Cook County Board of Commissioners 
Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee 
May 14, 2025

• The Committee approved all the proposed appointments on the agenda, including the appointment of Dr. Kiran Joshi as the Chief Operating Officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH). Several of the Commissioners gave glowing statements about Dr. Joshi and his past work with the County and how glad they were to have him assume this position. Dr. Joshi said that his goal is to have the CCDPH be the best health department in the country. (Item 25-2308)
• The appointment of Alexandra Lara to the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) Advisory Board was followed up by comments from Comm. Degnan concerning the transition of the JTDC into 2 programs - a day program and an in-house program - and how important the Advisory Board will be to assist in this transition.  (Item 25-2325) 
• Comm. Stamps wanted to have more clarification about the process for filling positions on the JTDC Advisory Board as she observed that there were several vacancies when she attended a meeting recently. She expanded this request to ask what the process is and how does one know about vacancies on any board/commission and also what are all the Boards and Commissions. Comm. Morita said they only find out about these positions when they come before them for approval. A representative from the President’s Office said there there is an application process and they also take recommendations when a position needs to be filled. She also said that there are so many boards and commissions that it is hard to keep track of all the vacancies. She said they are looking into a way of compiling the information and perhaps revamping the process for filling the positions as well as making the information more available.
• The other item of business on the agenda - a proposed amendment regarding gender inclusive documents and forms (Item 25-1822) was deferred with no discussion or explanation.

Joint meeting of the Cook County Board Committees - Legislative and Intergovernmental Relations Committee and the Labor Committee
May 14, 2025

• These two committees met to hold a Public Hearing to review the effectiveness of the Cook County Wage Theft Ordinance that was passed 10 years ago to address the issue of wage theft and to protect workers from exploitive labor practices. (Item 25-2344)
• Comm Anaya said that in checking with all the County departments named in the ordinance there have been no complaints filed since passage in 2015. While wage theft itself is not a violation of the Cook County Code, the ordinance does disqualify any businesses that have been found guilty of wage theft from obtaining contracts, a business license or a tax incentive from the County.

Three public speakers from agencies that work with the workers this ordinance was meant for, outlined the following concerns with the ordinance;

• The ordinance does not detail how employees can file complaints.
• Workers need to be educated so they know their rights and what to do if their rights are violated.
• The ordinance does not include an effective way to hold employers accountable.
• There needs to be a better route for enforcement than the lengthy legal route.
• There needs to be better collaboration to ensure enforcement. 

Commissioner comments:

• Comm. Daley - asked what could be learned from this ordinance. There needs to be some mechanism for filing complaints and cooperation among the departments involved for sharing information about violations.  
• Comm. Britton - asked about tracking of private actions taken concerning violations. County does not get information from the Illinois Department of Labor about violations. 
• Comm. Lowry stated that the Illinois Department of Labor has jurisdiction on labor violations.
• Comm. Vasquez - wanted to know how departments were working together and said they needed to ensure communications between departments on these issues.
• Chicago Alderman Quesada (formerly a Cook County Commissioner) joined the meeting and was asked to make comments as he was one of the sponsoring commissioners for requesting this hearing. He stated that there is back-sliding of labor rights and it is necessary for partners to work together to ensure worker’s rights and to remain vigilant about the rights of workers. 

​Observer - Cynthia Schilsky

Cook County Board of Commissioners
May 13, 2025

Asset Management Committee
The Bureau of Asset Management presented its annual report on the Build Up Cook Program, highlighting their work in underserved communities. The Committee also approved a resolution declaring indoor air and indoor environmental quality as a public health crisis.

