Grundy Reporter

Grundy County Board met Dec. 2.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Reorganizational Meeting 

The public may attend in person or enter comment for the Public Comment portion of the meeting by emailing publiccomment@grundycountyil.gov by 2 hours prior to the start of any meeting. As always live streaming is available via the internet by going to https://www.grundycountyil.gov and clicking on minutes and agenda towards the bottom of the page.

I. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance 

County Clerk, Kay Olson, called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Attendee Name	Title	Status	Arrived
Ann Gill	Board Member	Present
Eric Rasmusson	Board Member	Present
Deb Warning	Board Member	Present
Harold Vota	Board Member	Present
Doug Boresi	Board Member	Present
Chris Balkema	Board Member	Present
Greg Ridenour	Board Member	Present
Drew Muffler	Board Member	Present
Caleb Counterman	Board Member	Present
Joshua Harris	Board Member	Present
Jerald White	Board Member	Present
Joe Schiavone	Board Member	Absent
Christina Jenkins	Board Member	Present
Douglas Ferro	Board Member	Present
Georgette Vota	Board Member	Present
James Riley	Board Member	Present
Nathanael Greene	Board Member	Absent
Matthew Cosenza	Board Member	Present

II. Swearing in Ceremony for Newly Elected County Board Members 

Circuit Judge, Scott Belt administered the Oaths of Office to the newly elected County Board Members. III. Selection of the County Board Chairman 

1. Nomination of County Board Chair

It was MOVED by County Board Member Ridenour and SECONDED by County Board Member Warning to put forth the name of Board Member Drew Muffler for County Board Chairman. County Clerk, Kay Olson twice called for any other nominations and there were no other nominations. It was MOVED by Board Member G. Vota and SECONDED by Board Member White to close nominations. Nominations were closed by unanimous voice vote. Upon roll call said MOTION PASSED to nominate Drew Muffler County Board Chairman by the following vote. MOTION CARRIED.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Greg Ridenour, Board Member SECONDER: Deb Warning, Board Member AYES: Gill, Rasmusson, Warning, Vota, Boresi, Balkema, Ridenour, Muffler, Counterman, Harris, White, Jenkins, Ferro, Vota, Riley, Cosenza ABSENT: Schiavone, Greene

IV. Selection of County Board Vice Chairmen 

A. District 1 

1. Nomination of Dist 1 Vice Chair

It was MOVED by Board Member White and SECONDED by Board Member Riley that Christina Jenkins be nominated for County Board District 1 Vice Chairman. There were no other nominations. Upon roll call said MOTION PASSED to nominate Christina Jenkins for County Board District 1 Vice Chairman by the following vote. MOTION CARRIED.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Jerald White, Board Member SECONDER: James Riley, Board Member AYES: Gill, Rasmusson, Warning, Vota, Boresi, Balkema, Ridenour, Muffler, Counterman, Harris, White, Jenkins, Ferro, Vota, Riley, Cosenza ABSENT: Schiavone, Greene

B. District 2 

1. Nomination of Dist 2 Vice Chair

It was MOVED by Board Member Harris and SECONDED by Board Member Riley that Greg Ridenour be nominated for County Board District 2 Vice Chairman. There were no other nominations. It was MOVED by Board Member Balkema and SECONDED by Board Member White that the Board accept the results of the previous roll call. MOTION CARRIED.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Joshua Harris, Board Member SECONDER: James Riley, Board Member AYES: Gill, Rasmusson, Warning, Vota, Boresi, Balkema, Ridenour, Muffler, Counterman, Harris, White, Jenkins, Ferro, Vota, Riley, Cosenza ABSENT: Schiavone, Greene

C. District 3 

1. Nomination of Dist 3 Vice Chair

It was MOVED by Board Member G. Vota and SECONDED by Board Member Warning that Caleb Counterman be nominated for County Board District 3 Vice Chairman. There were no other nominations. It was MOVED by Board Member H. Vota and SECONDED by Board Member Ridenour that the Board accept the results of the previous roll call. MOTION CARRIED.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Georgette Vota, Board Member SECONDER: Deb Warning, Board Member AYES: Gill, Rasmusson, Warning, Vota, Boresi, Balkema, Ridenour, Muffler, Counterman, Harris, White, Jenkins, Ferro, Vota, Riley, Cosenza ABSENT: Schiavone, Greene

V. Establish day & time of County Board Meetings-6:00 pm on second Tuesday of each month 

1. Motion Establishing County Board Meeting dates and times

It was MOVED by Board Member Ridenour and SECONDED by Board Member Riley that the Board Establish 6:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month for all regular County Board Meetings. Chairman Muffler declared MOTION PASSED by unanimous voice vote. MOTION CARRIED.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Greg Ridenour, Board Member SECONDER: James Riley, Board Member AYES: Gill, Rasmusson, Warning, Vota, Boresi, Balkema, Ridenour, Muffler, Counterman, Harris, White, Jenkins, Ferro, Vota, Riley, Cosenza ABSENT: Schiavone, Greene

VI. Approval of Committee Structure 

1. Committee Meeting Structure 24-26

It was MOVED by Board Member Warning and SECONDED by Board Member G. Vota that the Board approve the 2024-2026 County Board Committee Meeting Structure. Chairman Muffler declared MOTION PASSED by unanimous voice vote. MOTION CARRIED.

It was noted by Chairman Muffler that the new committee structure is effective beginning 01/01/2025.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: Deb Warning, Board Member SECONDER: Georgette Vota, Board Member AYES: Gill, Rasmusson, Warning, Vota, Boresi, Balkema, Ridenour, Muffler, Counterman, Harris, White, Jenkins, Ferro, Vota, Riley, Cosenza ABSENT: Schiavone, Greene

VII. Review Grundy County Mission Statement and Objectives 

Chairman Muffler reviewed the Grundy County Mission Statement and Objectives.

VIII. Announcements-Next regularly scheduled COBD meeting-December 10, 2024, at 6:00 pm 

IX. Chris Balkema Resignation Announcement 

Board Member Balkema addressed the Board and explained as a result of being the Senator Elect from the 53rd IL Senate District he is tendering his resignation effective 12/03/2024. He stated it has been an honor to serve with all the different board members over the years along with the elected officials, administration and the people of the County. He has learned so much during his time at the county, and he will take that and more with him when he begins his new role in Springfield.

Chairman Muffler addressed the Board with his hopes for continuing to move the County forward, he thanked the three former Board chairmen who were present, Ron Severson, David Welter and Chris Balkema for their time and service to the County, and he congratulated Senator Elect Balkema.

X. Adjournment 

1. County Board Adjournment

It was MOVED by Board Member Riley and SECONDED by Board Member Cosenza that the Board vote their usual mileage and per diem and adjourn at 6:29 p.m. to Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. for the next regularly scheduled County Board Meeting.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]  MOVER: James Riley, Board Member SECONDER: Matthew Cosenza, Board Member AYES: Gill, Rasmusson, Warning, Vota, Boresi, Balkema, Ridenour, Muffler, Counterman, Harris, White, Jenkins, Ferro, Vota, Riley, Cosenza ABSENT: Schiavone, Greene

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