Kankakee County Board, IL County Board Meetings, 7 Dec 2020

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From YouTube: Special Kankakee County Board Meeting 12/7/2020

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Special Kankakee County Board Meeting 12/7/2020 9:00AM

A

Good morning, I'd like to call the december 7 2020 special county board meeting to order. Our invocation today is by board member carol weber.

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Lord, we offer our thanks for the super communities which have brought us all here today to dedicate and rededicate our county board members and leadership in their terms of service and responsibility.

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We are thankful for the first responders and service personnel who continue to work tirelessly to keep us safe and well.

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We are grateful for the blessings and privileges of living in the united states, where we can vote and elect and serve each other. We ask for your guidance, as we work together, help us always prayerfully to search for the right way. The right word, the right actions for the best responses to the tests before us.

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The lord help us remember that you have a plan for each of us for the good to give us a future and a hope and grant us the light of christmas, which is great, the warmth of christmas, which is purity the righteousness of christmas, which is justice, the belief in christmas, which is truth and grant us the all of christmas, which is christ in whose name we.

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Amen, please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance.

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To the flag of the united.

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States of america.

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To the republic through which it stands, one nation.

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Under god, indivisible.

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With liberty and justice for all.

A

Mr clerk, can I get a roll call? Please.

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Mr huss, mr thalin, mrs polk.

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She's here, she's, muted.

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Mr snipes present present mr burn, mr lear, president, mrs weber present, mrs peters president, mr payton president, mrs parker, ms dunbar president, mr kinzinger. Mr president, mr fairfield present ms haas, mr carrico.

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Mr carrico president, mr eckhoff.

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Mr swanson president, ms zakulow present, mr featherling president, mr mr donnell president, mr miller president, mr long president, mr kirkstra president, mr hunter, mr edes, mr wheeler, mr cerroy president.

A

Thank you. I have two public comments today. First uh is by phone, mr jonathan schineberger, and I will call him right.

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F

Good morning, this is jonathan.

A

Jonathan, this is uh todd sieroy county board, chairman you're, in public comment.

F

All right, thank you, chairman siroi,.

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F

Members of the county board for taking time to hear from me and the other comment this morning, I am speaking today to say that it is my hope that the members of the county board will not choose to elect former county board. Chairman wheeler uh to the position of chairperson for the coming years.

F

um County board. Member wheeler is in his position after uh running away from an election that he could have faced and fought against an opponent and currently holds his position uh due only to appointment and as such, it would be inappropriate for him to hold the position of county board chairman.

F

That would be akin to state senator our state, senator patrick joyce, when he was appointed to the role uh left empty by toy hutchinson, suddenly gaining mike madigan's role or to be more precise, john cullerton's role.

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Should the board choose to put wheeler into the county board chairman position?

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It would be a signaling to all the county citizens that this governmental body serves as a playground for wheeler and his friends that, rather than serving the will of the people and putting someone who faced election into this role, it is a place where people can move around into open positions and be appointed and maintain power as long as possible. That way, so I strongly encourage the county board to encourage other possibilities.

F

I believe that former county board chairman wheeler is not the only person on the board, who has the capacity to serve as chairperson and would be delighted to see someone else fill that role and see what they can do in that capacity again. Thank you for hearing me out and I look forward to uh seeing what your decision will be.

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A

Okay, uh next public comment is by mr hunter.

H

Thank you very much, mr chairman. You commissioners and the department heads may recall, and those in attendance. um You may recall that I had requested some financial assistance and some support for the east side: junior football varsity team, which represented kankakee county illinois in a national tournament as a consequence of your generous uh donations and support, they were victorious uh and as much as you may have seen. uh Several articles that were posted in the daily journal and those of you who are tech savvy probably saw some things on on facebook.

H

I want to take this time to uh thank publicly uh those donors uh and and supporters, um and I just want to just take a couple moments to just say that, because you didn't have to do that, you may recall indicated that they weren't representing the city of kankakee. They weren't representing mantino.

