[Adopted 12-10-1985 by Ord. No. 85-79 (Ch. 2, Art. III, §§ 2-30.1 through 2-40, of the 1977 Code)]
A. 
After being elected, and prior to assuming the office of County Board member, every person shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation:
"I do solemnly swear (affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of County Board member of Stephenson County according to the best of my ability."
B. 
No person shall be seated as a County Board member until he or she takes and subscribes the above oath.
A. 
If any person elected to the office of County Board member shall fail to take the oath as provided in § 29-4 of this Code prior to the first day of January immediately following his or her election, then said office shall be deemed vacant and shall be filled as provided by state law.
B. 
Vacancies may also occur by reason of a member's death, removal, resignation, permanent move of his or her residence from the Board district from which he or she was elected, or as otherwise provided by law. The Board, by a two-thirds vote, may declare a County Board office to be vacant for any of the above reasons.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Sec. 2-30.3, Meetings, which immediately followed this section, as amended, was deleted 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821. See § 29-8 below.
[Amended 10-14-1986 by Ord. No. 86-94; 2-13-1991 by Ord. No. 91-02-162; 1-13-2010 by Ord. No. 10-01-1723; 5-9-2012 by Ord. No. 12-05-1879; 4-19-2018 by Ord. No. 18-04-1858; 4-21-2022 by Ord. No. 22-04-26]
A. 
Each County Board member shall be entitled to a per-diem in accordance with the following schedule: starting on December 1, 2022 of $100; starting on December 1, 2026 of $125; and starting on December 1, 2030 of $150. Each County Board member shall also be entitled to a mileage travel expense at the rate set by the IRS, which is in effect on the date of the first day of the term he or she is fulfilling for each County Board meeting which he or she attends. Each member shall also be entitled to the same compensation (per-diem plus mileage) for attending a session of a County Board committee of which he or she is a member.
B. 
If a member attends more than one meeting on the same day, then he or she shall be entitled to only a single per-diem, but shall receive reimbursement for the total travel expense if the meetings were held at separate locations or if they required separate trips. Mileage shall be measured as the direct route distance from the member's principal residence to the site of the meeting.
C. 
A member shall receive travel expense for attending a meeting, other than as described above, only if the member was assigned to attend the meeting. The mileage rate for such assigned meetings shall be at the current Internal Revenue Service rate. Refer to Resolution 23-05-86, titled "Reimbursement Policy of Travel, Meal and Lodging Expenses of Public Officials and Employees Relating to Official Business of the County of Stephenson, Illinois."[1]
[Amended 5-18-2023 by Res. No. 23-05-86]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 95, Art. I, Reimbursement of Certain Expenses.
D. 
The Chairperson of the County Board shall be entitled to an annual stipend of $9,000 per year. The Vice Chairman of the County Board shall be entitled to an annual stipend of $750 per year, payable monthly. Each committee chairperson shall receive a stipend of $200 per month. All such stipends shall be in addition to the per-diem referred to in Subsection A hereof.
A. 
At the first meeting of the Board in December 1984, and every two years thereafter, the Board shall, by majority vote, choose one of its members as Chairperson and another member as Vice Chairperson. Each office is to be balloted on separately, unless otherwise directed by the Board. The Vice-Chairperson shall serve in the absence of the Chairperson.
B. 
The Chairperson of the Board shall preside at all sessions of said Board and shall open the session with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. The Chairperson shall take the chair and call the members to order. If a quorum is present, he or she shall direct that the minutes of the preceding meeting be disposed of for the purpose of approval or disapproval. The Chairperson shall preserve order and decorum, shall restrain members from engaging in debate, and shall decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the entire Board.
C. 
The Chairperson of the Board shall make the appointments of members of the County Board to the committees of the Board. The Chairperson shall also appoint the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of each committee. The Chairperson of the Board may remove members of the County Board from committees, including removing members of the Board from the positions of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of each committee. The Chairperson shall vote on all questions, whether by ballot or on a call of the "ayes" and "nays."
