League of Women Voters of Cook County
  • Home
  • About
    • LWVCC Interest Groups >
      • Cook County & MWRD Group
      • Criminal Justice
      • Cook County Health
      • Forest Preserve Interest Group
    • LWVCC Positions
    • LWVCC Action and Testimony
    • LWVCC Activities
    • Archived Newsletters
  • Observer Reports
    • Cook County Board Observer Reports
    • MWRD Board Observer Reports
    • CCH Board Observer Reports
    • Forest Preserve Board Observer Reports
  • Voter Info
  • Cook County Gov. Contacts
    • Cook County Board
    • Forest Preserve Board
    • Cook County Elected Officials
    • MWRD Board
    • Cook County Health Board

Cook County Commissioners Find Problems with Contracts

2/12/2018

0 Comments

 
Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting - February 7, 2018

Significant Topics Discussed:

  • Although most contracts were passed, commissioners expressed concern that too many extensions are given to contracts in the county without RFPs to open bidding to other vendors and organizations.  Also of concern is that some contracts  are not completed within the designated timeframe and the performance of some vendors is not acceptable.  There do not seem to be penalties against vendors who do not complete their contracts on time or correctly accomplish the goals of the contract (Comm. Morrison).
  • Commissioners are concerned that they receive the contract for approval too late to do anything but “rubber stamp” it (Comm. Fritchey).  
  • Agenda Item 18-1914 (passed)  an extension of Securus Technologies to provide telephone service for jail inmates.  The cost for inmates to phone anyone within the USA is 12.5 cents per minute, which is a good rate compared to other jurisdictions.  Extensions for this contract have gone on for almost 10 years.
  • Agenda Item 18-1277 (on hold until legal language cleared up) is a contract with Northwestern University to provide mental health services for minors at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC).  Northwestern wants an indemnification  clause which would relieve them of any medical mal-practice consequenses.  The county does not provide this in their contracts.
  • Agenda Item 18-1649  A hearing was held in the Legislation and Intergovernmental Affairs committee regarding the performance of the Clerk of the Court’s office in completing electronic filing of court cases and  an updated case management system.  The county has already designated $40 million toward this mandatory directive by the  Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC).  Concerns were expressed by the Board regarding the extension of 6 months to complete this (now extended to July 1, 2018); a convenience fee of $2.95 that is still being charged to obtain case files; and a federal court case regarding media difficulty in obtaining court case information.

Significant Decisions Made:
  • Agenda Item 18-2022 (passed) a resolution supporting stronger ethics legistation (like the county has) at the state and other local levels.
  • Agenda Item 18-2050 (passed) a resolution declaring gun violence in Cook County a Public Health Emergency and advocating for additional resources to combat violence.
  • Agenda Item 18-1750 (passed)  requiring a quarterly report from all agencies and departments involved with costs of gun violence—Medical Examiner, Hospital System, Sheriff, etc.
  • Agenda Item 18-2017 (passed) a resolution to study integration, consolidation, and modernization of all IT services in the County (to save money and increase efficiency.) Following the study (in 120 days) there would be a Governance  ordinance drafted by the Chief Information Officer.
  • Agenda Item 18-2073 (passed) a resolution to form a commission for revenue forecasting and evaluation of revenue types.
  • Agenda Item 18-2128 (passed)  Sheriff offering to help suburban Cook County in investigating police shootings since the county has more resources than most suburbs.
  • Agenda Item 18-2142 (sent to Finance committee) this report on the tax assessment process by the Civic Alliance, which was initiated several months ago, “will be out next week and will be available on-line” (President Preckwinkle).  This has been a very controversial  topic regarding Assessor Berrios’ Office.  Issues of fairness and accuracy of assessments have been reported by the media and other organizations.

Items to Watch for in the Future:
  • Results of Civic Alliance study on tax assessments.
  • Completion of e-filing and case management systems by the Clerk of the Court.

Other Observations:
Commissioners seem to be taking a more active role in how contracts are awarded and whether they are completed on time, accurately, and with reasonable cost. 

Observer - Karin Hribar
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Individual authors are credited at the end of each post.

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015

    Categories

    All
    Assessor
    Ballot Referendum
    Board Of Review
    CCHHS
    Chief Judge
    Contracts
    Cook County Board
    Cook County Budget
    Cook County Health (CCH)
    Cook County Sheriff
    County Clerk
    Covid 19
    Criminal Justice
    Departmental Budget Hearings
    Economic Development
    Election Administration
    Environmental Control
    Ethics Ordinance
    Gun Violence
    Healthcare
    Independent Inspector General
    Paid Sick Leave
    Pensions
    Performance Based Management
    Police Matters
    Public Defender
    Recorder Of Deeds
    Shakman
    Soda Tax
    State's Attorney Office
    Taxes
    Tax Incentives
    Technology
    Transportation Plan

    RSS Feed

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF COOK COUNTY
332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 634
Chicago, IL 60604

312/939-5935 x 127
info@lwvcookcounty.org
Terms and Conditions of Use
© Copyright League of Women Voters of Cook County, Illinois. All rights reserved.
Membership Information
CONTACT US
  • Home
  • About
    • LWVCC Interest Groups >
      • Cook County & MWRD Group
      • Criminal Justice
      • Cook County Health
      • Forest Preserve Interest Group
    • LWVCC Positions
    • LWVCC Action and Testimony
    • LWVCC Activities
    • Archived Newsletters
  • Observer Reports
    • Cook County Board Observer Reports
    • MWRD Board Observer Reports
    • CCH Board Observer Reports
    • Forest Preserve Board Observer Reports
  • Voter Info
  • Cook County Gov. Contacts
    • Cook County Board
    • Forest Preserve Board
    • Cook County Elected Officials
    • MWRD Board
    • Cook County Health Board