The LaSalle County Property Committee reviewed furniture bids, discussed a proposed courthouse generator enclosure and delayed grant funding, heard a parks update and reviewed county building projects. The meeting transcript records approval of the previous month’s minutes and bills, followed by adjournment.
Discussion Points
•A ballpark estimate for architectural and engineering work was being sought.
•A building was estimated at approximately 2,500 square feet, with a rough estimate of about 9,000 square feet for all buildings.
•A jail-area heat exchanger was found cracked and replacement was underway.
•A second bid was stated as $497,786; the transcript’s rendering of the bidder name and scope is unclear.
•A staff member understood that bids should not be opened before grant status is known.
•Contractors sealed penetrations and repaired foundation cracks near the county clerk’s voting-equipment storage area.
•December student visits were scheduled; additional seasonal education visits were being considered.
•Grant funds might become available if Cook County relinquishes them; Cook County had not signed off, according to the discussion.
•Ken planned to discuss land conservation possibilities with a conservation foundation.
•Members asked about electrical, plumbing and other infrastructure.
•Members did not know whether the grant had a completion or spending deadline.
•Members discussed east- versus south-side placement, gate access, wiring, lighting and Ameren transformer placement.
•Park equipment and vehicles were being maintained after squirrel damage to an F-450’s wiring.
•The assessor’s office renovation was in its second phase and reported on target.
•The committee approved previous minutes and two bill-related motions; the bill lists and vote totals are not in the transcript.
•The courthouse two-to-four-pipe conversion and chiller work were reported as progressing on schedule.
•The footing assumption remains subject to further technical requirements.
•The park was pursuing a grant called “OZLA” in the transcript; the possible county share was described as about 16% if partner funding materialized.
•The proposed enclosure uses a concrete foundation, split-face masonry pilasters and cedar-stained fence material.
•The stated estimate was about $100,000.
•Tree work, hazardous-fuels reduction and winter seeding were reported.
•Water testing was passing; frequency requirements remained to be checked.
•Woodmere Interiors submitted a $57,406.12 total bid including delivery and installation at prevailing wage.
Decisions
•The motion to adjourn carried.
•The previous month’s minutes were approved.
•Two bill motions were recorded as carried.
Directions
•A project inspection with BCA and KED Bluestone Architects was scheduled for the 19th.
•A staff member said they would check records for the total building area and seek preliminary design-cost information.
•Jack said he would coordinate with Ameren regarding transformer placement and provide an update after the design is presented to the city.
•Ken said he would look into water-testing requirements and continue examining grant eligibility.
•The chair said they would contact Fred to ask about the grant deadline.
•The presenter said the bids might need to be checked because of the substantial price difference.
The Thirteenth Circuit-wide probation meeting reviewed October 2026 caseloads, expenses and reimbursements, and discussed a chief judge’s salary order for management staff. Members approved the reports and bills presented; the meeting date was not stated.
Discussion Points
•Bill asked whether the state would cover the salary increases; Goodwin said reimbursement had been approved.
•Goodwin announced Holland’s appointment and summarized Holland’s and Ryan’s judicial service.
•Goodwin attributed part of the decline in LaSalle County juvenile cases to judicial and prosecutor transitions.
•Goodwin reviewed salary reimbursement amounts and said the circuit’s fiscal 2027 allocation was more than $2 million.
•Goodwin said comparable jurisdictions paid higher starting salaries for management positions and described eligibility requirements and recruitment challenges.
•Susan itemized October bills by county and corrected the classification of the Cricket Wireless cell phone charge.
•Susan reported October caseload and probation-fee figures.
At the Nov. 9 LaSalle County Nursing Home & VAC committee meeting, the nursing-home administrator reported an October operating loss driven by one-time costs (a new bus purchase and a CMS fine) but a year-to-date gain; the committee voted to solicit bids for water-tower painting and a replacement nurse call system and discussed a proposed $400,000 dining-room remodel and other operations improvements.