[Amended 5-15-2014 by Ord. No. 14-05-2075]
D. 
The Chairperson may, at any time, vacate the chair and appoint the Vice-Chairperson to act as Chairperson Pro Tem and may take part in the discussion of any question pending before the Board; provided, however, that the appointment of the Vice-Chairperson and Chairperson Pro Tem shall not extend beyond adjournment, and provided further that the Board may terminate said appointment before adjournment, if it pleases, by electing another Chairperson Pro Tem. In the event of the absence of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson at any time during a meeting of the Board, the Board shall appoint a Chairperson Pro Tem, who shall serve until the end of said meeting, unless the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson shall take the chair and preside. In the absence of the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson, any member of the Board may call the meeting to order for the purpose of electing a Chairperson Pro Tem.
[Amended 2-13-2013 by Ord. No. 13-03-1965]
The County Board shall meet on the Thursday following the second Tuesday of each month, except when otherwise provided by statute or by action of the County Board. A majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum to transact business. If a quorum is not present, a minority may adjourn to another day and hour.
If a member desires to delay the consideration of any matter pending before the Board, then he or she may make a motion to lay over the matter. The motion to lay over shall specify when the Board shall next consider the matter, shall be made only after a motion to approve or disapprove the matter under consideration has been made and seconded, and must be approved by the Board by a majority vote of those members voting.
When a motion is made and seconded, it shall be stated by the Chairman or read by the Clerk prior to any debate. All motions (except motion to adjourn, postpone, or commit) shall be reduced to writing when so ordered by the Chairman. A motion to adjourn shall always be in order, and shall be decided without debate; but a motion to adjourn shall not be received when the Board is voting on another question. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received except a motion to adjourn, a motion to table, a motion to lay over, or a motion calling for the previous questions.
A. 
When a member is about to speak in debate or present any matter to the Board, he shall respectfully address himself to the Chairperson, and after being recognized by the Chair, he shall confine himself to the question under debate, and avoid comments on personalities. When two or more members shall ask to be recognized simultaneously, the Chairperson shall name the member who is first to speak. No person shall speak longer than 10 minutes total on the same question, except by permission of the Chairperson.
B. 
When a member is called to order he shall sit down and not speak except in explanation until the Chairperson shall have determined whether he is in order or not; and every question or order shall be decided by the Chairperson, subject to an appeal to the Board. When the Chairperson is putting any question to or addressing the Board, no member shall walk out of or across the room. While a member is speaking, no other member shall walk between him or her and the Chair.
C. 
At no time shall either a member of the Board or any other person be allowed to present purely political remarks to the Board while the Board is in session. Whether the remarks are political in nature and subject to this rule shall be determined by the Chairperson of the Board, subject to an appeal to the Board.
D. 
Limited discussion and questions may be allowed from the audience, dealing with the subject under discussion, at the discretion of the Chairperson. Such a ruling by the Chairperson shall be conclusive unless an appeal is taken by a member to the Board, which may overrule the Chairperson by a majority vote. Members of the audience may make one statement of three minutes or less on any item they wish to address during the public comments near the beginning of the meeting and/or at the public comments near the end of the meeting. The time limit may be reduced or increased at the discretion of the Chairperson, subject to appeal by a majority of the Board. Accommodations will be made for those who have physical needs.
[Amended 3-14-2013 by Ord. No. 13-03-1964; 4-16-2015 by Ord. No. 15-04-1275]
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821]
No rule shall be suspended except by a two-thirds majority of the members voting. All questions not addressed by the County Board rules shall be provided by the parliamentary practice of Robert's Rules of Order, as now or hereafter amended.
A. 
Any member present when his or her name is called to vote on any question during meeting of the County Board or any of its committees, and who shall refuse or neglect to vote, shall forfeit his or her per-diem for said meeting, unless he or she has an interest in the subject matter of the question and the County Board, by majority vote, excuses said member from voting at his or her request prior to the commencement of the roll call on said question. Any member may, when a vote is taken, call for a roll call on the "ayes" and "nays," which shall be recorded by the Clerk.
