Cook County Board of Commissioners
Committee Meetings March 13, 2024 FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE ON LITIGATION During the public comment period, the League of Women Voters of Cook County expressed its concern that the position of the Cook County Independent Inspector General (“IIG”) has not been filled on a permanent basis for 17 months.
AUDIT COMMITTEE: County Auditor Mary Modelski presented her report on Grant Administration and general Management at the Justice Advisory Council (JAC) in fiscal year 2022. No audit had been done in at least 10 years. The report (item 24-1025) included only grants administered through the operating fund budget (about $14 million in 2022) and excluded any ARPA grants, which will be looked at later. Issues brought up in the report or by Commissioners included the following:
The Audit report of ARPA on the Small Business Grant Program showed adequate controls on the $50 million distributed to 3,000 small businesses in Cook County. $18 million more will be granted out by 2026. Building Healthy Communities ARPA grants of about $5 million were also audited. Because of a change in designation of recipients (from sub-recipients to beneficiaries), these grants were not required to be monitored. Commissioners were concerned that no metrics, risk assessments, or financial monitoring was done. The Public Health (PH) department wanted to get the funds out upfront and quickly as COVID was prevalent at that time. The grants were intended to increase access to healthy foods, youth development, mental and behavioral health. PH department was told by Commissioners they should establish base-line monitoring so the county knows where the funds went and what the outcomes of the programs were. RULES AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE: There was a lot of discussion among commissioners and the staff of the Dept. of Human Rights & Ethics (HR & E) regarding the rules for the public to follow on the recently passed Paid Leave ordinance—effective for private businesses since January, 2024. Concerns by some Commissioners were
ASSET MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE: Item 24-1056 regarding a lease in Sauk Village for a new restorative justice court was passed in committee. Both the Public Defender and a representative from the States Attorney office seem to have smoothed over any concerns by commissioners from 2 weeks ago when those offices sent a letter stating they could not staff a new court this year. All involved will “continue conversations,” so it seems to this observer that behind the scenes agreements were made that the lease go forward and any problems would be dealt with later. What to watch for:
Observer :Karin Hribar
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