Both the Vermilion County Illinois Finance and Personnel Committee and Executive and Legislative Committees met Monday.
The Finance and Personnel Committee was brief. The Committee approved budget amendments to increase the salary of the State’s Attorney and Public Defender and Sheriff. The Annual budgets for the Treasurer and Auditor were approved. All items will be presented to the full County Board for approval.
Immediately following that the Executive and Legislative Committee met to discuss several items. The Annual Public Building Commission lease to operate the Public Safety Building was approved and forwarded to the full County Board. This lease is a combined effort by the City of Danville and
the County of Vermilion to operate the jail and offices for the Sheriff and Danville Police Department.
The County will need to select a new insurance carrier since Health Alliance is leaving the business and closing their doors. The County Finance and Personnel Committee is following the recommendations of Nancy Boose, HR Director, Meg Jacobson, Payroll and Benefit specialist, and County Board Chair Steve Miller along with the County Insurance advisor EPIC, in choosing Blue Cross Blue Shield as the new provider. There will be a cost savings based on the County claim history and a substantially equivalent provision of benefits for employees. EPIC complimented the HR team in their approach in working with employees with insurance questions.
One item was a little more controversial. The County is recommending a “text amendment” to the wind and solar farm ordinances. The County is
requesting the Solar and Wind Farm Committee to hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment which would clarify that while the Board has sole discretion in voting “yes” or “no” on a wind or solar project, they must still follow State and Federal law. A discussion followed about land use rights of owners, the competing jurisdictions of municipalities and the county, and how to make a record at the Solar and Wind Farm Committee level. Chair Steve Miller clarified after the meeting that Special Assistant States Attorney Andrew Kyet represented the Solar and Wind Farm Committee
only. To present evidence to the Committee the residents must either do it themselves or hire an attorney. The Board would consider only the
evidence in the record of the Committee hearings. The burden is on the residents to make that record before the County Board considers the
request.