B. 
Only those members personally present may vote on a matter before the Board. Absentee voting or by mail or by proxy shall not be permitted.
[Amended 1-13-1987 by Ord. No. 87-01-105; 12-13-1988 by Ord. No. 88-12-134; 2-13-1991 by Ord. No. 91-02-163; 7-11-2007 by Ord. No. 07-07-1477]
A. 
The following committees of the Board and the number of members on each committee shall be as follows:
(1) 
Finance and Procurement: seven.
(2) 
Nursing Center: five.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821; 3-14-2012 by Ord. No. 12-03-1871; 12-15-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-12-141]
(3) 
Court Services: five.
[Amended 12-15-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-12-141]
(4) 
Administration: five.
[Amended 12-15-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-12-141]
(5) 
Public Works: five.
[Amended 12-15-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-12-141]
(6) 
Public Property and Safety: five.
[Amended 12-15-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-12-141]
(7) 
Planning and Development: five.
[Amended 12-15-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-12-141]
B. 
Meetings.
[Amended 8-11-2016 by Ord. No. 16-10-1480]
(1) 
The County Board Chairman shall confer with the appointed committee chairpersons and thereafter shall announce a schedule of County Board standing committee meetings within one week of being elected County Board Chairman in the year of his election. The schedule shall be placed on the County website and otherwise posted in accordance with the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/1 et seq.).
(2) 
The chairperson of any standing committee, or any three members of any standing committee, may call a special meeting of that committee. Any member or members of a committee may file a minority report at the time the majority report of that committee is presented to the Board.
(3) 
Any member of a committee who has missed three meetings of that committee in succession without due cause shall be subject to discharge from the committee upon recommendation of the Finance Committee to the Board. If the majority of any committee shall, in its opinion, decide that the chairman of that committee is failing to perform his duties as chairman of that respective committee, then it shall cause this information to be communicated to the Chairman of the Board, who will arrange to have a hearing held before the Finance Committee, who will decide on the evidence presented and advise the Board as to its decision and recommendation.
C. 
The Chairperson of the Board shall be a nonvoting member of each of the above committees.
D. 
Public comments may be received at any regular and special committee meeting at the request of any person in written and/or oral form. Such comments shall be subject to the will of the committee and to the rules of decorum, § 29-11.
E. 
No member of the Board may perform any official action, outside of his normal authority, except on direction of a proper committee and/or Board action or actions.
F. 
All committees of the Board shall conduct their hearings in the same manner as stated above.
A chairperson of a standing committee may designate one or more subcommittees, define its (their) duties and appoint members of the standing committee to serve on such subcommittee(s). The standing committee shall approve such appointments by majority vote. A Board member who is not a member of a standing committee may be appointed by the chairperson of that standing committee to serve on a subcommittee of that standing committee if the Board so concurs by majority vote.
A. 
A standing committee shall discuss those matters referred to it by the County Board and it may initiate proceedings on the following matters, among other things, which affect a County department over which it has supervisory responsibility:
(1) 
Consult with department heads on the operation of their departments.
(2) 
Examine and report to the County Board on:
(a) 
All claims;
(b) 
All annual and other regular reports concerning operations and fees received; and
(c) 
Correspondence that requires prompt consideration.
(3) 
Recommend to the Finance and Procurement Committee as to:
(a) 
Number of employees.
(b) 
Pay changes for employment positions.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821]
(c) 
Salaries of employees and elected officials.
(d) 
Fees, other than as set by statute.
(e) 
An annual budget request for each department.
(f) 
Expenditure as set forth in Chapter 18, Claims and Expenditures, § 18-5, of this Code.
B. 
