Tazewell County staff present department goals, seek to finalize countywide strategic plan by Saturday

A county staff member presented proposed departmental goals and a draft vision and mission framework at a Tazewell County Board meeting on matters ranging from broadband access to courthouse planning, and said staff expects to finalize countywide goals after a workshop on Saturday.

The presentation grouped priorities under “opportunities” — including broadband, facility upgrades, grant administration, employee engagement, and bicentennial planning — and “threats,” such as pension fund pressures, a $4,000,000 shortfall cited for the state budget, cybersecurity, aging facilities and workforce, and possible loss of zoning authority. The staff member said departments set goals and assigned action items, champions and timelines to guide work over the next four years.

County staff emphasized the importance of a clear vision. “Where do you want to go?” the staff member asked, quoting the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland to make the point that a purpose-driven plan guides choices and investment. The staff member added, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.”

Department-level goals summarized by staff included: - Animal control: expand facility space, provide tools and resources to improve employee retention, and complete technology and safety improvements. - Assessments (CAMA): reduce paper storage, upgrade camera/security systems, improve public communication and create a more user-friendly GIS website. - Corrections: (goals listed to support departmental operations; specifics referenced in the full report). - Board administration: support elected officials and department heads, create an ongoing board education program and develop a sustainable financial plan for buildings and employee wages. - Circuit clerk: evaluate case management systems, enhance public access to records and move toward fully digital court processes. - Community development: reduce tangible records, implement a public portal for permits and code enforcement, move to paperless processing and draft ordinances on battery energy storage systems and carbon sequestration (as presented by staff). - Coroner: strengthen partnerships with local authorities and modernize records processes. - County clerk/recorder: streamline board meeting processes, implement efficient office procedures and support statewide e-certified birth and death certificates. - Courts: reduce redundancy in review processes (multiple action items attached). - Emergency Management Agency (EMA): increase participation in the National Weather Service storm-ready program, maintain emergency operations plan (EOP) accreditation with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, implement a mass notification system and increase building security at county emergency facilities. - Facilities maintenance: fully implement an asset-management program. - Finance: routinely distribute useful actual-versus-budget information and reports, complete a full asset inventory, update financial policies and improve budget reporting, and increase use of purchase orders where appropriate. - Health department: sustain and improve public health practices through leadership and community engagement activities already underway. - Human resources: select a new insurance vendor, implement wellness programs and raise annual training completion rates. - Probation: upgrade the case management system, create employee teams and collaborate with finance on departmental budgeting. - Treasurer: improve tax collection efficiency, operational and technology adoption, and prudent investment and fund management. - VAC (Veterans Assistance Commission, listed as VAC in the presentation): ensure staff education, encourage VSO officer certification and maintain courteous service.

A board member noted a free training opportunity in Springfield on Feb. 24 that is available to Tazewell County and asked members to submit names within 24 hours. The staff member said department heads will finalize their five departmental goals after the Saturday workshop and that a more detailed written report will follow.

Staff repeatedly framed the goals as four-year priorities with supporting action items, assigned champions and timelines; the written full report promised to contain more detail on those action items and specific budgets. The presentation included references to interoperability and technology modernization, security upgrades and a push toward paperless processes across multiple departments.

The board also reviewed the county’s current mission and vision statements; staff will present recommended changes after the workshop for the board to consider.

For now, no formal motions, votes or budget approvals on these goals were recorded in the transcript. Staff presented the goals for review and next steps, and the board is scheduled to receive the detailed report and to revisit mission and vision language after the Saturday discussion.