Discussion Points
•A life-safety plan of correction is due and expected to be completed by Nov. 30
•Architect estimate just under $400,000 including $70,000 in fees
•Bids should be solicited now to secure spring schedules and bidder price-hold windows
•CMS program allows repurposing of civil monetary-penalty funds for nurse recruitment
•Committee preference to prioritize ceiling and HVAC before cosmetic upgrades
•Eligibility confirmed for LaSalle County and positions will be advertised on CMS site
•Estimates: water-tower painting $75k–$90k; call system ~$125k
•Four health-survey deficiencies were low scope and cleared after an off-site revisit
•High accounts receivable flagged in PointClickCare; reconciliation project underway
•October operating shortfall of $129,133 driven by one-time purchases and payroll timing
•Proposed ACH payment option for families with $30/month bank fee
•Scheduling-software integration delayed; $1,800 quote and eight-week implementation timeline
•Year-to-date gain of $861,000 and projected net gain for fiscal year
Decisions
•Motion approved to solicit bids
Directions
•Administrator to bring policies and recommendations on collections and report back on integration progress
•Advertise positions and coordinate with IVCC
•Finance team to continue accounts-receivable review and return with recommendations
•Prepare and submit plan of correction to IDPH
•Staff to prepare and issue request for bids and report back with results
•Staff to return with detailed estimates and schedule for ceiling/HVAC work and options to phase cosmetic work
LaSalle County IT and Central Services committee met Nov. 6, 2026 to approve minutes, hear monthly Central Services and IT reports, and approved going out to bid to replace county firewalls, a budgeted equipment purchase estimated near $109,000.
Discussion Points
•525 support tickets reported; 92 from Health Department.
•A $13,242.97 refund credited to certified-mail line item.
•Budgeted MSRP placeholder used: $109,000; expected range $79k–$109k.
•Catalog of motions and outcomes from the meeting.
•Existing firewalls are six years old and due for replacement.
•Fortinet quarterly meetings and NACO cybersecurity exercise announced.
•Monthly operational counts for microfilm, scanning, printers and copiers.
•Optional add-ons include a higher-capacity Fortinet model (401), OT security for legacy printers, and vendor installation services.
•Reported departmental postings and reimbursements.
LaSalle County land-use committee and oversight meeting covered landfill inspections, recycling events, a proposed water study, SafeBuilt inspection contract and possible in‑house inspectors, a flood-mitigation strategy approval, and a zoning text amendment sent to the ZBA.
Discussion Points
•$250,000 noted in professional services line in budget
•Annual review requirement for community rating system
•Code updates adopted (IRC/IBC/NEC)
•Contractor survey shows mixed feedback on fees and scheduling
•Discussion about sharing application materials electronically
•Event turnout and totals reported
•Legal counsel likely needed toward the end of negotiations
•Minor revisions from Jeremiah's prior draft
•Municipal participation required for the survey
•No new budget line required for maintenance
•Plans for repeating events next year
•Possible hybrid model with one in‑house inspector and SafeBuilt for overflow
•Roll‑call vote recorded ayes from all present members
•SafeBuilt remote inspections use smartphone links; plumbing inspections remain in person
•Survey is planning-level, not a geological study
•Whether to explore expanding landfill service area to strengthen negotiations (no decision made)
Decisions
•Approve the 2026 flood mitigation strategy
•Place landfill inspection review on file
•Send amendment to ZBA for hearing
Directions
•Approve 2026 flood mitigation strategy and proceed with outreach
•Chair to provide committee contact names to regional planner
•Forward amendment to ZBA for public hearing and then to full county board
•Staff to finalize dates for spring and fall recycling events
•Staff to obtain response from outside party and schedule a follow‑up meeting
•Staff to prepare cost comparison including salary, vehicle and scheduling implications
•Staff to provide application materials on request
•Staff to resend reminders and solicit municipal responses
Committee on Appointment and Legislation & Rules 11-4-2026
The LaSalle County Committee on Appointments, Legislation and Rules met Nov. 4 to approve remote attendance, forward an appointment to the LaSalle County Health Department Board, and discuss proposed changes to board rules and public-comment procedures; members agreed to review two draft rule proposals in committee before forwarding to the full board.
