Lake County Gazette

Lake County Committee of the Whole met March 5.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

1. Call to Order 

Chair Hart called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. 

2. Pledge of Allegiance 

Member Casbon led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

3. Roll Call of Members 

All members attended virtually.  

(Member Frank arrived at 8:32 a.m.)

Present 19 -  Member Altenberg, Member Barr, Member Casbon, Member Clark,  Vice-Chairman Cunningham, Member Danforth, Member Durkin, Member Frank,  Chair Hart, Member Hewitt, Member Kyle, Member Maine, Member Parekh,  Member Pedersen, Member Roberts, Member Simpson, Member Taylor, Member  Vealitzek and Member Wasik

Absent 2 - Member Martini and Member Wilke 

Others Present: 

Karen Fox, State's Attorney's Office 

Gary Gibson, County Administrator's Office 

RuthAnne Hall, Purchasing 

Jim Hawkins, County Administrator's Office 

Rosemary Heilemann, League of Women Voters 

Mitchell Hoffman, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court 

Mark Levitt, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court 

Carl Kirar, Facilities and Construction Services 

Alex Kovach, Forest Preserve District 

Matt Meyers, County Administrator's Office 

Jorge Ortiz, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court 

Eric Rinehart, State's Attorney's Office 

Victoria Rosetti, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court 

Joseph Salvi, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court 

Abby Scalf, County Board Office 

Todd Schroeder, Court Administration 

Daniel Shanes, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court 

Steve Spagnolo, State's Attorney's Office 

Christopher Stride, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court 

Arin Thrower, Communications 

Cassandra Torstenson, County Administrator's Office

 Blanca Vela-Schneider, County Administrator's Office 

Teri White, State's Attorney's Office 

Diane Winter, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court 

4. Addenda to the Agenda 

There were no additions or amendments to the agenda. 

5. Public Comment (Items not on the agenda) 

6. Chair's Remarks 

There were no remarks from the Chair. 

7. Unfinished Business 

8. New Business 

CONSENT AGENDA (Item 8.1 ) 

*Approval of Minutes* 

8.1 21-0386 

Minutes from February 5, 2021. 

(Member Parek arrived at 8:34 a.m.) 

A motion was made by Member Cunningham, seconded by Member Hewitt, that the  minutes be approved. The motion carried by the following vote: 

Aye: 19 - Member Altenberg, Member Barr, Member Casbon, Member Clark,  Vice-Chairman Cunningham, Member Danforth, Member Durkin, Member Frank, Chair Hart, Member Hewitt, Member Kyle, Member Maine, Member Parekh, Member Pedersen, Member Roberts, Member Simpson, Member Taylor, Member Vealitzek and Member Wasik 

Absent: 2 - Member Martini and Member Wilke 

REGULAR AGENDA 

8.2 21-0404 

Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court Update.  

A presentation was provided by several judges of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court.  Chief Judge Winter reported on the impact COVID-19 has had to the Nineteenth Judicial  Circuit Court operations. Services were initially limited on the onset of the pandemic but its  administration quickly reorganized to increase services through Zoom. When services  shifted to a virtual setting, the Court used You-Tube to create awareness of the new  processes. There is a plan on using Zoom and in-court appearances in the future but each  division will look differently.  

Chief Judge Winter reviewed the structure of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court and its  four divisions: Civil, Family, Juvenile, and Criminal. The Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court  also maintains the operations of the William D. Block Memorial Law Library and the Center for Self-Representation.  

Judges Rosetti, Shanes, Stride, Hoffman, Ortiz, and Salvi updated the Committee on each  of the Nineteen Judicial Circuit Court divisions, the services and programs provided by the  Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court, and the challenges the courts face.  

Todd Schroeder, Courts Administrator, reviewed the administrative services of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court, discussed staffing levels, and provided an overview of  revenue sources that fund the courts. 

Judges Rosetti and Hoffman discussed the Jury Trial Task Force and the Courts' plan to  resume in-person jury trials. 

Discussion ensued. 

A presentation of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court was provided. 

8.3 21-0405 

State's Attorney's Update. 

Due to time constraints, this item will be presented at the April 9, 2021 meeting. 

9. County Administrator's Report 

There was no County Administrator's Report. 

10. Executive Session 

The Committee did not enter into Executive Session. 

11. Members' Remarks 

There were no remarks from members. 

12. Adjournment 

Chair Hart declared the meeting adjourned at 10:31 a.m. 

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