Rock Island County Building Facilities Vision for the Future Ad Hoc Committee March 5, 2013

Transcription

1 Rock Island County Building Facilities Vision for the Future Ad Hoc Committee March 5, 2013 The newly formed Rock Island County Building Facilities Vision for the Future Ad Hoc Committee held their first meeting on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 in the conference room of the County Board Office. Co- Chairpersons Brian Vyncke and Kim Callaway-Thompson called the meeting to order at 3:30 PM. Committee Members Present: Brian Vyncke, Kim Callaway-Thompson, Pat Wendt, Sheriff Jeff Boyd, Don DeLoose, Circuit Clerk Lisa Bierman, Jim Grafton, Hunt Harris, Craig Kavensky, Tom McCune and John Wetzel Others Present included Judge Mark VandeWiele, Richard Brunk, Steve Meersman, Ron Oelke, 3:31 meeting called to order Chairman Banaszek welcomed and thanked everyone for serving on the committee. He appreciated the members serving on the committee. Brief introductions were held. Co-Chairperson Vyncke thanked the members for serving. He was hopeful that the members would move forward in a positive and enlighten manner. Scope and Timeline of the Committee To define the appropriate process for which both the Public Building Commission (PBC) and the Rock Island County Board (County Board) will adopt and implement for the act of determining any change in current County facilities with the guiding principle always being what is in the best interest of the Rock Island County taxpayer. Action Plan for Defining the Process 1. The Ad Hoc Committee will have to become educated themselves before establishing an appropriate process the PBC and County Board can adopt. a. Identify and review current concerns in existing county facilities. b. Compile and review recommendations for future county facilities i. Compile and research the data that already exists regarding current facilities and potential projects. ii. Review bids and interview potential consultants to conduct a Needs Assessment Study (this can be the test process for which the Committee can ultimately bring to the PBC and County Board).

2 2. Development of a process that achieves the three overarching goals of saving taxpayers money, transparency and efficiency. 3. The Ad Hoc Committee will review the make-up of the current PBC and suggest appropriate changes that will help promote its recommended process. Timeline is in the packet - There is so much information to digest and go over. Obviously, not forced or held to any timeline, try to get information out before the election, better chance we have of educating the process and what the PBC vote would entail. It would make voters more informed to provide a better opportunity to make a decision. Co-Chair Callaway-Thompson thanked the members as well. She pointed out the Building Option Decision Tree. There are 9 options being presented. A. Move Courthouse & County Administration to QCIC B. Move County Administration to QCIC C. Move Courthouse & County Administration to another downtown location D. Add Courthouse & County Administration onto Justice Center E. Add Courthouse to Justice Center and move County Administration to QCIC F. Add Courthouse to Justice Center & renovate the old courthouse for County Administration G. Add Courthouse to Justice Center & renovate the old County Admin Bldg for County Administration H. Add Courthouse to Justice Center & Build County Administration in another downtown location I. Add Courthouse to Justice Center and defer action on County Administration. These are the 9 known options. A lot of information and packet being presented today. Members will be asked to review the materials and be prepared for discussion at subsequent meetings of the group. The Courthouse has to stay in Rock Island. There has been a great deal of discussion regarding staying downtown. Wetzel asked if during the investigation that makes sense, if we can add other options to the Building Option Decision Tree. The response was yes, other options will be considered. Wendt asked about bond indebtedness of the County - $18 million for Hope Creek Care and $5.6 for Justice Center.

3 Anticipated rate for bonds is 3.50%. Bond rating is A2. Fuhr asked about a maximum debt allowed. Harris asked about having a while financial package prepared regarding bond indebtedness and bonding availability. DeLoose asked about the square footage of the QCIC facility that is listed is what is available at that location. The figure that is provided is based on existing square footages and the price is based on the construction costs on a lease to purchase program. Public Building Commission Looking at the existing PBC and its scope. PBC Act was enacted in Material provided by our States Attorney John McGehee. Our existing PBC was created in 1981, a copy of the resolution is provided in the packet. Membership listing was also provided. Will be discussing expanding the PBC members or starting fresh. Four of the five members are original members from the Justice Center creation. There has been a discussion of expanding the commission. We have asked for the biographies of the existing membership for your review. They are appointments of the County Board Chair. They can be replaced. Another option is to expand and add members based on background that they can offer the County. Will need well-versed individuals regarding financing, land acquisition, etc. that can lend expertise to the PBC. Asked the existing members to submit biographies and have received all but 2. Co-Chair Callaway-Thompson pointed out that a PBC on its own cannot engage in any building project. It can only work in conjunction with and at the request of the duly elected representatives of the County Board. A PBC cannot have outstanding bods that exceed five (5) percent of the assessed valuation of the County. The final EAV for Rock Island County for the levy year 2012, collectable 2013 is $2,372,931,611 which would put the cap at over $100 million in bonds. Square footage of buildings was provided as well as the addresses to all the buildings of the County. Preliminary report and recommendation concerning Court facilities in Rock Island County pursuant to Local Rule There is a lot of information that the members will review outside of this meeting. Part of our next meeting will include a tour - it is hard to look at a picture and do justice, however a PowerPoint of the facility conditions was shown as well as provided for the members to take with them.