Discussion Points
•Chairman Don Jensen's recommendation of Dr. Alex Marchini
•Committee voted to forward the appointment to the full board
•Enforcing or shortening the existing 5-minute comment limit
•Existence of a circulated 'Defend Illinois' draft and MOU
•Existence of a vacancy on the LaSalle County Health Department Board
•Members want attorney review before in-depth committee time is spent
•Mister Gadsden confirmed remote participation was work-related
•Motion to approve remote attendance using a standing resolution
•Preference to review the draft at committee level with the author present
•Seeking attorney guidance before changing rules
•Two draft rule versions exist (Krensky, Paul Baus)
•Whether it has been reviewed by the state's attorney
•Whether to place out-of-county speakers at the end of public comment
•Whether to require city vs. street address for safety concerns
Decisions
•Motion to forward appointment approved
•No action taken; committee review and attorney feedback requested
•No immediate rule change; committee to review drafts with attorney guidance
•Proceed with attorney review prior to substantive committee action
•Remote attendance motion approved
Directions
•Chair to circulate both drafts to full board and staff to place item on Rules committee agenda
•Chair to circulate the draft and seek attorney review
•Staff to circulate draft language and place on the next Rules committee agenda
•Staff to consider scheduling a committee hearing to allow author testimony
•Staff to forward the resolution to full board agenda
LaSalle County Land Use Committee reviewed and approved the landfill quarterly host-fee report, heard an inspection update showing no new violations, discussed landfill longevity and host-agreement renewals (including possible expansion of the service area), and clarified which materials count as maintenance tons.
Discussion Points
•Existence of two host agreements: routine update and a larger rate/service-area agreement.
•Maintenance tons definition: wood chips, shredded demolition debris and shredded tires; not counted toward host fee.
•Operator and county technical reports give differing life-expectancy estimates.
•Post agreement extended to January 2027 requires negotiation.
•Prior agreement allowed up to 4,000 tons for maintenance.
•Six inspections conducted this quarter with no new violations; new cell filling.
•Staff reported third-quarter host-fee receipts and year-to-date totals and explained tiered rate structure tied to cumulative tonnage.
•Two procedural votes were held: approval of previous minutes and approval of the quarterly report.
Decisions
•Both motions recorded as passing by voice vote.
•Quarterly host-fee report approved by unanimous voice vote.
Directions
•Set a negotiation meeting within the next month to address the larger host agreement and service-area issues.
•Staff to convene separate meeting to negotiate host-agreement updates and service-area questions.
•Staff to coordinate further technical review in host-agreement meeting.
LaSalle County Board held a lengthy meeting that included roll call and routine business, approved ARPA transfers for a school resource officer and park erosion control, recognized two student award winners, heard an extended public comment period focused on rescinding a recent resolution about religious law, voted to rescind that nonbinding "constitutional supremacy" resolution, approved two land‑use special‑use permits including conditions for a silica mine expansion, adjusted nursing‑home rates, and recessed to 2026-11-25.
Discussion Points
•Board discussed precedent from prior Pit 10 expansions and implementation mechanisms for property‑value agreements.
•Board members debated whether to table, amend, or rescind; multiple members urged attorney review and formation of a working group to address local economic concerns alongside symbolic measures.
•Chair and members commended prior ARPA distribution to many organizations; no extended debate on the specific dollar lines recorded in the ordinance.
•Chair scheduled the board to reconvene Nov. 25 at 1 p.m.
•Clerk read federal Treasury guidance and cited county's standard allowance selection for lost revenue calculation.
•Commenters urged the board to focus on infrastructure, local needs, and lawyer review rather than symbolic condemnations.
•Contract extension was framed as allowable under the option provisions of the existing contract; members asked clarifying questions about contract period and cost language.
•Many public commenters said the resolution's wording singled out Islam and risked lawsuits.
•Members requested full packets for review prior to Nov. 25; staff to email ZBA application packets on request.
•Nursing‑home rate increases were presented as routine adjustments with the effective date of Jan. 1, 2027; a small number of nays were recorded.
•Public commenters argued the resolution was discriminatory and risked lawsuits; supporters argued it was nonbinding and affirmed constitutional principles.
•Zoning board recommended approval with conditions; adjacent property owners raised concerns about wells and air quality.
Decisions
•Contract extension approved; nursing‑home rates increased and scheduled to take effect 2027‑01‑01.
•Highway program moved, budget placed on file, meeting recessed to Nov. 25.
•Motion to close debate passed (27‑1); motion to rescind passed (16‑12).
•Ordinance approved by roll call; ARPA bills approved.
•Special‑use permits approved with stated conditions.
Directions
•Board to consider attorney review and possible rewording.