• The Bureau is using ARPA (America Rescue Plan Act) funds to provide resources to underserved communities for badly needed infrastructure projects such as fire hydrant replacements and sewer and stormwater projects.
• The projects are managed by Asset Management staff, using County contractors.
• One project highlighted was being able to help the Village of Robbins when a supply water main broke. The Bureau of Asset Management worked with other Cook County Departments to get it quickly repaired.
• The Bureau is also using funds for workshops so that community employees develop the skills to manage projects and obtain financing through grants.
• The Bureau wants to continue the workshops beyond the ARPA funding to help communities find and obtain grants from State funding options.   It is anticipated federal funds for infrastructure projects will not be forthcoming.
• To read more about the Build Up Cook Program, see the County website, https://arpa.cookcountyil.gov/build-up-cook.   The report was received and filed. Item 25-1896.
• The Committee approved a resolution declaring indoor air quality as a public health crisis.   The Committee took action on this issue at its meeting last month when the Commissioners approved a contract with the University of Illinois to develop a process for evaluating the air quality in Cook County buildings. Item 25-2342.

League Observer:  Kathi Graffam

Health and Hospitals Committee
Aaron Galeener, Chief Administrative Officer of CountyCare, and Dr. Yvonne Collins, Chief Medical Officer of CountyCare (the Medicaid managed health plan operated by Cook County Health) presented a PowerPoint overview of CountyCare services. 

• Health Benefit for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) Medicaid program is being sunset by Governor Pritzker effective July 1, 2025 which will affect over 16,000 CountyCare members and approximately 32,000 statewide, likely to have a significant financial impact.
• Commissioner Aguilar, Stamps, Degnan, and Vasquez asked what threats to CountyCare Medicaid the current Congressional debate calling for Medicaid cuts were.  Galeener said federal Medicaid cuts might include work requirements, as well as decreased federal funding for those Medicaid recipients who are covered by the expanded Medicaid coverage provided under the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) which provides 90% federal funding for this group of individuals vs 51% for traditional Medicaid recipients. He said this could impact over 100,000 CountyCare members and a potential loss of $100 million in revenue. ACA expansion programs have a trigger to sunset in Illinois if federal contributions fall below 90%, Galeener noted.
• Commissioner Degnan asked what programs CCH/CountyCare will need to cut?  Galeener said programs that are “value added” components of Medicaid in Illinois that are not required by Federal Medicaid.  He indicated that increasing redetermination of eligibility from once a year to 6 months might be implemented.
• CCH’s housing program as a social determinant of health is funding organizations who are engaged in locating shelter for CountyCare members who are homeless or live in a shelter. Flexible Housing Pool (CountyCare invested $5 million in 2020 and $3 million in 2025) and other CountyCare housing programs currently house 432  individuals.  Health outcomes for persons housed by this program show 33% reduction of inpatient stays, 19% reduction in ER visits, 22% reduction of jail registrations, 30% reduction in all cause mortality.  Commissioner S. Morrison questioned whether CCH should be paying toward housing-- not in the mission of hospital system.  Galeener commented that “we are a health care entity, need better solutions to housing  and need to transition them to more sustainable affordable programs”.  (Item 23-0202) motion to defer adopted.

League Observer: Susan Kern

Audit Committee
The Committee periodically follows up on open audit recommendations. Bill Carroll, Deputy Auditor, reported on the four audit items currently open.  The report was received and filed.  Item 25-2074.

• The oldest and most concerning item was a finding from the 2015 audit of the Clerk of the Court concerning the process on uncollected revenue on traffic court fines.   The audit recommended that the Clerk’s office make every effort to collect the fines before turning them over to a collection agency.  Once they are given to a collection agency, there should be closer monitoring of the revenue.
• In 2015 the uncollected amount was $3M and has increased since then.  Commissioner Sean Morrison pointed out that the collection agencies take 30%-40%.
• Mr. Carroll reached out to the new Clerk of the Court administration and is setting up a meeting with the Finance Manager. He will review their current process.  Commissioner Degnen asked to be included in the meeting. 