H

They represented the entire county and with your thoughtfulness, you guys came through to support these kids. Some of these kids have never been out of the state, never been able to stay in a hotel or a motel or venture more than 60 miles in this state, let alone a different region of the country. So I just like to articulate, incite those individuals- and I I'll read these names off chairman todd sirois.

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I provided assistance as well too coroner bob gessner uh commissioners, payton uh steve lear, uh as well as county clerk, dan hendrickson recording laurie gad boys sheriff mike downey uh treasurer nick africano. uh Also, commissioner, andy wheeler uh state representative elect jackie haas and senator pat joyce. I just want to thank all of you for sponsoring and assisting these kids uh in their quest and they have put uh ken key county uh on the map again. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

A

You should finish that with go bulldogs yeah go bulldogs all right! Thank you! uh Okay, uh we have no old business today. uh No other comment public comment and moving on to new business, presentation of certificates of oath and bond for newly elected or re-elected county board members. You have had that in front of you and we're going to sign on the first line after the judge swears us in, and I will turn it over to chief judge, michael state's cramer, jim yeah. You better remember that name, sir. All right so uh judge kramer.

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Thank you, chairman c royce. It's my honor to be here today to swear in the new members and uh oncoming members of the board.

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The state statute, 55 ilcs 562-4001 states that each member of the board of county commissioners shall be commissioned by the governor and shall, before entering upon the duties of his office, take and subscribe an oath. I have that oath here in front of me. I'd like you to raise your right hand and repeat after me,.

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I do solemnly swear.

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That I will support the constitution of the united states.

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The constitution of the state of illinois and.

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The constitution of illinois.

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And then I will faithfully discharge. I.

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Will thank believers.

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The duties of the office of county commissioner of kankakee.

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C

Thank you, mr chairman, thank you. So if it's been give it all.

A

Right, thank you everyone. Thank you, sir. Thank you for your time. Okay. So now in unison, we are all going to sign that top line on our official load.

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And we're going to hold them up those on zoom, so you can see sign it now. John.

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And then uh those that are zooming, we really need to get a copy of those sometime today, if you could run them by even if you leave them with the door stewart uh she can get them upstairs. um This has to be uh signed by the judge today and the clerk today also to make this bonding. So please make a note to try to get these to us today, those that are in the room. Please leave those here and we'll collect them all right, and so we can get those signed today.

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Also, our uh our newly elected board, members are newly newly newly elected board members. uh Upstairs we have your uh information packets for you, so uh those that are brand new, please stick around come upstairs get some information kind of your uh and heather you'll have to do that too. When you come in okay, please make sure you stop upstairs or get with kelly and we'll set a time that you can come in and get your stuff. So, okay, all right, that's pretty much it could.

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I have a motion to adjourn this meeting all right, mr hess and mr long with.

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All in favor say aye meeting adjourned hold on one. Second, we're going to do some rearranging here.

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I like to call this meeting to order for the adjourned meeting of december 7th, uh we'll begin with the roll call. Mr huss president, mr tholen, mrs polk president, mr snipes, mr c roy president, mrs weber,.

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Mrs peters president, mr payton.

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Mr payton, mrs parker, mr kenzinger president, mr fairfield president, mr carrico president, mr eckhoff president, mr smith, from celina.

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Mr swanson president, mr coolo present, mr featherling president, mr donnell president, mr miller president, mr long president, mr kirkstra.

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Mr hunter, mr wheeler, ms bryan present, mr collins, ms hudson, mr smith, from bourbon a.

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Do have a quorum so now we will call for the election of a temporary chairman. Do we have any nominees, mrs weber,.

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I move to nominate mr roger hess, as temporary chairman.

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Do I have a second to that motion.

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I have a motion in a second for mr hess: do we have any other nominations, mr lear.

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Close the nominations, let.

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Me ask three times to be according to hoyle here: do we have any other nominations? Do we have any other nominations seeing that mr hunter, you made the mr lear. You made the motion to close the nominations. Do I have a second.

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Mr payton, with a second yes uh we'll do this by roll call vote.