•Board to consider drafting revised language and seek county attorney review.
•Company must submit groundwater monitoring and tile surveys; notify and offer property‑value agreements to owners within 2,640 feet; air monitors to be installed at company expense.
•County finance to confirm and record final authorized amounts in county financial system and provide confirmation to the board.
•Facilities/Procurement to execute extension and notify vendor; Nursing Home Administration to update billing systems and inform residents/families.
•Potential working group/subcommittee proposed to address Norway area economic impacts and related local concerns.
•Staff to circulate materials and prepare highway packet for the Nov. 25 meeting.
Finance budget committee met Nov. 2, 2026 in Room 215 and voted to forward an amended draft budget to the full board after reviewing line-item changes, a corrected physician contract amount, and several potential uses of a new state income tax deposit including matching funds for NCAT.
Discussion Points
•Apparent change from $3.90 to $500,000 for a culvert project on page 69.
•Large state income tax deposit increased assigned emergency balance to $307,000.
•Members debated donating county funds versus returning funds to county accounts.
•Members reviewed line-item changes since the previous meeting including a culvert job removal, a longevity addition for a central services employee and a corrected physician contract amount.
•NCAT has a grant that likely requires matching funds.
•Options discussed included returning money to the recorder's fund or donating to outside agencies with possible intergovernmental agreement requirements.
•Packet versions differ; staff said the $500,000 likely sits in a different line that had prior funds.
•Physician contract line corrected from 1,000,002 to 1,000,003.
•Recorder's payroll is recorded at 0.5 in the draft budget.
Decisions
•Budget forwarded to full board (motion carried).
•Correction included in draft forwarded to full board.
•No allocation decided at this meeting.
•No change made at this meeting; issue may be revisited.
•No separate appropriation approved at this committee meeting.
Directions
•Forward amended draft budget to the full board for consideration.
•Keep potential matching funds under consideration; require formal intergovernmental agreements if county donates funds.
•Members should refer to the emailed, updated packet for clarification.
Meeting included votes to exit executive session, approval of a wage increase for a land-use employee, denial of a tourism stipend request, discussion of executive-session posting practices and collective-bargaining contract timing, and approval of routine bills.
Discussion Points
•A committee member requested a $500 one-time payment for employees be placed on the next agenda; chair agreed.
•Agency official recommended either continuing practice or amending agenda to list items separately.
•Agency official said no significant updates; contracts expire end of November and carry over until resolved.
•Motion proposed to go into executive session under statutory collective-bargaining exemption.
•No member moved the request, so it was denied procedurally.
•Payments and bills were approved by the board.
•Proposal: add $1 to Lori Maskell's wage in 2027 above the standard 3% raise.
•Roll-call vote produced majority support and motion was approved.
•Tourism committee requested $5,000 stipend for Amanda Myers.
•Whether items listed under 'items to be presented for action' but noted as executive-session items satisfy public-notice requirements.
Decisions
•Payments and bills approved; $500 item scheduled for a future meeting.
•Request denied for lack of motion
•Wage increase approved
Directions
•Chair to place $500 item on next agenda.
•Members to review prior agendas after the meeting to confirm how items were posted.
•No executive-session vote recorded; further meetings scheduled on the matter.
The LaSalle County Salary and Labor Committee met Oct. 28, 2026. Members approved the minutes, recorded no public comment, and voted to enter an executive session under a cited statute to discuss compensation of specific employees and discretionary leaves; the committee agreed to take a tourism item first.
Discussion Points
•Chair announced intent to enter executive session citing statutory text and adjusted agenda order to take tourism item first.
•Chair requested a motion to approve the minutes and asked if members had seen them.
Decisions
•Motion to approve the minutes was approved as announced by the chair.
•Motion to enter executive session approved by roll call.
Directions
•Proceed to executive session after taking tourism item.
The LaSalle County Law & Justice committee met Oct. 27 to handle routine bills and reports. Key items: circuit clerk reported full-county rollout of a new e-citation system and finances; probation reported caseload and fee collections; the court disability coordinator outlined a $4,000 ADA grant request and raised concerns about new interpreter reimbursement caps; the panel approved bills and adjourned.
Discussion Points
•Adult probation fees ordered and collected were presented; caseloads noted as temporarily lower than earlier months.