League Observer:  Kathi Graffam

Cook County Board of Commissioner
Finance Committee
May 14, 2025

The Committee approved or voted to receive and file all items on the agenda.  Following are a few noteworthy items approved, followed by some information on the presentation on the Equity Fund, one of the County’s Special Purpose Funds.
The Committee approved:

• Providing $850,000 from the Equity Fund for the design and implementation of a County-supported, library-led Digital Navigator Network that will improve library services and create stronger connections among public libraries and County government.  There were several public speakers urging passage of this item 25-2339, stating it was particularly needed in light of the recent loss of federal funds to libraries.
• Creation of a new special purposed fund, the State’s Attorney Fraud Case Settlements Fund, for monies issued pursuant to governing statute from the investigation, prosecution and settlements of insurance fraud and other fraud cases.  (Item 25-2405.) Also provides for transfer of $602,607, which was collected in 2024 from these cases from the General Fund to this new special purpose fund to comply with the law.  In response to a question from Comm. Stamps, it was explained that the governing statute provides how the money may be spent, which is why the fund is being created so such expenditures can be more easily tracked.  As of the date of this meeting, the State’s Attorney’s office knows that at least an additional $2 M from 2025 will go into this new fund.
• $44.9 M in settlements. The largest amount is $24 M for a medical malpractice claim.  There are also 2 settlements for $7.45 M for alleged violations of civil rights against the State’s Attorney’s office.

President Preckwinkle’s Chief of Staff Lanetta Haynes Turner gave a presentation on the Equity Fund, which has a $68 M budget for expenditures in 2025 (Item 25-2781).  

• The Equity Fund has 3 purposes: (1) Address historic and continued disinvestment and resulting inequities that have negatively impacted Black, Latino/a/x and other marginalized residents; (2) fundamentally shift how County uses grantmaking; and (3) incorporate service providers, advocates, and residents in resource allocation.
• There are 3 sources of revenues for the Equity Fund:  (1) the Cannabis Tax, (2) the Firearm and Firearm Ammunition Tax, and (3) the County’s portion of the Illinois Gaming Casino Tax imposed by the State. 
• Monies from the Equity Fund are allocated to County departments, which in turn utilize established procurement and the sub-recipient process to seek Board approval for contracts or grants utilizing the Fund.
• As of the end of February, 3.4% (or $2.33 M) of the total $68 M budgeted has been allocated.  As the procurement process continues, it is expected that this will pick up. Departments are first using American Rescue Plan Act dollars, which can often be used for the same types of programs as the Equity Fund.
• One example of the use of the Equity Fund is the $850,000 approved by the Committee for the Digital Navigator Network (see Item 25-2339, described above).
• Avik Das, Executive Director of the Justice Advisory Council, discussed grants for community violence intervention, the wrap-around services for survivors of gun violence, the domestic violence intervention and support services, and the services to help for those leaving prison (“re-entry”) such as help with finding a place to stay and finding a job. 
• Jessica Caffrey, the head of the County’s Land Bank, talked about 3 initiatives using the Equity Fund: (1) the purchase of Fannie/Freddi/HUD REO properties at below market values to then resell; (2) assistance to qualified homebuyers of 6% up to $20,000 for the purchase; and (3) preservation to remove existing blight.
• Commissioners Degnen, Aguillar, and Sean Morrison all asked about performance metrics and return on investment for the programs funded by the Equity Fund.  Ms. Turner said that metrics can be difficult, but the proposals by recipients for grants identify what the funds would be used for, and the County does confirm that the monies are indeed spent that way.  
• Initiatives in 2025 include adding community representatives to the Equity Fund Taskforce and to do a pilot on participatory budgeting.
• Rather than a separate, formal report on the Equity Fund that was prepared after the first year, information on the Equity Fund is now being incorporated into the yearly Policy Roadmap and Equity Fund Progress Report.  The most recent one was issued in January of 2025.   Ms. Turner said that the use of the Equity Fund is so integrated with the Policy Roadmap that it makes sense to have a single report.  

League Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Cook County Board of Commissioners
Technology & Innovation Committee
April 9, 2025

The Committee heard reports from Cook County offices on the status of their technology projects.  Items 25-1609 and 25-1610 were received and filed.  Following are highlights of the information presented at the meeting:

Bureau of Technology(Cook County Chief Information Officer Tom Lynch and Deputy Derek Thomas)

• All departments should be off the old mainframe by the end of July, 2025!  The legacy mainframe dates to the 1970’s, and there is no manufacturer support or employees with knowledge, so this is a necessity.  
• The new Integrated Property Tax System is expected to go live for all users (Assessor, Board of Review, Clerk, and Treasurer) on May 27 after all identified defects addressed and final testing and employee training completed.

Assessor’s Office (Chief Information Officer, Nathan Bernacchi)

• In response to questions from the Committee on whether there were any concerns about the rollout of the new Integrated Property Tax System and getting the 2nd installment tax bill out on time, Assessor’s Chief of Staff Scott Smith said that all offices are cooperating to test and respond quickly to any unforeseen circumstances.
• Asked whether the new system will allow employees to go out to community meetings to assist tax payers by answering questions and helping them with tax exemptions, Mr. Smith said yes.  Also the faster upload of data and improved presentation of data will be of benefit.  For the first time, all the offices involved with the property tax system will be on the same system, ensuring the same data.
• Using technology, have upgraded customer service through (1) new online appointment system and queuing for phone calls, with text notifications of return call; (2) pending is new chat and customer relationship software.
• Studying disaster-recovery options, and AI pilot projects

Treasurer’s Office (Chief of Staff and Chief Information Officer David Burns)

• Current focus is on the new Integrated Property Tax System:  defects need to be resolved and training of Treasurer’s staff in progress.
• Benefit of the new system include updating in real time, as opposed to previous overnight updates.
• At same time as the Integrated System goes live, will be replacing existing cashiering system with Tyler cashier system and will also be using the new call center technology from Tyler.
• Separately working to create the ability to pay tax bills for multiple pins with a single payment transaction.  Will also allow taxpayers to provide routing and account number for any tax refund to be sent directly to their account.

Board of Review (Chief Information Officer Adnan Memon)

• Implemented the Taleo system for hiring on April 7, which most of County has been on. 
• Automation in process to enable file sharing for the Property Tax Appeals Board cases.

County Clerk’s Office (Director of Networking Andrzej

• Migration to cloud for Clerk’s Recording system will launch April 14.
• A new accounting system is being built from scratch.

Clerk of the Circuit Court (Chief Information Officer Vivek Ananda)

• Totally off the main frame as of March 21!  Have extracted and saved all data from the main frame, so now erasing all data on the main frame, which is expected to be done by end of April.
• For the Clerk’s Justice Case Management System, working on elements involving the Traffic division, including online payments and request for court dates.
• Working with Sheriff’s and State’s Attorney’s offices on other projects.

Cook County Sheriff’s Office (Chief Information Officer Amar Patel)

• Completed cloud migration for jail management system.
• Working with Clerk of the Circuit Court on interface with docketing system

Chief Judge’s Office (Director of Information Services Mike Carroll)

• The Jury Administration and Selection system should go live on April 28.  That is the last of this Office’s systems on the main frame.
• Thanks to a grant from the Illinois Supreme Court and assistance from the County, every courthouse in Cook County now has WiFi access for the public, with Rolling Meadows to be completed by the end of June.
• Court’s website will be ADA Compliant by June, much earlier than deadline set by Illinois Supreme Court.
• Public Guardian’s new juvenile case management system, $4 million awarded on April 1, 2025 with expected go-live April 2026.

State’s Attorney’s Office(Chief Information Officer Derek Ganier)

• Ensuring Pre-Trial Fairness Act guidelines and all other processes are covered in new systems.
• Searching for options for long-term cold storage for evidence.
• Looking for automated electronic search warrant system.

