Lake County Gazette

Lake County F&A Special Committee on COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery and Investment met Dec. 10.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

0. 21-1171

Chair’s determination of need to meet by audio or video conference.

Attachments: Determination - Chair Hart 7.30.21[379]

1. Call to Order

Chair Frank called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m.

2. Pledge of Allegiance

Chair Frank led the pledge of allegiance.

3. Roll Call of Members

Present 4 - Chair Frank, Member Clark, Member Danforth and Vice Chair Vealitzek

Absent 1 - Member Pedersen

*Electronic Attendance: All Members

Other Attendees:

Abby Scalf, Communications

Alex Carr, Communications

Antonietta Simonian, Public

Ashley Rack, Sheriff’s Office

Austin McFarlane, Public Works

Bob Glueckert, Supervisor of Assessments

Brenda OConnell, Planning, Building and Development

Carissa Casbon, Board Member

Carl Kirar, Facilities

Cassandra Hiller, County Administrator's Office

Chris Anderson-Sell, Communications

Daniel Eder, Lake County EMA

Demar Harris, Workforce Development

Dominic Strezo, Planning, Building and Development

Eric Waggoner, Planning, Building and Development

Gary Gibson, County Administrator's Office

Gina Roberts, Board Member

James Chamernik, Sheriff's Office

James Hawkins, County Administrator's Office

Janna Philipp, County Administrator's Office

Jefferson McMillan-Wilhoit, Health Department

Jennifer Serino, Workforce Development

John Light, Human Resources

John Wasik, Board Member

Julie Simpson, Board Member

Kevin Considine, Lake County Partners

Kevin Hunter, Board Member

Krista Kennedy, Finance

Kristy Cechini, County Board Office

Kurt Woolford, Stormwater Management

Larry Mackey, Health Department

Laura Gergely, Workforce Development

Lawrence Oliver, Sheriff's Office

Marah Altenberg, Board Member

Mark Pfister, Health Department

Mary Ross Cunningham, Board Member

Matt Meyers, County Administrator's Office

Maureen Riedy, Public

Melissa Gallagher, Finance

Michael Wheeler, Finance

Pamela Riley, Health Department

Paras Parekh, Board Member

Patrice Sutton, Finance

Rebecca, Public

RuthAnne Hall, Purchasing

Sandy Hart, Board Member

Shane Schneider, Division of Transportation

Steven Spagnolo, State's Attorney's Office

Susan August, Purchasing

Teri White, State's Attorney's Office

Theresa Glatzhofer, County Board Office

Yvette Albarran, Purchasing

4. Addenda to the Agenda

There were no additions or amendments to the agenda.

5. Public Comment (Items not on the agenda)

There were no public comments.

6. Chair's Remarks

There were no Chair's remarks.

7. Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business to discuss.

8. New Business

CONSENT AGENDA (Item 8.1)

Approval of Minutes

8.1 21-1944

Minutes from November 19, 2021.

A motion was made by Member Danforth, seconded by Vice Chair Vealitzek, that the November 19, 2021 minutes be approved. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:

Aye: 4 - Chair Frank, Member Clark, Member Danforth and Vice Chair Vealitzek

Absent: 1 - Member Pedersen

REGULAR AGENDA

8.2 21-1963

Update on strategic priorities and planning.

Jim Hawkins, Deputy County Administrator, gave a high level overview of the federal guidance received for Lake County's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Alex Carr, Interim Chief Communications Officer, explained that the County is required to report on the methods used to engage communities regarding ARPA funding. Interim Chief Communications Officer Carr noted that a new web page has been created as an educational piece for the public about Lake County ARPA funds. Interim Chief

Communications Officer Carr further noted that the Communications department is working on a plan to notify Lake County residents about the new web page.

Discussion ensued.

Patrice Sutton, Chief Financial Officer, noted that the County is required to report on obligations and actual spending.

8.3 21-1962

Discussion and direction on specific focus areas, projects, and funding.

Cassandra Hiller, Assistant County Administrator, noted that the economic and business investments are based on six categories of recommendation for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Assistant County Administrator Hiller then gave a high level overview of the economic challenges, trends, and forecast for Lake County, and further explained the six recommendations and 11 requests for economic and business ARPA funding.

Discussion ensued.

The consensus of the Committee was general support for: work-based training wages, occupational training tuition, outreach and recruitment tools and toolkits, marketing support scholarship program, marketing campaign, and the business incentive fund. The Committee also expressed interest in acquiring more information about: automation grants, destination/tourism marketing intelligence, regional economic development plan, and the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The consensus of the Committee was not to support the sewer to site project as part of economic development.

Larry Mackey, Health Department Director of Environmental Health, noted that there are no public health ARPA funding requests at this point due to other funding streams and grants.

Jim Hawkins, Deputy County Administrator, gave an update on the possibility of ARPA funding for revenue replacement, provision of government services, and premium pay. Deputy County Administrator Hawkins noted that staff does not currently have a recommendation for the Committee regarding premium pay. Staff will continue their analysis of premium pay to bring back to the Committee at a future meeting.

Discussion ensued.

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 Members' remarks.

12. Adjournment

Chair Frank adjourned the meeting at 1:03 p.m.

Next Meeting: TBD

https://lakecounty.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=909996&GUID=326471E2-DF48-4048-9C72-B0A0D32252D1