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Triage Center for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Crisis to Open on South Side

3/30/2016

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Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting - March 23, 2016

Significant Decisions Made:
As announced by  Cook County Health and Hospitals System (CCHHS) CEO Jay Shannon, CCHHS, the Justice Advisory Council and the Chicago Police Department  have worked together to develop a Community Triage Center  on the south side of Chicago.  This 24-hour a day center, opening soon,  will enable police to bring anyone in mental health crisis or substance abuse crisis to the triage center for assessment and stabilizing before referral to other resources.  This is intended to reduce  incarceration  and reduce regular emergency room use for these issues as has been done in the past.  It will be more helpful to those people taken to the triage center and  “reduce the human misery”  of those in crisis.  (Agenda Item #16-2039)

Cook County Sheriff’s officers will provide Extra Duty Police services (6:00pm-2:00am) to 3 Cook County Housing facilities in Ford Heights, Chicago Heights, and Robbins through an inter-governmental agreement. (16-0876)

A First Time Offender Drug diversion program has been given a contract through TASC, Inc. (Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities).  This program is run through the State’s Attorney’s Office and provides consistency between this intervention program and the various court-mandated programs throughout the court system.  (16-2079)

Another diversion program contract, to  Heartland Human Care Services, Inc., working in the Juvenile Probation & Court Services Dept. has been extended and increased.  This is run through Chief Judge Evans’ Office.  (16-1155)

Topics Discussed and/or referred to Committee: 
  • Proposed ordinance prohibiting the sale of second-hand catalytic converters was referred to the Environmental Control committee.  Because they contain valuable metals which can be sold for $100-$150, converters have been frequently stolen from under cars. This ordinance would make it more difficult to sell these stolen items. (16-2272)
  • Proposed amendment to the Ethics Ordinance to require all officials, appointees, and employees to use an official government email account for government business.  This would not pertain to separately elected officials.  Referred to Legislation and Intergovernmental committee.  Larry Suffredin, sponsor 16-2289
  • Proposed ordinance governing the safe disposal of pharmaceuticals was deferred.  (16-1983)
  • Workforce, Housing & Community Dev. committee called for a hearing to discuss the findings of the Alternative Schools Network and University of Illinois’ report on youth joblessness.(16-1665)
  • Feminine Hygiene products will no longer be taxed as regular merchandise in Cook County.  (16-1942)
  • A resolution was sent to the state legislature supporting two bills which would increase the distance allowed between gun sellers (stores) and schools. (16-2302)

Items to watch for in the future:
  • What happens to employees who are charged in civil rights (and other) cases and how are the cases handled?
  • How will Health and Hospital System retain patients?  How will the paperwork flow at HHS be improved to that vendors can be paid within a better time-frame?  What are the costs of gunshot wounds to HHS?
  • Vault toilets? Summer jobs?  Bottled water ordinance to reduce taxes?

Observation:  
Due to the lengthy Consent Calendar comments (1 1/2 hours), the regular 11:00 Board meeting was delayed until 1:50.  Adjourned at about 3:00.  This observer appreciates the short explanation by commissioners and the President of ordinances and resolutions brought up for vote—very helpful to the listening audience.

Observer: Karin Hribar
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Walmart Granted Property Tax Incentive by Cook County Board

3/3/2016

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Cook County Board Meeting - March 2, 2016

Significant Decisions Made:
Walmart was granted a Class 8 Property Tax Incentive to open a super center in a former K Mart building in Homewood. They are closing a store in an “obsolete” building in Glenwood and want to move to the larger space in Homewood. It appears that the designation will reduce their annual taxes from $8.5m to $4m but when Comm. Gainer pressed the Bureau of Economic Development for numbers they were hard to come by. The representative for Walmart stated that they needed the incentive to open the store, otherwise they might not do the project.(16-0456)

The Department of Planning and Development presented 4 projects that would be investments by the county in affordable housing. The proposals were for loans that come from federal grant money (CDBG Disaster Recovery and HOME funds) to assist each of the projects in development of their affordable housing project. The total amount approved for all 4 loans was $9m and the projects are located in LaGrange, Hines, Ford Heights, and Park Forest. (16-1053, 16-1056, 16-1058, 16-1059)

Topics Discussed:
During the Finance Committee meeting the Cook County Health and Hospitals System (CCHHS) monthly report was received. The representative from CCHHS stated that there is a “lot of red ink for the first 2 months” but the issues are fixable and they have a plan for dealing with the concerns with County Care and overtime. They are also owed $138m by the state of which he stated that about $56m can be accounted for by the usual lag time. The rest is overdue. Comm. Daley asked if CCHHS was talking with Rush and U of I about future plans. Comm. Gainer stated that the Health Care Advisory Task Force had met and she was glad that CCHHS was represented at the meeting. Comm. Gainer also pressed for more discussion of utilization of the CCHHS facilities and reimbursement concerns as they contemplate a $100m investment in new buildings for the system. 

Comm. Fritchey had concern about a contract extension (16-1772) for an additional $173,500 for a Disparity Study. The contract being extended began in 2013 but he was referencing a contract for the same vendor dating back to 2006 and he wanted clarification on whether that was a previous contract or related to the present extension. He wanted to see the report from a previous study if this is indeed a new and second contract with the same vendor. He was told that he would get the report.

The meeting ended with a brief announcement that the Medical Examiner’s Office had received National Accreditation.. 

Observation:
The Board Meeting was preceded by 8 committee meetings (from 9:15-11am) that included 3 reconvened from the previous day for lack of a quorum. The Board Meeting was started on time (11am) but Finance was included with Zoning and Building, and Roads and Bridges which all met after the Consent Calendar was completed which lasted an hour as usual. All meetings adjourned at 1:30pm. 

Observer - Cynthia Schilsky
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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF COOK COUNTY
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  • Home
  • About
    • LWVCC Interest Groups >
      • Cook County Budget & Structure Group
      • Criminal Justice
      • Forest Preserve Interest Group
    • LWVCC Action and Testimony
    • LWVCC Activities
  • Observer Reports
    • Cook County Board Observer Reports
    • MWRD Board Observer Reports
    • Forest Preserve Board Observer Reports
    • CCH Board Observer Reports
  • Voter Info
  • Resources
    • Cook County Board
    • Forest Preserve Board
    • Cook County Elected Officials
    • MWRD Board
    • Cook County Health Board
    • Member Resources