Observer:  Victoria Cerinich

Cook County Board of Commissioners
Committee Meetings
April 8 and 9, 2025

Health & Hospitals Committee
April 8, 2025
Dr. Joshi, interim Chief Operating Officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health (“CCDPH”) presented the quarterly update on Covid-19 and other infectious diseases of concern for Suburban Cook County. Item 23-3815 

• COVID-19 & RSV: low activity with few emergency department visits. 
• Flu:  moderate activity, but trending down. 
• Avian influenza: no human-to-human transmission has been detected yet; cases are primarily in agricultural workers with poultry and dairy cattle; 70 cases nationally/none in IL. 
• Measles, none in IL so far.  
• CCDPH nurses administering MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine at residences and work with medical providers on measles testing; vaccinations will be initiated as a Public Health measles response when cases arise.
• Fall flu vaccines:  the FDA external advisory committee meeting which normally determines the flu vaccine formula each year was cancelled; the manufacturers of the flu vaccine are moving forward based on the World Health Organization recommendation. 
• The meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (“ACIP”) was postponed to mid-April.  The ACIP determines who should get vaccines, which is important for medical insurance coverage.

Numerous questions, primarily on measles and vaccination safety, from Chair Lowry, and Commissioners Kevin Morrison, Aguilar, Moore, Trevor, Miller, Sean Morrison, and Daley.  

• How do we track immigrants, especially new ones, and the general population for vaccination status? Dr. Joshi said checking school records for required vaccinations and whether there is vaccination exemption for religious or medical reasons.  
• Do health providers know how to recognize measles, and can there be transmission by asymptomatic individuals?  Dr Joshi responded that they were working on communications to health providers for recognition and treatment of measles cases which is a reportable disease to Public Health.  
• There is messaging on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines to counter concerns patients may have on largely unproven adverse vaccine effects.

Observer:  Susan Kern  

Asset Management Committee
April 9, 2025
All items were approved. Most discussed by the Commissioner was the proposal to hire firms to be the Construction Manager at Risk for maintaining Stroger Hospital.

• The Bureau of Asset Management and the Chief Procurement Officer proposed awarding a Construction Manager at Risk (“CmaR”) contract to Power/Ujamaa 7 LLC. for ongoing upgrades and maintenance of the Stroger Hospital with a budget of $373,000,000.00. Stroger is 22 years old and they want to maintain the systems and structure so it will have a life span of 50-70 years.   This will require major ongoing projects such as roof replacement, LED lighting, elevator modifications, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing updates for both the Hospital and its Powerhouse.    
• The CMaR process is different in that design and construction are developed together and the one general contractor oversees all the needed projects and sources the subcontractors.   Asset Management Staff will weigh in on the choice of the subcontractors, which will all have to meet the standard Cook County procurement requirements concerning diversity and residence. Asset Management staff proposed reporting back to the Commissioners once a year on project and cost status.    
• There were several questions from the Commissioners who were concerned about the main contractor sourcing the subcontractors, the Commissioners not approving those separate contracts, and the length of time between reports. Commissioners Gainer and Sean Morrison were particularly concerned that the Board would not have closer oversight on the subcontractors. Earl Bitoy of the Bureau of Administration, Ms. Granata, Earl Maning of Asset Management, and staff from the Chief Procurement Office, and the Health and Hospital Procurement Office assured the Commissioners that this process would be the most efficient and cost effective with over-run guarantees. This was approved by the Health and Hospital Board Finance Committee on April 3.   
• This Item 25-0002 was approved with Commissioner Anaya voting present and Commissioner Sean Morrison voting no.

