Tonight’s Tazewell County Board Meeting was mainly straight forward with a little item of interest at the end. As far as the agenda, after three In-Place Committee meetings the Consent was approved minus items 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. Of these, items 10, 11, 12 and 15 passed with full approval.
Item 13 was discussed at this month’s Tazewell County Property Committee Meeting. Member’s Brett Grimm, Joe Berardi, Jerry Vanderheydt and I objected to the winning bidder because of the large differences in bids and lack of information concerning the bids. Before the meeting, Member Grimm let me know that he had investigated the bids and after getting the additional information he requested he would be supporting the bid. With this information, I was comfortable voting in favor of this. Member Vanderheydt also mentioned that he appreciated the additional information, but that he still did not support it. When it came up for a vote, all members
voted in support except Board Members Jerry Vanderheydt and Joe Berardi.
Item 14 was pulled by me. In the previous few months, several questions had come forward concerning the status of the selling of the Mackinaw Property that Tazewell County owns. I wanted to make sure that everyone had an opportunity to see what the process was and what was going on as we move forward. Member Russ Crawford took the opportunity to make the statement that he was concerned with the County not being able to get the most out of this property because of the current state of the economy. While I understand his thoughts, and agree with his goal to get the most we can for the taxpayers of Tazewell County, the process calls for a required
minimum bid of $300,000. With this, we are guaranteed to be able to get a good value for the property. In the end, all Board Members except Member Crawford voted in support.
The Board heard a presentation from Vickie Clark of the Economic Development Council (EDC) for Central Illinois concerning the final draft of the Economic Overview/Business Outreach Services Report that the EDC has made for Tazewell County.
We also heard from Dawn Cook, the Director of the Tazewell County Emergency Management Agency, concerning the great work that has been and will continue to do for the Citizens of Tazewell County.
Finally, Board Chairmen David Zimmerman explained a new understanding of the Board Rules concerning Section H of the County Board Agenda. Section H is for Communications from Elected and Appointed County Officials. Chairmen Zimmerman wanted to change the rules so that County Board Members that wish to ask other County Elected or Appointed Officials questions must submit them to the individual 10 days in advance of the County Board Meeting and then the Official being ask the question will decide weather of not they wish to attend and answer the questions.
I made a statement that I supported changing the rules, but that I wanted to make sure that other Elected or Appointed Officials realize that when a County Board Member ask them a question, he or she is not simply a Board Member asking a question; he or she is the Elected Representative of the Citizens of Tazewell County asking them. As such, if they choose not to answer the question, they are basically disrespecting the Citizens of Tazewell County.
With that, I made the statement that I felt it was important that Member Jerry Vanderheydt’s questions from the last Board Meeting be answered soon. I have listed the questions concerning the activities of the Sheriff’s Office below. Any County Board Member that request information from an elected County or Appointed County Office holder should have those questions answered, regardless of position, political party, ect. Too many County Board Members have asked questions that have not been answered lately. While I am not one of them waited to have my questions answered, someday I may have questions in need of attention. The County Board is the
people’s voice in County Government and other Elected or Appointed Officials need to show respect to the voters of Tazewell County and be more transparent with the actions of their office.
Member Russ Crawford also pointed out to Chairmen Zimmerman that in order to change the rules of the County Board, it must go forward for a vote of the full County Board, not just one committee, and must receive the support of 2/3’s of the Board Members. I support this change as I feel it puts the pressure on the elected or appointed officials to answer the questions of County Board Members. With this we will have a formal process and those that choose not to participate in this process would do so against not just the one County Board Member, but against the County Board as a whole. This process should also remove all reasons for not answering
questions, as the Official being questioned will have plenty of time to come up with the answers. Also, while this new rule would affect question from Board Member’s, if their questions are not answered the County Board Member can bring these questions before the Board as a statement rather than a question, thus letting all of us know who and what is not being answered and allowing us to ask why.