•Consideration of hiring in‑house or circuitwide interpreter, use of remote interpreting technology.
•Grant application for ADA assessment and transcripts; interpreter reimbursement caps reducing travel/mileage payments.
•Greg reported e‑citation onboarding and finances; members questioned payback; Greg said onboarding costs vary by agency and are funded from a restricted e‑citation fund.
•Juvenile referrals counted and sources (state's attorney vs police) were noted.
•Pros and cons of machine translation vs in‑person interpreters; cost considerations; judges' preference for in‑person in complex hearings.
•Remote attendance authorized under Resolution 23‑53 for two members.
•Routine approval of bills and reports across departments.
Decisions
•Committee approved the circuit clerk's report.
•Committee approved the judiciary and probation reports.
•Motions carried; meeting adjourned.
•No change; continue research.
•No formal policy decision; committee requested further research.
Directions
•Clerk to record attendance and process approved bills.
•Continue monthly reporting; research for remaining agencies to join the vendor.
•No new policy action; continue monitoring caseloads and reporting.
•Staff to compile data on interpreter costs and reimbursement shortfalls for further discussion.
•Staff to research pilot programs and practices in other circuits before recommending procurement.
LaSalle County property committee met in Room 250 to review parks volunteer projects and seed purchases, courthouse building and systems work including a chiller and a $5,000 water‑heater replacement, downtown parking impacts on courthouse staff, and a possible lease of the nearby Covia building. The committee approved routine motions (minutes, bills) and directed staff to follow up on grant, bid, and space‑planning questions.
Discussion Points
•A pending grant may prevent opening bids until award status is known; staff estimated notification within ~90 days.
•Chiller piping installation and insulation near completion; smaller repairs and flooring replacements completed for safety.
•Clerk reported that city parking limits changed to two hours and formerly reserved county lots opened to the public, causing tickets and access problems for courthouse staff.
•Committee discussed whether court‑issued permits or direct negotiation with city officials could mitigate impacts.
•Dan ordered seed with leftover grant funds; his site‑improvement request was reduced in the draft budget and he lacks matching funds for a grant due in October.
•Don has not yet received final drawings from IMEG needed for bid documents.
•Don reported three lease units available in the Covia building and said renovation costs would be charged to the county.
•Members asked which departments might relocate and urged a feasibility review.
•Multiple routine motions were moved, seconded and approved with 'Aye' votes recorded in the transcript.
•Phase 1 of Assessor remodel complete; phase 2 (south half, bathrooms) scheduled to begin next week.
•Volunteer projects produced benches and signs; fencing donated by EMA will be used to repair horse arena fencing.
•Clerk to follow up with the mayor and police chief and report back to the committee.
•Dan to contact finance/Allie/Sharon about ARPA or matching funds and report back.
•Don to contact IMEG/Jack for drawings and to report back at next meeting; consider inviting IMEG to present if drawings are incomplete.
•Form a subcommittee or assign staff (Don, Wesley and an architect/attorney) to evaluate renovation cost estimates and department fit; Don to arrange site visit and Wesley to provide square‑footage data.
•Wesley to coordinate contractor start dates and forward safety walk reports to the committee; bids for assessor cubicle project due Nov 12, opening Nov 13.
The LaSalle County Insurance Committee met to review the county health plan's performance through September, heard a detailed benefits and pharmacy report from a presenter identified as Beth, approved insurance bills and several committee actions, and authorized actuary services for the annual OPEB evaluation. The meeting concluded with a January 28, 2027 next-meeting date.
Discussion Points
•Annual OPEB actuarial process will start; Roman will prepare report; timeline likely December–January depending on claims-data from Marsh.
•Committee added VIDA weight-management program for 2027 and will monitor utilization.
•Enrollment up by 7 employees year over year (12 additional members).
•Generics ~89–90% dispensing; specialty drugs ~30% of spend for ~0.4–0.5% of participants.
•HealthJoy has 477 eligible lives and 145 activations (~41%).
•Large claims over $50,000 down nearly $1,000,000 year over year; mid-sized claims up ~13%.
•Motion recorded as 'Kathy and Patrick' and carried with unanimous ayes.
•Motion to approve insurance bills took place after the presentation.
•Per-capita annual cost presented as $5,006.19.