The Committee also approved the following items:

• Two items concerning the Oak Forest Campus, site of the now closed Oak Forest Hospital:  (1) an amendment to a contract with EGM Architects to assess the infrastructure integrity of the existing buildings for possible preservation, reuse, and TIF potential; and (2) an amendment to the contract with GSG Consultants to determine if some of the buildings could be used for private redevelopment.   Commissioner Morrison asked why this was being done since the buildings at Oak Forest are outdated and all the utilities, such as the underground heating system, cannot be repaired. Only one Cook County office of Emergency Management and Regional Security is in the complex.   Elizabeth Granata, Chief of the Bureau of Asset Mgt., said that now they were working on preservation of some of the buildings with architectural and historical significance instead of demolition of all of them. The plan is to redevelop them for other uses than Cook County offices.  Items 25-011 and 25-0012 
• Cook County Health will pay the lease for another tenant in the Austin Wellness Center, Hektoen Institute which provides HIV testing.  The cost for 5 years will be $194,000 dollars.  This will ensure the institute can survive if their federal funding changes.  Item 25-1588 
• A project to determine best practices for evaluating healthy buildings in Cook County government facilities with the University of Illinois and Champaign County.  This project was initiated by the late Commissioner Deere.  Item 25-1599. 

Observer:  Kathi Graffam

Rules and Administration Committee
April 9, 2025
The Committee reviewed and approved the proposed changes to the “Public Facing Rules and Regulations” pertaining to the Procedural Rules issued by the Department of Human Rights and Ethics for the Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance.  Departments charged with implementing County ordinance draft rules which are then sent to Cook County Board for approval.  Item 25-1343

• The changes were to clarify the effective dates relating to employees of school districts and park districts.  The Cook County ordinance is consistent with the State law, except that the County does not exempt school and park district personnel from the requirement that paid leave be offered.  The lack of this exemption has been a point of controversy among the Commissioners in the past.
• Commissioner Britton, whose district is in the north suburbs, asked how many of the suburbs with home rule have opted out of the County ordinance.  Jennifer King, the Executive Director, did not know, but Commissioner Britton said that those in his district have all opted out.  He has one community which does not have home rule status, so it cannot opt out.  
• Commissioner Sean Morrison, whose district is also in Suburban Cook echoed Comm. Britton’s concerns.  
• Both Commissioners, along with all other members of the Committee, voted to approve the rules changes, citing that, given the ordinance, the changes were the best that could be done.  They also thanked Executive Director King for all her time and effort.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Finance Committee
April 9, 2025

• The Comptroller reported on the 12 months of FY 2024 ending Nov. 30, 2024:  General Fund was favorable as to budget by $223.3 M, with revenues greater than budget by 4.8% and expenses less than budgeted by 5.2%.  Also reported for the same period for the Health Fund, on a cash basis, favorable of $203.5 M, with revenues greater than budget by 0.2% and expenses less than budget by 3.9%.  Item 25-2208.  
• The Comptroller also reported on the 3 months of FY 2025 ending Feb. 28, 2025:  General Fund –favorable by $2.8 M; and Health Fund on a cash basis– unfavorable by $108 M.  Item 25-2209.  The Comptroller pointed out that a more accurate picture of the Health Fund is on an accrual basis, as contained in the next report from Cook County Health (“CCH”).    Illinois currently owes $108.1 M to the County.
• For the  CCH  monthly report, there are 2 knowns that will have a negative impact as compared to budget:  the ending of the program for Medicaid reimbursement for adult immigrants from 42 to 64 years; and the Federal Government reducing funds for the Department of Public Health by $2 M.  Item 25-1168. 

Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Criminal Justice Committee of the Board of Commissioners Meeting
March 11, 2025