Copies of all reports of fee-earning offices shall be given to the Finance and Procurement Committee.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821]
[Amended 1-13-1987 by Ord. No. 87-01-104; 1-13-1987 by Ord. No. 87-01-105; 12-13-1988 by Ord. No. 88-12-134; 2-13-1991 by Ord. No. 91-02-164; 1-10-1995 by Ord. No. 95-01-205]
A. 
Finance and Procurement Committee.
(1) 
The Finance and Procurement Committee shall be composed of the chairpersons of the other standing committees. It shall act as the Committee on Committees and shall meet with the Chairperson of the Board to fill vacancies on the other standing committees. It shall act as the liaison between the County Board and the Board of Health and the Community Mental Health Board and all recipients of revenue-sharing funds from the County.
(2) 
This Committee shall supervise the County Accountant, all County finances, the preparation of the annual budget, the appropriation ordinance and annual tax levy, and any other matters pertaining to the finances of the County. This Committee shall recommend an annual budget to the Board. Said budget shall annually be presented to the members of the Board at its regular November Board meeting. It shall also approve the procurement, placement and payment of all insurance contracts covering all County departments under the jurisdiction of the County Board. It shall examine and report to the Board on all bills over which no other committee has jurisdiction.
(3) 
The Committee shall present and recommend an annual budget to all members of the Board at least 15 days before the adoption of said budget.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection A(4), regarding specific Committee meeting dates, added 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 8-11-2016 by Ord. No. 16-10-1480. Current Subsection A(4), references the Interfund Loan Policy, added 4-20-2023 by 4-20-2023 by Res. No. 23-04-55.
(4) 
This Committee shall have oversight of the Interfund Loan Policy, which establishes administrative procedures for loans between various County departments.
[Added 4-20-2023 by Res. No. 23-04-55]
B. 
Nursing Center Committee. The Committee of the Stephenson County Nursing Center shall audit the accounts and receipts of the Nursing Center. The Administrator of the Nursing Center shall manage, supervise, make recommendations and reports for changes in buildings and the general conduct of this operation to the Nursing Center Committee. This Committee shall also be responsible for the care and maintenance of the County cemetary.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821; 8-11-2016 by Ord. No. 16-10-1480]
C. 
Court Services Committee.
(1) 
This Committee shall have supervision of all matters concerning the Circuit Clerk's office, the Coroner's office, the Judicial Department, the Probation and Court Services Department, the Public Defender's office, and the Office of the State's Attorney. It shall also approve the claims and annual budgets of each of these offices and departments.[2]
[Amended 12-18-2019 by Ord. No. 19-12-2194]
[2]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection C(2), regarding Chairperson membership in the County Board of Health, which immediately followed, was repealed 2-16-2023.
D. 
Administration Committee.
(1) 
This Committee shall have supervisory authority of all matters concerning the following offices: Administrative Services, County Clerk, County Treasurer, Recorder of Deeds and Supervisor of Assessments. It shall approve the annual budgets for these departments. It shall also audit and examine all claims and expenses filed by these offices.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821]
(2) 
This Committee shall also analyze the effect on the County from all local, state and national legislation. It shall also review and recommend to the Board the granting or denial of all applications for raffle or dance hall permits, and refer violations to the State's Attorney for prosecution. This Committee shall determine the location of voting facilities.
(3) 
In addition to the above duties, the Committee shall be responsible for implementing the administrative policy of the Board as follows:
(a) 
To supervise County administrative affairs in general with ideals of bringing out proper coordination and cooperation between various offices, agencies and departments of the County.
(b) 
To confer and advise with County officials and committees on official matters where such conference or advice is asked for or deemed advisable.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821; 8-11-2016 by Ord. No. 16-10-1480]
E. 
Public Property and Safety Committee.