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Mr hess hi mrs polk hi, mr snipes all right, mr c, roy aye, mr lear aye, mrs weber, aye, mrs peters aye, mr peyton aye, mrs parker aye, mr kenzinger hi, mr fairfield aye, mr carico hi, mr eckhoff aye, mr swanson aye, ms zakulow aye, mr featherling aye, mr dunhill aye, mr miller aye, mr long all right, mr kirkstra hi, mr hunter aye, mr wheeler aye, ms brian aye, mr collins, aye, ms hudson aye, mr smith, from bourbon. A motion carries mr hess. You are the temporary chairman.

D

I think you need to roll call, don't you you.

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That okay, okay, roll call vote for the election for uh mr hess is, as chairman, temporary chairman, mr house.

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Mr snipes aye mr siroi aye mr leer hi, mrs weber, aye, mrs peters aye, mr peyton aye, mrs parker aye, mr kenzinger aye, mr fairfield aye, mr carico aye, mr eckhoff hi, mr swanson aye, ms zakulow aye, mr featherling aye, mr dunhill aye, mr miller aye, mr long aye, mr kirkstra aye, mr hunter aye, mr wheeler aye, ms brian aye, mr collins, aye, ms hudson aye, mr smith, from bourbon, a aye.

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Still get used to them things.

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D

Okay, we need a motion to nominate a permanent chairman for the king county board.

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D

Mr chairman, mr kinsey nur, I move to nominate andrew wheeler, as our permanent chairman, mr wheeler, is nominated. Do you accept that nomination seconds to the nomination, mr hunter.

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Mr chairman, uh this is an election uh and I have not heard any other uh comments uh from my fellow commissioners regarding any other interesting parties regarding this microphone.

H

As I indicated, this is an election and I have not heard any other candidates for this particular prestigious and august uh position. uh It appears that uh that chairman wheeler former chairman wheeler, commissioner uh wheeler uh generally qualified for this particular position. It's my understanding um that this is a bipartisan initiative with little exception.

H

The hopes and aspirations of the 109 892 people in the county um are willing and able to support uh the chairman, as well as uh this august body, who are legislators and it will deal with the business of the county. I therefore, mr chairman, second, uh this particular motion. Okay,.

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Are there any other nominations?

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Are there any other nominations?

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Are they any other nominations.

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D

I move that we close the nomination. Mr donald makes a motion to close the nomination. Take a second by right, fairfield.

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Several seconds.

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I'll go with ray fairfield for the second, we need a roll call vote to close the nomination.

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Mr hess aye, mrs polk aye, mr.

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Snipes siroi.

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E

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Mrs weber, aye, mrs peters,.

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Mr payton aye, mrs parker all right, mr kenzinger hi, mr fairfield aye, mr carrico hi, mr eckhoff aye, mr swanson aye aye, ms akula aye, mr featherling aye, mr donnell aye, mr miller,.

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Mr kirkstra, mr mr hunter aye, mr wheeler aye, ms brian aye, mr collins, aye, ms.

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Mr smith, from bourbon a all right.

J

Voter president is in conflict with the county ordinance. I believe all board members are required by ordinance to vote.

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Can't hear the question go ahead, mr clear. I'm sorry.

J

My point of order would be under our county ordinance. uh A vote of presence is not permitted. Well, uh all board members are required to vote iron, a on roll call, votes.

D

Is that right, mr rowe? Yes, that is the county.

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Under the county ordinance, if you want to go to the port of water and reason 40 at this point, unless you're voting upon a uh a uh uh uh a peculiar or what they call a money uh or financial interest of the county, all votes would be yea or nay. It's only. I went or nay when you're voting upon financial interest of the county. This is not a financial interest of the county.

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C

He doesn't want to vote. Let him just mark him as president. The record will just um reflect that. He stated president at the time of the vote, thanks jim.

D

Okay- for that, then, the nominations are closed. We now need a roll call vote to elect our county board. Chairman.

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Mr hess aye mrs polk hi, mr snipes hello, mr siroid aye, mr lear hi, mrs weber, aye, mrs peters, president.

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Mrs parker hi mr kenzinger hi mr fairfield aye, mr carrico hi, mr eckhoff aye, mr swanson aye, ms zakulow aye, mr featherling aye, mr donnell aye, mr miller aye, mr long aye, mr kirkstra hi, mr hunter, mr wheeler, ms brian aye, mr collins, aye, ms hudson. No, mr smith, from bourbon. A aye motion carries.