•Plan covers GLP‑1 drugs when prescribed for diabetes but not when the indication is weight loss.
•Plan running at 88.9% of expected through September (Beth).
•Staff will distribute the report to committee members when completed.
•The service redirected about $16,000 year-to-date through telemedicine and care navigation.
Decisions
•Accept and place the health insurance reports on file.
•Actuarial services for OPEB evaluation approved.
•Insurance bills approved.
Directions
•Approve engagement of actuarial services for OPEB evaluation.
•Continue monitoring year-end claim spend and renewal trends.
•Increase outreach and communications before open enrollment to raise activation.
•Monitor VIDA utilization and reassess midyear 2027.
LaSalle County Zoning Board of Appeals held hearings on two special-use petitions — a short-term rental conversion (DLC Enterprise LLC) and a mining expansion (Wedron Silica) — and recommended both petitions to the county board with conditions; the mining petition drew extended public comment about wells, blasting and air monitoring.
Discussion Points
•Applicant plans max occupancy of six and quiet hours (10 p.m.–8 a.m.); applicant lives nearby and will manage property.
•Board attached conditions to mining recommendation including groundwater monitoring with remediation obligations, drain-tile studies, property-protection agreements, and air-monitoring with placement to be set by the land-use director.
•Board members emphasized the monitors' role in public reassurance, and staff noted past permit conditions lack precise siting/duration language.
•Company presented one year of monitoring data and argued monitors may no longer be necessary.
•Company said it runs groundwater monitoring, replaces or deepens wells when warranted, and offers neighbor agreements and compensation mechanisms in previous permits.
•Company stated no increase in production or new processing facilities; emphasized groundwater monitoring and drain-tile studies are in place.
•Residents raised concerns about blasting, well impacts, property values and notification; staff explained prior conditions from earlier permits and how neighbor agreements would work.
•Residents reported blasting, foundation cracks, repeated well issues and repair costs.
•Staff confirmed certified mail notifications and application compliance with zoning ordinance.
Decisions
•Air-monitoring requirement retained and incorporated into recommended conditions; monitoring data to be available to IEPA and county upon request.
•Motions recommending approval of petitions 26-18 and 26-19 passed; county board will decide on Nov. 2.
•Zoning board included groundwater-monitoring and property-protection conditions in its recommendation.
•Zoning board recommended approval with conditions and will forward to county board on Nov. 2.
•Zoning board voted to recommend approval to county board.
Directions
•Include groundwater monitoring plan and property-protection agreement conditions in recommendation; land-use director to determine air-monitor placement for expansion area.
•Retain minimum two air monitors as a condition; land-use director to determine monitor placement for the expansion and coordinate with existing monitors and conditions.
•Staff and company to continue outreach; monitoring data to be made available to county upon request.
•Staff to forward recommendation and application materials to county board for Nov. 2 meeting.
•Staff to prepare final recommendation packet and present it to county board on Nov. 2.
LaSalle County Taxes, Election & GIS Committee met Oct. 20; members reviewed treasurer and recorder reports, approved multiple tax-sale certificate surrenders and related resolutions, discussed surplus-auction bids and surplus-equity handling, heard an elections update on ballots and early voting, and learned the recorder's office will pilot an AI tool for old cursive documents.
Discussion Points
•Approximately $27,000 in surplus equity from prior trustee parcels and roughly $395,000 in current collectible fees reported.
LaSalle County board heard monthly reports from the recorder, GIS and the county assessor, approved routine reports and bills, and introduced a new financial director. Key items included recorder revenue from the Tapestry search service, GIS preparations for an ArcGIS Enterprise upgrade and use of AI tools, and assessor publication of equalized assessments with an appeals deadline of Nov. 16.
Discussion Points
•Assessment office remodel progress and availability of online taxing-district reports.
•Board thanked Karen for budgeting choices and approved routine reports.
•Current CV count 871 and 256 board-review appeals.
•Introduction and location of the new financial director's office.
•Karen reported Tapestry per-search fees and copy fees.
•Progress on GIS website and drainage calculations.
•Publication and mailing dates for equalized assessments and appeals deadline Nov. 16 at 11:59 p.m.
•Upgrade timeline and need for backups; estimated downtime 4–8 hours.
•Use of AI to automate scripting and system checks.