(1) 
The Committee on Public Property and Safety shall have charge of the County Courthouse, the County Jail and all real estate owned by the County, with the exception of the Stephenson Nursing Center, County highway building and Health Department building, which shall remain under the jurisdiction of the various committees as stated above. All proposed changes or repairs to be made and all bills and claims filed against the County in reference to the buildings and property under jurisdiction of this Committee shall be referred to this Committee for proper consideration and action.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821]
(2) 
Further, this Committee shall concern itself with all matters pertaining to the operation of the emergency and disaster agency offices.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821; 8-11-2016 by Ord. No. 16-10-1480]
(3) 
Further, this Committee shall approve all claims and bills against the County from the emergency service and disaster agency. It shall also concern itself with the annual appropriations of the Sheriff's Department, but shall not have the authority to disapprove or approve any claims against the County from the Sheriff's Department, so long as such claims do not exceed the budgeted amount for the affected line item. This Committee shall meet quarterly, or as often as it deems necessary, with the Sheriff to review the budget status report of the Sheriff's Department.
F. 
Public Works Committee.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821; 2-13-2013 by Ord. No. 13-02-1960; 8-11-2016 by Ord. No. 16-10-1480; 1-20-2022 by Ord. No. 22-01-07]
(1) 
The Public Works Committee shall administer the expenditures of the County highway tax, and shall have general supervision and management of the purchase and operation of all tractors and machinery owned by the County, and shall secure employees and material for properly, efficiently and economically operating said tractors and machinery. The supervision and maintenance of the County highway building will be under the direction of said Committee.
(2) 
This Committee shall endeavor to secure all rights-of-way necessary for the improvement of a public highway, after proper resolution or authorization has been passed by the County Board. All petitions from the townships within Stephenson County, Illinois, asking for County aid for the construction of roads and bridges shall be referred to this Committee. It shall advertise and award all contracts for roads and bridges after proper resolution and approval by the County Board. All other matters pertaining to roads and bridges shall be referred to this Committee. It shall be the duty of this Committee to carefully investigate all matters referred to it, confer with the Superintendent of Highways in reference to any matter referred and, as promptly as possible, report its decision to the Board.
(3) 
The Committee shall act for the County in the awarding of all contracts to be paid from the motor fuel tax funds and federal aid matching funds. All petitions for the addition or deduction or improvement of the County highway system shall be referred to the Public Works Committee. The Committee shall, in all its duties, confer with the County Superintendent of Highways.
(4) 
The Highway Department shall be operated in accordance with the Plan for the Operation of the County Highway Department by the County Board. Three copies of said plan shall be on file in the office of the County Clerk.
(5) 
This Committee shall concern itself with all matters pertaining to, and in connection with, the operations of the office of the County Animal Control. This Committee shall have charge over solid waste disposal and other forms of waste management.
G. 
Planning and Development Committee.
(1) 
The Committee on Planning and Development shall have charge of the County responsibilities concerning zoning. The Committee shall work in cooperation with public and private sector entities to promote and facilitate economic planning and development in the Stephenson County area. Such responsibilities include, but are not limited to, advising the County Board on how to pass appropriate legislation that will encourage businesses to expand in the County and to attract new businesses, as well as promote tourism and increase recreational and historical sites. The Committee shall be responsible for overseeing the recreational areas of the County, including Blackhawk Monument, Ridott Fishing Park and the Winslow boat dock.
[Amended 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821; 2-13-2013 by Ord. No. 13-02-1960]
(2) 
Jurisdiction of the Planning and Development Committee:
(a) 
To receive from the Office of the Zoning Administrator copies of all applications for amendments.
(b) 
To receive from the Zoning Administrator all applications for zoning certificates filed for conditional uses.
(c) 
To initiate, direct, and review, from time to time, a study of the provisions of the text and the map comprising the Zoning Ordinance,[3] and to make reports of its recommendations to the County Board not less frequently than annually.
[3]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 400, Zoning.
(d) 
To review preliminary plans and final plats and exercise the authority and have the responsibilities provided in Chapter 355, Subdivision of Land.[4]
[4]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection G(3), regarding specific Committee meeting dates, added 8-10-2011 by Res. No. 11-08-1821, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 8-11-2016 by Ord. No. 16-10-1480.