jan 23 tonnage report (All-None)
• Approved April 24 quarterly report (All-None)
• Approved April 24 tonnage report (All-None)
• Approved July 24 quarterly report (All-None)
• Approved July 24 tonnage report (All-None)

Committee on Appointment & Legislation & Rules

The Committee on Appointment and Legislation & Rules approved numerous appointments for fire protection districts, drainage districts, and county boards. It also forwarded resolutions opposing HB5855/SB2226 and supporting agriculture and the reopening of St. Margaret’s Health-Peru to the Full Board.

• Approved resolution opposing HB5855/SB2226 (All-None)
• Approved Pro Agriculture resolution (All-None)
• Approved resolution supporting reopening of St. Margaret’s Health-Peru (All-None)
• Approved amended 2022-2023 Full Board session schedule (All-None)
• Approved IT Policy for Board member laptops (All-None)
• Forwarded LaSalle County Board Rule book to Full Board (All-None)
• Approved Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement for CDBG funds (All-None)
• Approved appointments for various fire, drainage, and health boards (All-None)

Public Safety Committee

The committee approved forwarding a request for $100,000 to the Full Board for improvements to the Coroner's office at 520 W. Walnut St. Other actions included approving various department bills and forwarding personnel and budget requests to the Salary and Labor and Finance committees.

• Forwarded $100,000 for Coroner's office improvements to Full Board (6-1)
• Approved $1M Port Security Grant application for mobile command post (Aye-All)
• Approved Jail management positions and salaries (Aye-All)
• Forwarded request for Taser and outer vest carrier purchases to Finance (Aye-All)
• Approved $3,250 estimate from J.H Petty for building feasibility study (Aye-All)
• Forwarded Drug Overdose awareness week resolution to Full Board (Aye-All)
• Approved 'I am Responding' contract for $365 (Aye-All)
• Forwarded 2024 budgets for Coroner and EMA to Finance (Aye-All)