Cook County Board Votes to Request Hearing on Shakman Compliance

Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting - March 21, 2019

NOTABLE RESOLUTIONS PASSED:

• There was a resolution passed to secure a memorial to document  the location of the 1924 lynching of William Bell. This will be done in partnership with the DuSable Museum and the University of Illinois (Chicago). Counties throughout the nation are cooperating with the Equal Justice Initiative/Memorial Museum in Montgomery, Alabama  to shed light on this part of American History. 
• ​A unanimous vote was cast requesting a hearing of the Litigation Subcommittee to discuss the status of Shakman compliance in the office of the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court,  the Cook County Recorder of Deeds and the Cook County Assessor. Violations have cost the county tax payers millions of dollars. 
• There was a resolution to urge the Illinois General Assembly to amend the property tax code regarding the senior citizen homestead exemption. Currently each senior must request this annually, which the commissioners deemed to be unnecessary. 

COMMITTEE ITEMS REQUIRING BOARD ACTION:

• The commissioners concurred with a proposed resolution from the Human Relations Committee urging the U.S. Congress to provide emergency legislation to prevent the deportation of recipients of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and TPS (temporary protected status).
• Commissioners concurred with Finance Committee’s proposed amendment to the Predictable Recording Fee Ordinance. 
• ​Commissioners concurred to Legislation and Intergovernmental  Relations Committee’s resolution requesting a hearing to discuss the status of the Cook County Sheriff’s Prescription Drug Take Back Program.

With the exception of a few minor questions to clarify, there was no discussion of items, and the board moved quickly through the agenda. Even with an extensive public comment period to support the DACA resolution and to oppose a power plant in Glenwood, Illinois, the meeting adjourned at 12:20 pm. 

Observer - Georgia Gebhardt                       Meeting Length: 2 hours