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You might get your pen back too.

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Okay, clap now.

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Mr featherling, with the solo.

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K

Right now we need to uh uh choose our vice chairman for the next two years. Is there a motion to nominate a vice chairman for the kenki county board.

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A nomination to mr siroi is there a second to that, uh mrs parker? A second. uh Is there any other nominations? Yes, mr snipes.

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uh I nominate uh steven hunter.

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Mr hunter, do you accept that nomination? uh Mr hunter refuses the nominee and I nominate steve lee mr lear: do you accept the nomination? I.

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Do not accept no, mr.

K

Lear does not accept the nomination as well, so we is there any other uh nominations from the floor final time. Any other nominations certain nominations. I.

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Nominate your nomination.

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Yes, mrs president,.

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Mr snipes, do you accept that nomination? Yes, is there a second for mr snipes, as vice chairman.

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Miss pope second time, so we have a motion in a second. Is there any other nominations?

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Any other nominations final time. Any other nominations is there a motion to close nominations. Go with mr hess, a second to mrs parker.

K

uh Let's see here. Well, I guess uh we'll do roll call to close nominations, then we'll go to instructions. Next,.

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Mr hatch hi, mrs pope.

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Mr snipes, all right, mr sirois.

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Mrs peters.

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Mr payton aye mrs parker aye, mr kenzinger aye, mr fairfield aye, mr carico, mr ekhoff.

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Mr swanson hi, mr kula aye, mr fatherling.

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Mr donnell aye mr miller aye mr long aye, mr kirkstra aye mr hunter aye, mr wheeler aye, ms bryan aye, mr collins aye, ms hudson aye, mr smith, from bourbon, a hi.

K

All righty uh the motion carries to close nominations. So when we do this roll call, you will say the name of the person that you would like to be. The vice chairman, instead of I nay it'll, be you say the name out loud of the person that you are voting for to be vice chairman. Does that make sense? Mr hunter.

H

Just just a comment actually uh an empirical uh comment: uh this august body is diversified in terms of party the three parties represented here on this board. There are 20 republicans, seven democrats and one libertarian, I think, I'm a student of arithmetic. In addition, so it's a foregone conclusion as to what's going to transpire, and I just want to make that particular comment. I'm a realist, I'm a pragmatist, so I understand uh politics.

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K

You thank you, mr hunter's. There any other comment. Alright again roll call just say the name of the person that you are voting for, for vice chairman.

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Mr huss c right, mrs polk.

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Mr snipes nice, mr siroi.

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Mr lear, mrs weber, mrs peters.

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Mr payton peter mrs parker.

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Kensinger, mr fairfield sarah royce mr carrico dayroy, mr eckhoff steroid, mr swanson leroy, miss zakulow siroi, mr fatherling.

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I think we've lost him. Mr donnell steroid, mr miller,.

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Mr long, mr kirkstra, that's nice, mr hunter.

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Mr wheel, um miss brian.

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Miss hudson, mr smith, from bourbon a cereal, mr wheeler siroi, six votes for mr snipes, mr chairman,.

K

Just one moment please, and we did get you, mr featherling, it came in late because I was blurring out.

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20 votes for mr c right.

K

uh By 20-6 mr sirois vice chairman, congratulations.

K

Alrighty moving on I'm sorry, I left my agenda sitting back there.

K

I think we had the inner phone thing on.

K

There all right so uh every year, at our first available meeting, this would be the new budget year. So if this is our first available meeting, we have to do our interfund borrowing resolution as a order of business on that agenda, uh even though we don't enter fun, borrow all that much like we used to uh it's still there and it's. uh The resolution is on the back. It's basically the same thing, uh mr siri.

K

I believe that we had uh last year we just updated the dates and is there a motion to accept the underphone borrowing resolution? uh Mr long in the room, mr lear, that's our second. Is there any discussion on this matter? Mr hunter, the chairman.