4 Maintenance costs were provided back to County has spent money trying to maintain these facilities. Many of the issues are code related and cannot just pick and choose what must be done. Further than just renovation. Once get into renovation, end up with more. Electrical issues in this building - knob and tube wiring and all antiquated and would have to be brought up to code. Not impossible, but that dollar amount keeps growing. Certainly willing to take the tour again, looking at two structures - one 118 years old, another 114 years old. It is a different era, different time that needs to be addressed. Need to have a building for the future. Harris - confused as to what we need to between now and April 9th referendum. Can't hold to any specific timeframe - need to move forward. Much of what we need to discuss will be dictated by the referendum outcome. Have to consider that a commission was compiled last year - compiled a very comprehensive report. Copies of the CRC report will be provided to all members. Estimates for repair to facilities were included. Could end up in a lawsuit. Chairman Banaszek stated that the original concept last year and that ran into an election cycle and change in Board and Chairman. Then, during the last few months getting new board and Chairman up and running the time has elapsed. Would like to have as much information out to the public as possible. Co-Chairperson Vyncke stated that regardless of the referendum results, this is a problem that needs to be addressed. Wendt asked what the consequences of the PBC question failed. Chief Judge of the 14 th Judicial Circuit Jeffrey O'Connor stated that you are in a time compressed period here. All of the materials here except the information regarding the PBC. He feels the critical point is the crippling 1981 PBC creation. Their authority is to build a jail ONLY. So we have a PBC in Rock Island County and if it exists for another 100 years, they cannot build anything except a jail. The referendum question allows them to expand the powers to their statutory duties. They can purchase bonds for a new building as well as maintenance so that it can maintain the facilities. This question is about expanding the powers of the PBC, not about what will be built where and who will move in. Very valuable, but have to pass the referendum. There is another way, but it also calls for a referendum on a specific courthouse project. Problem is there isn't enough money to hire an architect and engineer for the plan concept to take to the citizens. The PBC can create the concept. If this is successful, the PBC can do wonderful things to cover the options and coming up with what is next. Without the adoption of the April 9th all of this is for not.

5 DeLoose asked about connecting another building to the Justice Center/Jail and if it would be part of the authority of the existing PBC. Judge O Connor stated that he has thought of that and it would need approval of bond counsel and they are not willing to approve it. Other counties with a PBC all have general purpose. Ordered by a federal judge to build a jail, so the existing PBC was constructed with a limited scope. Expansion of the PBC would be to have some limited expertise of a diverse nature. It may take a couple more seats to do that. PBC can do anything the County Board tells them to do when it comes to financing and constructing a building up to their tax levy. Harris- should be first - does something need to be done - then convince the voters that the PBC and the expansion of the authority is the least expensive option. County Board can do nothing, can renovate, and can do new. But can't do anything without the expansion of the PBC. Impediment would be removed. Not suggesting going up to the credit limits, Hass - County have any process of marketing/educating the voters? This is part of the process. April 9th referendum is the most cost effective way for the taxpayer to pay for this. A non-partisan entity will be posting a couple of meetings. March 18 2pm at the MLK Center March 28 6pm at Plumbers & Pipefitters Referendum question was reviewed. Chief Judge Jeffrey O Connor advised that voters are asking what does the PBC act say. We need to educate and show the voters. This was passed by duly elected members of the Illinois General Assembly. They know what is in the PBC Act and they felt it was in the best interest of the citizens of Illinois to act this way. The decisions are ultimately made by the elected County Board. It is their job, under the law. If a building that is desperately needed is shot down because of distrust of the General Assembly for enacting this or distrust of the County Board members to do the right thing, then you have a building rotting away and there is stagnation based on distrust of people. That is wrong. Group Tour - coordinated by the Sheriff. Tours will be conducted by the members before the next meeting is held. Thursday March 14th at 3:30 pm was presented for the next meeting. Imperative that everyone get thru the buildings.

6 It was recommended that the members tour courthouse, county building and perhaps Justice Center to see how a courtroom is supposed to be set up instead of what we currently have. We will send out an with dates/times and hope can pick what would work best for individual calendars- smaller groups may be easier. Harris - is there a PAC that is working on the passage on this? Banaszek - County cannot get involved, but understands that there is a group that is actively working for the passage of the referendum. Co-Chairperson Callaway-Thompson added that the goal is transparency and want to make sure everyone is clear that we are committed to a strategic planning process. That is why this group has been convened. Will meet until the job is done. Everyone at this table has a vast amount of experience in public service, business and is certainly the right group to seek input from. There being nothing further to discuss at this meeting, it was adjourned at 430p. Shelly Chapman