LaSalle County School Services Committee met Oct. 19 at the nursing home to consider procurement of a nursing-home van, hear a presentation on the county institute and school safety trainings, receive health-department and nursing-home financial reports (including a paid civil money penalty), approve a PointClickCare technology update, and forward a room-rate increase resolution to the full board.
Discussion Points
•County Institute structure: seven in-person events and one virtual track; recorded content accessible for six months; staff added instructional specialists and an outdoor educator.
•Integration would streamline referrals and lab/radiology results directly into medical records.
•Lowest bid listed at $114,578 from Southern Bus & Mobility; specification parity must be confirmed; paying this fiscal year preferred.
•Pilot diaper program offers up to $40/month per eligible child, enrollment began Oct. 1 and is contingent on grant funding.
•Reunification training is a best-practices model involving role-play, EMS and police/fire to rehearse reunification at remote rallying points.
•September and year-to-date financial figures; projected full-year revenue and net gain; survey tags and the paid CMP.
•Technology and operational projects (EHR integration, HVAC study, dining-room remodel) and budget adjustments were discussed.
•Two public-health nurse positions open; mosquito season ended and tick surveillance forthcoming; department participated in IDPH vector and food-code groups.
LaSalle County finance committee reviewed the proposed 2027 budgets on Oct. 16, 2026, agreeing to forward the county budget and tax levies to the full board while making targeted edits — notably adding a tourism stipend line item and removing two proposed court-security positions to reduce payroll. The committee also corrected a probation payroll discrepancy that produced a roughly $116,000 shortfall and set the tourism revenue projection at $400,000.
Discussion Points
•Adding an explicit stipend line to clarify payroll treatment
•Cash balances rose sharply over the past two years
•Committee corrected payroll errors and removed placeholders
•Committee proposed modest levy increases to rebuild reserves
•Court-security payroll jumped due to two added positions budgeted at $77,000 each
•Discrepancy between department-provided payroll and HR's numbers
•Grant is a 50/50 match requiring $200,000 spend to draw $100,000
•Impact of losing Fox River Resort on future revenue
•Planned increases to StarRock allocations
•Positions appear contingent on contract or reclassification of bailiffs
•Possible offsets in departmental budgets and payroll lines
•Whether tourism transfers were intended as salary reimbursement or general transfers to the general fund
Decisions
•Budget and levy package forwarded to full board on unanimous roll call
•Committee accepted the grant accounting and will proceed with current budget adjustments
•Committee agreed to add stipend line and to forward budget ordinance to full board
•Placeholders removed; payroll estimate reduced by ~$154,000
•Revenue projection set at $400,000
•Staff will correct payroll lines and report back; committee adjusted other lines where appropriate
Directions
•Add tourism administration stipend line in O08; route payroll setup to salary and labor
•Correct probation payroll figures in the draft budget
•Forward budget ordinance and levies to full board
•Forward budget ordinance and levies to full board; staff to provide fund-status detail
•Identify offsets to cover a $116,000 deficit
•Monitor collections for one year before further rate/levy changes
•Remove two $77,000 placeholder positions from the payroll estimate pending contract outcomes
•Set tourism revenue projection at $400,000
•Staff to reflect the removal in updated draft and use amendments if contracts require future changes
LaSalle County Insurance Trust Board heard financial and safety reports, was told insurance renewal quotes are arriving (staff used a 6% planning estimate), accepted staff reports, and voted to enter executive session to discuss potential litigation, reserves and personnel.
Discussion Points
•Counsel read the Open Meetings Act citation; scope includes litigation, reserves, settlements and employment matters.
•Renewal quotes beginning to arrive; staff to vet alternatives; Marsh representative present.
•Training modules completed (de-escalation, verbal judo); EV and lithium battery safety discussed.
•Trust staff presented fund balances and claim activity; loss reports deferred to executive session.
Decisions
•Accepted reports and placed them on file.
•Approved motion to enter executive session.
•Next Safety Committee meeting scheduled for Nov. 4.
•No renewal decisions were made in open session.
Directions
•Coordinate Highway Safety Training Day; update Find It/Fix It scheduling system.
•Enter executive session to discuss sensitive claim and personnel matters.
•Place reports on file; discuss loss reports in executive session.
•Staff to confirm budget planning percentage and report back after renewals are finalized.
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