H

For the new members, uh could you explain with specificity uh the the uh action we're we're taking, because I'm sure some of them are not fully aware of what we're actually doing.

K

Sure sure, when, when at certain times of the year when, when tax revenues are not coming in uh the the county borrows from one fund to pay a bill here, much like at home, we're going to take it out of the vacation fund to pay for the electric bill at some point, the money's got to go back into the vacation fund. So that's this authorizes those interfund transfers between these and we're able to borrow until the tax revenue comes in and then we're able to reimburse those chart of accounts.

K

Is that a pretty clear? Did I get that good, steve.

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And mr chairman,.

K

Yes, uh 16.

A

Yes right thing in uh history, for the newer members is, we haven't had to do large amounts like we had to do about four years ago, so the amounts are getting smaller, that we're in our fund borrowing compared to four years ago. Right.

K

Pretty much the only thing really hanging out there right now is still about half of what the hybrid highway department borrow was, and we were supposed to pay that back last year, but for this last budget year, but what happened covet and our revenues tanked at least we broke even for the year marginally, but um with a little bit of surplus but yeah. We were supposed to have a three million dollar surplus last year, so we'll go through all that in finance and get everybody up to speed. So any other questions we'll call vote. Please.

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Mr huss hi mrs polk hi, mr snipes, all right, mr siroid aye, mr leer hi, mrs weber, hi, mrs peters, mr peyton hi, mrs parker, mr kenzinger aye, mr fairfield aye, mr carico hi, mr eckhoff hi, mr swanson.

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Ms akulo aye mr featherling aye, mr donnell aye, mr miller aye, mr long all right, mr kirkstra hi, mr hunter hi miss brian aye, mr collins, ms hudson, mr smith, from bourbon a.

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K

Hi motion carriers motion carries thank you for that. uh Real quick uh committee assignments will be going out as soon as this meeting is over uh tomorrow's full board. I'll see you there and then or see you there and, as the case may be,.

K

On those committee assignments make sure you make note because they start this month, so the criminal justice committee, which meets on wednesday morning, um make sure that you check and see if you're on that committee. Where is that going to be uh it's here for now yeah we haven't been having it.

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Out at the jail.

K

It's been here, uh mr hess.

D

Thank you, mr chairman, just something we might want to think about. Is we maybe talk about this tomorrow too, but this year it just falls in the wrong position. For now you being elected and making your committees and everything so everybody gets them tomorrow. Is we move this meeting to the first tuesday of the month?

D

The special board meeting for the swearing-in we'd have to change a county code to do that. That.

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J

D

State law- oh, I thought it was county code. No, it's state law, oh didn't, forget we're! Never going to change it.

K

It's a good thought, though it would be nice yeah. It just happened to work out this way we could have probably done a whole meeting's worth of business, but we'd be here till noon. Probably so. Yes, mr hunter.

H

And as much as we have new board members, you know from my other life we'd, always ask the new members to stand and and say something in terms of their background, how appreciative they are to be on this legislative body etc. Would that be an order or not? No, we've.

K

H

Done that on this box.

K

I used to do it for.

H

40 years, so we used to do that. Yeah.

A

We're just going to let you do it.

H

K

No, no, I'm fine, you can be the mc for there. You go the hype man, mr.

A

Chairman are you trying about the mitigations are still in effect, so if we're going to have everybody come in, we need to go through a checklist with kelly to see to keep this room under 21 right. So yeah.

K

That hasn't changed. 21 is the limit of people total that we can have in here right because of you see, the the blue dots are spaced out uh roughly six feet. We put, we got the tape measure out and that's why the chairs are the same way.

K

Me, okay and it's the same for the back too. So that's why we're spaced out that way. So if that's, we don't have uh our full board meetings. We can't fill the room up. uh We could, but it's it's not the best thing to do to be sitting next to her. The government has a little bit of an exemption because we have business to do, but I I think most people would rather stay home if they're at risk and that's what we're most concerned about here. It's keeping those at risk safe.

K

So is there a motion.

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K

Mr hess, is there a second second, mr second, second, all those in favor, say, aye same sign.

K

Motion carries have a good day. Everybody.