• The Committee heard presentations from the Sheriff’s Office and the Chief Judge’s Office regarding the plans for the Chief Judge’s office to take responsibility for all new defendants ordered by Cook County Judges to be placed on electronic monitoring (“EM”) on and after April 1. 
• Currently, Judges order some defendants to be placed on EM overseen by the Sheriff and some on EM overseen by the Chief Judge.  new 
• The Sheriff will continue to oversee those placed under his program prior to April 1, but expects that by the end of September, that program will no longer have any remaining pre-April 1 participants.  The Sheriff hopes to retain all or most of the positions currently involved in EM to cover his other operations, particularly correctional officers for the Jail.
• The Sheriff’s EM program is generally a 24/7 confinement, with some limited movement.  His program has averaged 5 new EM participants a day, or 150 a month, vs. the Chief Judge’s program averaging 3 new participants a day, or 90 per month, both as averaged over the last 3 months. The Chief Judge’s program generally restricts movement only for 12 hours, mainly from 7 pm to 7 am.  Movement is generally unrestricted outside of that curfew.  The other major difference is that those under the Chief Judge’s program are assigned to a pre-trial services officer, who helps provide or connects the defendant to other services.
• Cook County Judges will continue to determine what restrictions on movement will be applicable to all those placed on EM.  The Chief Judge’s office is expecting to have many more people on 24/7 restrictions than currently, along with the expected additional 900 EM participants to be added over the coming 6 months that would have previously gone to the Sheriff’s program.  The Chief Judge’s office is planning to assign pre-trial officers to all of these new participants.
• As a result, the Chief Judge is anticipating needing up to 153 new employees:  66 to 83 new people in the Home Confinement Unit (which monitors EM) and 54 to 79 new people for the Pre-Trial Services Unit over the coming months.  In addition, the current space for the Home Confinement Unit is not sufficient for the necessary increase.  The process has started to look for a new, larger space.  Also, it is anticipated that more support, such as capital and technology, will be needed by the Chief Judge’s Office.

The Chief Judge’s Office has a 4-Phase Implementation Plan to accomplish this:

• Feb. thru May, 2025:  On-boarding of around 25 new employees, which are currently provided for in the Chief Judge’s budget, and identification of the new space for the Home Confinement Unit.
• June thru Augusti 2025:  Onboarding of 2 new classes (approximately 25 each) of employees; promotions to add additional supervisors; ready and move into new space for Home Confinement Unit; develop new reporting structure.
• September thru November, 2025:  Onboarding of another class and more promotions to supervisors; implement reporting structure.
• December 2025 thru May 2026:  Onboard 3 more classes to be fully staffed.

Also appearing at the meeting was Cara Smith, the Director of the Illinois Office of Pre-Trial Services.  

• She explained that the office had recently received the request from Cook County for the 153 new positions and is reviewing that now.  
• This will necessitate amending that Office’s proposed budget for the State’s new fiscal year that begins July 1, but the Office has already alerted State lawmakers.  Comm. Britton told her not to hesitate to contact the County Board if it needed to lobby the State for the needed money.  

A representative of the State’s Attorney also spoke and said that that Office was looking forward to more information about the transfer of EM responsibilities from the Sheriff to the Chief Judge.

The Commissioners had many questions:

• Commissioner Degnen received assurances that the Chief Judge’s Office would continue to report information about EM on the web site, such as numbers of those on EM and the types of charged crimes, as is done now. During public comments, a representative from Appleseed’s Center for Fair Courts had expressed strong support for the Chief Judge’s Office taking over responsibility for all EM, but had raised a concern about obtaining information since the Chief Judge is not subject to the Open Records Act.  
• Commissioner Britton was told that if the Chief Judge’s Office found a defendant had violated the EM conditions, the local police would be called.  That defendant would be brought before the judge handling the case to determine if the conditions had indeed been violated, and if appropriate, the judge could order confinement in Jail.  In that case the Sheriff’s Office would take the defendant into custody.  
• In response to Comm. Lowry, the Office of the Chief Judge estimated that an additional $10 M would be needed this fiscal year.  
• Comm. Anaya and Daley were assured that the unions under the Chief Judge are fine with the changes:  the duties of the employees will not be changing; only the number of employees – an increase in those union jobs.  The Sheriff similarly is talking to the unions representing his employees.  
• Responding to Comm. Anaya and Quezada, it was explained that the Chief Judge’s Office has already been added to the Sheriff’s contract for obtaining places to stay for those on EM as necessary, and that the equipment the Sheriff is using for EM can be transferred to the Chief Judge.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims