Lee County executive committee hears hearing officer will recommend approval of zoning petition; committee okays routine reports

The Lee County Executive Committee was told a zoning hearing officer will recommend approval of map amendment petition 25P1657 and heard routine committee reports at its session.

Alice, a county staff member who relayed the zoning hearing officer's message, said, "He is going to be recommending approval of the petition," and told the committee she expected to receive the officer's written report by the following morning and would email it to board addresses. The committee's agenda lists a related property owner as Richard Fluck; the transcript also records the hearing officer's name as Richard Flock in one exchange (the transcript contains both spellings).

The committee received a notice that the building department will submit Title 9 building chapter code updates in time for the February meeting. Joe, speaking to the group, said the building department anticipates taking the package to the plan commission on Feb. 1 and that "Stephanie Saucer is working on that currently to make sure everything is up to speed." The committee did not vote on the code changes at this meeting; staff will forward the draft materials for Committee and Plan Commission review.

Committee reports were brief. Mike Zeman, reporting for the Claims Committee, said the committee met three times in the last weeks and processed batches of claims ("went through 52 claims, passed all 52" at one meeting; 29 at another; and 42 at a third meeting). He also noted an ongoing sales-tax issue for which staff (Reid Mitchell) will pilot an experimental approach. On public safety, Mike Copine said departments have "transitioned into the new software" and probation has already been using it successfully; he also summarized that sheriff's deputies assisted the Amboy Police Department with a suspected attempted robbery and that fines-collection data were updated in the meeting packet.

Tom Wilson, reporting for Facilities, encouraged board members to tour the county facility and said the department will present renderings and ideas for front-of-courthouse work, including wall removals, with plans to bid and start work in early spring: "we're gonna be bringing to the board some renderings and some ideas for the front of the, courthouse," he said. Nancy Naylor, sitting in for Finance Committee Chair Scheelein, said Treasurer Paul Rudolphi provided basic financials and that the committee approved two Joseph Meyer resolutions to forward to the executive committee. The finance committee also passed a resolution authorizing Susan Gillespie to be the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund authorized agent in place of Paul Rudolphi.

On routine business, the committee approved placing two Waltonfest meat-bundle raffle reports on file (motion by Tom Wilson; second by Nancy Naylor; voice vote carried). A separate motion to put the Nov. 3 and Dec. 1 Waltonfest meat raffle bundle reports on file was moved by Dean Friel and seconded by Mike Copine and also carried. The chair reviewed the Jan. 22 county board agenda — which will include the zoning and planning monthly report, the held-over ordinance petition 25-PC-80, and a presentation from Lucas Pauley of Visit Lee County/Discover Dixon — and the committee voted to approve the proposed board agenda.

The meeting closed after a motion to adjourn passed. The committee did not take final action on the zoning petition at this meeting; the hearing officer's written recommendation is expected to be filed and distributed to the board before the Jan. 22 meeting.